Bad back - what has helped you.

neil_g said:
sounds odd, my osteo even pointed out to me that my knees were in constant tension so not sure why it wasnt spotted.

id be interested in any research on back pain causing a cardiac arrest though?
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not quite just back pain causing a cardiac arrest,but a broken back where the patients determination to walk has caused massive stress to the body and mind.perhaps my dads back had not completely healed.he certainly aged by 20 years in a very short period of time
 
My back issues are well documented on here and elsewehere.

In Jan 2011 I had a double discectomy and spiinal fusion at L4/5 to S1 with a pedicle screw rod fixation.
Before that, I had steriod injections, accupuncture, osteo, chiro and all sorts of drugs. I was 26 at the time of the surgery.

The surgery helped a little, but Im still not pefect.

A few months ago I was in a car crash and it pretty much felt like it put me back to square 1. After a hospital visit and GP visit, I got sent to physio, and thats helped massively. I never had physio after the surgery for whatever reasons, so all the muscle tension and scar tissue from the surgery a year earlier was still there. This combined with the muscle truama from the accdient made for some painful physio sessions!

Im still in pain constantly, but its a lot better than it used to be. I just have to be carful with what I do.

I made a blog at the time of my surgery, well started a few months beofore in the November should anyone be interested.


http://tomsspinalsurgery.blogspot.c...pdated-max=2011-01-01T00:00:00Z&max-results=4
 
TCR4x4 said:
My back issues are well documented on here and elsewehere.

In Jan 2011 I had a double discectomy and spiinal fusion at L4/5 to S1 with a pedicle screw rod fixation.
Before that, I had steriod injections, accupuncture, osteo, chiro and all sorts of drugs. I was 26 at the time of the surgery.

The surgery helped a little, but Im still not pefect.

A few months ago I was in a car crash and it pretty much felt like it put me back to square 1. After a hospital visit and GP visit, I got sent to physio, and thats helped massively. I never had physio after the surgery for whatever reasons, so all the muscle tension and scar tissue from the surgery a year earlier was still there. This combined with the muscle truama from the accdient made for some painful physio sessions!

Im still in pain constantly, but its a lot better than it used to be. I just have to be carful with what I do.

I made a blog at the time of my surgery, well started a few months beofore in the November should anyone be interested.


http://tomsspinalsurgery.blogspot.c...pdated-max=2011-01-01T00:00:00Z&max-results=4
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I have to have the same Op so will take a look and any more advice will be appreciated.
 
Not much advice I can give, just dont expect the surgery to be a miracle cure. For some it is, but my experiences are different.

Whislt the pain I had before is improved slightly, Ive now got new pain from the surgical area, and nerve damage from the op.
Its not made me worse as such, but certainly not better, not as much as Id hoped anyway.

I was off work for 6 months as I do a heavy and hard job, you may find you can go back sooner. The hospital experience was horrible, again different people have different experiences, but its not something I would ever want to do again!
 
bustersdelight said:
I have to have the same Op so will take a look and any more advice will be appreciated.
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Just read your blog and It would be a mirror image If I had to write the same blog, and its more or less the same time of year for me, !! Freaky !!

It seems all my appointments too seem to be 3mths apart.
 
bustersdelight said:
Just read your blog and It would be a mirror image If I had to write the same blog, and its more or less the same time of year for me, !! Freaky !!

It seems all my appointments too seem to be 3mths apart.
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Lets hope your outcome is a little better than mine though!
 
I was officially 'retired due to ill health' after an accident at work about 15 years ago. I split a disc due to compression, but it split on the inside of the spinal cord and is now pressing on nerves. I either have a hell of a lot of pain or I can't feel a thing, but if I can't feel anything I can't move anything either.

I've been taking up to around 18 tablets a day at times, but I'm down to between 7 and 10 a day at the moment. My specialist has offered me an operation that will stop the pain but it has a high chance (80% +) of paralysing me and I don't feel ready to face that prospect yet. On bad days the docs reckon my pain to be worse than childbirth, but I'm not likely to find out for definite, unless a miracle happens and then I'd be a rich man.

I've had lots of injections but they got less and less effective the more I had, had a TENS machine which helped for a while but is less effective now so now it's down to drugs and a high pain threshold. Sleeping is a nightmare (LOL) and I'm lucky if I get 3 hours a night. Tramadol, in large quantities, Amitriptyline, Meloxicam, Brufen and Dihydrocodeine and Morpheine at times keeps the pain to a liveable level, but the hardest part is when I lose all feelings below my waist and can't walk or control my bladder etc but NO pain. I generally hope to be in pain when I wake up as I know I'll be able to get up and do normal things in the day.

