OT: Back pain

[bdgan]

I have some disc degeneration, sciatica, and stenosis. The neurosurgeon said that I'm just getting old but he would recommend surgery. He told me that if the pain gets to bad he would refer me to a pain management specialist.

The pain is screwing up my sleep and my golf game (it hurts to shift my weight to my left side). Has anybody gone to a pain management specialist for this? It sounds like there are 2 choices. One is an epidural injection and the other is low dose morphine (which sounds dangerous but I have a friend who swears by it). I'd like to hear other experiences if people are willing to share.

P.S. I tried physical therapy & a chiropractor. I scheduled an appointment with a pain management doctor but I can't get in for 2 months.

 

[marshall23]

I would avoid surgery. I have had sciatica for almost 3 months and have stuck with a chiropractor. Progress is slow but real and have done so with only advil. My brother has had 2 shots with results that are no better. I have 4 compressed L1,2,3,5 along with the usual stenosis and arthritic stuff. My dad had 5 different disc and other back surgeries and none of them ever left him better off in the long run.

 

[Nittany.Lion]

I have some disc degeneration, sciatica, and stenosis. The neurosurgeon said that I'm just getting old but he would recommend surgery. He told me that if the pain gets to bad he would refer me to a pain management specialist.

The pain is screwing up my sleep and my golf game (it hurts to shift my weight to my left side). Has anybody gone to a pain management specialist for this? It sounds like there are 2 choices. One is an epidural injection and the other is low dose morphine (which sounds dangerous but I have a friend who swears by it). I'd like to hear other experiences if people are willing to share.

P.S. I tried physical therapy & a chiropractor. I scheduled an appointment with a pain management doctor but I can't get in for 2 months.

Have you tried an inversion table? they can work wonders.

 

[PSU1282]

Get a new chiropractor first. They have different methods. Some work and some don't.

 

[Art]

The first doctor I saw for my condition was way too eager to cut, so I distanced myselt quickly. The second prescribed a PT regimen and epidural injections that resulted in no improvement. Saw another doctor who prescribed a different PT approach and home exercise and, bingo, relief.

As the second doctor explained, there are millions of patients who present the same symptomatology. The large majority experience no or little pain. Then there is the group like us who have pain that to varying degrees is debilitating. The key is finding what's different about your particular case. My advice is twofold: 1) exhaust all other options before consenting to go under the knife; 2) if you're not getting results from one diagnostician, find others.

 

[Hugh Manatee]

I had lower back pain that was the worst in the morning. As the day went on it would get slightly better, but the pain was always there. It was tough to walk. For some reason, I can't remember, I started sleeping with a pillow between my knees. I put my knees together with the pillow in between. The pain slowly decreased each day until it was completely gone after five days. I doubt this is your problem, but I think it's good to share things that work for me.

 

[dcf4psu]

I have some disc degeneration, sciatica, and stenosis. The neurosurgeon said that I'm just getting old but he would recommend surgery. He told me that if the pain gets to bad he would refer me to a pain management specialist.

The pain is screwing up my sleep and my golf game (it hurts to shift my weight to my left side). Has anybody gone to a pain management specialist for this? It sounds like there are 2 choices. One is an epidural injection and the other is low dose morphine (which sounds dangerous but I have a friend who swears by it). I'd like to hear other experiences if people are willing to share.

P.S. I tried physical therapy & a chiropractor. I scheduled an appointment with a pain management doctor but I can't get in for 2 months.

I would lay off the golf. The twisting motion is only going to make it worse. I have found bike riding has helped (spinning indoors during the winter) me along with some basic yoga stretches in the morning after I wake up and in the evening before I go to bed.

 

[ForesterGump]

I've had the same problem for a number of years. I went through PT with some relief. My first chiropractor made things worse.

Have gone to a second one just recently. He uses decompression therapy and also has some laser therapy. He also doesn't push on backs or put you into contortions. He doesn't think my conditions are bad enough to warrant cutting. The stenosis is gone, and I can now stand for longer periods, as well as walk with less discomfort. There is some PT that goes with it, but that loosens you up. It takes a long time, as your muscles have been overcompensating for your problems for a long time.

One thing he did try was a heel lift. It was the worst thing that happened. He said it works for a majority of people.

I also had sciatica a number of years ago. I "cured" it through laying on a tennis ball. Muscle contractions around the sciatic nerve. Relieving it through pressure points was very quick. I don't have sciatica with this back problem.

