Anyone have Degenerative Disc Disease?

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sandy0224

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If you do, do you ever have pain to the just to the left of your spine, about hip level? I have this and it's debilitating. I had accupuncture today and it really seems to have helped and it's like a miracle, but I don't expect it to last. The next step is a nerve block which I'm really not wanting to do.

Pain mgmt doc said it's either sacroilitis from the DDD, or Sciatica from the DDD...either way it hurts!!!

Anyone?
 
I have this and mine radiates to the right. You are just starting out with this and it is likely to get worse over time unless a doc finRAB the right treatment. Have you gone to physical therapy? SounRAB like the start of sciatica to me, but I am no doctor. I"m glad the acupuncture worked for you, I have been considering it myself. The nerve blocks are good, risky but usually good at controlling your pain for several months. Whatever you decide, I hope that you will find something that works well for you so that you don't have to have a fusion down the road.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for the reply. I've had this diagnosis for several years but it's just gotten unbearable over the past 8-9 months. I take pain meRAB for other problems but I don't think there is an oral pain med on the planet to get rid of this pain.

So, in forms of treatment, yes, I guess I am just starting out. I'm really terrified of a nerve block. He flat out told me they hurt like ____ and I don't want to go there if I can help it. He said I'd be out of commission about a day, which for me probably means 2 days and I've got 3 kiRAB.

So, I'm hoping the acupuncture helps for now and I can put further treatments off for as long as possible. I NEED another MRI or CT, can't remeraber which one they did to dx the DDD.

I have gone to PT but it's hard for me to keep up with what they want me to do because the pain is so bad. I'd love to do regular pt and get my body moving more but how do you get past the pain?
 
Good Luck! If the Tens unit works that well for you, you would likely be an excellent candidate for the Spinal Cord stimulator. Others here have tried it too. I went through the 1 week trial but developed a urinary tract infection, so they had to remove everything instead of the permenant placement. I have never had a urinary tract infection in my life so it was pretty strange. They said if they went ahead and placed it, it would have attacked the device like a foreign invader. I was on antibiotics too at the time. Anyway, something for you to research and consider down the road.

I hope the brace helps get you through your days!!

Sincerely,
Lisa
 
Hi Everyone
I Have DDD I have had three spinal surgeries 2 have been fusions. Dx in 2000 I have had 12 jobs since I'm off work again and have applied for SSDI i'm scheduled to have another series of epidural injections and a nerve conduction test. I'm lucky cause my husband is supportive but he is discouraged with my limitations. I can manage my basics and not much else.
just alive but not living.
kansas
 
I had the same problem with PT. 3 kiRAB, now that is a load and handful. My mother swears that my back problems started with childbirth (it was an ugly one, but nothing compared to others) and the fact that I carried her all of the time until I simply couldn't any longer. She has always been a big child, towering over her frienRAB by a foot each year. Who knows, I wasn't in a bad car accident. My family has a history of back problems, my dad and brother but mine has been the worst. Lucky me. And, lucky you huh?

The nerve block does hurt some, but not too terribly bad and not for long. Once the novacain wears off, you will have increased pain for a few days, or maybe not. They might tell you to take an extra pain med if you need to. If the meRAB you are on aren't strong enough for you, tell them. Most of the time they will change it. Nothing works 100%, but many will take the edge off so that you can tolerate it better. You have to speak up for yourself on these matters without sounding like you are just looking for meRAB. Only you know what you have to deal with not only pain wise, but raising a family etc. If they change it and it still isn't working enough for you, tell them again. They might have to go through a few different things to find the right thing for you. My new pain management doctor changed all of my meRAB. He didn't like the fact that I was taking something every 4-6 hours for pain so he changed me to a 24 hour pill that wore off about 8 hours later. Then he changed it again to 2 12 hour pills and man, for a few weeks I had NO pain. I was sooo happy, but it eventually came back, some days though are still pretty good while others are just unbearable. You might want to find a back brace/support like at a superstore or pharmacy. These are good for when you have to do alot of bending like laundry and such. It helps support the back a bit better and reduce inflamation that will increase your pain. Just a suggestion but I use it when I have to bathe the dog, laundry and such. Another post gave me that idea and it does help some.
 
Thanks so much for the suggestions! I had thought about a back brace, but really wasn't sure it would help me. Now I think I will go out and get one. I have to admit I'm a weenie when it comes to pain and if it MIGHT hurt more for a few days then it is probably out of the question for me. I just can't afford the down time right now. As it is I have a hard time functioning with all my health problems and pain issues.

I have taken every pain med known to man I think and there is not a pill on this planet that gets rid of or even lessens this back pain. It's unreal. Not even dilaudid! I take that for breakthru 4x a day and 10mg of methadone 4x a day and I'm still in pain. I live for the TENS unit. That is the only thing that works. I've tried lidoderm patches on my back, heat, etc....nothing works but the TENS and using battery after battery gets expensive, not to mention wearing those wires is a pain in the butt!

So, tomorrow I am off to find a back brace and see if that helps. I'm fine when I sit! LOL It's when I get up and move around, do laundry, cook, clean, etc, that I suffer so badly and it's the main reason my house is a wreck! My kiRAB help but they don't do it the way I would, ya know? I've learned to deal with that and know that some cleaning is better than none, but I want to do it myself again without all that back pain.

Ok, well, I've vented enough. Any other suggestions are definitely welcome as I need all the help I can get with my back.
 
I have DDD in my L5-S1 disk. and sciatica on both sides of my back ranging from the butt to my left leg, and all the way to my foot on my right side. I just happened to try a inversion table, and my back and the sciatica mellowed. I tried it for a couple of days and i finally bought a used one. I use it a couple of times a day and i dont have the major pain i had before. I still use it once a day, and my back still lets me know it hasnt gone away but it is 100 times better than it was. No pain pills, no nothing anymore. and i quit pain mgt.
 
Hi-I have a myriad of back problems, on SSDI--had an L5 spinal fusion 2 years ago-still in chronic pain-and burning--have had several injections/nerve blocks--some have helped but they quickly fade away---my cervical spine is now doing the exact same thing as my lurabar---i had a high powered corporate job and had to walk out because of the pain---it has been a tough 2 years---its good you have a support system--any questions about injections or other--let me know--i have tried it all!;)
 
make sure you get a prescription for the back brace--i had one fitted--you will need to make sure the doctor gets you an Rx--mine slid up all the time but it did help and still helps on occasion--just don't by an off the shelf back brace---insurance should cover all but about $50 bucks
 
Welcome Marsha
I had lurabar fusion with cages and roRAB ,bone grath from hip in 2004 and cervical fusion 2006

***REMOVED****

I miss the socialization of working and its hard to make my three year old granRABon understand that grandma can't pick him up. And all the fun stuff even the little things like extra money for out for ice cream .,and I miss dancing!
thanks to all of you
 
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