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Can anyone with lower back pain please give me some positive advice?
Hi,as I sit here crying I’m begging someone who knows how to deal with chronic lower back pain,to please give me some ideas.I’ve had this for 13 years and it’s every single day.I wake up every morning praying not to feel it,that is if I’m lucky enough to drift off to sleep even for a short while.I like to be on the go and this stops me dead in my tracks.A pain that I’m tired of.A burning constant pain, pain.I have degenerative disk disease and bulging disks on L4 and L5.I’m 32 and Monday is my birthday.This all stems from a epidural during my second child’s birth performed by a practicing Dr.(about 13 years ago,Nyack Hospital Rockland County N.Y.)One of the biggest law suites I missed out on.(major family problems at the time) I’m on powerful pain medicine but it doesn’t seem to take much of the pain away.And if I miss a dose I get irritable,tired,hot/cold flashes and a freezing nose.
I’ve tried everything. I feel like I’m at my wits end.Like I’m going to crack.People don’t understand emotionally how hard it is to be in pain every minute of everyday.I’ve had electric stimulation,massage therapy, adjustments,ice/heat physical therapy, a machine that was heavy as hell that vibrated and shocked my back all at once.Stretching, exercise.Next Thursday I’m suppose to go for spine decompression.DRX6000? Some new machine that’s suppose to help.
Anyways anyone with any advice whats so ever I would greatly appreciate.Sorry to have broken down yet I can not be alone in this unforgiving situation.Take care to you all.
Here are 2 links that will help you
http://health.discovery.com/centers/pain/pain.html
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/guide/pain-management-back-pain
and here is a site I use often.
http://spine-health.com
January 14th, 2009
umm try some advil
and i heard wonders about that icy hot patch
some ppl try laying on a wooden board while sleeping
do back exercisies before bed(if u can)
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January 14th, 2009
that would suck! try iceing it.
i hope you can fix your back pain, maybe its time to start thinking about surgery…
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January 14th, 2009
my boyfriend cries of the same pain he eats lots of aleve and it scares me
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January 14th, 2009
My sister-in-law has the same problem, but hers is due to a car accident. The chiropractor helped her-she found a good one, who worked around disks. The problem with pain meds is that you get kind of immune to them, and then, when you add chronic pain, you can get to a point where what would’ve once been a manageable pain actually feels even worse than it is. If you’re able, hot baths seemed to help her, and a good pillow and mattress. I wish you all the best.
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January 14th, 2009
I feel for you. My back pain is nothing compared to yours. My sister recently had persistent back pain. Fortunately, she wasn’t diagnosed with degenerative disk disease, but nothing the doctors gave her really helped. I suggested she see a naturalopathic doctor. Sorry I’m not sure if I spelled it correctly. These doctors practice medicine using natural cures. Although you won’t experience any relief immediately, their cures are meant to work naturally with your body instead of using the modern “jackhammer” method. My sister has seen a considerable difference in her condition. You may want to do some research and see if you can find these doctors in your area.
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Personal experience
January 14th, 2009
You have degenerative disk disease and bulging disks on L4 and L5. The best therapy is operation. But there are many other things that cause low back pain
Many things can cause low back injuries–muscle strain or spasm, sprains of ligaments (which attach bone to bone)/
The most common cause is using your back muscles in activities you’re not used to, like lifting heavy furniture or doing yard work.
The best position for relief when your back hurts is to lie on your back on the floor with pillows under your knees, with your hips and knees bent and your feet on a chair, or just with your hips and knees bent. This takes the pressure and weight off your back.
You may need 1 to 2 days of this sort of rest for a hurt back. Resting longer than this can cause your muscles to weaken, which can slow your recovery. Even if it hurts, walk around for a few minutes every hour.
Heating pads can help to relax painful muscle spasms. Use heat for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Ice packs and massages may also give relief.
Nonprescription medicines that reduce pain or swelling include aspirin, acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol), naproxen (brand name: Aleve), ketoprofen (brand name: Orudis), and ibuprofen (brand name: Motrin).
Treatment of ongoing back problems must be directed at the cause. This may mean losing weight (because being overweight can make back pain worse), getting your muscles in better shape, and improving your posture when you’re sitting, standing and sleeping.
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Yahoo Search
January 14th, 2009
As a chiropractic intern, I would usually say to go to a chiropractor. However, I noticed you have already had “adjustments”.
Therefore I have 3 pieces of advice.
1) The DRX6000 is an amazing machine!. It has been shown to have amazing results with discs. You may have some amazing results with that.
2) Find a chiropractor that does COX technique. This is a technique that uses flexion and distraction and has had really good results with discs and nerve problems.
3) Find a Chiropractor that does NET( Neuro-emotional technique). Many times pain that we are experiencing can be reduced by dealing with some of the emotions that we are going through. From your question, I can tell that emotions are a factor in your pain. It will not necessarily fix the “bio-mechanical” problem (The DRS will help with that), but it will help stop the physiological effects of the emotions on your body. Yes, I know it sounds weird, but it does really work. It actually cured 4 months of nauseousness that my wife had. it is really amazing.
I hope everything works out for you.