 

[psu7113]

I had lower back pain that was the worst in the morning. As the day went on it would get slightly better, but the pain was always there. It was tough to walk. For some reason, I can't remember, I started sleeping with a pillow between my knees. I put my knees together with the pillow in between. The pain slowly decreased each day until it was completely gone after five days. I doubt this is your problem, but I think it's good to share things that work for me.

That, a tempurpedic mattress and an office chair made for a human who isn't 6'4, worked wonders for me.

 

[MtNittany]

You can get a good inversion table for around $100 on Amazon. Try it.

 

[Creek Side]

Have you tried an inversion table? they can work wonders.

If you are to the point that a doctor is recommending surgery than maybe this isn't the way to go for you. But.. I'm am a middle aged guy that has had lower back problems off and on since high school. Sometimes just average discomfort, up to the point where I couldn't stand up because of unbearable pain. And I mean unbearable! I've tried 5 different chiropractors over the years and have done anything that they threw at me.
The best thing that I ever did for my back is purchase an inversion table. I haven't been back to a chiropractor since I bought it about 5 years ago. They only cost 2/3 hundred dollars for a good one, compared to the thousands I've spent in co-pays.
They take a little time getting comfortable with, unless your used to hanging upside down . You can adjust them and ease into it. When I first started using it, I would get a little stomach discomfort followed by dizziness once going back upright. But that all went away after about 5 times using it.
There is nothing to it. You just lock in your feet, and hang for a few minutes. If your open to giving something a go, order one today.

 

[THEECOACH]

I am an expert here! 5 back operations, broken neck, pain clinic in house for 30 days ( awesome) Sedona, AZ for a practice called prolotherapy which Hines Ward and other athletes have now used. I have had a morpheine patch, OxyContin,( 30 days too long- bad) oxycodone , injections and swear by prolotherapy, used by homeopathic doctors but spreading nationally.
It works as I also used it for a torn rotator cuff, but this time they took blood from my injury churned it and reinjected it. That was 6 years ago and I could not push a checker, now at age 69 I lift light weights, machine only, as I used to bench heavily and have had 3 injections in 7 years. That or a pain clinic are the only answers as my fusions were C2, 5,6,6 again and 7. So as the surgeons say they are there for surgery and no one will recommend prolotherapy. But again athletes do now and it has been my only answer over 35 years of pain!

 

[Nittany.Lion]

I am an expert here! 5 back operations, broken neck, pain clinic in house for 30 days ( awesome) Sedona, AZ for a practice called prolotherapy which Hines Ward and other athletes have now used. I have had a morpheine patch, OxyContin,( 30 days too long- bad) oxycodone , injections and swear by prolotherapy, used by homeopathic doctors but spreading nationally.
It works as I also used it for a torn rotator cuff, but this time they took blood from my injury churned it and reinjected it. That was 6 years ago and I could not push a checker, now at age 69 I lift light weights, machine only, as I used to bench heavily and have had 3 injections in 7 years. That or a pain clinic are the only answers as my fusions were C2, 5,6,6 again and 7. So as the surgeons say they are there for surgery and no one will recommend prolotherapy. But again athletes do now and it has been my only answer over 35 years of pain!

Not covered by insurance, how much does it cost?

 

[Big 0]

I've had the same problem for a number of years. I went through PT with some relief. My first chiropractor made things worse.

Have gone to a second one just recently. He uses decompression therapy and also has some laser therapy. He also doesn't push on backs or put you into contortions. He doesn't think my conditions are bad enough to warrant cutting. The stenosis is gone, and I can now stand for longer periods, as well as walk with less discomfort. There is some PT that goes with it, but that loosens you up. It takes a long time, as your muscles have been overcompensating for your problems for a long time.

One thing he did try was a heel lift. It was the worst thing that happened. He said it works for a majority of people.

I also had sciatica a number of years ago. I "cured" it through laying on a tennis ball. Muscle contractions around the sciatic nerve. Relieving it through pressure points was very quick. I don't have sciatica with this back problem.

Spinal stenosis (narrowing) doesn't just go away, except for central canal stenosis that is treated by a decompressive laminectomy. It is a structural problem that most of the time is caused by bony and ligamentous overgrowth that narrows the spinal canal and therefore only goes away by removing the overgrowth. This is not saying that symptoms can't be relieved by various other treatment methods other than surgery.

 

[THEECOACH]

Not covered by insurance, how much does it cost?

I believe it is anywhere from $350-600 . Well worth it

 

[kailuapat]

I have suffered from back pain for 37 years. I have fused C4-5 and 5-6. Saw the head of nuerosurgery at USC. Try Thai massage and then get adjusted. If you like they will also assist by stretching you. I can't say I am pain free but I now can play golf and touch my toes. I also have Crohn's disease. Which complicates things.