Chronic Back Pain

[Catt]

I've dealt with ruptured discs, torn ligaments, & nerve damage since 2008. 

Saturday for whatever reason the pain decided to elevate to an entirely new level. I'm having difficulty standing up straight, walking is close to unbearable.

 

For those of y'all with questions pending, hold on, I'll be back.

[Mike L]

Hang in there Tommy, you’re certainly not alone. As we’ve talked before I’ve had 2 spinal fusions with the last just 1 1/2 ago.
I get it, I’ve never felt pain like that before or since. 

I’ve had to cut way back on my overall fishing and tournament schedule the last 2 yrs because of it. 
Already canceled this years BFL, last years BASS Nations State Championship and declined a Toyota Series invitation. 
 

With your past history you know what you can and can’t do. 

I certainly wish you all the best in your recovery. 

 

Mike

 

[J._Bricker]

Hang in there @Catt

[DitchPanda]

Best of luck man, I hope you find some relief. As I stated in a post last year I've suffered off and on with lower back issues for almost 20 years. Last spring at this time I had a really severe flare up. I did some physical therapy then started doing some working out and walking 4-5 nights a week which made a huge impact on my pain and back strength. It was going really well until Sunday when I put in a 14.5hr day at work. Woke up yesterday and could feel something was off...then at 10am I stood up from my desk at work felt that all too familiar sharp stabbing pain then felt my legs kinda give out...honestly thought I was gonna hit the d**n floor but was able to catch myself. The struggle is real.

[Scott F]

Considering 80% of Americans will suffer back pain at some point, it’s discouraging that there is so little that science can do for most of us. I spent a lot of money going to doctors, taking tests last summer and not one of them did anything at all to help me reduce or even tell me what the cause of my pain is.  Good luck Catt, I hope you are able to get some relief. 

[Captain Phil]

I suffered with back and leg pain issues for years.  Finally went to a surgeon who sent me to have an MRI.  If you haven't done so, I suggest you do.  Back issues can have many diverse causes.  There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to back issues.   I discovered there are actually some common drugs that can cause back pain.  In my case, it was age related spinal stenosis.   I tried epidermal injections with no relief.  Phyical therapy did not help either.   Finally, it got so bad I couldn't stand or walk for more than ten minutes.  Two years ago I had surgery to release the pressure on my nerves and fuse four lower vertebrae in my back.  It's been a long road to recovery but I can now stand and walk upright without pain.  Here's my advice. Find the best surgeon you can.  Do not choose one from a magazine or TV ad.  Do not choose one because they claim to fix your back with a laser or a 1/2" cut.  What you need is someone who will be straight with you, not just take your money.   If your insurance won't cover the cost of their treatment, there's probably a reason.   It will most likely take some time to get an appointment.  Be patient, there is no substitute for experience when it comes to back surgeons.  

[J Francho]

Sorry to hear it, Tommy.  When my atlas (C1) is out of alignment, it throws my C2-4 out as well and manifests as nerve pain/numbness in my hands and arms.  Visits to the Chiro on a regular basis help a lot.

 

I hope you find some relief soon my friend.

[TnRiver46]

Get well soon Catt!! Mine locks up from time to time, rest is all I can do to fix it 

[NavyToad]

I suffered sciatica from a ruptured disc in 2006, but I’m one of the lucky ones - never had surgery. My chiropractor had a bad back and told me that if surgey ever became necessary for him, he’d go with laser surgey above any other surgical option. One back surgery almost inevitably leads to more surgery in the future - it’s a dirty road. How many people do you know who had back surgery and 5 years later were back under the knife?

I don’t see a chiropractor anymore, and I haven’t had any problems for over 15 years. I think my experience is kind of a fluke, but man, I’m convinced that back surgery is the absolutely last resort. 

I was knocked out of work and on my back for 2 months - this wasn’t just a sore back. I felt like someone hit me in the leg with a baseball bat. 
I’m ramblin’. It’s a bad situation and you might end up having to make some tough decisions. An orthopaedist will give you one option and a chiropractor will tell you something else, and don’t leave out the acupuncturist. Laser is what I’m doing if it ever comes to it.

[gim]

Shoveling 8 inches of heavy wet concrete style snow 2 weeks ago ruined my back for about 5 days. Could barely stand up or walk for a couple of them. My snowblower finally took a dirt nap from blowing 90 inches of snow this past winter. The stuff at the end of the driveway that the plow left me was seriously half water.

[A-Jay]

Hope you feel better soon @Catt

A-Jay

[Dwight Hottle]

Hope you find some relief Catt. 

[GreenPig]

Been down that road with a fusion at 38. I'd seek medical advise to find out what you're dealing with. Steroids and anti - inflammatories may fix you up or you may need some nuts and bolts.

My L5 - S1 disc was literally gone and I was in severe pain and numbness in my back, hips, knees, and feet. I wasn't really worried until my surgeon told me that the nerves could be damaged permanently. Don't tough it out too long.

[Captain Phil]

17 hours ago, NavyToad said:

I suffered sciatica from a ruptured disc in 2006, but I’m one of the lucky ones - never had surgery. My chiropractor had a bad back and told me that if surgey ever became necessary for him, he’d go with laser surgey above any other surgical option. One back surgery almost inevitably leads to more surgery in the future - it’s a dirty road. How many people do you know who had back surgery and 5 years later were back under the knife?

