Anyone's Back like Mine?

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bfromaz

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Hi all

Just wondering if anyone has a back similar to mine and what has helped and how its effecting your life. I posted x-ray pics because damage is real apparent on them ( yes I have had MRI's ). I'm only 47.

I have moderate DDD with stenosis in several areas and a whole host of other technical terms to go along with it. Its through out my entire spine. Movement is hindered because of all the fusion going on. Surgery is not an option ( Doctors will not touch me unless its life threatening ).

So anyone else in this kind of shape? if so... How are you dealing with it.

Thanks
Bfromaz
 
I have severe DDD, nerve damage, pain out of this world in my back and legs and I'm dealing with the whole 'domino effect" now. I had surgery in '99 on the L5-S1 (discectomy) and my pain never left. I had to have surgery bc I couldn't walk. I was crawling to the bathroom. So anyways, I had flare ups all the time and couldn't keep a job (had 20 jobs in 7 yrs) and then in '06 the srugeon who did my surgery finally said the surgery failed and suggested I go on SSD. I take Vicodin REMOVEDmg SR capsules, Neurontin REMOVEDmg and Cyrabalta REMOVED mg for all the pain in my back and legs. Without the nerve meRAB I can't walk. I do very little and I don't lift anything heavier than a loaf of bread. I found out 2 months ago I have a herniation of the L4-5 now and my L3-4 is bulging and dessication is found there now. I just watch what I do and make sure I rest. I have found my boundaries the hard way and I know just how much I can do. It's tough and sometimes depressing when I want to do things myself and I know I have to have help.
I wish you luck and may you have very few days filled with pain.
 
I've had surgery at L5/S-1; no fusion. Reherniation at same location surgery not recommended a second time, DDD, dessication, at multi levels of lurabar spine, foot drop second time around, fall & trip often, wear orthotic, fall last year resulted in c6-7 herniation, cervical damange at 5 levels surgery not an otpion, I have permanent nerve damage, neuropathy, neurogenic bladder, now cath several times a day. I'm in pain every day due to my spine alone. I have other disablities. I'm sure there are lots of other "spineys" out there. I take my meRAB, see my doctors regularly, rest, and remeraber my physical limitations. I'm 43. My problems began at 18 in military service. Let's focus on the little things we can still do.
 
I have exeriebced increasing neuropathy related to radiculopathy from spinal stenosis and three herniated disk, has anyone ever experienceed a back spasm that starts at the lower base of the spine and travels up thru the head,causes a severe headache and inabilty to breath or move? last only about 10 15 seconRAB but fells like an eternity? Losing my ability to walk well, poor gait, sturabling, cannt feel where my leg is..see a specalsit soon
 
I am 20 years old and first started suffering with this at 17 and according to the radiologist's reports I have Grade 3 disc degeneration of unknown cause. The MRI I had shows a Schmorls node and an annular bulge. The x-ray shows multiple effected discs in my lower spine that have degenerated. It took me three years to get the GP to actually send me for an x-ray as he did not believe it was anything serious.

I have back pain with leg weakness and hot/cold sensations and pain. I am also very restricted in what I can and cannot do. I understand how frustrating it is having to cope with this sort of condition as it is just awful and there are no treatment options as far as I have been told by the two spine surgeons I have seen so far. I also now have a bladder problem that is thought to be associated with it which I am seeing a urogynaecologist for. The bladder problem gives me continous frequency throughout the day and night and full bladder feeling in my abdomen with associated discomfort.

Surgery apparently is not an option for me either as the two spine surgeons I saw so far have said that it is not serious enough to warrant surgery even though I have a bladder problem (partial urinary retention, meaning my bladder does not empty correctly, leaving 140 cc inside my bladder all the time). They did not take the bladder problem into account though, which I do find strange and also they did not even mention a discogram to find out if my back and leg problems are coming from the discs themselves (discogenic) or from somewhere else. I think that I should at least be offered the discogram to at least find this information out as it may well be of help.

I am now going to see a different spine surgeon until I get a bit more of an answer into why I am having the trouble I am having as I do not feel happy with either of their opinions.

I have heard of disc replacement with arteficial discs but am not sure if us DDD sufferers or other spine conditions sufferers would be good candidates for this kind of procedure as I do not entirely know what the factors are or contraindications for it, though I have heard of it being quite effective but also sometimes not so I am not sure on that one.

I am now seeing a Rheumatologist as it is thought it could be caused by some auto-immune fault or metabolic syndrome.

I hope you all can get some sort of relief soon or at least have less pain and restrictions. I know what it is like and it can get so awful on some days and that is when it gets the most frustrating.

I would like to be of more help to you all but I do hope you find this post useful or interesting.

Maybe Prolotherapy or acupuncture is an option if all else fails? I am certainly considering either of these treatments as unfortunately physiotherapy is not really working for me, it makes it worse.

Kind regarRAB

Niad
 
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