Back Problems

[rktmanfj]

^ according to the original post, it's a popped disc, not a vertebral fracture.  Stretching won't really hurt.

I have to agree that if it's just a bulging or herniated disc, some stretching won't hurt.

I have suffered for quite a few years with a couple of discs in the lumbar area, neither of which should, according to the experts, cause that much discomfort.  But they have at times hurt so much that it was difficult to even get out of bed.  I have a couple of thoracic discs that they say should be causing excruciating pain that do not bother me at all.

An epidural injection for the lumbar problem was helpful for a few weeks, then the constant pain returned.

I was told for a long time that meds, heat/cold therapy, and bed rest was only way to treat the problem without surgery.  But about 12-14 months ago, I read a new study that said that bed rest was the worst thing to do, and advocated as much activity as is tolerable for the 'bad days', and core exercise for prevention.  Damned if it doesn't work!

I do 10-15 minutes of intense core exercise about every other day, and the back pain has decreased dramatically.  I had one 'bad day' a few months ago, and instead of going to bed, I forced myself to so some of the exercise, and was all better in just a few hours.

YMMV, but it works for me.

Randy T
Indy

[Dan Filetti]

I have to agree that if it's just a bulging or herniated disc, some stretching won't hurt.

I have suffered for quite a few years with a couple of discs in the lumbar area, neither of which should, according to the experts, cause that much discomfort.  But they have at times hurt so much that it was difficult to even get out of bed.  I have a couple of thoracic discs that they say should be causing excruciating pain that do not bother me at all.

An epidural injection for the lumbar problem was helpful for a few weeks, then the constant pain returned.

I was told for a long time that meds, heat/cold therapy, and bed rest was only way to treat the problem without surgery.  But about 12-14 months ago, I read a new study that said that bed rest was the worst thing to do, and advocated as much activity as is tolerable for the 'bad days', and core exercise for prevention.  Damned if it doesn't work!

I do 10-15 minutes of intense core exercise about every other day, and the back pain has decreased dramatically.  I had one 'bad day' a few months ago, and instead of going to bed, I forced myself to so some of the exercise, and was all better in just a few hours.

YMMV, but it works for me.

Randy T
Indy

+1 on movement/ stretching/ exercise routine.  I have/ had mild low back pain from a heavy lifting injury a few years back.  At the time it laid me out, I could barely stand.  After the primary injury was allowed to heal, maybe a month or so, I began to stretch.  At this point, I am only aware of pain when I am not stretching etc.  So when I start to feel that tightness in my low back, I know it's time to stretch.

So far, simply stretching and exercising has kept me pain free for several years.  As others have said, this may not work for you as your injuries may not be the same, or as healed as they need to be to prevent re-injury.  But it sure seems to just make good sense in general to stay loose and mobile.

My $0.02

Dan

[The General]

Re Back Pain. There`s a hospital in Adelaide that`s researching arthritis, joint pains etc. If ya givem a call they send bottles of their recommended brand of fish oil (Norwegian - Melrose) and some powder (at the right price- Glycosomate I think) that they reckon works wonders, but it all takes around 6 weeks to work. I`ve been on and off it for 2 years. I go off it cause I forget I need to take it. But sure enough around 5 weeks later I get reminded why I was suppose to be on it. Will find the number if anyone`s interested but it`s the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Rheumatology Unit. There very obliging on the phone and accept credit card. Good to know any little profit goes to more research. Combined with a twist of handlebars and it`s the fountain of youth elixir.

[racerrad8]

Thanks for all of the input. My problem is not a fragmented bone chip but a fragmented disc. I have been free of my back pain once the chiro got the spine all realigned. I am not having any issues with back pain it is the fragmented piece that is lodged into the sciatic nerve and effecting my left leg. Monday night was the worst night I have had since the initial injury. I got a total of 1.5-2 hrs of sleep and no matter what I did the leg pain was overwhelming.

The chiro has been having me do exercises and stretching and had even started me in physical therapy prior to the MRI documenting the problem. The recommendation so far from the chiro and through my own internet research is that the fragmented piece has to be removed. The chiro said it is trapped in the pocket between the disc and the opening for the nerve to pass through. The piece is too large to pass through the hole without manual manipulation. We tried traction for about a week and the pain was immediate as the fragment would get wedged against the nerve. From there he would have to stretch and massage the area to get the fragment back into the pocket and off of the nerve.

I started thinking about less invasive options such as laser. I know they are using the laser for kidney stones and such now. I have found several laser spine Dr's/procedures. Unfortunately I am unable to find all of the info in regards to this fragment application to see if it will work. They offer free MRI reviews, but since this is a work comp issue, my employer has advised that I must see the neuro surgeon first before taking the next step.

