Herniated disk update....

[Grumpyguy]

Saw the back doctor today (really need to pay attention to his title I guess).

Took a few X-Rays, looked at the MRI and he said I have arthritis in the vertebrae where the disks are compressed.

Orders of action:
--physical therapy.
--start with lidocaine (spelling?) patches for a few days and then graduate to some other kind of steroid patch.
--then schedule for steroid shots in the spine

At this point, he could yank my spine out and replace it with a broom handle and I'd be happy. ; )

Bryan

[Grateful11]

Been there, done that. I hope the injections work. Do Not get too many
injections! I had like 5 and I have to wonder now if that's not part of my
problem. We are talking about Spinal Epidural Injections aren't we?

I feel for you. Back pain is a real Bit@h isn't it? My surgery is still on for
Sept. Man I hope it works!

[Grumpyguy]

Yup, Spinal Epidural...

Best wishes on the back surgery.

I assume your back pain sucks the life out of you, like me? Over the last month, the pain has just plain made me tired after work, not to mention that anything below the waste is almost out of reach.

[nwyaker]

On a positive note, I had surgery for a herniated disk in 1984 and have been pain free since.

[SDGuy]

nwyaker wrote:
On a positive note, I had surgery for a herniated disk in 1984 and have been pain free since.

Same here (9 years ago) - but it was a pretty obvious herniation when I saw the MRI - a little bulge sticking out. Laminectomy and removal of bulge resulted in instant relief. about two weeks to recover fully (they do have to cut through some muscle to get to the spine), and been pain-free ever since. Exercising regularly also probably has something to do with NOT having problems reappear.

[Jimmypoo]

I'm waiting on a clinical trial where they use a horse spinal cord to replace your - no, wait. That's the
cosmetic surgery I want done. The other - hell, I'll have to get back to you on this. Every time I hear
"herniated" I just want to turn my head and cough.

[mick e]

mick e had some junked up disks in his neck. One bulging, one herniated. He got some pain relief and rest, followed by physical therapy and core strengthening. Then he took up road cycling to build up the back muscles. The key may have been losing 20lbs. The doctor believes that the disks still have vulnerability, but are more than protected by the muscle surrounding them.

Becoming more fit was huge. The pain never returned, and after a couple years of cycling, mick e regained his strength-of-ten-men.

[JoeM]

Takes a heck of a lot o' neck muscle to heft that mullet, dude.

[Grateful11]

Grumpyguy wrote:
Yup, Spinal Epidural...

Best wishes on the back surgery.

I assume your back pain sucks the life out of you, like me? Over the last month, the pain has just plain made me tired after work, not to mention that anything below the waste is almost out of reach.

I really quite depressing at times. My wife has learned not to ask
anymore she says she can just look at me and tell how bad it is. I have
spells when it's really bad and sometimes when it's somewhat tolerable.
I've been battling my pain for nearly 4 years. It mainly ran down my
right side, now it mainly the left but it can both or either. I don't like taking
the high powered pain medicine because of the way it makes me feel, I
prefer to have some control of my surroundings. I'm not looking
forward to a through the back double fusion but I've had two opinions
and it looks like that's the way to go for me at this point. They say my
surgeon is one of the best in the country and I have confidence in him
there's many out there that i don't, I've been to quite few back doctors
over the years. I'm really not sure i would want to live another 10-15
years like this. The pain as you say, just sucks the quality of life right
out of you. I haven't had a good nights sleep in years, I'm usually part
of the night in the bed and part in a recliner.

[Jimmypoo]

Grateful11 wrote:
My wife has learned not to ask anymore she says she can just look at me and tell how bad it is.

That could come in VERY handy if you start doing the 18 year old baby sitter and change your name
to "Buttafucco." Just keep wincing.... and start a harem!