You do have herniated disc...as i did as well..please read response i wrote to Susan about her son who also has herniated his disc.
I did have a normal life with more than one herniated disc..one completely gone and other 90% gone. So there is lot of hope and if you do what PT instructs..and find a excellent one there is great hope!!
It does hurt a lot at first..hurt greatly to walk i recall much less lift anything in front. i could not i recall and I was working as chef at time so needed to life large pots...could not. BUT moving was good!!
Moving as much as it hurts at first is one of the best things you can do....you will loosen up after the first ten or 15 minutes..maybe only few minutes even..so try to move. Might need a cane to just help or walking staff.
So please read what i wrote her and know it is very possible to have good life pain free....completely 99% of the time!
is it your upper or lower back? because my upper back used to be like that, it was so excruciating i stayed in bed for an entire summer. I contemplated suicide daily. i saw lots of useless doctors. I never imagined that stretches or exercise would help such intense pain but one day I was so desperate and i thought i d try anything. I went on you tube and actually found yoga stretches that relieve my pain. i did them every day, sometimes twice a day and i ice afterwards. After a few weeks the pain went from down tremendously. its been months since i discovered them and i still i do them religiously. I still get it but its much much milder now and less frequent. Also a brisk walk helps - when it was really bad it hurt to walk so you have to just try -its a trail and error thing. with fibro we tend to end up in bed a lot and thats so bad for the back. the body needs movement even if it hurts. i actually dropped out of college because i couldn't sit there w the back pain and sometimes i couldn't even lift my arms up to fix my hair! im back in school now. tell me if you want the link. don't get me wrong- its still an everyday thing its just more manageable now
Thanks for your input siskiya ! i would not let them give him any pain meds at the E/R only Motrin and a weeks worth of muscle relaxers . Those to you can become dependent on. He is a smart young man and wants to just get back to the gym. : ) Awww that age I think this is where is he did the damage to himself overdoing looking for the big muscles . The Pt is working wonders They have permitted him to go into the Gym but ONLY to stretch. No lifting any weights yet. I too suffer like you with bad discs mine are from a car accident so I know NATURAL is the way to go. Did the injections at the pain clinic....I would rather give birth again than have another injection !! They did nothing except traumatize me. .... so painful !! Was strapped to a table so not to move , but felt so helpless when the needle went in . Then pain clinic gave me every med from A-Z. Nope no help just awful side affects including Gum /tooth damage . A med called Serzone ....they now found out after 10 yrs that it makes you so dry mouth that your natural bacteria is not killing germs that cause tooth decay that continues on to you gums and if your not diligent your jaw bone. Nice huh ? I can tell you are feeling very guilty about needing narcotics . Why ? If they are taking properly and you are leading respectful full life as best your able with your condition there should be 0 guilt . I too take pain meds have for 4 years . NO side affects . Do not have addictive personality ...LOL except fro DIET PEPSI which I know is so bad for us . Fibro diets says NO artificial sweeteners and it is loaded with it. However to the point have not increased my dose of pain meds. AT ALL . I pace myself ,do yoga/meditate , drink a of water and walk a great deal , do not eat sweets ( once in a while) and " try " to stay around positive people ! I have one of those personalities that everybody likes to air their problems to. When I was healthy loved it !! Now ...
I will do anything for anyone who is helping themselves , but have 0 patience do to chronic pain for those who say they are going to do something and a year goes by and they have done nothing to enhance their life's. Complaining is a waste of time and you bring yourself down. You sound very positive and up beat . Again do not know what you take to relieve your pain , it is none of my business . I had a doctor tell me when I was feeling guilty about taking pain meds..... that acetaminophen will hurt me more then the opioid can. Does a number on your liver so my doctor prescribes 5 mg of oxycodone ( percocet without acetaminophen ) and I take as needed. I know when I am having stress pain I need to meditate or if I over did it the pain is a result of that and have to take one pill to keep functioning . If I had not exhausted all meds....I would feel bad , but I have and this regime works fro me . No worries I am a good mother and would not allow them to prescribe an addictive med. to my son. I adore him and know what could potentially happen . Thank you for caring . I hope you find more relief for your self !!! : )
I believe you. Back pain is horrific. ERs are pretty much useless when it comes to fibro pain.
