So apparently I'm of the age where intermittent back pain has gone to constant nagging and occasionally debilitating. I'm not really surprised with motorcycle accident, construction background and general youthful stupidity/sports. Now we're looking at epidural injections. I'm curious about others experience. Apologies if this has come up before.
OT back pain follow up - surgery
- Thread starter Vanhusker
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I deal with pain as well but never considered injection. Just figured part of getting older or just the way it is and envied those that could/were doing what I wished I could and would like to do.
Best regards and am interested in the responses you get
Best regards and am interested in the responses you get
I'm no doctor but if anyone suggests surgery I'd explore any other options first... chiropractic... acupuncture, etc.
There's nothing much worse than going through a serious back surgery and how long that takes to recover from only to have the pain return in less than a year.
Chiropractic was a miracle healer for me but everyone's situation & experience is different.
Good luck with whatever you try to do!
There's nothing much worse than going through a serious back surgery and how long that takes to recover from only to have the pain return in less than a year.
Chiropractic was a miracle healer for me but everyone's situation & experience is different.
Good luck with whatever you try to do!
If you haven’t done a chiropractor, think about it. I am personally a skeptic, but I know many who swear by it for managing their back issues. Just plan on budgeting a couple a hundred a month, because it seems that regular “adjustments” are required. I have never known anyone to be able to do one or two visits and be cured. Also, if you find one who also does dry needling, might also be worth a shot. I have a cousin who is a PT and does dry needling. He swears by it and I have known several of his patients who do as well. This is NOT and endorsement of either. I don’t go to chiropractors and have never done dry needling. My personal experience was a herniated disc in my early 40’s. I waited 4 months for surgery and did steroid shots because everyone told me you dont want surgery. Well after four months of often excruciating pain, I opted for surgery. Fixed the issue immediately, but by then damage had been done to my psiatic nerve, and 20 years later I have a weakened foot, with chronic (thankfully mild) pain and cramping in my toes. Do not be afraid of a surgical fix if recommended.
No truer words have ever been spoken, at least when it comes to back pain. I know way more than I wish I did about this topic. Having dealt with 3 family members who've been through various degrees of it. There is not a single suggestion here that will be a one size fits all answer.
Have one family member who uses ongoing monthly chiropractor/massage/injections/etc successfully to essentially maintain and live with it fairly comfortably
Have another family member who actually had their chiropractor herniate a disk during one of their monthly maintenance sessions. That required surgery. Then a completely different physical therapist during recovery from the first surgery re-herniated it requiring a second surgery. This person had 3 epidural injections prior to surgery with zero improvement. Pretty sure the insurance companies require this before surgery.
Have another family member who was lined up to get injections prior to what everyone thought would undoubtedly inevitably be surgery, and the first injection worked and they've had almost zero problems since.
Total crap shoot. And everyone's mileage will vary.
I will say this, if you end up needing surgery, there are huge differences in procedures. Minimally invasive is the only way to go. And some doctors call their procedure "minimally invasive" but there are still varying degrees of how invasive all of that is.
Good luck...wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
I will echo others in trying a chiropractor. I was extremely skeptical for years. My wife finally talked me into it after I'd gone to physical therapy and they'd done adjustments (not the same as a chiropractor, more gradual pressure stuff, but similar enough). It was a game changer for me.
I haven't been back for awhile, I lost about 80 lbs which I'm guessing took some pressure off my back, but I still go in occasionally just for "maintenance."
I haven't been back for awhile, I lost about 80 lbs which I'm guessing took some pressure off my back, but I still go in occasionally just for "maintenance."
Decompression Therapy took me from bedridden to active again (as active as I can be at my age). No surgeries, no injections.
I had a severe herniation of L5,S1. Could not bend at the waist.
I had a severe herniation of L5,S1. Could not bend at the waist.
It took me four weeks:
First week was five days a week.
Second week was three days.
Third week was two days.
Fourth week was one day.
Then PT after, but my pain had almost completely subsided by then.
I was living in Iowa City at the time, and the nearest doctor doing this was in Cedar Rapids. This was in 2020 in the middle of COVID.
The therapy was not covered by BCBS at the time.
