Severe Degenative Disk Pain, advice would be great!

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themartinfarm

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On a Friday in Dec 2005 I hurt my back at work. I did allot of heavy lifting. It started as mild back pain & got worst through the day. I was in pain all weekend. Didn't get out of bed until Monday. For the next 3 weeks I was on light duty at work. I remeraber being in so much pain, I baby stepped everywhere! Long story short, he looked for a way to fire me. A few days before I knew I was going to get fired, he'd been looking for ways to let me go... So, I went to the Dr & Filed an L & I Claim.
Because it took so long, L&I Claim was denied. The Dr told me I sprained a Ligament in my back. It was 3 weeks after I was injured. All she did was an xray which I don't think shows ligaments... Anyhow, I slowly healed & collected unemployment for a few months. My back has hurt ever since. But I went years without medical & Drs are a luxury. Anyhow, I was pregnant last year which seemed to push it over the edge. The pain got so bad I finally went to a Chiropractor. Yes, we have insurance, but still expensive...
When I went in I figured he'd pop my back & I'd be god to go... Found out my back was misaligned in 2 places, I have a Severe Degenerative thinning of LS Disk. He said I had bone rubbing on bone & my disk is inflamed. He wanted me to come in 3 times a week but we couldn't afford that. Plus, he's an hour drive away... So, I go weekly. Because of the pain & damage he couldn't pop my back until a few weeks ago but couldnt' do much...
Anyhow, I've been going for 3 months now. I have noticed alittle improvement... If I step in a hole I'm not screaming in pain... But otherwise my back constantly hurts. Sometimes it's worst than others. I can't stay in one position long because it seems to get stiff & hurt more. I haven't been able to lift over 20 pounRAB. But these days 20 pounRAB is to much. When lifting I have to use my arms, no lifting with my back at all. I can feel the inflammation in the disk. It seems to spread through my whole back these days. Not sure if it's tension or the fact that we have a horrible bed but can't afford a new one. I can especially feel it in the muscles or something in my lower back around the disk & on my lower right side.
I have faith in my Chiropractor. He has an excellent reputation! But, like my husband says, he can only do so much...
For years when my back really hurt, I'd keep working... But since I got my diagnosis I have tried not to push it... We have a farm & it's hard work. I'm not lifting feed bags or grass anymore... I do what I can.... But things as simple as cleaning cages puts allot of strain on me...
I try not to say anything or complain, but it's getting harder...
I'm thinking of going to a Dr for a second opinion... But would it make much of a difference? I hate to go to a Dr if they can't do any more than my chiropractor...
I've tried contacting Pro-Bono Attorneys in my area to re-open my L&I Claim but I'm worried there is nothing they could do for me... I screwed up being a good employee...
Anyhow, Sorry, I didn't mean for this to be so long. There is just so much to say I covered the important stuff I think...
I don't know what to do... I have had people tell me they have a bad disk, but I think it's more mild. So, people don't actually understand how painful this actually is... My husband tries to be supportive but he's having a hard time getting over the fact that I'm not out helping him on the farm like I used to...
 
Hi. I'm so sorry for all you are going through, but in my opinion, going to a chirpractor is both a waste of money and dangerous, especially since you don't have a firm diagnosis via MRI or ct scan. You really need to see a spine specialist, have an MRI and get a diagnosis from someone who deals with spines. An x-ray will NOT show your problems. True, it can show that a disc area is degenerated but that's about all it is good for.

At this point, please do NOT allow him to pop your back; you could end up with much worse problems than you already have. If you don't have insurance, it's possible that a teaching hospital will have a program that can help with the bills. I can tell you that the longer this goes on, the worse it will get. I know that none of this is anything you want to hear, but I have to be honest with you.

There are those who will disagree with me about the chiro; and I will concede that there are a few who are well trained in dealing with these issues, but for the most part, they will simply do the same things over and over again hoping for a different outcome.

I hope you will stay in touch and let us support you as you try to deal with this; I wish you the very best of luck.

