Need advice from people that might be in my situation: Chronic Pain
#1
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Need advice from people that might be in my situation: Chronic Pain
I have several herniated disks which case me moderate (good day) to VERY severe (bad day) pain.
I've had this problem since 1999, I'm 27 years old and work construction...
I have a family to support and this is my business...
I was on painkillers for 3 years, stopped for 6 months then the pain got so bad I had to go back on them...
I don't want to take them, but I don't want surgery and I've had 15 epidurals...
What would you do?
I've had this problem since 1999, I'm 27 years old and work construction...
I have a family to support and this is my business...
I was on painkillers for 3 years, stopped for 6 months then the pain got so bad I had to go back on them...
I don't want to take them, but I don't want surgery and I've had 15 epidurals...
What would you do?
#2
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I had my neck broken in a car accident 7 years ago. The hangman's break. got lucky, it didn't take. yeah right
I live with moderate to severe pain every day, no feeling in my left arm below the elbow, including my hand. I do everything from the shoulder on that side now. To watch me, you probably wouldn't notice at first.
I am a mobile heavy duty mechanic by trade, that is my business, 24/7. Other than the occasional Ibuprofen, I do not take any form of medication. I use meditation, and just plain ignorance, brute strength, and willpower to get past it. I find the best I can do, is not let the pain get ahead of me. Don't concentrate on the pain, concentrate on what you can do / are doing.
I know that back pain sucks, my low back has been problematic since the late 80's. I tend to slow down a bit and keep working through it. not stopping is the key. The reason I no longer take days off, is because when I do, I start to seize up immediately. I don't like that feeling, so I just keep going.
The way I deal with this stuff doesn't work for everyone, and I am not saying it will work for you. But give it a shot.
I live with moderate to severe pain every day, no feeling in my left arm below the elbow, including my hand. I do everything from the shoulder on that side now. To watch me, you probably wouldn't notice at first.
I am a mobile heavy duty mechanic by trade, that is my business, 24/7. Other than the occasional Ibuprofen, I do not take any form of medication. I use meditation, and just plain ignorance, brute strength, and willpower to get past it. I find the best I can do, is not let the pain get ahead of me. Don't concentrate on the pain, concentrate on what you can do / are doing.
I know that back pain sucks, my low back has been problematic since the late 80's. I tend to slow down a bit and keep working through it. not stopping is the key. The reason I no longer take days off, is because when I do, I start to seize up immediately. I don't like that feeling, so I just keep going.
The way I deal with this stuff doesn't work for everyone, and I am not saying it will work for you. But give it a shot.
#3
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I don't know what to tell you but i have a uncle who lives on pain killers because of a bad back so i can whole heartedly know why you don't want to take them. i to suffer from a bad back of what i don't know i believe its disk related but there are days were i cant bend over to put my socks on and i am only 24 i can usually tell when its coming on too cause ill have a stiff back for a couple days then i will wake up one morning and when i move i know that I am going to be slow going with a hitch in my get along. i have tossed the idea around of surgery but like you i cant be in traction for that long i also have a blown out knee that need surgery and cant and wont do it for the same reasons save it for retirement
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Have you tried a chiropractor? You have to find a good one, but they can be a life saver. I herniated two discs in my low back in 2000, and had severe sciatic pain for about a year, went thru the epidurals and pain management and all. The chiropractor is what allowed me to slowly get better, and let the discs subside on their own. I can do whatever I want now, but have to be mindful of it so I don't do it again. Pain pills just cover up the pain, but the problem is still there. Vioxx got a bad rap, but it worked great for me, as an anti-inflammatory medicine. Good luck man, back pain is the worst.
#5
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I would go to a chiro if I were you. I have been to a number of them, and some are better than others. Price doesn't tell the good from the bad ones, either.
#6
Is it neck or back disc's?
I've had both. Actually three surgerys. They did fusions and I am fine.
Before each I went as far as I felt I could, using ibuprophen then to narcotics. Then found a real good massage and heat helped for a short time.
The reason I asked about neck vs back, is that they have artificial discs for the back now that appear to be really good.
