Back's out again-update-still in pain

[GreenheadJim]

Lemme see yo pinky boy!

You can have both pinky's if you can make this pain go away. I actually have a really high tolerance for pain, but I have never felt anything like this. I'm having to use a walker and pretty much drag my feet.

[TK]

I understand all this to well. Wife getting you dressed, can't pick your feet up more than a couple inches, trying to sleep with pillows propped under your knees, pain down the back of the leg all the way to the toes ect..... I've been dealing with it for almost 8 years now. I've had the block shots, rehab and surgery. Since the surgery I do pretty well 70% of the time but the 30% that I hurt I would not wish on my worst enemy.

I said all that to say this. Try an inversion table. You can buy one online at Wal-Mart for around $200. I got one a couple months ago and wish I had done it 8 years ago. Hell if it doesn't work your only out a couple hundred dollars. Compared to what you are spending now on meds and shots that's nothing.

BTW I had a ruptured L5-S1, bulged L4-L5 and bulged L3-L4 on my last MRI 4 years ago so I'm not sure what I have now. I know there are a lot of people in a lot worse shape than me so I don't complain a lot but it is a pain that you can not explain unless it has happened to you.

[Seymore]

Discectomy L5-S1 '97
fusion L5-S1 '05
neurostim '06
Revision surgery L5-S1 '06
Fusion failed, Metal loose, Uncontrolled bone growth from bone growth protein. All ripped out and done over.
Spinal injections every 3-4 months since '05
Permanent nerve damage with 40% loss of left leg.
Butrans patch 20 ug

Basically, I'm screwed.

All I can suggest is that you ask the surgeon a bunch of questions. I they won't answer or give short clipped answers find another doc. He/She should spend as much time as you need to get all your questions answer.

Ask what specific procedure they are doing, what type and brand instrumentation. Then go look it up. Ask how many times they have done that particular procedure. Not how many times they have done a discectomy or whatever but how many times they have done that specific approach and the success rate they have.

Ask where they learned to do the procedure. If it was at a Holiday Inn Residency Program move on. A Holiday Inn Residency is where the medical manufactures bring docs in to show them new procedures using their equipment. It's over a few days for a couple of hours each day. Then the doc goes out on the town with his wife/girlfriend for a free vacation at the companies expense.

[Deadeye]

GHJ, man I hate that for you. I had 2 steriod injections and 2 nerve blocks Wed morning (without sedation). Wanted to show the doctor that I had a high tolerance of pain and this needle $#!+ wouldn't be nothing. Anyway, I got instant relief and this morning was able to put on socks using both hands. Been months since I could do that. I also started chiropractor treatments this morning.. the inital eval was I have less than 30% of spinal movement in my back... been so painful the past couple years, I've stopped bending my back, now all my facet joints are basically siezed up. They want to be pretty aggressive with treatment while my nerve block is in tact...
I say bring it on. "Hell Woodrow, it ain't dying I'm talking about, it's living..... "

I sure hope this chiropractic mojo works!

Dead

[GreenheadJim]

GHJ, man I hate that for you. I had 2 steriod injections and 2 nerve blocks Wed morning (without sedation). Wanted to show the doctor that I had a high tolerance of pain and this needle caca wouldn't be nothing. Anyway, I got instant relief and this morning was able to put on socks using both hands. Been months since I could do that. I also started chiropractor treatments this morning.. the inital eval was I have less than 30% of spinal movement in my back... been so painful the past couple years, I've stopped bending my back, now all my facet joints are basically siezed up. They want to be pretty aggressive with treatment while my nerve block is in tact...
I say bring it on. "Hell Woodrow, it ain't dying I'm talking about, it's living..... "

I sure hope this chiropractic mojo works!

Dead

Let me know if it does. I might go see a chiropractor too.

[7ducks]

I understand all this to well. Wife getting you dressed, can't pick your feet up more than a couple inches, trying to sleep with pillows propped under your knees, pain down the back of the leg all the way to the toes ect..... I've been dealing with it for almost 8 years now. I've had the block shots, rehab and surgery. Since the surgery I do pretty well 70% of the time but the 30% that I hurt I would not wish on my worst enemy.

I said all that to say this. Try an inversion table. You can buy one online at Wal-Mart for around $200. I got one a couple months ago and wish I had done it 8 years ago. Hell if it doesn't work your only out a couple hundred dollars. Compared to what you are spending now on meds and shots that's nothing.

BTW I had a ruptured L5-S1, bulged L4-L5 and bulged L3-L4 on my last MRI 4 years ago so I'm not sure what I have now. I know there are a lot of people in a lot worse shape than me so I don't complain a lot but it is a pain that you can not explain unless it has happened to you.

I have an inversion table one of you could borrow if you think it might help...PM me

[Deadeye]

I have an inversion table one of you could borrow if you think it might help...PM me

I'll ask the chiro this morning if it will help. If so, I'll holler at you... been thinking about finding one on Craigslist or something.
Dead

[TK]

The Chiropractor is going to tell you it's fools gold. Go read the reviews on Wal Marts web sight of their most popular selling table. Half of them paid for the table in a few weeks because they no longer needed the $50 a week chiropractor. I had been told to get one several times over the years by others with back problems but was just to hard headed. I have no question it has helped me. I have been virtually pain free since my purchase.

At least borrow B Vinci's and give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen?

[JDgator]

Is there anything you can do to prevent these back problems? I haven't had any back pain or injuries the first 33 years of my life and I'd like to keep it that way.

[GreenheadJim]

Had an MRI today and I have a ruptured L5. He gave me a shot and told me to come back in 3 weeks and we might do another one. He said I wasn't a candidate for surgery since the pain wasn't radiating into my legs. Hopefully this will work.

[Deadeye]

Jim, I hope the shot works, it has really helped me. I'm battling the joint stiffness now, chiro is working on that. Said my back pain stopped me from bending and moving for so long that my joints have basically rusted up....

It's hell getting older.

As for trying to avoid having a bad back, I wish I knew that answer. I'm in decent shape, 6'5 215lbs... not overweight, no history, etc.. just normal guy that was lucky enough to have two bulding disc. You know, I have often wondered if Paul had back problems.. he always asked God to remove the thorn in his side but never eluded to what chronic pain he had.... bet he had L4-L5 disc problems from all those beatings and nights spent on a jail floor.

Dead