So, at this point it is hurry up and wait until Friday when I see the neuro. The neuro and my employer both stated that they have made a space for this appointment as his current scheduling time is up to 1.5 months out and I was scheduled in a week.

Maybe it is a bigger deal than I realize...

I will update when I find out,
          Thanks again, Randy

[FJ12]

Hi Randy, sorry to hear about your back, i know what your going through, in 91 the same thing happened to me, L4/5 discs ruptured and i was in so much pain in the end and sleepless nights crying in pain i was happy to have the operation - and have never looked back it was a great success.
In my experience, and i did try everything, nothing helped ease the pain , in fact the chiro was the worst as he had me doing exercises that were hurting and when i spoke to my neurosurgeon he said i was making things worse. I have had a really good run since then but would you believe i am having another back op on the 19 of May on 2 ruptured discs the other end of my back, C5/6, my back must be made of shit.
Anyway good luck and i think be best thing is not to do anything that increases your pain and listen to your surgeon and have confidence in them, it's a big thing when it is happening to us, but it is what they do every day.

Regards Colin

[rktmanfj]

Maybe it is a bigger deal than I realize...

Probably only if you delay... they are working you into the schedule for a reason.   

Randy T
Indy

[racerrad8]

First off let me say thank you to all of you that have offer input & advise with my current issue regarding my back injury. I have received several personal emails regarding experiences of others with similar problems; with both good and bad results. I do know that after just three weeks of this injury, that my 42 year old body is moving worse than my dad's 70 year old body.

I saw the neuro surgeon on Friday, and by first impressions, I feel much more comfortable after seeing him. One of the first things out of his mouth when we met was that he wanted to try to get this fragmented disc issue resolved without surgery. He told me he was impressed with my knowledge and the amount of research I had done in preparation as a result of the injury. He said that it was refreshing to have to answer questions that had a direct relationship to the injury, that the same old general questions.

Subsequently, I am scheduled for an epidural on Thursday to reduce the inflammation of the fragment which is pinching nerve that is clearly obvious in the MRI. I looked at those films with him for almost 15 minutes asking questions about specific items I was seeing on the film and specific questions upon his answers.

He did tell me that the disc has been ruptured for some time and the coloring of that disc makes that  obvious as well. The issue came when the rupture of the disc was pinched when I twisted my upper body. The fragmented piece was then forced down and is now wedged between the vertebrae and the nerve which is causing the left leg issues.

He also told me the body is incredible and if the swelling can be brought under control and maintained for a period of time, the fragmented piece will absorb, float and/or leave the area. He seemed pretty confident that with the previous injury and my body adapting to compensate for the previously ruptured disc, it will also compensate for the fragment. He said we will know by next Monday of the direction of care based on the epidural results.

Again, I do appreciate all of your input and support in during this injury and I look forward to getting back to normal so I can get my FJ out on the road again.

Randy - RPM

[racerman_27410]

I like it when the doctors at least sound confident......though i'm still a bit concerned about that whole "practice" thing.

positive waves for ya Randy 


Frank

[simi_ed]

snip>The issue came when the rupture of the disc was pinched when I twisted my upper body. <snip.

Ah yes, I know it well.  My down fall was a 1/2 full bag of peat moss with the "lift 'n twist".  It took about a month of chiro-untwisting to get back to semi-normal.

Heal well & soon,

[racerrad8]

Update:

I had my epidural yesterday morning. Normal injection is one, but the Dr with the use of a fluoroscope(?) did a dual injection on each side of the fragmented piece.

I heard the other people who had come out the procedure telling the nurses their pain had already receded. Mine...not so much. Since I am in the most pain in a sitting position and that is how they rolled me back in to recovery, I had to slide down of the end of the bed to stand up...

Dr stopped back and told me, "If it works you will be significantly better tomorrow morning, now go home a lay down as much as you can today."

So, that is what I did...and I am a little discouraged this morning. Some of the numbness and tingling have subsided, but I would say by maybe 10%. Since some of the feeling has now come back from being on a dead leg/foot for 3+ weeks, I can now feel pain in the bottom of my foot and left knee now...


I see the Neuro surgeon in two weeks to figure out the next step...Gonna get another two weeks of research done prior to seeing him.

Randy

[racerrad8]

Well, after being off of work since my injury, diagnosis, epidural and waiting for second contact with neuro surgeon on the 21st, I received a phone call yesterday from my Dr. He tells me, he your employer wants you to go back top work in a modified form. "I have contacted the neuro and he has told it would be fine, with criteria including no lifting, bending must be able to sit and stand a needed, etc". I do need to see you today prior to being released for work, so off to the Dr. yesterday.