I don’t see a chiropractor anymore, and I haven’t had any problems for over 15 years. I think my experience is kind of a fluke, but man, I’m convinced that back surgery is the absolutely last resort. 

I was knocked out of work and on my back for 2 months - this wasn’t just a sore back. I felt like someone hit me in the leg with a baseball bat. 
I’m ramblin’. It’s a bad situation and you might end up having to make some tough decisions. An orthopaedist will give you one option and a chiropractor will tell you something else, and don’t leave out the acupuncturist. Laser is what I’m doing if it ever comes to it.

 

Back surgery is absolutely a last resort.  It took me ten years to make my decision.  Five years after exhausting all other options.  I took so many drugs, I gave myself a stomach ulcer.  My surgeon did not pressure me into having an operation.  He left it up to me.  I knew my choice was a wheel chair or surgery.  No one wants to have back surgery and for good reason.  Before I chose surgery, one TV doctor had me send them my MRI.  On the phone without seeing me in person, he quoted me $10,000 to fix my problem.  That's when I discovered his procedure wasn't covered by medicare.   This set off a bunch of alarms and I kept searching. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the tunnel that houses your spinal chord.  For some people this is inherited. For others like me, it's caused by a buildup of arthritis.  In either case, no laser can fix this.  Another Internet doctor told me he had developed a tiny wedge that could be inserted in a day to hold my vertebrae apart.  After years of research, meetings and doctor recommendations, I shortened the list down to two orthopedic hospitals in the entire Southeast.  The surgeon I chose had done thousands of these operations before he did mine. 

 

Back trouble is a huge cash cow.  Want to make a lot of money quick?  Sell quick-fix back pain solutions.  TV ads, billboards and print ads for quick and easy back fixes are everywhere.  Back surgery should be your last resort.  It's not easy or pain free.  Issues like mine can't be fixed in an afternoon.   There are risks.  Major back surgery is an art, not a science.

[Bankbeater]

Get better, and don't rush it.

[volzfan59]

Hang in there @Catt! I'm with you, I have arthritis in my hips and lower spine. Back pain is rough. I'm praying for you.

[NavyToad]

1 hour ago, Captain Phil said:

 Major back surgery is an art, not a science.

Sounds like a crapshoot to me. The Japanese consider it to be butchery.

I have a ruptured disc and I’ll choose laser surgery if I ever need it. Maybe if I had stenosis my choice would be different. I hope your problems have been permanently solved.

Tiger Woods has had how many surgeries? His surgeons were the best in the world.

 

[Catt]

My neurosurgeon is one of the top in the world. The ruptured disc are Lumbar L3, L4, & L5, along with torn ligaments in the same area. There is also sever nerve damage in my right hip. Repetition! according my doctor I simply wore it out working construction. 

 

I tried steroid injections 4 times, the first one worked for a couple months, after that they didn't last a week. 

 

I'm trying my best to avoid pain meds & surgery. 

 

The physical pain is difficult but the mental aspect is probably more difficult.

 

Thanks y'all ?

[Woody B]

I hope you find some relief soon.   My Dad (building contractor) never had surgery but wore a prescription back brace under his clothes until he retired.   I've got a co worker who's had 3 back surgeries.  He's been good for a couple years since his last one.   

 

I've been lucky with my health.  I'm 59.   I have occasionally aches and pains but nothing serious.  

[Hammer 4]

So for the last 60 years, I have scoliois and a healthy dose od arthiritis in my aging back. Like you Catt, I worked construction for many years, which didn't help my problems. I got so bad about 1986 that a flashy truck had to take to the hospital, because I could not walk. Back then I was put in traction for 2 days, and got some PT which helped some.

The Doc prescribed some pretty heavy meds, which I gave up taking cuz it was a pain to wake up in the morning. Just today, my right side is really acting up, not much fun.

Hope you feel better soon Catt.

[N Florida Mike]

Praying for a solution and recovery @Catt.

I have had lower back pain for over 10 years. If I stand on a hard surface working more than about 10 minutes it gets so stiff and painful  I can hardly bend over enough to get in the work car. If I fish more than 2-3 hours in the JB it does the same.

Probably a result of the farm and other hard work, sports , etc I did as a younger man. I’ve never officially hurt it with an accident though, and haven’t had it looked at by a doc. ( yet ).

Hang in there brother…

[GRiver]

Hope you get well soon

hollar if ya need anything 

[scaleface]

Well that sucks.

[Catt]

10 hours ago, GRiver said:

hollar if ya need anything

 

New back would be nice!

[Woody B]

Some days my Dad would have my Mom iron his back.  He'd lay face down on the bed.  She'd put a double layered towel on his back and go at it fairly hard with a clothes iron, and steam.   As hard and as hot as he could stand it.   If anyone tries this remind the person doing to ironing if it get's too hot don't just pick up the iron, pick up the towel too.   

 

My Dad built houses for several Doctors, as well as several medical facilities.  I suspect it was a Doctor who told him to have Mom iron his back.