Back pain
- Thread starter robbor
- Start date
Adam in WI
Practically lives here
That's probably from a different type of acupuncture
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
I have S1-L? fused and L4-5 laminectomy. 12 years ago now.
I hurt all the time. I get steroid injections (nerve blocks) bilateral at those every 6 months. It helps IF I can maintain the schedule. Due to Dr retirement, scheduling and insurance BULLSHIT, sometimes I go 10 months and then its like chasing the wind for a year or so, till I get back in the rythm.
For pain, especially leg pain, I use a clay bag called a Hydroculator. Soak it in water. Usually people then boil it and use it hot. I freeze that sucker. Then I put it in a ziplock (a gallon bag fits exactly) and then I fold a bathtowel lenthwise in half, put the bag in the middle, fold it over once and then I lay on it ALL NIGHT. I heat up flannel bags of hard corn in the microwave and put them around me to keep my body warm. I find that it eases my pain significantly. A hot shower in the morning wakes it all up and three days in a row seems to be what I need. I keep the hydroculator in the freezer. Anytime I need it hot, its just a pot of boiling water away.
I use prescription muscle relaxers and a pin med when the steroid is near its end.
I hope to never have to have another surgery.
I hurt all the time. I get steroid injections (nerve blocks) bilateral at those every 6 months. It helps IF I can maintain the schedule. Due to Dr retirement, scheduling and insurance BULLSHIT, sometimes I go 10 months and then its like chasing the wind for a year or so, till I get back in the rythm.
For pain, especially leg pain, I use a clay bag called a Hydroculator. Soak it in water. Usually people then boil it and use it hot. I freeze that sucker. Then I put it in a ziplock (a gallon bag fits exactly) and then I fold a bathtowel lenthwise in half, put the bag in the middle, fold it over once and then I lay on it ALL NIGHT. I heat up flannel bags of hard corn in the microwave and put them around me to keep my body warm. I find that it eases my pain significantly. A hot shower in the morning wakes it all up and three days in a row seems to be what I need. I keep the hydroculator in the freezer. Anytime I need it hot, its just a pot of boiling water away.
I use prescription muscle relaxers and a pin med when the steroid is near its end.
I hope to never have to have another surgery.
Alieve doesn't work very well for me....
Ibuprofen is my friend ... I'm sure you know, but x4 200mg tabs are about the same size as a single 800 and will do the exact same thing. Costco sells them in bottles of 1000 for cheap.
I have broken my back 3 separate times and have had the surgery and multiple epidurals as well. I would definitely use surgery as a last resort ... if you're young enough your body will heal to a good degree.... if older it's still possible but takes longer and a little more work. There's also no real guarantees that surgery will cure your pain .... everyone's situation is a bit different and I can definitely empathize with the pain from nagging to severe! I'm going on 35 years of pain as well
In my experience, stretching (total flexibility) and light strengthening are a must for any chronic pain and steroidal injections are diminishing in returns. I try to use OTC drugs as little as possible, but sometimes you need the help!
Best of luck.
rjtfroggy
Gold $$ Contributor
I've had the laminectomy a few times and lumbar fusions, I'm fused from tailbone to L3. 10 screws, 2 rods and a support plate. I went through every treatment you can think of except the burning of nerves, and from experience I will say that there is nothing that stops the pain except learning to live with it. On good days do what you feel needs to be done, on bad days sit around and do as little as possible.
Pain is your body telling you something is wrong, listen to it.
I'm 72 and was retired(forcibly) from the F.D, at 45 because of my broken back that would not heal. After 30 years of back problems you just learn your limitations and try not to push them.
I can also say once you start getting fused your knees will start to wear unevenly, your hips may do the same, so your pain starts to move around.
Do whatever you can to prevent back problems, because once it starts it will be with you for life.
Pain is your body telling you something is wrong, listen to it.
I'm 72 and was retired(forcibly) from the F.D, at 45 because of my broken back that would not heal. After 30 years of back problems you just learn your limitations and try not to push them.
I can also say once you start getting fused your knees will start to wear unevenly, your hips may do the same, so your pain starts to move around.
Do whatever you can to prevent back problems, because once it starts it will be with you for life.
There is a metabolic rate difference between the two types, 1 pill vs 4 pills.
