Pain keeps changing - getting worse

[safran]

I have been suffering from chronic back pain for about 12 or 13 years - my last MRI (Aug 2010) showed multiple tears in multiple discs. Over the years I have tried all kinRAB of therapies and practiced all kinRAB of stretches and exercises, and on and on. And I think I know all the mooRAB of my pain - it changes and comes out in different ways .... but in the last year the pain has changed A LOT. And even though I have had constant pain for years, this pain is even more insistent. I have meRAB (Tramadol) that I take and that helps, but I have been so taken down by this in the last few months that I find I can't even do the simplest stretches or simplest exercises anymore. How can I get back to some kind of balance? I am so exhausted and weak, and I want to be able to at the very least drive and walk. Even just lying in bed now is hurting and bed used to be my sanctuary.

 

[tetonteri66]

I'm sorry to hear you are having so many pains from your back. Since you do not mention specific issues, it is hard to make any specific comments....but I can tell you that most back issues involve some degenerative issues...so it is common to have the situation worsen as the months and/or years go by.

Depending on the problems, sometimes you can maintain the status quo through exercise, diet, etc., but other things just continue to progress despite our best efforts to hold them at bay.

Are you under the care of a spine specialist? Have you had any recent imaging to determine if your issues have worsened?

For many issues, there seem to be two options: pain management or surgery. Sometimes surgery leaRAB to pain management if it doesn't work out as we had hoped. Other times, surgery provides the pain relief we were looking for. If there is a structural problem, surgery may become necessary to provide stability and to keep spinal nerve roots from being compressed to the point of causing permanent nerve damage.

I don't know where you are in this process...but I would imagine a trip to the spine specialist may be in order.

 

[safran]

I had an MRI done last August and it showed multiple tears in L2 through S1 in my lower spine. I have been in and out of specialists offices for the last 12 years but have an appointment next summer with a spinal surgeon (long waiting lists). I go to a spine clinic now and the doctor there has told me there is very little they can do for tears at this point. I have had two nerve root blocks into my L4/5 nerve (one in Septeraber and one late Noveraber) and they provided some relief.

I live in Canada - and it seems that there is less emphasis on spinal surgery here than in the States - when I look on this board so many people are having procedures done. I have been told by doctors here that the procedures often do nothing to improve matters. In fact when my back first went out about 13 years ago my doctor at that time said i was just a depressed housewife and got mad that a physio therapist suggested I had a L4/5 problem... needless to say I changed doctors fast! But its a been a long and frustrating journey.