Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Doctor checked my MRI today, not as bad as I thought but not great, L4 and L5 are basically squashed, gonna get the Cortizone shot next week right next to the nerve that they are pushing on, give that a try before surgery. Anyone had that shot and did it work/help?

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

I can't comment on the shot either way, but have you seen a chiropractor?

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Yeah, helped a little but not great, have been living with this for about 5 yrs. and needed another option.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

I've got back problems that come and go. I'd definitely exhaust all other options before any needles or surgery. A single chiropractor may not do it, but don't give up. Try another. When my back first flared up, I was going to a chiropactor office with a brother/sister practice. 6 weeks of treatment with the brother netted little relief. One time with the sister and the pain started to subside. Little nuances in the treatment can yield big dividends.

I've seen too many people messed up with needles and surgery, even though at the time you're going through the pain, any option looks good.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Thanks :tu

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

You also may benifit from accupuncture Japanese style has been especially bennificial for my athletic related injuries to my wrist.
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Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Personally, I did the cortisol shot. It was a frikkin miracle. I went from not being able to move my left leg to walking, running, normal life.

It wasn't a permanent fix, but it bought me several years of freedom. I'd do the shot again in a minute if I needed to.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Thanks Scott :tu

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Hope you get the issue solved Mike. Back pain is a real b!tch.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Thanks bud, it's making me feel old, gotta fix it!

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

ok....older :r

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

I have had back problems since 1979 but I've been able to manage the pain without surgery or injections.

As for Cortisone - yes I have had injections and honestly wish the stuff came in six packs.

I've had one injection in my right heel and two in my left heel (within a month of each other) back in 2001. No problems since.

I had an injection in my left hip last year about this time to take care of a problematic sciatic nerve. Two days after the injection I was bowling again.

And I'm hoping that they give me one on Friday to deal with my right elbow. Call it tennis elbow if you want but I'm calling it bowlers elbow.

I'd take a Cortisone shot any day over surgery.

Ron

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Elbows are next :tu

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Don't have lower back issues, Mike (knock on wood)...but I had cortizone shots in both my shoulders a couple weeks ago, and my quality of life is already much improved.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Good to hear Tom, I am sure my back is from work and lifting heavy when I was younger, elbows are from lifting, knees are from age :r I had a Cortisone shot years ago in my wrist and never had another problem, hoping for the best.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

I am hoping for the best for you too, Mike. :tu

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Seems a lot of "us" have lower back problems. I had lower pain months ago and then I got suspenders for work. Let me tell you, the weight taken off my back was a great relief. I no longer have a sore back. It may look funny but who cares as long as I'm happy.

I hope everything works out for you Mike. I can't imagine myself and the problems I may have in 20 years.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

I have had back problems for about the past 10 years...I have had the shots in the past and they work for the most part (just mask the actual problem) but havent had one recently. I was always told by my doctors that the day I cant get out of bed because the pain is so bad, is the day I get the surgery, although I am still young so it may depend on what the age of the person is that's having the problem. Anyway good luck brother, hope everything works out for you :tu

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Trying to join the FOGs Mike? :D

I have had bouts with my back and shoulder for most of my adult life. I was a bit rough on my body as a young man and now I am paying for it I guess.

Hope you feel better soon. Just don't let it interfer with the fishing!

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Carrying that "big gun"! :D

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

I had a severe herniation at L4-L5 that was pushing on my left sciatic nerve, which sent a constant sharp pain down my left leg. The pain would never go away completely and standing or walking made it much worse. I had two injections. The first one was done by a crappy Kaiser doctor and he missed the area completely so it did nothing for me. The second one was done by a well recommended spine surgeon (switched to my wife's much better insurance) who targeted the nerve perfectly. My pain went away completely for about two months and then came back and got worse. I opted for surgery as the pain was getting worse and you can't get more than 3 epidurals in a 12 month period. In July of this year I had a microdiscectomy and laminectomy. My doc basically removed the bulging disc material and a little bone and cartilage to free up as much room around the base of the nerve as possible. My sciatic pain is now completely gone. Different solutions work for different people, and it depends a lot on how good the doctor is.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

:tpd:

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

This was the same for me. I had pain in L4-L5. Shot only worked for 1-2 weeks. Decided on surgery in July and it was the best decision I made all year. I am now pain free. My only recommendation would be is to have a nero-surgeon do the surgery.
Lots of people told me to not to get the surgery but I am glad I did.
Of course it is different for everyone. Goodluck!

