OT: Lower back pain

[tlbakernc]

I’m a 56 year old with degenerate disk disease. I was diagnosed with a herniated disk at L4-L5 and annular tear at L5-S1. I’ve done PT, injections and pain meds since being diagnosed. My quality of life since the injury hasn’t been the best. Pain level is 4-8 every day all day and night. Was doing fairly well until 3 weeks ago. Was walking thru the kitchen when I felt my back go again. My pain specialist says hold off on surgery as long as I can. Can someone please offer advice or help me by telling my your experiences? I would deeply appreciate any insight.

 

[psu_andy]

I’m a 56 year old with degenerate disk disease. I was diagnosed with a herniated disk at L4-L5 and annular tear at L5-S1. I’ve done PT, injections and pain meds since being diagnosed. My quality of life since the injury hasn’t been the best. Pain level is 4-8 every day all day and night. Was doing fairly well until 3 weeks ago. Was walking thru the kitchen when I felt my back go again. My pain specialist says hold off on surgery as long as I can. Can someone please offer advice or help me by telling my your experiences? I would deeply appreciate any insight.

 

[psu_andy]

Sounds like it might be time for spinal fusion surgery. I know many people who have had it and it really improved their lives. I used to be in the business on the supply/manufacturer end - there are a lot of shady doctors out there, make sure you get a reputable one

 

[bvillebaron]

I had a lot of back pain when I turned 40. Fortunately, I have been able to get it under control as a result of epidural injections, PT and daily home exercises (I turn 70 in July). My brother, who is one year younger than me, developed low back pain around the same time I did. His neurosurgeon told him that he should delay surgery as long as he could, but that he would probably be calling him to request surgery some time in the future. When my brother asked him about that, the surgeon told him "he would know". My brother had surgery when his back pain got to the point where he said he couldn't live like that. Fortunately, he had a very successful surgery and has been doing well ever since. However, he had disc removal surgery not a fusion.
The orthopedic surgeon who I consulted told me that he knew a number of surgeons who would tell me they could have me on the operating table the next day given my diagnostics (i.e. MRI showed impingement at L4-5 whereas the NCS/EMG showed it at L5-S1). The surgeon said that this discrepancy would necessitate a fusion which, according to him, was the very last option for someone with low back pain.
I have friends who had fusion surgery at a reasonably young age and, unfortunately, have had several additional surgeries (i.e. additional fusion surgeries). The long and short of this is that every person is different. If you get to the point that your pain is intolerable, then surgery may well be the only choice. If you do choose to have surgery, make sure you get at least a second opinion and have the surgery performed by a competent surgeon, preferably one recommended to you by someone on whom he performed surgery and had a good result. Good luck.

 

[Ski]

I’m a 56 year old with degenerate disk disease. I was diagnosed with a herniated disk at L4-L5 and annular tear at L5-S1. I’ve done PT, injections and pain meds since being diagnosed. My quality of life since the injury hasn’t been the best. Pain level is 4-8 every day all day and night. Was doing fairly well until 3 weeks ago. Was walking thru the kitchen when I felt my back go again. My pain specialist says hold off on surgery as long as I can. Can someone please offer advice or help me by telling my your experiences? I would deeply appreciate any insight.

I had back surgery at 36 and it was a godsend for relieving my pain. Every back is different though. I had a lamenectomy at L5-S1 and not a fusion. Now, 23 years later I have pain off and on and have been told the same thing as you, wait as long as you can. I have more numbness and itching than severe pain though now, so I can live with it. Back when I had the first surgery the pain was so great that waiting was not an option. It was screaming and crying pain being flat on the floor and not being able to get up to my hands and knees. Most people have never experienced 10 pain. That was 11.

 

[bison13]

Yoga, chiropractor and core/hip work helped me

 

[Vic Vaselino]

I’m a 56 year old with degenerate disk disease. I was diagnosed with a herniated disk at L4-L5 and annular tear at L5-S1. I’ve done PT, injections and pain meds since being diagnosed. My quality of life since the injury hasn’t been the best. Pain level is 4-8 every day all day and night. Was doing fairly well until 3 weeks ago. Was walking thru the kitchen when I felt my back go again. My pain specialist says hold off on surgery as long as I can. Can someone please offer advice or help me by telling my your experiences? I would deeply appreciate any insight.

I've had two lumbar disc surgeries. one about thirty years ago (L5-S1), the other three years ago (L4-L5). Both made the pain disappear, though the last one left me with some slight numbness. Talk to a surgeon, see what they say. Back surgery isn't what it was fifty years ago. When the pain gets bad enough, you'll know what to do.

