I really hate to hear this for you, Jesse, and I hope you recover without surgery. Best of luck and Godspeed.
A Progress Report
- Thread starter sablebrush52
- Start date
Thank you. Sciatica is another sort of bitch with which to deal. Yoga took care of mine when nothing else worked.
Thanks! From your lips to God’s ears.
You have my sympathies, for all that's worth. One afternoon a few years ago, I and a mate (as I thought) were manhandling a rock that must have weighed at leat half a ton. I couldn't see round it and so didn't know I was on my own. Felt a wrenching pain in my lower back, sat down for a bit, stoically (stupidly) shrugged it off, popped some aspirin and went down the pub for a couple of pints. Next morning I could hardly get out of bed. One of the scariest situations I was ever in. Fortunately for me a chiropractor put me right but for a week or so I was hobbling painfully around with a stick, else confined to the couch and cursing. Thereafter I was able to understand how it is that so many folk who have to endure chronic back pain become addicted to opioid meds or whisky (or both). May your prognosis be good and your recovery swift and complete.
Progress is hope.
My family and I hope you have a full and quick recovery.
My family and I hope you have a full and quick recovery.
Back pain sucks. I hope you get well soon, Jesse, and without surgery.
All the best to you Jesse, truly.
Post when you like and as often as you like. You are one of the good ones here.
Dang man that’s awful and I hope the drs can fix you up w/o surgery. I’ve not dealt with back issues yet but I imagine I will in a few years as I’m in my late 40s. I have been dealing with planter fasciitis the past two years and as a cyclist and hiker it just sucks not being able to get outside for adventures, much less get around my house. Luckily for me a mix of stretching and oddly enough a pair of crocs has helped immensely. I used to hate how these shoes looked but I’m a convert and wear them all the time.
Anyways, hang in there were all hoping for the best for you!
Anyways, hang in there were all hoping for the best for you!
Here’s hoping you can work through it to good end, and it’s sounds like you may. Your history of actually implementing non surgical options is awesome-most (including myself) do the PT our other exercise options only until symptoms go away.
I’ve got an LBP issue that rears its ugly headed every so often, but it will us usually give me a warning “twinge” before laying me up for a week. My neck on the other hand, can go horrible on a dime just doing something like towel drying my hair or looking over my shoulder.
As I’m closer to sixty than I am to fifty, and working in the trades I’ve peered through a bit, and have avoided the knife a few times by flat out asking the doc “if it were you, which way would you go in managing this?”
Keep trudging!
I’ve got an LBP issue that rears its ugly headed every so often, but it will us usually give me a warning “twinge” before laying me up for a week. My neck on the other hand, can go horrible on a dime just doing something like towel drying my hair or looking over my shoulder.
As I’m closer to sixty than I am to fifty, and working in the trades I’ve peered through a bit, and have avoided the knife a few times by flat out asking the doc “if it were you, which way would you go in managing this?”
Keep trudging!
Hope you feel better soon!
Obviously, case to case is very different and you should ask your doctors about it, but what worked really well for me when I hurt my lower back was electro-acupuncture and walking backwards. Something about the mechanism of walking backwards really help.
Jesse, my heart goes out to you. I have similar problems that in the past have left me debilitated for up to 3 months. Mine is pinched nerves in the spine and muscles contracting to protect it. Sounds like you are doing all the right things to recover. I would add a time release anti-inflammatory like Oxyprozen. It's non-narcotic. I also had luck with a Tens unit to break the pain cycle, I know that you already have a good bed, because I bought one just like it on your recommendation. Get walking as soon as you can, it increases blood flow.
So far they've had me on some of the more powerful meds to kill the pain, anti inflammatories did nothing, now I'm on a nerve pain medication, Gabapentin, and in the recommended dosages, it does nothing. However, the pain has lessened considerably from where it was a month ago, which I attribute partly to the physical therapy, that's
rebuilding muscle strength and flexibility and partly to time. I'll inquire about Oxyprozen.
Me too. Readily available on Amazon for not much money.
That’s literally what we give our cat to calm him down before flights. We hide it in a small ball of double crème brie; I recommend you do the same.
^ This.
And do the tick and flea suff at the base of your neck. Plus the hairball and dewormer.
I’m sorry to hear that, and I hope things get better.
I hope that PT leads to relief and prevention in the future, and surgery isn’t necessary. About 10 years ago (I’m 50 now) I started having some issues (that were not nearly as bad as what you’re describing) with tweaking my lower back and being basically unable to walk straight, bend over, etc. for 2 or 3 days at a time. I had been out of shape for awhile, so I started stretching my back and hamstrings every day just to get some flexibility back, and it’s done the trick for me (plus starting regular resistance and cardio training).
I “know” the back muscles at issue so well now that I can basically release them at will, getting satisfying pops up and down my spine as the pressure is taken off.
I hope that PT leads to relief and prevention in the future, and surgery isn’t necessary. About 10 years ago (I’m 50 now) I started having some issues (that were not nearly as bad as what you’re describing) with tweaking my lower back and being basically unable to walk straight, bend over, etc. for 2 or 3 days at a time. I had been out of shape for awhile, so I started stretching my back and hamstrings every day just to get some flexibility back, and it’s done the trick for me (plus starting regular resistance and cardio training).
I “know” the back muscles at issue so well now that I can basically release them at will, getting satisfying pops up and down my spine as the pressure is taken off.
I went through something very similar a few years ago. I was unable stand long enough to even brush my teeth without debilitating pain and a numb left leg.
I couldn't get an MRI without PT first which put me in even more pain. After six weeks of excruciating PT, I got an MRI which revealed a synovial cyst in my lower spine just over 1 centimeter. A second MRI with contrast was ordered and by the time I got in there, my pain was almost gone. The second MRI revealed the cyst had shrunk to half the size.
I've been pain free since without surgery and I hope your situation goes that way too! The surgery described sounded awful!
I couldn't get an MRI without PT first which put me in even more pain. After six weeks of excruciating PT, I got an MRI which revealed a synovial cyst in my lower spine just over 1 centimeter. A second MRI with contrast was ordered and by the time I got in there, my pain was almost gone. The second MRI revealed the cyst had shrunk to half the size.
I've been pain free since without surgery and I hope your situation goes that way too! The surgery described sounded awful!
Gabapentin is what my ex gives her cat when going on a trip, or to the Vet. The one time she forgot to do that, her cat literally destroyed the Vet's examination room, tipping over the shelf that held supplies, and generally remodeling the room. Needless to say, she and her cat were banned from that Vet's practice and she's had to find another Vet.
Jesse, I hope you feel and get better soon. When I was a child my Dad was in a car accident. He was hit from behind by a milk truck and his car was propelled/two blocks and rolled over. He had 4-5 slipped disks. Our old family Doc told him he could have surgery and be better in about six weeks or he could get a 1/2 inch piece of plywood and put it under his side of the mattress and lay flat in bed for six weeks except for bathroom trips. My Dad opted for the plywood. He lived another 50 years to 91 sans back problems. I don't know your specific issue but ask knowledgeable people about alternative therapies. Sometimes the old country Docs knew a thing or too. Praying for you !