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Message
re: Low Back Pain - Degenerative Disc Disease - Checking In
Posted on 8/30/18 at 3:18 am to jtayl71
Posted on 8/30/18 at 3:18 am to jtayl71
Just now seeing this thread. Here’s my story in a nutshell
I had no known injury event and my low back started hurting when I was 19. I was normal height and weight at the time.
The pain and immobility got progressively worse. I saw half a dozen doctors or so that kept saying that it was just tight muscles.
Finally after a year or so of progressive deterioration a doctor referred me to a neurologist who ordered an MRI. L3 was bulging and L4 and 5 were ruptured with their contents all wrapped around my spine.
That doctor basically said the only thing that could fix that level of damage was a surgery called a laminectomy. By this time I couldn’t stand without a walker, so I basically had no choice.
I had surgery when I was 20. I’m now 47. So far I’ve never needed another surgery. I have had many of what I call “flair ups” some have lasted as much as 3 months long.
When they happen I go to a swimming pool and do therapy. This has so far always fixed the pain. It is however beginning to take a long time to work. I’m sure that in the next decade or so I’ll have to have another surgery.
I’ve never tried inversion or a chiropractor. I may have to one day but so far I’ve managed to stay completely away from pain meds (not easy).
It has been a long battle.
I had no known injury event and my low back started hurting when I was 19. I was normal height and weight at the time.
The pain and immobility got progressively worse. I saw half a dozen doctors or so that kept saying that it was just tight muscles.
Finally after a year or so of progressive deterioration a doctor referred me to a neurologist who ordered an MRI. L3 was bulging and L4 and 5 were ruptured with their contents all wrapped around my spine.
That doctor basically said the only thing that could fix that level of damage was a surgery called a laminectomy. By this time I couldn’t stand without a walker, so I basically had no choice.
I had surgery when I was 20. I’m now 47. So far I’ve never needed another surgery. I have had many of what I call “flair ups” some have lasted as much as 3 months long.
When they happen I go to a swimming pool and do therapy. This has so far always fixed the pain. It is however beginning to take a long time to work. I’m sure that in the next decade or so I’ll have to have another surgery.
I’ve never tried inversion or a chiropractor. I may have to one day but so far I’ve managed to stay completely away from pain meds (not easy).
It has been a long battle.
1
Posted on 8/30/18 at 7:10 am to TheGooner
skimmed thru most of this thread, it seems that most is pertaining to lumbar issues and DDD, my personal issue is in C4,5,6, however....
tingling, numbness, "cold" feelings in my hands, sharp pains down my arms, neck, shoulder, all started in my late 30's. Within 1 year, atrophy started in my biceps and triceps, as the muscles simply quit firing. Rapid loss of strength in both arms, and the worst part is that it was random. It would come and go for no apparent reason.
Got to the point to where the only way I could fall asleep was slightly upright in a recliner with one of those home neck massage contraptions on high, and even then sometimes in tears as I passed out
Neurosurgeon didnt flinch - said I had DDD, MRI showed I had the C4, C5 and C6 of a man 3x my age. 1 disc was <5%, the other was @ 15% and bound to get worse
Went in for disc replacement surgery soon after, the procedure took 45 minutes. Instantly upon waking up - complete and total relief. I was back at work in a week. The best decision I made. It's been a few years now and still pain free.
I've seen more than a few comments on here about avoiding surgery and trying other things, and I cannot speak to anything regarding lumbar issues, but if you have C spinal issues and your doctor says youre a candidate for disc replacement, dont hesitate.
tingling, numbness, "cold" feelings in my hands, sharp pains down my arms, neck, shoulder, all started in my late 30's. Within 1 year, atrophy started in my biceps and triceps, as the muscles simply quit firing. Rapid loss of strength in both arms, and the worst part is that it was random. It would come and go for no apparent reason.
Got to the point to where the only way I could fall asleep was slightly upright in a recliner with one of those home neck massage contraptions on high, and even then sometimes in tears as I passed out
Neurosurgeon didnt flinch - said I had DDD, MRI showed I had the C4, C5 and C6 of a man 3x my age. 1 disc was <5%, the other was @ 15% and bound to get worse
Went in for disc replacement surgery soon after, the procedure took 45 minutes. Instantly upon waking up - complete and total relief. I was back at work in a week. The best decision I made. It's been a few years now and still pain free.
I've seen more than a few comments on here about avoiding surgery and trying other things, and I cannot speak to anything regarding lumbar issues, but if you have C spinal issues and your doctor says youre a candidate for disc replacement, dont hesitate.
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