 

[psu_andy]

I’m a 56 year old with degenerate disk disease. I was diagnosed with a herniated disk at L4-L5 and annular tear at L5-S1. I’ve done PT, injections and pain meds since being diagnosed. My quality of life since the injury hasn’t been the best. Pain level is 4-8 every day all day and night. Was doing fairly well until 3 weeks ago. Was walking thru the kitchen when I felt my back go again. My pain specialist says hold off on surgery as long as I can. Can someone please offer advice or help me by telling my your experiences? I would deeply appreciate any insight.

My brother had spinal fusion in his late 30s. His spine surgeon had him try everything else before recommending surgery, but it got to the point where he was in pain all the time and he finally got a two level fusion. He said it was life changing. Another thing to consider is your age. You are still relatively young and can tolerate surgery and recover easier now rather than later. I agree that you should try everything before surgery and I would get the opinion of a reputable spine doctor.

 

[Obliviax]

My neighbor is a chiropractor and says surgery is the last resort. Too many nerve endings make it an inexact science.

His recommendations to me:

• Lose weight
• Get on a workout regimen, mostly for core
• Stretch, Stretch, Stretch

9 Sciatica Stretches to Ease Nerve Pain

The telltale symptoms of sciatic nerve pain are severe pain in your back, buttocks, and legs. The pain can be so excruciating that you don’t even want to leave the couch. But relief is possible. Try these 9 stretches for sciatic pain relief.

www.healthline.com

 

[nitlion93]

Had back pain for years but 4 years ago, I needed surgery (disectomy) to fix a herniated disc that sent fragments to my sciatic nerve. I didn’t get immediate relief but the surgery was a better option than being in pain meds for months while the fragments “dissolved “. The pain then was actually sciatic that went from glute to lower calf. The ongoing back pain is separate and I have no real answers other than stretching before and after activities seems to help a little.

 

[PSU20]

My neighbor is a chiropractor and says surgery is the last resort. Too many nerve endings make it an inexact science.

His recommendations to me:

• Lose weight
• Get on a workout regimen, mostly for core
• Stretch, Stretch, Stretch

9 Sciatica Stretches to Ease Nerve Pain

The telltale symptoms of sciatic nerve pain are severe pain in your back, buttocks, and legs. The pain can be so excruciating that you don’t even want to leave the couch. But relief is possible. Try these 9 stretches for sciatic pain relief.

www.healthline.com

Had ruptured disk surgery about ten years ago. My left leg was going dead on me, even when I was running and trying to walk upstairs. I've always worked out all my life and I'm 75 yo old now. I even worked out the day before surgery. Within two weeks of surgery I was power walking and running a month later. The key to maintaining a healthy lower back is "stretch, stretch, and more stretches. I do them everyday prior to my workout. Those hamstring curls on a machine at the gym are fantastic for the lower back.

 

[tlbakernc]

Had ruptured disk surgery about ten years ago. My left leg was going dead on me, even when I was running and trying to walk upstairs. I've always worked out all my life and I'm 75 yo old now. I even worked out the day before surgery. Within two weeks of surgery I was power walking and running a month later. The key to maintaining a healthy lower back is "stretch, stretch, and more stretches. I do them everyday prior to my workout. Those hamstring curls on a machine at the gym are fantastic for the lower back.

What stretch exercises are you doing. I have an inversion table. It seems aggravate my back. I’m afraid to use it.

 

[diontechristmas]

My father in law had his back wrecked by a fusion. The poor guy can’t stand up straight and has limited mobility, but didn’t rehab the best.
I can say you should develop your core strength as much as possible. You may want to consider medical marijuana for pain management. If nothing else, it will help you rest at night.

 

[The Spin Meister]

A, every situation is personal. Get three different opinions prior to surgery.

B, I know a world renown back surgeon that operated in 35 different countries. He was an orthopedic surgeon and says they are better than neurosurgeons. Says neurosurgeons just do minimum to relive symptoms but orthos will fix the structural issues that caused the problems. Take it for what it’s worth as I am sure he is biased as we all are.

C, He also told me if you have a fusion it’s just a matter of time before you need another. 5-10 years depending on activity levels, age, and physical shape. Said that when you fuse two together it stops their movement so adjacent joints will pick up more stressors for movement.

D, As for waiting as long as possible....tough call. Back surgery is risky and aren’t always successful. But waiting too long can lead to permanent nerve damage, especially if the sciatic is involved as your likely is.

E, Consider just fusing the L5-S1 to anchor back and repair other disc. But what do I know?

