My poor back....

[EquusAZ]

I know -

It's a phrase used by octogenarians and people over 70 to describe their physical being. Well at age 38 (this last Winter- a year ago I turned 38) this last summer I was diagnosed with congenital spinal stenosis. This is where your spinal canal constricts naturally. Oh plus a slipped disc.

The first symptoms were pain in my lower back - so bad I could not walk. Got some pain meds, and was told, I should be OK. The next day I couldn't feel most of my right leg. I was told no problem - a slipped disk.

After a consultation I scheduled an MRI and X-Ray. Turns out I had problems. Congenital stenosis L4-5. Not to worry - it's fixable and an out patient procedure. "Hahahaha you'll be right as rain in a few days"

Well....Five surgeries later I am somewhat normal minus the pain medication. I ended up with an infection in my spine. Clearing up now after 6 months.

So long story short - I'm glad I caught this in time before full paralysis set in, I do have full movement back in my right leg, and some pain / weakness, but my prognosis is good long term.

Please take your health seriously. LOL - as it is I have NOT felt comfortable to cum since this whole thing began. I will NOT describe to you the wet dreams I've had to clean up while my back is in pain. Oh it sounds funny but it's not. :tongue:

"What are you cleaning up dear, need help?" Movement to my side of the bed....

"OW no..don't touch there....i'm OWOWOW!"


"Well let me ---um----er......ok.....you can do it It's good exercise....for you"



*sigh*


Anyone in similar circumstances?

 

[Snarky_succubus]

I have 4 herniated disks L 2-5, degenerative disk syndrome, mild to moderate stenosis, bilateral piriformis syndrome, and sacroiliac dysfunction (maaajjjor)... And have since I was 25. I was told it would never get better and Id be on narcotic pain meds for the rest of my life. I told my Neuro surgeon to fuck off. I hit the gym and with the exception of some stiffness/soreness from time to time and having to be very conscious of my posture day to day and form at the gym... I'm fine. I take no pain medication stronger than ibuprofen and no muscle relaxers. Zero sexual dysfunction. Mind over matter. You can heal yourself.

 

[Snarky_succubus]

Ortho surgeon* pardon me. My voice to text refuses to understand English tonight.

 

[coastalstroker]

Find the book, Pain Free?? something like this? written in the late 80s, early 90s, about natural cures for lower back pain. Bascially idea is that you use body positioning, slow strengthening, through very simple, easy exercises to equalize body posture, and restore proper motion to back, leg, muscles. Herniated disc here, took about 6 months to feel better, and about 1 year to feel like myself again, no surgery. Had numbness and leg pain for 2-3 months, it was horrible.

 

[coastalstroker]

Author is Egoscue, or something like this....there is a whole method based on his philosophy. The book provides some very basic, simply exercises.

 

[PounceOnit]

Thanks CoastalStroker.

Found it: Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain by Pete Egoscue.

I'll give it a try, too.

 

[BIGBULL29]

I wish the best for you. I only see the best.:wink:

 

[EquusAZ]

Thanks everyone! I am getting better it's just been a long road.

 

[unabear09]

I can definitely sympathize with you man. DDD Cervical, Lumbar (probably thoracic, just haven't had MRI yet), bulging/herniated L3-L5-S1....Surgery on L5-S1 3 years ago, as the herniated disc was severing my spinal cord. I still have constant pain in my legs (primarily right one) and into my feet. I've lost a significant amount of feeling and some mobility of the toes in the right one. Last time I had any tests done, L5-S1 was virtually gone and they were talking fusion of the last 3 discs, but I told them to fuck off.
The pain sucks, but I deal with it...most days. Hang in there!

 

[notN2pussy]

Sorry to hear my buddy! xoxo

 

[twoton]

Let's start a Social Group. :wink:

Herniations at L4-L5 and L5-S1 with some stenosis thrown in. The crazy thing is I never had any pain in my back. It was all in my sciatic nerve, mostly in my calf and knee, then up into the hamstring. It started with no warning one morning about 2 1/2 years ago. Opioid pain meds were useless. Two years ago I had a x-rays, MRI, then started PT.

My situation was nowhere near as severe as what's in this thread, but it got bad enough that I couldn't drive myself to work because I couldn't sit in the car.

