Back pain. Do you have it?

[rizzle]

Originally Posted by foomanto

had a few ruptured discs about 10 years ago. i did not need fusing they just went in and removed the jelly from the donut so to speak.

Totally different ball game here.

Originally Posted by mikeyj23

Lower back pain here - degenerative discs as well, The core exercises are best for now, but I'm pretty sure (and certainly praying) that in 30 years when it gets a lot worse they'll be able to slap in fake discs pretty easily.

Bingo. I'm figuring, and praying, that at some point the technology will be available to do this.

Originally Posted by vstrommark

Preaching to the choir, my friend...

Yoga helps me quite a bit as do trunk strengthening exercises.
Just started glucosamine + condroitin + msm so it is still too early to tell how that will help, but it seems to help my chronic hand pain (dislocated all the bones in my right hand in a motorcycle accident).

I've been told that getting old ain't for sissies.

Been taking glucosamine chondroitin + msm for a couple of years now. Can't tell any difference, thinking yoga might be good. And getting old damn sure aint for sissies.

Originally Posted by MadAl

Are we talking upper, lower, mid back?

Lower.

[tsolomon]

I have suffered with lower back pain caused by muscle spasms for years. I spent a lot of time with the orthopedic approach, physical therapy and anti-inflammatory for a couple of years. Because of reoccurring problems, I then went to a chiropractor for a couple of sessions which helped more than the orthopedic. It seemed as long as I did my back exercises and stretching I could avoid throwing my back out. If I did throw it out, I went back to the chiropractor to get re-aligned. I now do yoga and the quality of my life has improved to the point where I'm much more physically active and don't worry about my back. Even if I get a twinge, I can do a couple of yoga stretches and not end up on the couch with the heating pad for 3-4 days. I find that yoga is a better, longer lasting stretch and includes the correct body alignment like the chiropractor.

[rizzle]

Originally Posted by Blueface

Lots of Vicadin.
Lots of Naproxen.


Each morning I wake up, it is there to remind me.
However, I love doing my own landscaping.
I carry bags of mulch and rocks.
I don't care anymore.
I want to live and it won't win over me.

Same and same.

Originally Posted by schnell987

Just a word of caution if anyone has back pain. Always worth it to have it checked out as soon as possible.

Initially had an MRI and they saw an "abnormality" in my sacrum. Then had more MRI's, CAT scans, Bone Scans, the works bro. Best any of the specialists can tell the abnormality is simply that, an abnormality.

Originally Posted by King James

have 2 degenerative disks (L5 and S1) that give me trouble from time to time and during certain tasks..... core training is good option

That seems to be the best that one can do.

[RGD.]

Back pain since 1978. Caused by lifting the front end of Lieutenant's Porsche up on the sidewalk. It was funny the first ten or so times I had done that - not so funny that day.

So yeah - been living with it every since. Never had the surgery done - cause they could not give me a warranty -


Ron

[AAlmeter]

Had a pretty badly herniated L5-S1 7 years ago. The pain was often unbearable. There were times where it took every ounce of willpower pull the car over to safety.

I had a microdiscectomy and a laminectomy Dec 24, 2003 and have been vastly improved since.

I still have trouble, especially when I lay down for more than 5-6 hours a night or when my weight creeps up.

I have never had any sort of physical therapy, since the doctor didnt think it was necessary (at the time of the surgery I was 20 and in great shape). I have, however, found that doing weightless squats helps to manage the pain quite a bit.

I can't remember a day I didn't have back pain in one degree or another.

[UPHOTO]

Fractured 4 vertebrae in my back about 7 years ago while snowboarding......

Can't do a thing about it besides feel the pain.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by RGD.

Never had the surgery done - cause they could not give me a warranty -


Ron

Ron,
They have recommended surgery for me for quite a while now with the same "no warranty".

I had a family doctor who was also a family friend who is now deceased whose words I will always remember.
He told me when it comes to back pain, go for surgery ONLY if you have been in the fetal position (and we all know what exactly that means when the pain really hits) for 30 days straight.
He always said if you can manage to break out of the fetal position, avoid the surgery as you may still end up in the fetal position post surgery.

[Genetic Defect]

bah

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by Big Vito

bah

Perry,
Have you been playing in the garage with sheep?

[Genetic Defect]

Originally Posted by Blueface

Perry,
Have you been playing in the garage with sheep?

its called keeping warm, you wear your way, I will wear mine my way

[yourchoice]

Wow, lots of back pain in these parts.

This is just a laymen’s suggestion, definitely not a doc, but I'm a big believer in a solid foundation. You may want to see a podiatrist if you have the more "common" back pain (not associated with accidents, falls, etc.). I have very flat feet and had problems with them in high school while playing football. I went to see a podiatrist then and have been trouble free since.