F, And what do any of us know? Each personal experience doesn’t matter. It’s your back, your life, and your surgeon(s).

 

[Ward Hog]

I am not a doctor but an attorney who deals with a lot of back injury cases. I also am 62 and have suffered from severe back pain with loss of feeling in my legs and was recommended for surgery at the L5-S1 level about 2 years ago. After 3 months of PT and resting my pain went away and now I only deal with occasional pain, but nothing close to where I was. I couldn't even stand up or walk at one point. If a doctor tells you that you need surgery on the first visit run. The doctor who says to do everything possible until the pain is too much is the one to go with. If you are just having back pain and no leg numbness or incontinence you should try everything before undergoing surgery. If you get a fusion it places the level above and the level below under more stress for failure which is important especially if you are active or have multilevel degeneration. What everyone else said is correct, get a good doctor who would prefer not doing surgery and then get surgery when you know you need it, not just because it bothers you now and then. I was almost ready but the doctor convinced me to wait, and I am glad he did. As mentioned by others, these surgeries are much more successful that years past, but still have a fairly high failure rate (no improvement or worsening conditions) so make sure and get someone you trust has your best interest at heart. Someone who never experienced severe back pain will never understand how debilitating it is.

 

[bvillebaron]

I am not a doctor but an attorney who deals with a lot of back injury cases. I also am 62 and have suffered from severe back pain with loss of feeling in my legs and was recommended for surgery at the L5-S1 level about 2 years ago. After 3 months of PT and resting my pain went away and now I only deal with occasional pain, but nothing close to where I was. I couldn't even stand up or walk at one point. If a doctor tells you that you need surgery on the first visit run. The doctor who says to do everything possible until the pain is too much is the one to go with. If you are just having back pain and no leg numbness or incontinence you should try everything before undergoing surgery. If you get a fusion it places the level above and the level below under more stress for failure which is important especially if you are active or have multilevel degeneration. What everyone else said is correct, get a good doctor who would prefer not doing surgery and then get surgery when you know you need it, not just because it bothers you now and then. I was almost ready but the doctor convinced me to wait, and I am glad he did. As mentioned by others, these surgeries are much more successful that years past, but still have a fairly high failure rate (no improvement or worsening conditions) so make sure and get someone you trust has your best interest at heart. Someone who never experienced severe back pain will never understand how debilitating it is.

BINGO to every thing you said. So glad my orthopedic surgeon told me to avoid surgery if at possible.

 

[bourbon n blues]

Yoga, chiropractor and core/hip work helped me

Basically my story that allowed me to deadlift in the 600 lb range until last summer. Was getting too many little muscular injuries to compete anymore.

 

[PSU20]

What stretch exercises are you doing. I have an inversion table. It seems aggravate my back. I’m afraid to use it.

Knees to the chest. Hands behind the knees and pull up to the chest and hold.

 

[Delco Lion]

Do you guys ever use high-quality CBD products for your back injuries? I used it for a very bad herniated disc and sciatica issue And I am using a CBD salve for a newly diagnosed pinched nerve. I think it’s an L5 issue.

This pinched nerve diagnosis may be what has been causing me ungodly lower right groin/nerve pain, nausea, vomiting, dry heaves in the AM for the past five years. This pain would flare up in the morning. The doctors thought it was a hernia and I had two surgeries, for what was probably unnecessary removal of very minor hernias. The pain did not go away after the surgeries and was becoming unbearable. A doctor from university of Pennsylvania examined me a couple weeks ago and noticed in an old x-ray that I had what appears to be an undiagnosed pinched nerve. He has referred me to a spinal specialist with Penn medicine.

When this was diagnosed several weeks ago, I started to put CBD salve on my lower back/spine Before bed and when I wake up. This has all but eliminated this pain I have lived with for about five years.

 

[bourbon n blues]

It's not just stretching but also strengthening. I would recommend soft tissue work also don't by a qualified MT, DC, or PT. Massage therapist, Chiropractor or Physical therapist. You might find a personal trainer also training in it.
The difference with adding that in with traditional PT and chiropractic work ( there's an big overlap there with those two) has helped me tremendously. One advantage I have seen is I'm more aware of my own body now and can feel when I'm about to have problems.
I've dealt with back pain since I was teen sometimes very severe but I've always bounced back. I've used these methods for forty years and until last year I lifted rather heavy, nationally competitive. I started to get small muscle pulls that my people said was just what happens when you age. You sort of dry out tissue wise is how they explained it so nutrition and hydration is very important. The professionals said I was getting to the point of diminishing returns, meaning I would need to work so much harder to compete that I needed to decide if the risk and such was worth it.
I decided it wasn't but with relatively light lifting I stay very pain free.

