Alright, Clutchfans, We have the best of the best of society on here, so I'm going out on a limb and asking some of you in the medical field or those of you with back problems to lend some advice. I've never had a back injury, nor have I ever been diagnosed with any sort of back deformity before. After years of feeling mild to moderate pain in my back and ignoring it, I finally have gone through the process of getting x-rays, an MRI and, today, my first trip to a pain management doctor. Never once in my life has a doctor said to me, "I can't really help you." Today was the day. According to my x-rays, my T5 - T8 vertebrate have a moderate to severe curvature, with loss of minerals and bone. The pain management doc also said I have degenerative disk disease. He told me that because of the mishaped structure of these vertebrae and the loss of bone, along with the curvature, the only "solution" is spine surgery. I even asked if injections were a long term solution and he said absolutely not. The problem isn't nerve-based. For me, that is terrifying. I don't even consider that as an option. I think the risks involved would change my entire lifestyle, but the pain isn't going to go away, so it seems. In the meantime, he prescribed 2 anti-inflammation pills, a muscle relaxer for spasms and Vicodin. Quite a lot of stuff. He recommended a spine surgeon to me, but I'm not even ready to go there yet. So, for all of you out there with any advice, constructive or funny, what would you do instead? Chiropractor? Expensive physical therapy? Becoming the white Radric Davis to numb the pain? Thanks in advance.
I guessed your condition might already be too severe for this but you can try hanging yourself upside down. I remember running across something like this awhile back and try it and it work for a sore back problem and letting oxygen into your vertebrate.
Another thing to try is using the stability ball daily exercise on your back. I have one and it's pretty useful also when my back is acting up.
Man, sorry to hear that. Back pain is serious b****, unrelenting. Here's hoping you find some relief.
I have a crush fracture, degenerative disk disease (DDD), and spinal arthritis. I was Dx'd at just 26yo, but I'd obviously had it for awhile due to the level of calcification present with the arthritis. This is what got me sent home from the army when I enlisted after 9/11. You know it's bad if the army takes you, and then sends you home. Anyway, the docs told me surgery would probably be the end result at some point, but that I had time to wait. The arthritis doesn't bother me too much unless I'm doing a lot of stooping. It's aggravating because most people just don't get it. They can't understand why I can lift something heavy (I'm usually fine) but nearly fall out after 5-10 minutes of preparing food or folding clothes. Stooping is just the worst. When my back does go "out," it's due to muscle spasms, and not the arthritis. So....you can't really *do* anything to make arthritis or DDD any better, but you can do something about the spasms, which can lessen the rest of the symptoms. I don't know how old you are or what kind of shape you're in, but I've used things like massage and chiropractors (both of which I love love love), but then you've got to figure what you can do for yourself. Things like: - dropping extra weight (any good sports fan ought to know: extra weight = more wear and tear on your body) - stretching - low-impact exercising, such as yoga or pilates to strengthen your core muscles, both abdominals and your back (I've done both, and both are plenty good) - resistance band exercises (these are probably the single best individual thing I've done for my back....bought mine at Walmart for ~$15 and it even came with a workout DVD complete with Hot Chick in spandex bending and stretching) Now, as it is with all things, all of the above requires a certain amount of self-discipline. Mine has been at various levels of good and bad over the years. Hopefully, you can reap some benefits of what has worked for me. Best of luck to you.
Wow, 3 vertebrae. That is going to be an expensive surgery. My guess is that they are going to install some plates in surgery and allow you to recover. Since it is thoracic, the plates will be less noticeable on your flexibility. We just talked about repairing disc rupture at Neurosurgery Grand Rounds yesterday morning.
Thanks for the advice, it looks as though you've had quite a battle. Awesome about enlisting too. I'm 24 and in the best shape of my life physically, so losing weight doesn't apply. That's what sucks; Surgery would definitely change what I've worked for. The stretching and chiropractor sounds like a decent alternative.
I'm hoping my teaching insurance will cover a portion of it if I choose to go that route. THe whole idea of plates in my spine is horrifying. I wonder about the potential of waking up without being able to move as a result of surgery. It seems so risky.
Codman, About 2.5 years ago I was diagnosed with 1 severly herniated disc (l4-s5, I think) and then two other with partial herniations. I have an inversion table (helpful and would recommend) Have had multiple steroid injections (very temporary) A percutaneous discectomy (didnt work) And a surgery in April that I forget the name but it worked well and I feel much better lately. Good luck, back pain sucks.
*sigh* I feel your pain...and wish you were in California so you wouldn't have to take all those prescription narcotics
Every case is individualized obviously, and I don't feel comfortable giving advice without seeing your films, knowing your whole history, etc. That said, back surgery is a b****. FBS (failed back surgery/syndrome) is a serious risk and comes in around 50%. I have seen so many bad results from surgeries that I have a hard time advocating them at all if it's not following trauma. Just be sure to weigh all options carefully before getting cut on. It is often the case that they fix the levels in question which causes undue stress on the levels immediately above and below the fixation and then you are stuck with going back to the OR for more extensive fixation. Not cool.