FIND people who have had good surgeries and do your own home work. Each of my surgeries were 1 night stays in the hospital. Back to work in 10 days!
I've had both. Actually three surgerys. They did fusions and I am fine.
Before each I went as far as I felt I could, using ibuprophen then to narcotics. Then found a real good massage and heat helped for a short time.
The reason I asked about neck vs back, is that they have artificial discs for the back now that appear to be really good.
FIND people who have had good surgeries and do your own home work. Each of my surgeries were 1 night stays in the hospital. Back to work in 10 days!
#7
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Ibuprofin man here too. Had been on everything at first, and I don't like them. Saw my grandpa deteriorate while sucking up med for his back and neck. You build up immunity and need to take more and more. You're young enouph to maybe start looking into a similar career like appraisals or selling construction packages, to relive your back. If arthritis takes hold, you don't want to be stuck with just social security in 10 years. Good luck!
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#8
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got a buddy doing this:
http://www.vax-d.com/
people who don't even KNOW HIM know he is doing something - his personality is so much better without chronic pain
i vote for Chiro - i have been to ~5 different ones before i found a good one.
find a guy who uses this:
http://www.gonsteadmethodology.com/
i don't even tell my Chiro anything, he does a range of motion exam,
and has a little meter that measures stress,
he does his thing and then pokes me (for fun) and goes, "hurts right THERE don't it?"
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...hlight=sissies
http://www.vax-d.com/
people who don't even KNOW HIM know he is doing something - his personality is so much better without chronic pain
i vote for Chiro - i have been to ~5 different ones before i found a good one.
find a guy who uses this:
http://www.gonsteadmethodology.com/
i don't even tell my Chiro anything, he does a range of motion exam,
and has a little meter that measures stress,
he does his thing and then pokes me (for fun) and goes, "hurts right THERE don't it?"
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...hlight=sissies
#9
I have several herniated disks which case me moderate (good day) to VERY severe (bad day) pain.
I've had this problem since 1999, I'm 27 years old and work construction...
I have a family to support and this is my business...
I was on painkillers for 3 years, stopped for 6 months then the pain got so bad I had to go back on them...
I don't want to take them, but I don't want surgery and I've had 15 epidurals...
What would you do?
I've had this problem since 1999, I'm 27 years old and work construction...
I have a family to support and this is my business...
I was on painkillers for 3 years, stopped for 6 months then the pain got so bad I had to go back on them...
I don't want to take them, but I don't want surgery and I've had 15 epidurals...
What would you do?
Personally, I would go get it fixed. Go get the surgery done and get it over with. IMO, you are too young to have to deal with that the REST of your life. Family, playing with kids, job, etc. . . thats a lot of pain to endure for many years to come if it doesnt get taken care of.
#10
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Same shoes as you about a year & a half ago. I am 27 also, and had a herniated & ruptured disc in my lower back from lifting too heavy in the gym. I too ate pain pills, tried Physical Therapy, which, is not the same as a Chiropractor, and tried one of them too.
The local docs here in Lufkin wanted to do fusion, me be out of work for 6 weeks at the least, recovery atleast a year to get back to normal. The 1st thought that went through my mind was " I am too young for surgery."
I then heard of a doctor in Houston that was doing out-patient back surgery. My pain down my legs from the pinched nerves was too the point my wife was having to dress me, and I could not hardly do anything other than walk, and that was painful. I gave the guy a call out of desperation, got some references around my area of who 2 ended up working at the same company as me. After talking to them I was sold. My wife wheel-chaired me in Methodist Hospital at 6AM on Tuesday, August 16, 2005, and I literally walked out that evening at 7PM from the recovery room all the way back to our car in the parking garage with ZERO pain (obviously some of this was due to the IV meds I had got before leaving due to my 2 hour commute back home that evening). Now the following week was a different story. My pain down my leg was gone, but my actual lower back was EXTREMELY tender. He sent me home with a perscription for pain medicine, but told me not to fill it unless it is absolutely necessary, and that I needed to walk atleast 4 miles a day. The more I walked, the less I hurt.