 

[bourbon n blues]

Do you guys ever use high-quality CBD products for your back injuries? I used it for a very bad herniated disc and sciatica issue And I am using a CBD salve for a newly diagnosed pinched nerve. I think it’s an L5 issue.

This pinched nerve diagnosis may be what has been causing me ungodly lower right groin/nerve pain, nausea, vomiting, dry heaves in the AM for the past five years. This pain would flare up in the morning. The doctors thought it was a hernia and I had two surgeries, for what was probably unnecessary removal of very minor hernias. The pain did not go away after the surgeries and was becoming unbearable. A doctor from university of Pennsylvania examined me a couple weeks ago and noticed in an old x-ray that I had what appears to be an undiagnosed pinched nerve. He has referred me to a spinal specialist with Penn medicine.

When this was diagnosed several weeks ago, I started to put CBD salve on my lower back/spine Before bed and when I wake up. This has all but eliminated this pain I have lived with for about five years.

If it works with no really downside, it works. I'm skeptical of salves and rubs. they have done zero for me. My guys again explained it by saying I'm stupid pain wise. Muscle acts like body armor and heavy lifting sort of de inhibits your pain response. It made sense to me , my pain seems like 1-2 or 5-6, then 9,10. It's either near nothing I guess I feel it, or holy crap!!
Others I know see results and it you do with no downside that's an awesome thing for you.

 

[bourbon n blues]

What stretch exercises are you doing. I have an inversion table. It seems aggravate my back. I’m afraid to use it.

Look for my posts just above this post.

 

[bourbon n blues]

Had back pain for years but 4 years ago, I needed surgery (disectomy) to fix a herniated disc that sent fragments to my sciatic nerve. I didn’t get immediate relief but the surgery was a better option than being in pain meds for months while the fragments “dissolved “. The pain then was actually sciatic that went from glute to lower calf. The ongoing back pain is separate and I have no real answers other than stretching before and after activities seems to help a little.

You were the" this dude needs surgery right away guy", the guys I know told me signs of when it's a surgery thing. Funny thing the PT and Chiropractor often know prior to the docs. they can tell if you'll respond but your hands are often tied by the old try some kind of PT or chiropractor for 2-4 weeks. These guys said when the disc blows out and literally presses on the nerve that hard almost nothing helps but surgery. Luckily most cases aren't that way.

 

[flinter]

That exercise crap will get you every time lol!
I have had lower back issues since I was 17 and in a car accident. The latest round of pain was as a result of a fall-my sacroiliac really started acting up with spasms that took my breath away. Fortunately I have found a local chiropractor who has been a Godsend and helps keep me aligned! I was never trusting of this discipline until I was referred to him by a very good friend! I also remember my grandfather seeing an osteopath back in the early 70s for sciatica who did some adjustments and recommended traction as a possibility. My pop and I went into our basement and decided to try utilizing the open back stairs where I lifted him enough to hang onto the back of the step just high enough to allow his feet not to touch the floor. It worked out very well and limited his pain for the remainder of his life, approximately 9 years!

 

[ForesterGump]

It takes a long time to heal the back. I have degenerative disk and severe stenosis. I'm 73 and worked around sawmills, logging and homesteading most of my working life. Everyone I talked to said the same thing - avoid surgery. Surgery can't be reversed.

I started out with a chiropractor that like to twist the back. I felt worse every time I went. So, I found a chiro that used a technique that pushes bones into place. No more sudden jerks or snaps. It helped.

Decompression will help to pull the disks apart. I've tried inversion tables, but I didn't like all the blood to my head. What I did find was a device called a Lo-Bak. Picked it up on Ebay for $20. I use it every morning, but it can be used at any time. It takes a couple of weeks to be effective. But, it does help. I also use a wedge pillow at night, and that takes some pressure off of the back.

I also have done some PT. I do some each morning as well as some stretches. I then go for a 2-3 mile walk. Walking is a wonderful exercise for your back, no matter how fast or slow you go. I get better as I walk. I find that exercises sound fine, but they're hard to do with a bad back.

I also got some stem cell procedures done. I used a doctor who used the Regenexx protocol. They take blood from you and spin it down. They then inject it to the places with the assistance of an imagining device. Procedure takes about 30-45 minutes. The blood is drawn in the morning. Procedure in the afternoon. It takes about 4-6 weeks before you notice any improvement. The procedure is not covered by insurance and is about $3500. Insurance pays for doctor's visit and the MRI.