I have similar back pain, however although I have a herniated disk, apparently the pain is originating from osteoarthritis and the fibro is amplifying it. It yours has any osteo arthritis, you could ask your doctor if you'd be a good candidate for radio ablation (nerve burning.) It hurt like CRAAAAAZY for the first 3 weeks after I had it done but I did get about 6-8 months of relief. Had it done again, not so much relief this time. It might be worth looking into, as that back pain can go on and on and on...it's nice to catch a bit of a break!
I gained 25 pounds each time I had one of those shots ,and they only lasted a monthand a half to two months and disability only pays for three a year,so I went for the spinal fussion . So glad I did Istill have a lot of back pain 4 years later but the sciatica is gone going down my legs and the eletrical shocks are no longer a possibility everytime I move,they happan much less now. Good luck hope things get better soon
One of worse things to do with back pain...for most is to stay in bed or not move. IT does hurt but it will loosen up after walking a bit.
Mary E is great example and what she says also has worked for me as well. Physical Therapist ...which your doctor should send you once they find out what is wrong...can show you back exercises....no matter the cause strengthening your core is very important.
Just try your best to not use narcotic pain medication for long time.....i did and now wish someone had warned me to look into negative side. Even now pain doc thinks i cannot go without them due to all my health issues...normal degenerative back problems we all get as we age, ruptured disc and spondylitis as well as RA in it, hips and shoulders...BUT i am going to get myself off.
Anti inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen should help but take with food. ER cannot give you much ..standard they just get you through till you can see your PCP.
I found hot baths with epsom salts does help greatly and am using other things like TENS, massage, acupuncture...and more and it is helping...so hope you do get well enough.
There is site greater good....SUPERBETTER.com that is a game to get those in great pain out of bed and moving. I really start playing it...just slowly gets you moving and motivated to improve your health...cause it is depressing...narcotic drugs will only make that worse in time if taken for years.
I sympathize with you greatly..it is not fun at all to be in severe pain. Depressing and just severe hardship on all around you...i truly wish you to get better soon. please try and find a doctor that cares too! sure can make all difference in the world.
I am going to try some other options that pain doctor wants to speak to me about and will post if sounds helpful and works. best to you!
But the thing is, I’ve try everything. And no relief at all. It’s been more than three weeks and nothing. I’m going Monday to see a Orthopedic surgeon. My doctor said that it’s the last thing, because I can not even stand straight because of the pain. I’m only 33 years old and I feel like I’m 70. My grandmother that die this year, she was 103 and she walked better than me. I feel like life it’s just passing by, and I’m not enjoying it.
But I’m going to keep going no matter what. I’ll be ok. I’m strong and I’ll make it.
Thanks again everyone.
HUGS.
Yndira.
Be sure to ask about laser surgery as it is new and less invasive .I was cut from the middle of my back down 12 inchs and from my belly button to my pubic bone like 9inchs /I had awful sciatica and electric shocks I was disabled in bed for a couple of years solid following 8 years of off and on lay ups.Back pain is really whole body as it prevents you from sitting not just standing up or walking .Myb discs were dissolved by the time I got help,as having worked with metal I had small microscopic metal in my eyes and they wouldn't do a MRI because the magnet might have blinded me.But after 8 years they were able to take an orbital x-ray and saw that it was gone. They had me take for shots of cortizone first which hurt ,burn, and didn't work long enough to keep the pain in check .But the worst part anbout them was I gained 25 lbs with each shot .I have only been able to lose half of it and it is an uphill battle .So think about those shots and don't take them if you don't have to ,is my recomendation.If you think it is bad nough for surgery after you know it could kill you ,paralyze you,or even make it worse. Then stick to your guns unlike me and skip the shots.Good luck Sweetie,canes may seem like a great fashion accesory but I am glad I rarely need it any more.