Back pain

[Tundra]

I found out I have severe degenerative arthritis of my spine and nerve problems. I never left the house (or couch) yesterday. Today feeling a little better and almost collapsed while slightly bent over the sink doing dishes Nothing seams to touch the pain when it's acting up. I will be limited duty here with stretching in hopes of some relief to make it to Bert and Sherry's in 15 days.
 Very strange...when it's ok, it's ok, no problems. When it hits out of the blue (just doing dishes) It hits hard and I'm hard down. I promised the Widow next door I'd hang her Christmas lights like a fool. Well, I've been putting her off. I came home from work last week and it was done. My wife did it for her and did a great job. She has it going to her light post so she just throws one switch from inside the house. Smart girl I have

[John Schmidt]

Doug, I know exactly what you're going through, I've had the same thing. An MRI showed bulging disks among other things, and like you, it would hit with no warning and I'd go to the floor in agony. I eventually had a spine specialist suggest trying a series of three steroid injections in the affected area. He told me not everyone benefits from it completely, but those that do swear by it. My first injection about 20 yrs. ago, although uncomfortable, wasn't painful since they deaden the area of the insertion first. Two weeks later I went back for the second one, and two weeks after that for the third one. With the third one, the dr. asked what my assessment of relief was and I told him I'm not 100%, but I'm 100% better than I was. He suggested I don't have the third one unless I needed it at a later date...which I never did. A couple weeks later, Rita and I took off on our Wing for a 2500 mile trip and I felt great for at least ten years. At that point I had a second series of two, that was about ten years ago and I've not had any severe problems since. I go to the chiropractor at least once a month, I use one that uses pressure instead of the twist and pop method. It's easier on the body and I found it to be equally effective, it not more so. It keeps my neck in alignment, which if it's out, will cause the same intense pain you speak of.

All the injections were done with a fluoroscope. That lets the dr. see exactly where the needle is going and prevents him from hitting the spinal cord.

[Grumpy]

Doug, I have it in my shoulders, bad enough it has caused a buildup of calcification where the nerves go through the joints. several years ago, the pain was so bad I was hospitalized for it . I was averaging 1 to 2 hrs sleep a night, and my health was going to hell quickly. I had a surgeon put me on Meloxicam and it has made it liveable, I still get some pain occasionally, but nothing like I had. He did not recommend surgery as it would be a shot time cure, he could remove the  calcification but it would come back in a couple years. The drug can have some bad side effects, but so far I have not had any. I have been taking it for about 6 years now.

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

Hey Doug, Sherrie and I Feel Your Pain. We both have Degenerative Disc Disease and have had Neck Surgeries with other Bulging or Herniated Discs along our Spines. Standing at the Sink and Looking Down is the Worst Position for Both of Us. The Pain seems to come on at times when The Weather Changes, Especially when it is Warm and it  Rains Just Before a Cold Front. We hope you Get to Feeling Better, Especially so you and Andrea can Attend The Great Gathering Of the Valkyries.

[Tundra]

Thanks everyone, guess I'm not the first nor will I be the last. Sure puts a crimp on life
Bert, that's exactly what you explained...the weather change is when it's at it's worst.

[saddlesore]

I've been living with DDD for 45 years.  I've had surgery, been to chiropractors,had several epidurals and tried a number of drugs.  I found what gave the most relief was a cold pack for 20 min. the heat for 20 min.  Then repeat.  And (the hard part) rest.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I would highly recommend an inversion table. I've had the shots and they were effective but I think the inversion helps more than anything I've done to date. Good luck, there is nothing worse than what you are experiencing . Well maybe there is but luckily it's the worst I've had to go through so far.

[Thunderbolt]

Sorry you are having trouble Doug.  I just bought a Teeter EP950 used off Craigslist.  This model goes for around $400 and I got mine for $200.  Looks like new, the 560 is also a good model that a friend recommended, I just found this model at a good price, the release mechanism that holds your feet is easier to use.
I have only had mine for a couple of weeks and am just working into it gradually, so can't give you any definitive results yet.  I have not been to have mine checked, but pretty sure I have some damaged discs and I have sciatica nerve problems if I stand very long in one spot.  Now you know why I'm so fidgety.

[Tundra]

Thank you all again, some good advice.
Saddlesore, I tried the ice and heat last night and felt temporary relief. It's back again.
Meathead, I WILL start hunting for an inversion table. I spend $ on Valkyrie stuff, time to spend a little on my health.
Terry, I hope you have positive progress, please let me know you have my e-mail.
-Doug

[RonHolly]

I may as well fess up to having some back problems.  Got hurt pulling a tranny out of a Mustang back in the '80's.  Four years later of massive lower back pains and sciatic nerve pain, it was a Chiropractor that gave me back my life.  First visit got me out of pain but had to see him for a year of back alignment sessions.  Still have some problems from time to time and do floor stretching exercises to pull the vertebra apart.  Best of luck getting back on your feet and back in the saddle again.  If it get's too bad maybe it's time to convert over to a trike!  Just sayin!

[larue]

i am sorry for your pain Doug, ...you just need to take it easy and relax and watch your movement brother...you dont deserve this...looking forward to see you at Bert and Sherries's Dragon Bash

[Valkahuna]

I would highly recommend an inversion table. I've had the shots and they were effective but I think the inversion helps more than anything I've done to date. Good luck, there is nothing worse than what you are experiencing . Well maybe there is but luckily it's the worst I've had to go through so far.

At the risk of making this sound like a flock of old geezers sitting on a retirement home porch, comparing aches and pains, I unfortunately also suffer from severe back issues. Congenital stenosis (narrowed spinal cord canal) which makes every little intrusion push that much harder, combined with severely herniated L3/L4, DDD, arthristis spurs, etc makes just standing a painful experience. Luckily for me, sitting relieves the pain for me, so bike riding, and car trips are OK.

Like Meathead, I also have found that regular use of an inversion table is a big help by taking the stress off the disks, and allowing better blood flow while inverted. I do typically 2 ten minute sessions. One in the morning and one evenings. I do some arm excercises while inverted, as well as some "scruntches" when my back feels up to it. 

There are those days when nothing works other than rest, and some good pain meds. I tried the shots like John says, but for me with the reduced spinal canal size, the pressure of the injected fluid around my spinal cord damn near killed me. Your results may vary. Good luck Doug! Back pain sucks, and unfortuantely, that makes you just another member of a very large, and growing group! 

[FloridaValkRyder]

At the risk of making this sound like a flock of old geezers sitting on a retirement home porch

Pete, we pretty much are....!!!  . With age comes experience and PAIN! I have suffered with this for 25 years after a ladder accident on a fire scene. Pain pills once in awhile and rest are that helps me. And, like Terry, I can not stand in one spot for very long either. Get better Doug..and the rest of us..and Doug, welcome to the Club!!