I found that these have offered a good deal of relief. Last year, I couldn't lift more than about 15-20 lbs without severe back pain. This year I'm lifting 100 lbs with little pain. I do wear a back brace when doing any heavy work.

I tried CBD with mixed results. It seemed to work at first, but seemed to lose it's effectiveness the longer I used it. I do take turmeric. I have never taken aspirin or NSAIDs or epidurals. Epidurals aren't very kind to the bones. I've also taken Alpha Lipoic Acid, which has seemed to help the nerves develop. I add some lions mane mushroom to my morning coffee. That also helps the nerves. I also boosted my Vitamin D level to about 80. For any cramps, I take magnesium.

I've done a lot of reading on the subject, and I've tried nearly everything out there to stay away from surgery. I still have arthritis in the back. It does cause some pain, but mainly in the 2-3 category. I have no problem sleeping. I have no problem doing the around the house stuff. I do have some limitations due to some probable nerve damage. Walking on uneven ground is a challenge. I can travel with no problems. Things have really gotten better as time goes on. Aging has slowed me down. Now, if I could only work up some ambition.

 

[Ski]

Based on my experience before my surgery, I would want an MRI before I have a chiropractor twisting my back. Prior to my surgery, my back pain was getting unbearable and about that time the base I was stationed at got a chiropractor as a demonstration program. He started twisting me and I was getting progressively worse until he finally said, "I can't help you." Within 2 weeks my pain was the screaming crying pain that I described above that lead to my surgery. If you have a herniated disk digging into your spine/sciatic, no amount of twisting is going to fix you. I believe the chiropractor made my back worse and led to me needing surgery earlier than perhaps I would have needed otherwise. Get an MRI to see exactly what is going on before getting physical adjustments.

 

[dailybuck777]

I am not a doctor but an attorney who deals with a lot of back injury cases. I also am 62 and have suffered from severe back pain with loss of feeling in my legs and was recommended for surgery at the L5-S1 level about 2 years ago. After 3 months of PT and resting my pain went away and now I only deal with occasional pain, but nothing close to where I was. I couldn't even stand up or walk at one point. If a doctor tells you that you need surgery on the first visit run. The doctor who says to do everything possible until the pain is too much is the one to go with. If you are just having back pain and no leg numbness or incontinence you should try everything before undergoing surgery. If you get a fusion it places the level above and the level below under more stress for failure which is important especially if you are active or have multilevel degeneration. What everyone else said is correct, get a good doctor who would prefer not doing surgery and then get surgery when you know you need it, not just because it bothers you now and then. I was almost ready but the doctor convinced me to wait, and I am glad he did. As mentioned by others, these surgeries are much more successful that years past, but still have a fairly high failure rate (no improvement or worsening conditions) so make sure and get someone you trust has your best interest at heart. Someone who never experienced severe back pain will never understand how debilitating it is.

I practiced workers compensation law for 17 years and the advice about back fusion ultimately leading to more problems is spot on. You simply add stress to a different area and ultimately will need more surgery. The very last resort to ever use.

 

[dailybuck777]

I’m a 56 year old with degenerate disk disease. I was diagnosed with a herniated disk at L4-L5 and annular tear at L5-S1. I’ve done PT, injections and pain meds since being diagnosed. My quality of life since the injury hasn’t been the best. Pain level is 4-8 every day all day and night. Was doing fairly well until 3 weeks ago. Was walking thru the kitchen when I felt my back go again. My pain specialist says hold off on surgery as long as I can. Can someone please offer advice or help me by telling my your experiences? I would deeply appreciate any insight.

By CT scan I have severe degenerative disc disease in my low back. However, I have virtually no problems. As I mentioned above, I practiced workers compensation law for a good amount of time and have had a lot of experience with orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons. Will add that there are quality differences that are substantial between different surgeons.

I had a really nasty problem in my thoracic back about 20 years ago and I started exercising and strengthening my shoulders and lower back and it solved the problem completely. Prior to the increased strength, I could feel a pulling in my thoracic back even when I picked up a dinner plate. Now, of course I don't even notice anything when I pick up a plate. My theory and experience is that building up your muscles supports your lower back and takes pressure off of the discs and nerves. For the last 7 years, I have exercised everyday including weightlifting every other day and cardio everyday. I know it is helped tremendously.

