Let's talk back pain.

[Headhunter]

I've been diagnosed with degenerative disk disease. Had it for years and for the most part my lower back was always a little sore and stiff but tolerable. I've never had an MRI for my back just x rays.

Ever since the new year I'm am experiencing worse pain and mobility, not every day, it usually lasts a couple of days and subsides but it is starting to act up a couple of times a week or the day after a round of golf or a long vigorous walk. I do spend a lot of time in the car daily.

I'm currently getting back therapy from a physical therapist twice a week and doing exercises daily. Doesn't seem to be helping.

What advice do any of you have? Is it time to see a surgeon? Can this be helped by laser surgery or other methods?

Thanks for any responses.

 

[boxter]

I had back pain off and on for 15 years. Several MRI, 9 steroid injections into the spine and many rounds of medrol packs. All were temporary fixes. My ortho was conservative and wanted to wait to operate.

Thankfully he was. After I had my hip replacement done 21 months ago, I'm pain free. I put the hip off for 2 years because I wasn't excited about having my femur drilled into and my hip ball sawed off but it was the best decision I made in years.

I didn't dream my problems were tied to my hip. Good luck and start with an MRI.

 

[Pokes15]

Have you seen a chiropractor?

 

[Headhunter]

No chiropractic just a little physical therapy.

 

[Ostatedchi]

I too have degenerative disks. 3 spinal surgeries. Fixing disks is a structural. Nothing is going to fix it but surgical repair.

I'm an advocate of getting it done sooner rather than later if it is causing problems. Less permanent neuro-pathic damage.

 

[knoblock]

Suggest you go see a Rolfer, seriously. Dan Gentry is a good one in OKC. Always fixed up my back pain in one or two sessions. Very well could be worth a try to relieve the pain and mobility problems.

 

[Rdcldad]

yoga is great for alignment and building core strength to maintain alignment.

 

[OSUIvan]

I had back pain off and on for 15 years. Several MRI, 9 steroid injections into the spine and many rounds of medrol packs. All were temporary fixes. My ortho was conservative and wanted to wait to operate.

Thankfully he was. After I had my hip replacement done 21 months ago, I'm pain free. I put the hip off for 2 years because I wasn't excited about having my femur drilled into and my hip ball sawed off but it was the best decision I made in years.

I didn't dream my problems were tied to my hip. Good luck and start with an MRI.

Its amazing how one body part hurting can lead to so many other problems in the body.

 

[pokes r us]

I've been diagnosed with degenerative disk disease. Had it for years and for the most part my lower back was always a little sore and stiff but tolerable. I've never had an MRI for my back just x rays.

Ever since the new year I'm am experiencing worse pain and mobility, not every day, it usually lasts a couple of days and subsides but it is starting to act up a couple of times a week or the day after a round of golf or a long vigorous walk. I do spend a lot of time in the car daily.

I'm currently getting back therapy from a physical therapist twice a week and doing exercises daily. Doesn't seem to be helping.

What advice do any of you have? Is it time to see a surgeon? Can this be helped by laser surgery or other methods?

Thanks for any responses.

I had surgery about three years to repair a ruptured disc that was pressuring the sciatic nerve. It was amazing the incredible amount of pain I was in before the surgery. After the procedure, pain went away. My neurosurgeon told me that people who have never experienced nerve pain don't know what pain is.

I wish you the best and hope you get relief soon.

 

[frankeaton]

I had surgery about three years to repair a ruptured disc that was pressuring the sciatic nerve. It was amazing the incredible amount of pain I was in before the surgery. After the procedure, pain went away. My neurosurgeon told me that people who have never experienced nerve pain don't know what pain is.

I wish you the best and hope you get relief soon.

ditto that, 3.5 years of pain
only scotch help after the pain pills wore off

 

[Been Jammin]

I've been diagnosed with degenerative disk disease. Had it for years and for the most part my lower back was always a little sore and stiff but tolerable. I've never had an MRI for my back just x rays.

Ever since the new year I'm am experiencing worse pain and mobility, not every day, it usually lasts a couple of days and subsides but it is starting to act up a couple of times a week or the day after a round of golf or a long vigorous walk. I do spend a lot of time in the car daily.

I'm currently getting back therapy from a physical therapist twice a week and doing exercises daily. Doesn't seem to be helping.

What advice do any of you have? Is it time to see a surgeon? Can this be helped by laser surgery or other methods?

Thanks for any responses.

I'm betting that back surgery is in your future. I had a bulging disc, and associated back pain, for over 20 years. For a long time, it was mostly manageable with Tylenol. At times, I would get significant muscle spasms and have to take muscle relaxers and stay in bed for a day or 2. Even on the good days, there were things that I was either unable to do, or things that I did knowing that I was going to be miserable that night, or the next day.

About 15 years ago, the bulging disc became a ruptured disc. It was the most painful thing imaginable. My doctors tried to treat it conservatively for 1 week, but I, then, insisted on surgery. I could not live with the excruciating pain any longer.

After surgery, it took 1 year before I felt that I had made a full recovery. I should say "mostly full", as I have some nerve damage in my right leg (which I don't think would have happened if my doctor had recommended surgery within a day or 2 of the disc rupture). But, after a year, the pain was finally gone. Since then, I have maybe 3-4 times a year where there is some discomfort and I have to take Tylenol.

For years, my doctor told me to avoid surgery unless I had no other choice. In hindsight, I wish I would have had some type of procedure much sooner.

 

[Headhunter]

Got an MRI on Fri. Haven't got the results back yet.