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

When you tell people you're having back surgery it seems like everyone knows someone who knows someone whose life was ruined by having back surgery. The big thing is to find a doctor who is good at what he does. I was fortunate that my wife works at a physical therapy clinic and has a steady stream of people come through who are doing rehab after back surgery. The doctor I ended up going to has a very good success rate and my wife could see that firsthand.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

I agree with Kevin, though I would try to exhaust all non-surgical options before opting for surgery. I had a lamenectomy in 1989 after cracking two cervical vertabrae and crushing the C7 disc. It gave me my life back, the neurosurgeon did a wonderful job.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Absolutely. Surgery isn't something to jump into. I only went the surgery route after doing PT 4 different times, having a failed epidural, and a successful epidural that only gave 2 months of pain relief. And a lot of vicodin. Guys, be very careful with pain medication, it wreaks havoc with your body. I feel so much better now that I'm not taking pills every day.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Got my shot of Cortisone a little while ago - :banger

X-rays showed everything to be good except for the tendon tearing. Got the shot, little heating pad and a brace and I should be good to go in a few days.

Ron

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

So, I had an injection this morning, took about 10 minutes, procedure is basically pain free, I am already feeling a difference, doctor says in about 24 hrs. I should really notice improvement, hoping it works and lasts for awhile :tu

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

You reminded me in the PIF about this thread :tu

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

I tweaked my back at work about 3 years ago. (after 30 years of lifting things wrong). It's more of a muscle thing with me. My doc didn't notice and compression of the vertebrae. There was a HUGE knot in the lumbar region, right next to my spine, though. Cramped muscles. I got a deep tissue massage, and that worked wonders. Now, I'm careful not to lift heavy objects without help, and heat helps me. Never seen a chiropractor. I might need to, to get my alignment fixed.

A friend of mine went and saw a chiropractor in HS. The next day, he could not move. His parents called the guy, and he told them (after the fact) that he should have gone and gotten a deep tissue massage to align the muscles with the bones. So, based on that, I'm going to say if you go see a chiropractor, get a massage afterwards. DTMs are AWESOME!! It's been a few years, and my back's been acting up.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Cool, hope it makes a big difference for you. If you're already feeling better you should be on a good track since there will be additional pressure on the area until the cortisone is fully absorbed.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

I got in an accident back in 2008:
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3337

Ever since my back is rather sensitive. If I ride my Harley too much or sleep the wrong way or run too much I get laid up for days. Doc says its muscular and I'm sol.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

I have had cortisone shots for L1,2 problems. They worked great for me. Just remember that you still have the injury even when you feel less pain. That was the hard part for me.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

In SOME cases the relief of inflammation allows the injury to heal, particularly in conjunction with physical therapy. This is not always the case though, and I'm pretty sure the majority just get relief for a little while and have the pain come back.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

I'm literally going through the same thing right now, had the cortizone through epieral Dec 19th, just to ease the pain, I've already been told that my L4-L5 are too damaged and will require surgery, which I'm having Jan 16th.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Good luck with the surgery, hope it works out :tu

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

I suffer from occasional lower back pain (though it can be severe at times and once laid me immobile on the couch for 3 weeks with every movement an excruciating one) and I've been through the chiropractor thing as well and am not sure I'd recommend that since the internal friction could lead to worse pain and issues. Though I don't know the name of the procedure, my father had something done for his back where they insert needles into the spine or nerves (I think) and use electrical current to provide relief somehow that is intended to last for a good amount of time after. From what I understand, it's the last procedure people turn to before opting surgery. Hope you feel better.

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Figured I would give an update on this...so I had the Cortisol shot around the 1st of the year and it has helped alot, about a 10 minute procedure and basically pain free..It took a few days for me to really notice a difference but I could tell that it really took some of the swelling down and relieved the pressure on my nerve. The effect has been two fold as it has allowed me to be more active and work out more/better with less pain which has allowed me to drop about 10 lbs. which is also taking pressure off my back (less weight).

My back pain had caused me to be lazy and in being lazy I had put on a few lbs. I have lived most of my life at around 215 lbs. but I had gone up to about 230 lbs. and lost alot of muscle because of the lack of lifting, so now with my back pain being helped I am back to lifting better and losing fat, I am heading for the 200 lb. mark which should really help :tu

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

My wife has to get the shots sometimes for her hip, it is painfull but relieves the pain for a couple months. Her pain always seems to return. Good luck Mike! Good luck on the journey to 200 also. Hope the pain doesn't return!

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Yeah, not sure it's a long term solution but it may just be what I need to get jump started, and I am fairly sure losing more weight will help even more :tu

Re: Ok folks, who has lower back problems?
 

Remember, these shots are just a short term fix and does nothing to fix the problem. The shots can do a lot of damage if done too much, so just be wary of doing them. Ha a patient awhile back that had both hips replaced resulting from too many injections.