It has been a year and half, and don't get me wrong, I still have aches & pains in my back. I also have to be mindful of what & how I am lifting, but I am atleast 90% better off than I was. But I have not taken a pain pill of any kind, over the counter or perscription, since that morning before my surgery for my back.
The local docs here in Lufkin wanted to do fusion, me be out of work for 6 weeks at the least, recovery atleast a year to get back to normal. The 1st thought that went through my mind was " I am too young for surgery."
I then heard of a doctor in Houston that was doing out-patient back surgery. My pain down my legs from the pinched nerves was too the point my wife was having to dress me, and I could not hardly do anything other than walk, and that was painful. I gave the guy a call out of desperation, got some references around my area of who 2 ended up working at the same company as me. After talking to them I was sold. My wife wheel-chaired me in Methodist Hospital at 6AM on Tuesday, August 16, 2005, and I literally walked out that evening at 7PM from the recovery room all the way back to our car in the parking garage with ZERO pain (obviously some of this was due to the IV meds I had got before leaving due to my 2 hour commute back home that evening). Now the following week was a different story. My pain down my leg was gone, but my actual lower back was EXTREMELY tender. He sent me home with a perscription for pain medicine, but told me not to fill it unless it is absolutely necessary, and that I needed to walk atleast 4 miles a day. The more I walked, the less I hurt.
It has been a year and half, and don't get me wrong, I still have aches & pains in my back. I also have to be mindful of what & how I am lifting, but I am atleast 90% better off than I was. But I have not taken a pain pill of any kind, over the counter or perscription, since that morning before my surgery for my back.
#11
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I think gitrdone has given you good advice. I give anesthesia all the time for spine surgeries. Each case is different in regards to what they need and expected outcome. Of course no sane person wants surgery if they can get by without it. If I were in your shoes I would 1. See a spine surgeon with a great reputation. 2. See another spine surgeon with great reputation, and if they both told you same thing, they are probably right. 3. See a GOOD chiropractor (Yes, a good one may be able to help you, and also knows when to send you to a surgeon) 4. Not have any more epidurals, (I do a lot of those) as you have had 15 and maybe got some relief from some of them, but it is obviously not a "fix" in your case. 5. Do a lot of research, and be proactive in your care. Dr.'s can in most cases help, but they are not God, and no one cares more about your back than you do. 6. If I got no relief from above, I personally would go to an Anesthesiologist board certified in pain management, and that was his main practice (as with a chiropractor or anything else, some are better than others.)
Good luck, I am sorry you have to deal with this, esp. at such a young age.
Good luck, I am sorry you have to deal with this, esp. at such a young age.
#12
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my chiro guy says this:
stay away from surgery as long as possible....
try to get chiro to fix the root of the problem, and see if you can heal yourself,
not to have surgery to fix the symptom, because if the cause of the pain is still there, they will just have to go in occassionally to operate again.
don't operate till last resort, like Nelrod said, and with 2 concurrent opinions.
he uses bigger words, but means same thing. make sense?
stay away from surgery as long as possible....
try to get chiro to fix the root of the problem, and see if you can heal yourself,
not to have surgery to fix the symptom, because if the cause of the pain is still there, they will just have to go in occassionally to operate again.
don't operate till last resort, like Nelrod said, and with 2 concurrent opinions.
he uses bigger words, but means same thing. make sense?
#13
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I fractured a vertebra in my back when I was 16 in a stupid skydiving accident (note the word stupid)...im 22 now and I already have arthuritis in my back...i just hope it doesn't get worse...It doesn't hurt constantly, but when it does, an alieve or two will make it all better.
#14
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I was 20 years old when I was diagnosed with a herniated disc a bulged disc and a broken vertabra, I did nothing about it for a year except epiderals and pain killers then I said enough got the surgury from a NUERSERGEON and it was the best thing I ever did.
#15
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Thanks for all of the information guys, I'd personally thank all of you, but I want to research these things first...
I'm curious to this "fusion"
And the chiro messed me up...
My spine is aligned, so he won't help much...
I'm curious to this "fusion"
And the chiro messed me up...
My spine is aligned, so he won't help much...