Dr. felt that was most likely going to need injections or a procedure but won't know what she's dealing with until she gets the MRI.

 

[ThorOdinson13]

Friend of mine was bad enough he was constantly on pain mess and walking with a cane. He started seeing a chiropractor that did some kind of traction therapy. It repaired the discs so he's now pretty much pain free, walking unassisted, and riding his motorcycle again. I can ask him the name of the therapy if anyone wants more info.

I have degeneration in my neck I swear was triggered by extreme whiplash. I've been considering trying to get the therapy myself.

 

[Headhunter]

Bulging disks, L1 to S1, the worst are L4 and L5. Referring me to a pain management doctor.

 

[Been Jammin]

Bulging disks, E1 to S1, the worst are E4 and E5. Referring me to a pain management doctor.

I think you mean L1 to S1 and L4 L5. Maybe there is some nomenclature that I am not familiar with, but the spine is divided into C for Cervical (neck), T for Thoracic (chest region), L for Lumbar (lower back), and S for Sacral (pelvis).

Anyway.... Hope the new doc can help you out.

 

[davidallen]

Bulging disks, E1 to S1, the worst are E4 and E5. Referring me to a pain management doctor.

Wishing you the best - having some discomfort of late, need to drop 40 lbs or so. Interested to hear how your journey unfolds...

 

[Headhunter]

I think you mean L1 to S1 and L4 L5. Maybe there is some nomenclature that I am not familiar with, but the spine is divided into C for Cervical (neck), T for Thoracic (chest region), L for Lumbar (lower back), and S for Sacral (pelvis).

Anyway.... Hope the new doc can help you out.

You are right I don't know why I typed E.

 

[ThorOdinson13]

I'm going to the doc today. Been having lower abdominal discomfort (like a pressure) that runs through to my lower back. Also have some tenderness in the right testicle. Freaking out a little bit. Anyone dealt with anything like this?

 

[Ostate4life]

I HIGHLY recommend the ddpyoga program and to get it asap. As a Physical Therapist it's the best yoga program I've seen for improving mobility and building core strength. Recommended it to a few people with back issues and all had positive results

 

[BigBobBarker]

I'm a pain doctor. Try not to fixate on bulging discs. If they are not putting pressure on the nerve roots, avoid surgery. The surgery for disc pain without pinching the nerves is a fusion and it typically does not help unless the disc is completely gone and the bone is getting degraded and inflamed. Happy to answer any questions.

 

[Cowguy]

I've been diagnosed with degenerative disk disease. Had it for years and for the most part my lower back was always a little sore and stiff but tolerable. I've never had an MRI for my back just x rays.

Ever since the new year I'm am experiencing worse pain and mobility, not every day, it usually lasts a couple of days and subsides but it is starting to act up a couple of times a week or the day after a round of golf or a long vigorous walk. I do spend a lot of time in the car daily.

I'm currently getting back therapy from a physical therapist twice a week and doing exercises daily. Doesn't seem to be helping.

What advice do any of you have? Is it time to see a surgeon? Can this be helped by laser surgery or other methods?

Thanks for any responses.

See a reputable spine facility. One that has pain management, physiatrists and neuro. The neuroscience institute at mercy is top notch. They will likely want to try all the noninvasive things they can, before surgery. Your insurance will likely insist on that as well.

I will also say that all physical therapy is not created equal. Find a spine specialist that focuses on manual techniques.

 

[Headhunter]

I'm a pain doctor. Try not to fixate on bulging discs. If they are not putting pressure on the nerve roots, avoid surgery. The surgery for disc pain without pinching the nerves is a fusion and it typically does not help unless the disc is completely gone and the bone is getting degraded and inflamed. Happy to answer any questions.

Thank you BigBob, and everyone else for the responses. They are referring me to a pain specialist but I haven't heard from them yet.

Where do practice BigBob? I'm in Stillwater.

 

[BigBobBarker]

Chickasha. I don't know who is in Stillwater doing pain now. I talked with Dr Stubbs the orthopedist this fall and he acted like there wasnt anybody.

 

[BigBobBarker]

If you have a PDF of your report I am happy to look at it. Drjwstephens@yahoo.com

 

[frankeaton]

Com Care in Stillwater but no insurance cash only

 

[frankeaton]

forgot to mention this before but I am suffering from this as cold fronts coming thru

3 weeks before my back surgery I had blood clots, so I was doing some work with a COPD doctor and he had the same doctor do back surgery on him so he told me that anytime you mess with tissue you cannot put it back like it was before. Then when a cold front comes through it causes the the tissue to swell and it becomes very painful but he said there is a procedure that stops it and it is called Evaluate for Lumbar Epidural and Facet Blocks

My first time it only lasted 6 months but I am scheduled for a second try in April

 

[OSUIvan]

I have had back pain for the last 5 years, it started in my middle back and only hurt when i would stand for more than 20-30 minutes and on the rare occasion just hurt laying down or sitting. After seeing 7 doctors 2 MRI's and countless x-rays, new beds, shoe inserts, and blah blah blah try this, I was told that I'm getting old and I just need to lose weight, which was funny because I had just lost 50 lbs (maybe that's what changed and my body didn't adjust), they gave my pain killers which I only took when it really hurt for fear of getting addicted (thank god I didn't).

After a year or two my middle back stopped hurting and it moved to my lower back, it was a much duller pain but of course still uncomfortable, I no longer take pain killers although some times I could use one, but just 1 Aleve usually takes care of the ache.

Anyways that's my back pain story