Very, very painful back

[Bruce Urie]

Guys, I just hurt my back (again) yesterday and now I can hardly move....I've been in very bad pain since yesterday, can hardly walk, or sit.....it's going to kill me just to get up from this computer when I sign off.....

I have two ruptured discs (that's "discs", not "dicks" :tongue....sometimes, when I move, reach, or stretch the wrong way it feels like someone stabbed me in my lower back with a spear.....which is what exists now....nothing takes away the pain, Advil, beer, Robaxin, nothing....these I've tried....

It's really killing me...so, I'm asking for suggestions (short of a shotgun blast) as to how I could aleviate the pain....otherwise, like in the past, I just not do anything for about a week and the pain will abate until the next idiot move I make to start it all over again.....


Any suggestions from you guys who have this same problem?

I've been remodeling our master bathroom for about two weeks, lifting, sawing, drywalling, plastering, sanding, nailing, screwing, painting, hauling heavy stuff, in between working on my GN, and yesterday I made the wrong move...how or what I did I can't recall, but now I'm like the Tin Man....rusted to a stop.....I can't do anything now...nothing....

Any ideas for me? I'd sure appreciate it......and thanks....I sure hope non of you guys have to go through this....it's a pure, unadultered BITCH to go through.

I'll stop whining now....


Bruce '87 Grand National

 

[CS99]

Go to an orthopedic surgeon. I went in at 8:00am in the morning, the doctor trimed off the buldged disc, and I was at home recovering at 12:00. It is'nt that bad and you have instant relief.

 

[Squid4life]

Go to an orthopedic surgeon. I went in at 8:00am in the morning, the doctor trimed off the buldged disc, and I was at home recovering at 12:00. It is'nt that bad and you have instant relief.

I have heard that too, seriously considering it. My 70 year old grandmother got it done, and had similar results, nearly instantaneous relief after all the swelling/ healing was done. Hers was a small incision in the front, worked that way.

Hope you feel better soon Bruce, been there a few times and it is no fun...

 

[Boostdeznuts]

Oxxycoddin or Hydro-coddin will do. wish you're closer,I could hand you afew :biggrin::biggrin:

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Feel your pain! I throw mine out at least once a year. I do heavy lifting all the time at work but always throw it out just by picking up an empty box, twisting to grab a wrench or just moving the wrong way in a confined space.

Were you actually diagnosed with ruptured discs? I don't have anything like that but end up having to crawl on the floor and wife brings me to the chiropractor. Lots of ice packs helps, drugs, oxycodone or hydrocodone will help but just don't get dependant on it.

 

[RIFF RAFF]

Bruce

I take pin point shots in l5 because i have a hole in it. Lasts for about 6 months and i fell good within a hour of the shot .. If you dont want to go the cut & hack route .. God bless i hope you feel better .

 

[BobbyBuick]

Well mine may not be the same as yours but Im 53 and about 3 years ago I couldnt even sit without having continuous pain in my lower back .It ended up being bulging disc # 3&4. I went to a chiropractor for the first time in my life .was amazed at the short term results but it ended up not solving a thing and 40 visits later still had the same pain.Went to an orthopedic surgeon he told me to do theropy.and I discovered a concept 2 rowing machine.I started exercising and my problem has been solved for about a year now .to be honest I used to go 5k at least 4 times a week now i havent been keeping up but it built up my ab muscles and the results are amazing.I do have other back problems that come and go from lung surgury but it is totally unrelated.Im not much into taking pills and think of it as a bandaid.If you are overweight and do not exercise even a little bit thats your problem whether you want to face it or not.I went from 235 lbs to 215 and the machine costs my 600.00 used and will last a lifetime.You back is holding up more weight than it was designed to when you muscles in your mid section are not being used.Thats why we have so many back problems

 

[Raymond Bunch]

Bruce
At least you still carry a sense of humor through all your agony (that's "discs", not "dicks" )..lol

I'm very sorry to hear about this man. My wife went through a very similar issue 5 years ago, and I tell you brother, my heart cried for her. I'm gritting my teeth just hearing you describe what your going through. Honestly, you need to go and get checked out by a spinal surgeon, and repaired soon as possible if it can't be treated through therapy and medication.

Have you tried Percocet..sorry, don't know how that is spelled, Worst case, Morphine is what my wife had to be on for a while. Also, here on out, you need to stretch, and warm up before putting you self through all that manly work...lol Hope you feel better and recover soon.

Ray

 

[turbo39151]

A couple of ideas for you Bruce:
None of these will "fix" a bulged disc but they will help with the pain.

If you are suffering from lower back pain from recent activity you need to ice it, of course, and find a good massage therapist to do some deep tissue therapy on your glutes and back. (Everything connects in the glutes). Last fall I hurt my back a few times while moving as I was loading and unloading the moving truck myself a few different times... It hurt so bad I could hardly move. Nothing helped. I called a massage therapist and when she was through with me I felt much better and was good as new in a few days. I go regularly to prevent issues.

The other thing I have incorporated to keep pain to a minimum is lots of stretching and yoga... Try it. It will kick your butt but you will have much better range of motion.

Finally, I recently went to a conference where an orthopaedic surgeon was speaking on bulged discs, corrective surgeries and therapies and one of the things he recommended was sit ups.... He claimed that the hip flexors that are engaged in the sit up exercise actually helped to stabilize your lower back and he recommended this as physical therapy to his patients claiming that when they could do sit ups, they would usually have alleviated the pain and not require surgery...

Hope some of this can help you.