PT was mostly press-ups, and a Mackenzie roll for my car & chairs. It took a year of 50-100 press-ups a day before the pain was completely gone.

It's been tweaking back into the picture over the past couple weeks. I blame the cold weather.

 

[EquusAZ]

Let's start a Social Group. :wink:

Herniations at L4-L5 and L5-S1 with some stenosis thrown in. The crazy thing is I never had any pain in my back. It was all in my sciatic nerve, mostly in my calf and knee, then up into the hamstring. It started with no warning one morning about 2 1/2 years ago. Opioid pain meds were useless. Two years ago I had a x-rays, MRI, then started PT.

My situation was nowhere near as severe as what's in this thread, but it got bad enough that I couldn't drive myself to work because I couldn't sit in the car.

PT was mostly press-ups, and a Mackenzie roll for my car & chairs. It took a year of 50-100 press-ups a day before the pain was completely gone.

It's been tweaking back into the picture over the past couple weeks. I blame the cold weather.

thanks for all your support guys!

Well it should not be to big of a surprise that so many of us have it. If you are going to show signs of severe back pain early 30 to mid 50 is when it hits.

For me I'm on the mend and am cleared for light exercise as of today. But it will be months before I feel normal.

 

[twoton]

For me I'm on the mend and am cleared for light exercise as of today. But it will be months before I feel normal.

The best advice I got from the therapist regarding exercise: "If it hurts don't do it."

 

[Snarky_succubus]

The best advice I got from the therapist regarding exercise: "If it hurts don't do it."

100%
"Pushing through" is bad news with those kind of injuries

 

[43698]

The purpose of the muscles in your core is to support your spine and hold your internal organs in. If you have trouble with your back it is wise to strengthen the muscles that support it. I have 2 compressions in my cervical spine and then my L5s1 disc is ruptured. I had a really bad parachute accident when I was in the Army. I also have lifted weights for 25 years now. I was on narcotics for 11 years and finally got away from them. Staying in the gym and doing excercises that help support my core have really helped me more than anything. Avoid the knife for as long as you can and for god's sake do not let them turn you in to a pill head.

 

[Barely Big]

All pain is complex and what the MRI or imaging shows rarely has little to do with if a person will or won't hurt see: Systematic Literature Review of Imaging Features of Spinal Degenera... - PubMed - NCBI

Back pain is a normal part of life for most of us. Just as we often get headaches without the need for brain surgery, we often get back aches without the need for spine surgery. When pain doesn't start to improve on its own after a couple of weeks, conservative treatment should be undertaken with a trained healthcare provider (usually a physical therapist) who is well versed in the research literature before exploring surgical options.

 

[EquusAZ]

Staying in the gym and doing excercises that help support my core have really helped me more than anything. Avoid the knife for as long as you can and for god's sake do not let them turn you in to a pill head.

I agree! In my case however, my problems were internal to the spinal core and bone structure (stenosis) and I had no real choice. HOWEVER -

The doctor did say to basically focus on core strength, good posture, and flexibility to help get my back in shape. Working in IT for 15 years has been a detriment (sitting ALL day and not really working out regularly).

I'm trying to decide what route to go at this point. I used to do a lot of gym stuff (weight lifting etc - see pics from my past) but I always lack a partner. So I may join a group activity - yoga - etc something like that.

As it is - for the rest of you - hang in there. Nicettech has a lot of good advice for sure. I have a co-worker much like him who when faced with back problems turned to the gym. I could NOT imagine him having ANY kind of back problems to this day. lol.

 

[santyago]

i have problems with one disks. Chiropractics is good for my problem.

 

[overly_straight]

Like the doc said, improving core strength and posture is important - the trouble with sitting all our lives is that the glutes and abs eventually become dysfunctional. The trick is to find exercises that build strength without aggravating your back.

The best thing would be to find a good personal trainer (with specific experience of back problems) and figure out what you can and can't do.

 

[twoton]

A friend who is a physical therapist said about 75% of her patients continue to have back pain after surgery. What happens is the surgeons go after the first problem they see on the MRI, when often there are other problems that are less obvious. As she said, a disc doesn't get so bad that it causes problems without there being other things wrong as well.