I don't think there really is anything you can do, or get, that will relieve severe back conditions, you just have to try and live life the best you can and make the most out of good days. Good luck to all of you in finding a cure for your complaints but, I can honestly say I know how you feel and I understand your pain, most people can't.
 
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Roofing contractor for 28 years, I have excellent history on back problems.:LOL:

Do back stretching techniques they will loosen and stretch your tense muscles, generally do exercises that tone up your back muscles.


Recently got over prolapsed disk between my shoulder blades, pain like no other for 4 months 24/7. No relief for that other than try to carry on as normal, usaully nodded of in the chair in as lying down was impossible as was sleeping (insomniac aswell) in general, a very trying time.

As mentioned above I found some relief using a tens machine, a bit weird to start of with but once setup I found it helped a lot. They can be worn under clothing while out and about.

Have got permanent numb first two fingers of my right hand, they still work fine but no feeling near the tips.:(

Look after your back.

Hope you get over yours soon.
 
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In Nov 2012 this year I had a double disc removal and spiinal fusion at L4/5 to S1 with a pedicle screw rod fixation - same as TCR although I had and additional plate fixed to the vertebrae above to help take pressure of another disc on its way out......:eek: surgery was 5 1/2 hours at Salford Royal and my experience was amazing - the hospital was excellent - the surgeon MR Holland was fantastic.


I am still recovering from the surgery and I wait to see how it all ends up - during my 17 years or chronic pain I mainly used Morphine - but the best drug for everyday life for me was ARTHROTEC it was a miracle drug - but I did not have to do much to be in pain enough to be in bed...

I sympathize with you - I hope there is a solution for you soon
 
LASTOLITE said:
In Nov 2012 this year I had a double disc removal and spiinal fusion at L4/5 to S1 with a pedicle screw rod fixation - same as TCR although I had and additional plate fixed to the vertebrae above to help take pressure of another disc on its way out......:eek: surgery was 5 1/2 hours at Salford Royal and my experience was amazing - the hospital was excellent - the surgeon MR Holland was fantastic.


I am still recovering from the surgery and I wait to see how it all ends up - during my 17 years or chronic pain I mainly used Morphine - but the best drug for everyday life for me was ARTHROTEC it was a miracle drug - but I did not have to do much to be in pain enough to be in bed...

I sympathize with you - I hope there is a solution for you soon
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keep us upto date with your progress and do's and dont;s im having the same OP and terrified.
 
Reading "Treat your own back" by Robin McKenzie and doing the exercises helped me 10 years ago and my wife about 4 years ago.
We still do the exercises whenever we need them, which is not very often now, and use a Lumbar Roll when sitting, including in the car.
According to the book it is all about keeping the small of your back curved in towards the spine and not slumping!
 
LASTOLITE said:
In Nov 2012 this year I had a double disc removal and spiinal fusion at L4/5 to S1 with a pedicle screw rod fixation - same as TCR although I had and additional plate fixed to the vertebrae above to help take pressure of another disc on its way out......:eek: surgery was 5 1/2 hours at Salford Royal and my experience was amazing - the hospital was excellent - the surgeon MR Holland was fantastic.


I am still recovering from the surgery and I wait to see how it all ends up - during my 17 years or chronic pain I mainly used Morphine - but the best drug for everyday life for me was ARTHROTEC it was a miracle drug - but I did not have to do much to be in pain enough to be in bed...

I sympathize with you - I hope there is a solution for you soon
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Glad to hear it all went ok for you!
 
pmiddleditch said:
i feel for you too mate.in fact anyone that truly suffers with severe and ongoing back pain.and at your age you want to get it sorted now so you can get on and thoroughly enjoy your life

one of the worst things one has to deal with is the emotional stress long term pain can have.it can leave you an emotional wreck.i personaly know this for a fact.
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I know exactly what you mean....
 
MsPeep said:
Housework can work wonders ;-)
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LOL - No it doesn't......not if your recovering from a major spinal operation


Ive been in doors for 6 weeks now on R and R - I was a motor mechanic by trade But have it on Surgeons orders that life is over - so looking to reinvent myself as a Photographer........Its going to be hard going once I am told Im good to go...

I was not in any fear at all - No guilt in life no fear in death(y)
 
LASTOLITE said:
LOL - No it doesn't......not if your recovering from a major spinal operation


Ive been in doors for 6 weeks now on R and R - I was a motor mechanic by trade But have it on Surgeons orders that life is over - so looking to reinvent myself as a Photographer........Its going to be hard going once I am told Im good to go...

I was not in any fear at all - No guilt in life no fear in death(y)
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Give it another 5 months and you'll be good to go. I can do 90% of what I did before, that includes humping around 205l oil drums by hand and truck batteries.

Just be careful, know your limits and dont be forced into doing something you know you cant do.
 
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