Definitely seems like a great theory from what I just read on the link you posted. Did you get a little better between every treatment? Or how did that go? Reason I ask is I feel like there is no possible way the family member I had who needed the surgery (also L5,S1) could have made it through four weeks/11 treatments. They could hardly walk
And don't get me started on the insurance
The first week was slow going, but by the second week, the improvement was dramatic. I could walk slowly, painfully before the treatments, but it wasn't easy.
For the first two weeks, my wife drove me from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids while I was fully reclined in the passenger seat.
I drove myself after.
I think it depends on the nature of the problem. If it’s solely a disc problem then unless you have certain complications from the disk like weakness, long-term outcomes are the same with or without surgery.. if you have certain bony issues like types of stenosis, then surgery gets you better outcomes then rehab alone.
At least that is my understanding. I had a lot of back pain/sciatica and didn’t understand that it was primary from lateral stenosis and put off surgery for a long time, and wish I would not have.
At least that is my understanding. I had a lot of back pain/sciatica and didn’t understand that it was primary from lateral stenosis and put off surgery for a long time, and wish I would not have.
I used to have back pain in my mid-back. Started routinely going to a chiropractor and it went away and haven't had any issues since. Just like any profession, there a good and bad chiropractors but definitely find a reputable one.
If it’s your lower back it’s probably a very good chance your hammys are tight. Get them loose will never have low back pain again
Interesting to hear endorsements of surgery. I've always been told to consider that a last resort. However , a coworker, 8 years younger has had 2 surgeries with good results. I do see a chiropractor every 3-4 weeks and that's helped. I have 2 bulging discs with arthritis. This year, I've missed work on 3 occasions when spasms got too strong.
Dealt with a bad L4-L5 herniation for years. Tried everything under the sun (pills, epidurals, decompression therapy, inversion tables, diet changes), everything helped for a bit but it would always come back. Met with a surgeon and he said to do the microdiscectomy surgery. I did it and its been phenomenal. I wish I would’ve done it years earlier. Once in a while I’ll get a flare up but its 98% better. Sciatica and all pain totally gone. It depends what your back issue is though. If you just have stinosis or whatever, this is not the option for you
Yoga was so hard and painful but yes, I did try yoga and plenty of core strengthening and PT sessions. This was not an issue of being out of shape at all, I’m 6’2 220 and in pretty darn good shape. Played a ton of sports plus golf and bowling through my years which obviously don’t help the back. The disc was just smashing the nerve and the only way to get it off was surgery
Talk to people you know very well before going to a Chiropractor. I had one really good one in my life out of about 6, that I tried. The last one screwed up my jaw, adjusting my neck. I didn't hardly talk for 2 weeks and had physical therapy for my jaw for 6 weeks.
As you work your way through this over the years and deal with the insurance company. Play the game and start with the physical therapy and see this stuff through (sorry sounds preachy) that's how insurance has paid for this stuff through the years for me. I know people at work, with similar problems as me and can't get insurance to cover some things. I spent 22 weeks in physical therapy this year alone, not fun but it was all paid for and I'm 80% better for it. I just had my 2nd Ablation on my right side L3-L5 Facets. It has lasted longer than the steroid injections I've had before.
As you work your way through this over the years and deal with the insurance company. Play the game and start with the physical therapy and see this stuff through (sorry sounds preachy) that's how insurance has paid for this stuff through the years for me. I know people at work, with similar problems as me and can't get insurance to cover some things. I spent 22 weeks in physical therapy this year alone, not fun but it was all paid for and I'm 80% better for it. I just had my 2nd Ablation on my right side L3-L5 Facets. It has lasted longer than the steroid injections I've had before.
My father had the injections for lower back pain and it was temporary relief. Over time, the injections were less and less effective and more frequent.
We pushed him into physical therapy, strength and flexibility-and that program/routine did more for him than anything. He had surgery earlier too - but the game changer was physical therapy.
Agree with all of the commentary around stretching hams (and calves).
Best of luck - back pain really sucks
We pushed him into physical therapy, strength and flexibility-and that program/routine did more for him than anything. He had surgery earlier too - but the game changer was physical therapy.
