If it's nerve pain, Amytriptyline and Gabapentin might help. Ask your GP. I had this over Christmas and it didn't do much, but the bit it did do was much appreciated. The pain has now receded, but the paralysis has increased. 'Some you win, some you lose!'
Well I decided to wait for the results of my MRI scan on my lumber region. Saw the doctor and in a nutshell I'm fu...d!
My lower back is in such a state that all he'll do is prescribe pain killers 'Zapain'. I asked if I could get some physiotherapy and he said no as it's not curable and it would cost too much. So great you pay NI stamps for 35 years and the NHS can't help but give pills.
Anyway I thought the only way I'll get treatment is if I pay for it.
I got the Pathology report off my doctor and took it to a private physio who lives locally.
I met her this afternoon at her home. A trim blonde athletic lady in whites and trainers. I arrived in shorts, t-shirt and trainers. The consultation was suppose to ast 40 minutes - I got 100 minutes.
She read my report prior to e arriving - yes it's confirmed - my back is shot! Four slipped discs and trapped inflamed nerves. Stripped to my shorts she stretched me and showed me new exercises The best part was when she stuck accupuncture pins in the muscles around the lumber region to relax them I found out that the pins are pushed in nearly two inches! After that while still lying on my tummy she gave my lower back a deep massage for twenty minutes - magic! I didn't realise how knotted my back was.
It's very interesting as we talked about all sorts while she massaged me - what a way to make a living.
Seeing her again next next before she disappears on her jollies.
So gentle back exercises, pain killers and she's suggested I buy a 'tenns' back ache machine
Before I splash out on a tenns machine - any recommendations?
Sorry to hear about you're back, I have a similar condition in as far as being a 'not curable' condition.
A couple of tips, firstly try and discuss your medication with your doctor to try and avoid becoming addicted to anything. I speak from experience having been taking codeine & Tramadol for many,many years.
Regarding the 'Tens' machine I was able to borrow one from my doctors surgery when I was wondering about buying one. As it turned out it didn't work for me but I know people who swear by them
Thanks Tinker for the tip. But while I was out I bought a tenns machine from Lloyds chemist for about £20. I've not used it yet but it runs off three small AAA batteries. It comes as a belt you wear. Now if it were to plug into the mains I'd expect a positive reaction - it might even may my eyes glow in the dark - can I smell burning!!
I'll let you know how it goes. I think I'd prefer to appoint a full time masseuse!
Hello lighttouch,afraid i to have your problem,my spinal canal needed some work and the discs that had collapsed also required alot of work to clean them up,over four hours on the operating table my lower back does not lock up any more but i still have mobility problems,my point is this after my first mri scan my doctor explained the severity of my condition i asked him for a referal it took time to see a surgeon,and after another scan and two xrays [standing] i had my operation.
I was told by the surgeon the heaviest thing i can take on is a supermarket trolly but his operation has helped me a lot,may i suggest you ask your doctor for a referal if he says no which is doubtful,change doctors,but keep asking.lots of luck to you.
I don't really know what it is I want to happen.
I've assembled the tenns machine but haven't used it yet. I bought a hot water bottle but haven't used it yet.
Now I have the MRI scans I could pay £200 to have a private consultation - but I don't want back surgery.
I had a free phone consultation with a London based twisted back specialist - they sound very impressive. But do I wat to pay £1800 for 3 hours treatment over 10 working days, plus travel, plus food, plus accomodation near Big Ben with no cure available - that's OK if you have private medicine but I don't.
Having back pain 24/7 isn't good - even sat in an ergonomic chair is painful after 30 minutes.
Ehh what can be done. Looking forward to being pummeled by my physio on Wednesday - it's like fighting fire with fire. lol
Yeah i have seen all of your conversation and ye i was also about to say that you must really try acupuncture and the reason why i mentioned that is because once my Grand ma was also in such a pain and now she is been living in an independent living center where proper care and treatment is being provided to her and she is also very happy to be there.....
we have an amzing products "Arthrva" .Arthrva is oil which helps you to get rid from long term pain.
one can buy it from our online store by visiting store.adleylab.com
Yeah acupuncture did actually worked for my grand ma as well
She is now living in a aged care center and now she is fine.
Last edited by administrator; 08-30-2012 at 06:49 AM. Reason: spam removed
I was in extreme, 24x7 pain for years because of spinal stenosis. Yes, generally most doctors say there isn't a lot of hope. Let me tell you to take what the doctors say with a grain of salt. I found that the TENS unit didn't help much at all. The pain is far too severe. Traction tended to worsen the pain, because my muscles tightened and it just worsened the inflammation. There was a time when even vicodin etc did not help at all. In chronic pain you become very desperate, and there were a few things I found that did help.
-ANYTHING TO LOWER INFLAMMATION. NSAIDs eventually gave me an ulcer, now I am taking 200mg of celebrex daily. I also find that taking a lot of FISH OIL and CURCUMIN have as much of an effect on inflammation as celebrex! Take all! Passion flower herb also works moderately.
-Find a chair that works for you. Sleep in that chair. For me, I have two chairs I can use. First, my office chair, http://www.yliving.com/herman-miller...ive-chair.html. The chair I sleep in is http://www.amazon.com/Lafuma-LFM1226.../dp/B005NZZR2S. You can find a version of that last chair for big & tall in the big & tall magazine (i believe) Sleeping in that chair will finally give your spine a chance to heal. For me, finding a chair I could sit in, although the pain still remained to a large extent, meant that I was *finding a position I could be in such that my spine could take a short rest from inflaming while I sat their, so it could finally have a chance to heal*
-Find some kind of pain killer that at least HELPS with the pain. You need to reduce your pain enough so that you can bring INTENSITY to exercising. Moderate exercising simply doesn't do the trick.
-Learn to walk so that you reduce inflammation. It feels very strange at first, and I still find myself falling back into how people normally walk and stand. The truth is, to take pressure off your spinal cord you have to do what they did in wayne's world. SCHWING! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szkgylvDYA4 If you can try to push out your hips a little when you walk you can create the right kind of compression to relieve pressure off your spine.
-Lastly, the best way to take pressure off your spine so that you can reduce inflammation is to build your abdominal muscles. For every other person on earth they can do sit-ups, screw around and see results. IT WILL NOT BE THAT SIMPLE FOR YOU. The yoga stretches they show you in PT are a good starting point, but I would suggest practicing the plank every day. It will be very painful for hours or days after you do this exercise, but the effects are compounding and every day it will hurt a little less. On a side note, I found another helpful isometric exercise to be Sil Lim Tao. Your exercise plan cannot consist of isometric & yoga alone. For me, I had to read a lot of literature before realizing that injuries of this extent will require excellent nutrition and exercises that release a large amount of human growth hormone. Stop eating sugar & processed carbohydrates, eat lots of protein, take vitamins. Eat salads. Side note: protein is a mild anti-inflammatory. As for the best exercises, every doctor I saw told me not to do heavy exercises like squats, deadlift, good mornings etc. I didn't even show progress until starting to squat. You need squats because they release the right hormones and break down the muscles needed to stabilize your core. FORM IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU. Study squat form.
-Lyrica & Gabapentin did help to a small extent. Spinal injections also worked to an extent.
I used to not be able to walk, now I can out run my friends and yesterday I squatted 350 lbs.
Last edited by nmoore23; 12-09-2012 at 03:03 AM.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