In my workers compensation experience, laminectomies were quite often successful. As noted above spinal fusions are not nearly as successful. One potentially very dangerous strengthening exercise is the deadlift, which can also be very helpful. In your condition, you probably wouldn't want to do it, but maybe you could start with extremely low weights under the supervision of your doctor. The deadlift immediately helped me a lot when I first did it a long time ago. I stopped doing it a while back simply to protect myself and I'm doing different muscle strengthening exercises mostly for my legs and butt, which help a lot. On my part, I believe that strengthening your muscles should be the number one goal of exercise and that stretching would be number two. Both are very helpful, but as I said my experience is building up musculature is more helpful to me. Ideally, you want strong musculature that is flexible.

Wish you the best of luck with your very difficult situation.

 

[nitlion93]

You were the" this dude needs surgery right away guy", the guys I know told me signs of when it's a surgery thing. Funny thing the PT and Chiropractor often know prior to the docs. they can tell if you'll respond but your hands are often tied by the old try some kind of PT or chiropractor for 2-4 weeks. These guys said when the disc blows out and literally presses on the nerve that hard almost nothing helps but surgery. Luckily most cases aren't that way.

My insurance actually made me do 5-6 weeks of non invasive medicine before they would pay for an MRI. Thus, I went to the chiropractor Vice PT because I had already been doing core exercises. I think the chiropractor helped cause my disc to fragment because the pain moved from back to leg and the eventual MRI showed signs of fragments pressing against the nerve.

 

[bourbon n blues]

My insurance actually made me do 5-6 weeks of non invasive medicine before they would pay for an MRI. Thus, I went to the chiropractor Vice PT because I had already been doing core exercises. I think the chiropractor helped cause my disc to fragment because the pain moved from back to leg and the eventual MRI showed signs of fragments pressing against the nerve.

It's always a danger with any kind of motion. It's quite unfortunate that they require this stuff because the fellows I know have a good track record of when people need an operation.

 

[bourbon n blues]

It takes a long time to heal the back. I have degenerative disk and severe stenosis. I'm 73 and worked around sawmills, logging and homesteading most of my working life. Everyone I talked to said the same thing - avoid surgery. Surgery can't be reversed.

I started out with a chiropractor that like to twist the back. I felt worse every time I went. So, I found a chiro that used a technique that pushes bones into place. No more sudden jerks or snaps. It helped.

Decompression will help to pull the disks apart. I've tried inversion tables, but I didn't like all the blood to my head. What I did find was a device called a Lo-Bak. Picked it up on Ebay for $20. I use it every morning, but it can be used at any time. It takes a couple of weeks to be effective. But, it does help. I also use a wedge pillow at night, and that takes some pressure off of the back.

I also have done some PT. I do some each morning as well as some stretches. I then go for a 2-3 mile walk. Walking is a wonderful exercise for your back, no matter how fast or slow you go. I get better as I walk. I find that exercises sound fine, but they're hard to do with a bad back.

I also got some stem cell procedures done. I used a doctor who used the Regenexx protocol. They take blood from you and spin it down. They then inject it to the places with the assistance of an imagining device. Procedure takes about 30-45 minutes. The blood is drawn in the morning. Procedure in the afternoon. It takes about 4-6 weeks before you notice any improvement. The procedure is not covered by insurance and is about $3500. Insurance pays for doctor's visit and the MRI.

I found that these have offered a good deal of relief. Last year, I couldn't lift more than about 15-20 lbs without severe back pain. This year I'm lifting 100 lbs with little pain. I do wear a back brace when doing any heavy work.

I tried CBD with mixed results. It seemed to work at first, but seemed to lose it's effectiveness the longer I used it. I do take turmeric. I have never taken aspirin or NSAIDs or epidurals. Epidurals aren't very kind to the bones. I've also taken Alpha Lipoic Acid, which has seemed to help the nerves develop. I add some lions mane mushroom to my morning coffee. That also helps the nerves. I also boosted my Vitamin D level to about 80. For any cramps, I take magnesium.

I've done a lot of reading on the subject, and I've tried nearly everything out there to stay away from surgery. I still have arthritis in the back. It does cause some pain, but mainly in the 2-3 category. I have no problem sleeping. I have no problem doing the around the house stuff. I do have some limitations due to some probable nerve damage. Walking on uneven ground is a challenge. I can travel with no problems. Things have really gotten better as time goes on. Aging has slowed me down. Now, if I could only work up some ambition.

I started out with a chiropractor that like to twist the back. I felt worse every time I went. So, I found a chiro that used a technique that pushes bones into place. No more sudden jerks or snaps. It helped.