 

[Chuck Leeper]

My mess is at L4-5, S1. Have had several epidurals.. Work for a while.. some a yr or more.
I now put on the back support, [Lowes/<$15.00], whenever I feel that first twinge.
I also wear it when I'm in the shop, and/or doing any lifting. I can pretty much control it that way. If it does knock me down, nothing but rest and alot of ADVIL type pain killers, get me going again.

 

[The Darkside]

Have you tried an inversion table? I herniated 2 discs in my lower back in 1986 & although I've been doing great for the past several years, here lately my sciatic nerve has been getting pinched in my lower right back/hip area......When I stand up, I look very crooked & off to one side...one hip higher than the other & kicked out...It's extremely painful to deal with....I cant sit, can't stand, can't even reachdown to tie my shoes without feeling like I just got hit with a lightning strike in my lower back!!!
Now, back to the inversion table... I borrowed one from a friend of mine & I have to say it has really helped to alleviate the pain & put things back in place. Do a little research on the subject & hopefully it is something that will help you out as well...

The Darkside

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Man, we are starting to sound like a bunch of old coots comparing maladies.:biggrin: I am 5' 10" and weighed around 228. Just doing the treadmill that has been in the playroom doubling as a clothes rack and cutting down on portions for meals and more fruit and veggies has me down about 8 lbs in a month. Trying to keep up with it but when you are knocking on 55 it is tough to do when you never exercised your whole life,

 

[Silver Fox]

Bruce - I will offer some advice below - but you really need to see a doctor/physical therapist if your back is that bad before doing any of the recommended activities. For those of you with minor back issues/neck pain this may work very good for you.

The advice about stretching/yoga previously offered is great. A lot of time when we get back pain our muscles stiffen up making the pain even worse, so we need to relax them (which normally hurts).

Back in 2004 when I killed by first Turbo-T in a wreck, I sustained pretty severe back/neck injuries. I lived in pain for years, and couldn't even sleep all night due to the discomfort. I then met a physical therapist who I asked him if he was serious when he recommended the following stretching technique. He said he was serious and his advice was great.

He told me to do this: Get one of those "pool noodles" (e.g., Pool Noodles, Water Logs, Wacky Noodle Pool Toys, swimming pool noodles) and lay it on the floor perpendicular to a chair or a couch.

What you want to do next is to lay on your back (with the pool noodle directly under your spine) with your lower legs supported on the chair or couch. Lay this way and be very still for about 20 minutes. It really relaxes all the muscles in your back. It will be uncomfortable the first few times, but you will quickly get used to it.

I currently have a disability for back/neck issues from the VA. I use the pool noodle stretch every few weeks and it makes life bearable.

Also, I made changes to other things in my life to help out...

Tempurpedic pillow for my neck
Tempurpedic Matress
I am an avid road cyclist - and I had to by a different geometry racing frame that sits me up a bit more upright.
I only stand over the Buick's engine compartment for a few hours - can't do it all day as my back will protest.

This all cost a bit, but for the improvement in quality of life was more than worth it.

I also notice diet (caffeine, etc) can make a difference in how my back feels. And this brings up the point that a "few" extra pounds can also lead to greater back pain.

I would say talk to a medical professional, and see what your best course of action would be.

Good luck - and I feel your pain.

Rob

 

[gn86randy]

Esi esi esi

Epidural Steroid Injection directly into the jacked up discs worked for me so far I had them done in NOV10 and so far so good. for me S1 L5 good luck and hopefully you can get some pain relief.

 

[turbofabricator]

I feel your pain. (All day every day) I have been putting up with a pain level 7-9 every day for the last 6 yrs. I take vicaden to take the edge off of it. Lower back 3 level bulging disks.

Now here's my best advice............find a good surgeon and CHECK THEM OUT CAREFULLY!!!!!. I had microdisectomy performed in 2006 and was still complaining to the doc about my continued pain. 6 months later I see him on our local news being suspended!! Turns out he is NOT a surgeon at all. He was/is an anesthesiologist and has never under gone proper training. After this came out I had a post surgery MRI. The new MRI shows EXACTLY the same condition. I tried to sue the Guy but hired a poor lawyer. I learned ALOT about our legal system and hate it even more today than before. I no longer trust ANY doctor, either. Take your time checking the guy/gal out. Look them up on ratemd.com.
Funny that the rowing machine came up. Both of my kids were national rowers when in high school and my daughter is still a professional rowing coach and has sent kids to Nationals every year she has coached. (Oakridge TN this year.) I have a Concept II here at the house. Now I gotta give it a whirl. Ill let everyone know how it goes, but after 6 shoulder surgeries, it might kill me. I would like to get back in a rowing shell, as its alot of fun. Any local folks that want to give it a try with professional coaching, let me know and I can hook you up. Other area's you can look up a rowing club and give it try. Anyone can do it. What a great work out and very peaceful and FAST!

 

[motrhed87]

If the discs are truly ruptured, not herniated, then there is nothing other than surgery that will help. If they are herniated (i.e. bulging) then there are many things you can do including epidurals and disc oblation. Unfortunately I ruptured my L4-L5 and L5-S1 discs and had to have spinal fusion. The good thing is that 6 months after surgery I felt 100% and still do to this day. The key is finding a great spinal surgeon.

 

[longball]

Guaranteed pain relief

have a bad back myself. this is not a solution to back problems, a doctor needs to be seen for that. this is guaranteed to relieve any type of pain, back pain, headaches, toothaches, compound bone fractures, etc...it has never failed me.

1) take 2 strongest Oxycontin you can get and wash down with at least 1 beer and/or shot of something
2) take 1 Oxycontin and wash down with at least 1 beer and/or shot each hour after initial dose. Continue this each hour until pain disappears or you pass out.

If you don't drink, no guarantee........