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January 14th, 2009
Obviously you have tried everything out there, except perhaps acupunture(I bet you have tried it but forgot to mention it). I, too, have L4-5 disc bulges and S1 stenosis. I have done exactly what you have done over the years.
You have tried every possible medical conservative(?) treatment. At this point, considering surgery or decompression are the only things left to you. One discussion of decompression is below;
“At present, non-surgical herniated disc treatment is widely practiced since it offers positive results for patients with herniated disc. This non-invasive mode of treatment is intended to bring you back to your day-to-day activities by getting rid of the pain and other symptoms that have developed from the herniated disc. Use non-surgical herniated disc treatment to lift the pressure on the nerve roots. This treatment plan is not applicable for patients of all age groups. A combination of different non-surgical herniated disc treatment options is available, and this procedure works best and provides long term relief. Try non-surgical herniated disc treatment plan, which includes:
• A short period of bed rest as part of the treatment plan, followed by a gradual increase in activity
• Physical therapy and exercise program recommended by physical therapists/health professionals to promote circulation, strengthen and relax the muscles
• Medication to control inflammation and pain
Patients with herniated disc disease are relieved from their painful condition after undergoing non-surgical herniated disc treatment program for 6 or 7 weeks. Non surgical herniated disc treatment is economical and provides instant relief from herniated disc problems. As per the nature of the case, the treatment frequency varies. So it is generally suggested by professionals to restore normal movement and function.”
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/non-surgical-herniated-disc-treatment-460802.html
I sincerely hope that decompression takes care of your pain. After that, only a surgical intervention is likely to help.
People who have never suffered from any chronic pain have little to no tolerance of those of us whose lives have been overtaken by it. There is no way for those who rarely feel acute short term pain to have any idea of how debilitating pain is.
Check out this website about dealing with chronic non malignant pain;
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000301/1331.html
It might give you some idea of how family practisioners are looking at pain.
This website has links for various pain practitioners, which might help you find a doctor who might be able to treat your chronic pain better;
http://www.fda.gov/FDAC/features/2004/204_pain.html
I wish that treating back pain or any other form of chronic pain was simpler, but it isn’t. It’s been a struggle for me, and that struggle will continue for the rest of my life. If you want to stay in touch, feel free to email me.
I wish you the best of treatment and hope that the decompression works for you.
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RN, chronic pain patient for over 25 years.
January 14th, 2009
Here are 2 links that will help you
http://health.discovery.com/centers/pain/pain.html
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/guide/pain-management-back-pain
and here is a site I use often.
http://spine-health.com
References :
I have a spine injury and am a chronic pain patient
January 14th, 2009
It’s a shame that you missed out on suing the doctor. Is it too late, or has the statute of limitations passed already?
Aside from that…I am 48 and have suffered from intermittant bouts of back pain from L4-5 and L5-S1 disc degeneration, and right now I’m suffering from the effects of an epidural cortisone shot causing sciatic pain that the doctor SWEARS will go away in a few weeks (I pray that he’s right). But thankfully my pain is manageable with only Tylenol and NSAIDs; it’s not as bad as what you describe.
It sounds to me like you have some nerve damage from a botched epidural anesthesia. It’s also possible that something happened to your discs during pregnancy or childbirth. I fell squarely on my butt during the 8th month of my second pregnancy, and had terrible pain from it. I went for acupuncture and it was like a miracle. But I think that the fall contributed to my back problems, because after that, if I hurt my back, it hurt much worse, and now the pain just won’t totally go away no matter what I do — which is why I got an epidural cortisone shot (I had been avoiding it for years and finally decided to try it…now I wish I hadn’t).
You’ve tried a lot of things. Have you tried acupuncture? I will also recommend that you look up Pete Egoscue and the Pain Free book (I’m sure you’d find it at your library). The Egoscue people have clinics all over the country and could evalute you in person. The other thing I want to mention to you is the books by Dr. Sarno, particularly “Healing Back Pain.”
Now I know that your pain began after the bad epidural, so you might not fit the exact description that Dr. Sarno paints in his book; however, I have found his books to be extremely helpful in calming me down when I get crazy from the pain. At first you may think that Dr. Sarno is nuts, but please give his book and his ideas a chance. He talks a lot about emotions and how they contribute to pain.
I know exactly what you’re talking about when you say that people don’t understand what it’s like to feel that sort of pain 24/7. They think you can take a few Advil and life will be rosy again. They have no idea.
Please hang in there. I hope you can get off the pain pills. Medications can really mess with your mood, too. I’m prone to depression and am thinking about getting on some sort of anti-depressant. Pain makes you depressed after a while. It messes with your moods, too. It’s a viscious cycle.
As for me….if my sciatic symptoms don’t go away, I plan to see a neurologist. Which makes me want to ask you….you HAVE seen a neurologist about this, haven’t you?! I will assume that you must have!
I might try acupuncture again or go back to a specific physical therapist who really helped me in the past when my problem was more manageable. I will not get any more shots or mess with the nerves anymore. I am trying like hell to avoid surgery. I have heard too many surgery horror stories. It’s enough to get a needle in your back; I don’t anyone putting a knife in there.
I hope you find your answers. Please try to take it one day at a time.
References :
http://www.egoscue.com/painfree/painfree.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E._Sarno