My 800mg pills are an SR pill (sustained release) and I can notice a difference in how long it lasts vs OTC pills.
ggshoots
Gold $$ Contributor
There is another side to back pain and bone pain. I always worked hard growing up, abused my back lifting and not always the greatest form. Military with much abuse and injuries and afterwards continued heavy work. My back always took a beating and had back pain but lived with it. When I was 50 my back had been bothering me and really felt crappy but just dealt with it as usual. One day I reached up to grab the hood of a truck and my back broke. I didn't know what the problem was, was laying on a sheet of ice and it was about zero deg outside. Somehow was able to drag myself into the house about 80yds away. In the end it was Multiple Myeloma cancer had eaten up my spine with a large tumor in 5 vertebrae. MM is a blood and bone cancer which you can get anywhere and gives signs of bone pain but can also show up with symptoms of flue etc when organs aren't functioning properly.
As said before pain is a indicator from your body something is wrong. 10 yrs later, rods plates and tons of screws in multiple places, 4 bouts of cancer, 4 transplants and 5 of the last 10 years getting chemo every week and I'm still kicking. Point is don't ignore bone pain. I went to a chiropractor the week before, had my son walk on my back to get the kinks out as well. Amazing it never broke until I lifted my arm. I love how chiropractors can help as well as acupuncture and other treatments but I do want imaging done for them to know what they are working with.
Remember the old saying, "Pain lets you know you are alive!" If you quit feeling pain your better start looking to see who that is standing at those beautiful gates. You can probably call him Saint Peter.
As said before pain is a indicator from your body something is wrong. 10 yrs later, rods plates and tons of screws in multiple places, 4 bouts of cancer, 4 transplants and 5 of the last 10 years getting chemo every week and I'm still kicking. Point is don't ignore bone pain. I went to a chiropractor the week before, had my son walk on my back to get the kinks out as well. Amazing it never broke until I lifted my arm. I love how chiropractors can help as well as acupuncture and other treatments but I do want imaging done for them to know what they are working with.
Remember the old saying, "Pain lets you know you are alive!" If you quit feeling pain your better start looking to see who that is standing at those beautiful gates. You can probably call him Saint Peter.
Toms
Silver $$ Contributor
I have had back pain since the 80's. 1989 a cyropractor straightened my back out. Said I would have trouble down the road. Went and had MRI in 2006. Back terrible. Neurologist recommended putting off sugary as long as possible. In 2017 I had kidney cancer. Had right kidney removed. Because of that I no longer could use Advil or any anti-inflammatory s. 2018 I had a 14 hour back sugary. Fused front lower disks, then fused my back. Did a 7 level fushion on back, from hips to shoulders. Was about a year healing and rehab. It removed all the nerve pain. I still do construction and lots of shooting, mostly bench rest. It was life changing to be pain free. Glad I had it done. Toms.
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As I got older but still had to work it became harder and harder to make the day. I hurt so bad that I could not sleep. After doctors and therapy achieved nothing, I found that this would allow me to sleep and get up the next morning refreshed. YOUR milage may vary. https://fireflydistillery.com/spirit/peach-moonshine/
DeerHunter82
Gold $$ Contributor
When my dad’s back went bad the surgeon told him there were three possible outcomes for the surgery, all equal probability. 1) it won’t do anything 2) it’ll cure it 3) you’ll never walk again. He decided to live with the back pain.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
At least that doctor told him the truth. I would respect that. And the truth is that every time somebody cuts on you you're taking a chance that it's going to go horribly. People don't talk about that part.
BOLTED
Silver $$ Contributor
I just had my 9th spine fusion on the 1st of this month, cervical and lumbar.
Get a tens unit. learn how to use it (its easy), and learn what mode and pad placements that help the most.
Get a Breg cooling cube. Use frozen plastic water bottles in it.
Heating pad.
A neck pillow.
A flat old pillow between the knees when you sleep on your side.
Stretches and walking.
Lose extra weight if you need to.
Audio books with headphones to distract your brain.
Stay on top of the pain, more pain = tight muscles = more pain. Break the cycle.
Laugh!
Go to the range!
Get a tens unit. learn how to use it (its easy), and learn what mode and pad placements that help the most.
Get a Breg cooling cube. Use frozen plastic water bottles in it.
Heating pad.
A neck pillow.
A flat old pillow between the knees when you sleep on your side.
Stretches and walking.
Lose extra weight if you need to.
Audio books with headphones to distract your brain.
Stay on top of the pain, more pain = tight muscles = more pain. Break the cycle.
Laugh!
Go to the range!
Man, I'm happy for you!!
Here's to being pain free and back on track ... hope this continues for you!
I had a doctor tell me that surgery is like shooting your rifle.....once you pull the trigger, you can't undo it. I will live with the pain and some bourbon.
I'm waaaay to ugly to cheer you up!
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