grannyapple3
Indiana/Arizona
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Joined: 11/27/2005
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I would try another injection. It took the second one for me. I also would get into a swimming pool. You wouldn't believe the difference in doing exercises under water being weightless versus doing the same thing on land. You can stretch better and twice as far and progress twice as fast. I have very bad back problems and after I started doing my exercises in a pool I saw a world of difference. I would do whatever it took to NOT have surgery. JMO
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gamersredneckwife
Tx, USA
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Joined: 06/04/2004
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Ultralife wrote:I would rather have accupuncture than chiropractic.
At the very least...consider accupuncture as an option...especially before going under the knife....it's a reasonable enough cost to give it 'try' anyway.
My mama had all kinds of 'syiatic' sp??? nerve problems...as a last result as all meds and therapy wasn't helping...she tried accupuncture..she's still singing the praises...just something to give a 'chance'
Summer
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Jeffe
El Paso, TX
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Epidural injections are not very painful, you are sedated while they perform the procedure and if they can successfully reduce the inflammation...you may put off surgery or avoid it all together.
There really isn't any reason not to try the epidurals before jumping into surgery.
I put off my first of two spinal fusions for almost two years by utilizing the injections, utilizing physical therapy and pain management techniques.
Sometimes it might take all three epidurals in the series before you see any long term relief.
Find a good orthopedic, do the testing and work out a solution with the professionals...making surgery the final option.
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KC Creekers
Kansas City KS
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Joined: 05/22/2002
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I almost understand what you are going through since DH has this exact same problem. He's had back problems on and off for years. He just got to the point a few weeks ago to do something positive. He has had the MRI and is now scheduled for a Myelogram and CT Scan on Wednesday.
We've had a lot of friends that has had the surgery and had excellent results. I too, would do what the Dr. suggests and see if that takes care of it first before surgery.
But, that's me ...
I meant to mention, he also has numbing in parts of his leg and toe. It's been diagnosed so far as a 1 Herniated Disk, 1 Bulging Disk and something else that I can't remember and also several with degeneration. I think I got that all right.
With DH as soon as he's better, he does something that will aggravate it again and he's right back where he started with Ibuprofen, heating pad, ice pack, etc. Walking makes it worse too. He can't do his exercises anymore which is really getting to him. I do know if the Dr. even hints of surgery, he for one is ready for it.
We'll see the following week what the Dr. prescribes first.
Good luck to you and hope it helps talking to others!
Linda
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KC Creekers
Kansas City KS
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Jeffe wrote:Epidural injections are not very painful, you are sedated while they perform the procedure and if they can successfully reduce the inflammation...you may put off surgery or avoid it all together.
There really isn't any reason not to try the epidurals before jumping into surgery.
Jeffe,
Thanks! I'm glad you said this, I'll tell DH just in case he is given an option. I don't know if he'll be given one until we get the final results. I do believe we have an excellant Dr.
Linda
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msmith1199
Central, CA
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Joined: 10/07/2001
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darbyjudy wrote:I am 73 years old, over weight , but otherwise is pretty good shape. I have been able to do most of my work around the house and most of the maintance on the motor home. I spent my working years as a auto mechanic, so I did a lot of lifting and bending. I have had some minor pains in the lower back for years but nothing that would keep me down. Back in Nov, 2007 Wife & I went on a cruise for 7 days. We had to ride the bus from Tampa to Miami and back. We spent a week on the ship going to shows and doing a lot of sitting. Well after being home about a week I started having some lower back pain. I would take some pain pills and the next day it would be better, this went on for about four weeks and then it seemed to be much better. Well we were going to a campout and had loaded the motor home and had the groceries in and all ready to go. That evening my back started to bother me, well next morning I could hardly get out of bed. My left butt hurt and the pain went down the left leg. Was very painful to try to walk. Went to our family Dr. and he said it was the sciatic nerve and gave me some pain pills. Well these pills would not cut the pain so I called and he prescribed some stronger ones. I took these for about a week but was getting no better. Called the Dr. again and he made an appointment for me to get an MRI and also an appointment to a spine Dr to see me. Well I went to the spine Dr with the film from the MRI and after looking at it he said the passage where the nerves were coming out of the spine was too small and it was pinching the nerve that goes to the left leg. He said we could try an injection first to see if it would help. If the injection didn't help I would need surgery to open the lower spine up so it wouldn't pinch the nerve. Well I had the injection about 4 days ago and it seemed to help at first but yesterday I had a very bad day. Today it seems a little better. I am going to make arrangements for physical therapy tomorrow. Ok the Spine Dr. said he could give the injection three times, but then it it didn't get better it would be surgery.
So I guess my question is this, if you have had this problem how long did it take it to get better? Did the injections do the job? Was surgery needed and how intense is this surgery? Do you think the therapy will help?
I have been healthy most of my life and this is about to get me down. It has went on now about 6 weeks and I do see some improvement but not a lot. I am able to walk to the family room from the bedroom but that is about all.
Maybe I need to go to another Dr. Someone said to go to a Chiropractor. Sorry for the misspelling. Thanks for listening.
I had the exact same problem as what you described, only I was 42 when it happened to me. I lived with it for about 9 months until I finally scheduled the surgery. The day before I went to see the surgeon for a pre-op appointment the pain had stopped. The doc said lets put off the surgery and see what happens. That was 4 years ago and that particular problem hasn't returned. I still have some problems with the disks in my lower back that may require surgery, but the nerve un-pinched itself and has been fine ever since. My understanding is sometimes it does that and sometimes it doesn't.
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ventrman
Erin, TN
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Joined: 06/04/2003
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I would definitely try to lose some weight. If you are interested, I suggest the Michael Thurmond regimen. You are never hungry while using it and it does work. I have lost in excess of 250 pounds while using it.
You can find it on the net. I bought mine on E-bay at a discount.
The second thing I would suggest is a good Chiropractor.
I hope that helps.
God Bless!
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KeystoneKid
Oil City, Pa
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Joined: 09/03/2005
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I also know what your going through because I suffer with attacks of sciatica and I know how excruciating the pain can be. The pain sometimes last for 3 to 4 week and can get so bad I cant even crawl out of bed, heavy duty pain pills and hot moist heat will help, one last thing I would get a second opinion from another DR before letting someone cut iito my spine you may even want to pay a visit to a good Chiropractor, a good one down your way is Dr Meinheart who has an office in Holiday.
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rondeb
Pacific Northwest
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Joined: 05/06/2005
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Everything you try will just put off the inevitable which will be the surgery. This surgery is not a big deal. Most individuals notice the pain gone the moment they wake up from surgery. 6 weeks post op and you should be as good as new.
The inflamation injections will not fix your problem. You might ask about the injections that kill the nerve coming out of your spine. If it works, it will last about 1 year until the nerve repairs itself and then the pain will come back.
Like I said though, everything you do is just putting off the surgery. Why not just get the surgery done and forget all the hassles, pains etc. trying to prevent the surgery.
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shoreman
texas
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Joined: 12/27/2007
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Have you tried the chatrooms in myrvspace.com? They are great for talking to someone, especially in the evening.
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