Agree with all of the commentary around stretching hams (and calves).
Best of luck - back pain really sucks
People don't always get or understand back spasms. I had several days at work, with 20-30 back or neck spasms in a 8 hour shift. Ugggghhh, that sucks!
With back surgery, look at long term results. How are they doing 5-10 years out from a surgery?
I do yoga almost daily. Has eliminated almost all body aches. Turned 49 yesterday. Have beat the tar out of my body and continue to do so. Yoga works
Stretching and regular exercise are great if you don’t have protruding discs in your spine. IF you have a protruded disc the best option is still usually micro discectomy. Stretching and exercise may help an arthritic spine but spinal fusion of specific disc spaces can help dramatically. I have multiple cervical and lumbar vertebrae that may need to be fused some day but I have a pretty high pain tolerance and don’t have any peripheral nerve deficits from the spondylosis . Gotta get a knee replaced before I do anything else.
I feel your pain, not a joke but fits. I am now 71 and had my first back surgery when I was 48. Called it a 360, opened me up front and back 7 and a half surgery. 2 different fusions, scoliosis, rods plate screws. I put it off 5 years from the time I found out I needed it. I've had 4 surgeries and need another one now. Had them done in Omaha at the Spine Center. I'm sure we could have an interesting conversation. I went to the Dr in March thinking I needed another surgery and the MRI indicated I needed a kidney removed with cancer. Went to Omaha and told me I could have surgery when I wanted, so for now grinning and putting on a good front. I think it's funny (interesting) hearing different sayings when we was younger. " If you don't have your health" etc. I'd like to think I'm pretty tough, the surgeon who did the last two surgeries told me I was like a vintage car, my engine (brain) says yes but the body is saying NO. I said when I have stuff to do I go until I can't stand up straight any more. So all of you with backpain, I feel your pain, but can't say what is right for anyone. Best wishes too all.
Laying on the floor with your butt against the wall and your legs straight up the wall is a great way to stretch your hamstrings and your back. It’s amazing how your back will gradually stretch and flatten to the floor in just a few minutes.
Get that knee done, my man. Had both of mine replaced last 2 years. I'm barely in my 50's, but with the weight loss has reduced my back pain 40-50%. This a ***** some days to deal with though, but better than it was.
Yes, and walking.
I was told many times over many years that I needed surgery and had several epidurals that did not help much. MY MRI images are a disaster.
Lifestyle changes healed me: stress reduction, sleep hygiene, strength training, and distance walking have kept me pain free for 15 years and counting.
Try acupuncture. There was an MD in Nebraska who made it the basis of his practice. Look for someone like that.
Walking is vastly underrated especially if your job involves a lot of sittinf
Stretching, core exercises and losing the gut all help.
Before surgery look into radiofrequency ablations as a treatment. Lasts longer than shots.
Good luck you old farts
Walking is vastly underrated especially if your job involves a lot of sittinf
Stretching, core exercises and losing the gut all help.
Before surgery look into radiofrequency ablations as a treatment. Lasts longer than shots.
Good luck you old farts
Has a ruptured lumbar disc about 20 years ago. Debilitating pain, bed-ridden. Insurance made me go through numerous epidural injections, none of which provided ANY relief. Surgery to repair the disc was a major relief. Still have chronic back pain and periodic episodes if I overextend myself and am not careful. But I'm managing it I guess. Last MRI about 5-10 years ago showed many issues but not sure there's much that can be done. Still fighting. Can't run or do similar high-impact activities. Lifting has to be done carefully. Or else there can be extreme sciatic pain down both legs for several days.
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i used to have serious back issues, muscle mostly, spasms. back in the 90s, an orthopedic surgeon schooled at michigan suggested i start sleeping with a small pillow between my knees to balance the spine angle. since doing that, i have had very few issues that can't be solved with tylenol and a walk around.
Best would be a total body change. Get your testosterone levels checked. Get on peptide therapy, bpc157. Work out core, chiropractic, massage, stretch/yoga etc. Avoid cortisone shots, they destroy your cartilage and make the problem worse. Avoid surgery at all costs, seen too many gone wrong.