My guy works this way, he likes to use this table but prior to adjustments he'll work the soft tissue with his thumb by moving the muscle around, like the negative of a weight training exercise. Like how you would stretch it but concentrated pressure on what he calls adhesions. Some motions he put me through will make something pop but it's pretty gentle. The muscle work can be painful but it really works well.
Then he'll do adjustments like you described. He said those types are fine ( I think he's be careful not to trash colleagues, he also said patents can misinterpret things so I think he's being cautious). The combo really helps me.

 

[bourbon n blues]

By CT scan I have severe degenerative disc disease in my low back. However, I have virtually no problems. As I mentioned above, I practiced workers compensation law for a good amount of time and have had a lot of experience with orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons. Will add that there are quality differences that are substantial between different surgeons.

I had a really nasty problem in my thoracic back about 20 years ago and I started exercising and strengthening my shoulders and lower back and it solved the problem completely. Prior to the increased strength, I could feel a pulling in my thoracic back even when I picked up a dinner plate. Now, of course I don't even notice anything when I pick up a plate. My theory and experience is that building up your muscles supports your lower back and takes pressure off of the discs and nerves. For the last 7 years, I have exercised everyday including weightlifting every other day and cardio everyday. I know it is helped tremendously.

In my workers compensation experience, laminectomies were quite often successful. As noted above spinal fusions are not nearly as successful. One potentially very dangerous strengthening exercise is the deadlift, which can also be very helpful. In your condition, you probably wouldn't want to do it, but maybe you could start with extremely low weights under the supervision of your doctor. The deadlift immediately helped me a lot when I first did it a long time ago. I stopped doing it a while back simply to protect myself and I'm doing different muscle strengthening exercises mostly for my legs and butt, which help a lot. On my part, I believe that strengthening your muscles should be the number one goal of exercise and that stretching would be number two. Both are very helpful, but as I said my experience is building up musculature is more helpful to me. Ideally, you want strong musculature that is flexible.

Wish you the best of luck with your very difficult situation.

Light deadlifts or variations are enough for rehab but you must be careful. My dad was of small stature but very strong. Big hands, strong back, and old farm boy and a mechanic. I inherited my build and strength from him. And this is what many don't get, some people are better built for certain things.

 

[tlbakernc]

I am not a doctor but an attorney who deals with a lot of back injury cases. I also am 62 and have suffered from severe back pain with loss of feeling in my legs and was recommended for surgery at the L5-S1 level about 2 years ago. After 3 months of PT and resting my pain went away and now I only deal with occasional pain, but nothing close to where I was. I couldn't even stand up or walk at one point. If a doctor tells you that you need surgery on the first visit run. The doctor who says to do everything possible until the pain is too much is the one to go with. If you are just having back pain and no leg numbness or incontinence you should try everything before undergoing surgery. If you get a fusion it places the level above and the level below under more stress for failure which is important especially if you are active or have multilevel degeneration. What everyone else said is correct, get a good doctor who would prefer not doing surgery and then get surgery when you know you need it, not just because it bothers you now and then. I was almost ready but the doctor convinced me to wait, and I am glad he did. As mentioned by others, these surgeries are much more successful that years past, but still have a fairly high failure rate (no improvement or worsening conditions) so make sure and get someone you trust has your best interest at heart. Someone who never experienced severe back pain will never understand how debilitating it is.

So far I’m not experiencing a lot of pain shooting down my legs, numbness, or bowel issues. Pain is pretty much localized to where the disks are bad.

The angular tear and herniation I’m my lumbar is just the latest to a long list of spinal issues. I had 4 level ACDF surgery 5/6 years ago. Unfortunately if left me with a spinal cord bruise. Within a year of surgery the level above has narrowed. It’s left me with a type of dystrophy in my limbs. Sometimes I have issues walking done stairs or being in a squat position. At times the nerves misfire so bad it looks like seizures. My fingers in both hands misfire as well. I’m looking at another surgical fusion at some point. Unfortunately I think going on disability my be in future. The dystrophy issues aren’t fun. Keep waiting to fall down a flight of stairs or stumble to the ground.

 

[tlbakernc]

Based upon everyone’s advice I have a much better understanding of what I need try. I can’t let the pain make my decision for me. Right now I just want the easy way out and do surgery. That would be a horrible choice at this time. Starting tomorrow I’m going to start walking, stretching, and core strengthening. If all goes well I will start light lifting.

Wanted to think everyone for advice and relying their experience. Seriously mean that. Thank you all!