Now, I still have to have someone tie my left shoelace 4 out of 5 times as I can't bend over due to the pain. When I sit or bend the shooting pain actually takes my breathe away, but I have to go to work...

So, off to work today for my regular 11hr shift from noon to 11pm. I get to about 3:30 and I am ready to crawl out of my skin from the ever increasing pain that I experiencing. I call my Dr and he is, "out of town until Monday". I call the Comp case manager as she finally gets back to me at about 4:55pm. She tells me, to go home, and I will have to go to the employer's occupational medical provider to have the work status re-evaluated.

Now, they have no idea of what has been done to this point and I doubt they will modify my work status since they do not know what is going on and they surely are not going to listen to me since I am the one requesting to be placed off of work again. So it will be off to another Dr. tomorrow morning to explain my symptoms and diagnosis to them and hope the change my work status.

With that being said, if you have sent me an email for parts, ordered parts and had any other questions, I am sorry I have not responded, I have not been at my shop since yesterday morning morning. I have several orders that I was shipping yesterday but was interrupted as I had to go to the Dr and that screwed up my day. I will be sending out those parts at the latest Monday as it is not a scheduled work day, but hopefully I can get my work status changed back to what it was and I will get those parts out tomorrow.

I am also unable to read my emails from home, so as soon as I get back to the shop I will respond to those as well.

Thanks for listening again,

Randy - RPM

[racerrad8]

First off, I would like to thank everyone who has sent me emails concerned about this issue; I have never met any of you in person, but I feel you are good friends, Thank You.

After my last post the epidural has totally worn off and I am almost back to the day one pain level in my left leg/foot. I saw the neuro on 5/21 and he recommended a procedure called a "Micro Endoscopic Discectomy (MED)". I was able to contact several patients of Dr. Davis who were similar age, weight and lifestyle as me and inquire about their experience and the feedback was positive.

I was also also to contact a couple clients of the Laser Spine Institute in reference to their laser procedure and found out that one of the two ended up having a MED procedure. He explained that more than 85% of the LSI procedures are completed with the MED and not the laser. While both were satisfied, it changed my outlook on the laser procedure. Plus in some of the research the heat from the laser could possible damage the nerves in the are more.

I did find a procedure a the Back Institute (www.backinstitute.com) and it looked like an even better procedure, but they do not handle any type of Workman's Comp claims and can only be personal insurance or private pay; the procedure averages $35,000.00. I hired an attorney to see of there was some way of getting this procedure completed within the workman's comp guidelines and long story short; not without paying for it personally and then suing my employer or suing employer/workers comp and waiting for the judgment before having the procedure.

The last two were not an option as the pain I am in, as well as the lifestyle change this injury has produced; I cannot wait any longer. I also read and Dr. Davis confirmed that the longer the nerve is being compressed the more likely permanent damage could occur.

I went into the consult with Dr Davis with a notepad of questions and when he saw that he was surprisingly gracious in taking all of the time I needed to ask the questions and understand the explanations he gave. The Q&A session lasted for almost 40 minutes after the examination and I left with confidence in the procedure and his ability. I also noted when I left the waiting room was to capacity as he took so much time with me.

So, with that being said I am having the procedure done this next Thursday. I stay at the surgery center overnight as he believes immobilization is crucial the first 24 hours. He said I will not be allowed to get out of bed for anything for the first 24 hours and can only sit long enough to eat. After that I will be on a 10 day no stress to the body requirement before allowing any type of lifting; he said the heaviest thing I should be lifting for the first 10 days is a glass of water.

So, while I am looking forward to the relief of this injury, I am rightfully apprehensive about it as well; but remaining positive and I will be back up on my FJ hopefully before the summer is over. And Marsh, I do appreciate the invitation to the rally and if I feel well enough I will most likely drive up for the camaraderie and food on one of the two nights; plus that thought of meeting the most offensive man in the world is intriguing as well.

Again, Thank You to all that have offered suggestions, concerns and advice, I truly appreciate them all.

Randy

[racerman_27410]

Prayers are going with you Randy.


KOokaloo!


Frank

[andyb]

Actually got to sit in the OR on one of those once.  Neat surgery, but with the tiny incision there isn't a lot to watch

Sounds like the right choice at this point though.  Just be very, very careful to follow their post-op and rehab instructions, one of the big dangers being that you'll overdo it and damage another disc above/below where you got fixed.

Gluck!

[Yamifj1200]

Good luck to you brother, I'm hoping you make a quick and total recovery my friend.

Eric M