 

[bourbon n blues]

Based upon everyone’s advice I have a much better understanding of what I need try. I can’t let the pain make my decision for me. Right now I just want the easy way out and do surgery. That would be a horrible choice at this time. Starting tomorrow I’m going to start walking, stretching, and core strengthening. If all goes well I will start light lifting.

Wanted to think everyone for advice and relying their experience. Seriously mean that. Thank you all!

Strength is body armor, just proceed carefully.

 

[diontechristmas]

I started out with a chiropractor that like to twist the back. I felt worse every time I went. So, I found a chiro that used a technique that pushes bones into place. No more sudden jerks or snaps. It helped.

My guy works this way, he likes to use this table but prior to adjustments he'll work the soft tissue with his thumb by moving the muscle around, like the negative of a weight training exercise. Like how you would stretch it but concentrated pressure on what he calls adhesions. Some motions he put me through will make something pop but it's pretty gentle. The muscle work can be painful but it really works well.
Then he'll do adjustments like you described. He said those types are fine ( I think he's be careful not to trash colleagues, he also said patents can misinterpret things so I think he's being cautious). The combo really helps me.

Years ago, when I was into powerlifting a chiro really helped. As you said, I think their main benefit is allowing the back muscles to relax. I had so much lower back pain for a young guy. Turned out I had/have some mild to immediate determination but nothing major. This guy stretched me, did massage and adjustments and my muscles eventually stopped the spasms and I felt like a new man. Lots of good advice here, but in my experience, a good chiro is really best at soft tissue lower to mid back pain.

 

[bourbon n blues]

Years ago, when I was into powerlifting a chiro really helped. As you said, I think their main benefit is allowing the back muscles to relax. I had so much lower back pain for a young guy. Turned out I had/have some mild to immediate determination but nothing major. This guy stretched me, did massage and adjustments and my muscles eventually stopped the spasms and I felt like a new man. Lots of good advice here, but in my experience, a good chiro is really best at soft tissue lower to mid back pain.

Imo it can even help severe pain that's short term, but that should help rather quickly, long term if it's at least giving some relief , probably. My probably means it's not an operation thing and it's safe to perform the procedure .

 

[PSU20]

Ham string curls with light weights and many reps also seems to work really well for my lower back.

 

[lowhandicapper]

Look for my posts just above this post.

I have struggled with low back pain basically my entire life, or from when I was about 16 until I was 42ish......Regular chiropractic, shots, therapy, you name it, I did it and I did it regularly.

I bought an inversion table about 3 years ago and it changed my life. I rarely have any type of pain or discomfort ever now. It's hard to get used to at first, just like any regular exercise one may do but once you understand how to use it and how to allow your body to let go, it WILL heal you. The science of traction is completely healing. A disc needs to be separated to heal so that fluid can enter and heal it, when it is compressed it cannot fill with fluid. It took me about month or so to really get used to using and get more aggressive with the declines and it hurt sometimes as I was pulling apart a herniated disc and another one or two that were aggravated as well.
If you have patience and understanding with the inversion table it will heal you but as with any other healing practice like therapy or exercise it will not feel like a picnic at first, like being sore after a therapy session. The key is going to and holding positions that do not make your body contract or tighten the muscles, go to points where you can stay "released." Those points will get better and better with each traction. If you laying upside down with all you core muscles firing to keep you together, you'll get nothing out of it. Let go!

 

[bourbon n blues]

Ham string curls with light weights and many reps also seems to work really well for my lower back.

Good for

I have struggled with low back pain basically my entire life, or from when I was about 16 until I was 42ish......Regular chiropractic, shots, therapy, you name it, I did it and I did it regularly.

I bought an inversion table about 3 years ago and it changed my life. I rarely have any type of pain or discomfort ever now. It's hard to get used to at first, just like any regular exercise one may do but once you understand how to use it and how to allow your body to let go, it WILL heal you. The science of traction is completely healing. A disc needs to be separated to heal so that fluid can enter and heal it, when it is compressed it cannot fill with fluid. It took me about month or so to really get used to using and get more aggressive with the declines and it hurt sometimes as I was pulling apart a herniated disc and another one or two that were aggravated as well.
If you have patience and understanding with the inversion table it will heal you but as with any other healing practice like therapy or exercise it will not feel like a picnic at first, like being sore after a therapy session. The key is going to and holding positions that do not make your body contract or tighten the muscles, go to points where you can stay "released." Those points will get better and better with each traction. If you laying upside down with all you core muscles firing to keep you together, you'll get nothing out of it. Let go!

if it worked for you great, it's not always that effective for everyone . There are multiple areas where the sciatic nerve can get pinched for example.
And the disc won't always realign itself like it did for you.