Carol
 
Hi Carol,
Thank You so much!
I'm so lost & not sure what to do... Didn't think anyone would want to help me. I know there are sooo many others with worst problems than me...
I can feel the inflamed disk which seems to radiate across my lower back. I'm always sore & certain movements send pain. I've noticed the rest of my back is sore also but it feels like it's from being so tense...
My husband had me go to Urgent Care yesterday for a second opinion. My reg Dr office was closed. Plus, I really don't care for Dr's so doesn't matter who I go to. Well, the Dr walks in, sits down, & she was a total jerk from the beginning. She didn't like the fact I was there so late in the day (had to wait for my husband to get home to stay with the kiRAB). So, she was really rude, pointing that out. She talked down to me, about had me in tears twice. She says "do you ever take pain medications". I don't as I'm not one for taking pills. Plus, I guess I'm afraid of taking something & pushing myself to far... I try not to go past my limits... She says "Well, maybe all you need is an IB Profren, ever think of that?". So, long story short since she ridiculed me & treated me like I was just making it all up... She sent me in for Xrays. She looks at the xrays & said that she didn't see anything wrong so doesn't know that the Chiropractor is talking about. She said my back isn't straight but that's all she can see. So, she writes me 3 prescriptions & senRAB me on my way. That's the prob with Dr's. They don't want to listen. They just want to write you a prescription & off you go... So, I'm pretty frustrated. I know it's not in my head & I seen my Chiropractors xrays which shows the disk is extremely worn down. Not to mention, I know the pain is not in my head... But, it was an utter waste of $ & time. Not to mention, I just don't want to deal with Dr's. Every time they always seem to show how incompetent they are...
She did recommend some back specialist that can do an MRI. But says that the Insurance isn't just going to cover it...
We have insurance... But between 4 kiRAB going to the Dr, my husband, the dentist, me going to the Chiropractor weekly then my Son has vision Therapy once a month which is 3 hour drive round trip & cost of visit (was 4 times a month). ugh...
Do you think an MRI would be 100% accurate & not a waste of $?
Also, the Xray at my Chiropractors was standing up which I'm sure put pressure on my disk. The one yesterday was laying down... Do you think that's why she didn't see anything?
I'm so lost... It wouldn't be so bad but my back always hurts. I have an 11 month old that's over 20 pounRAB now & hurts to pick up & carry. I lift him with my arms. I can get leverage from his crib rail or when he's on the floor I do a complete squat & lift with my back straight.
I get the impression I should see the specialist... I am just so afraid of him not bothering to help... I think the big thing is that I'm only 30 so they don't take me serious...
 
First let me say that I am so sorry that you were disuaded from filing an accident report because this certainly sounRAB like a standard worker's comp claim whose statute of limitations for filing has long since run out. I bring this up because it is imperativethat should you seek any type of coverage for treatment with any type of insurance including medicaid, you absolutely do NOT need to mention that you think it was a work related injury, not now.

Even if you already had undiagnosed degenerative disc disease, a work-related injury which is thought to have caused acute pain,damage, or to have aggravated it will at the very least be viewed as a contributory factor. Your insurance company will call it pre-existing OR make you go through stacks and stacks of red tape and paperwork, which could extend into months and years, in an attempt to hold the worker's comp carrier liable before (and if ever) they agree to cover it.

I agree with Carol's comments regarding the type of medical care that you need, that a chiropractor might cause more damage simply because you haven't received a reliable diagnosis based on accepted diagnotic procedures, and that the pain and condition will only worsen with time if left untreated. I too already had undiagnosed degenerative disc disease that was aggravated due to a workplace injury in 4-07. However, in the interim while you are seeking medical solutions, I can tell you a few things to try that I did in the months preceding my disc replacement surgery that helped alleviate the pain.


1)Buy yourself a wedge pillow and sleep on it. It goes a long way to support your back and neck and they are inexpensive and can be found in medical supply stores or online, which is where I found mine. I think that mine cost about $40.

2)While expensive to own, many health clubs-gyms have a backboard that you can use which goes a long way in temporarily relieving back pain. It's the kind where you can hang upside down, if you wish, although that's not what you want to do. You want to recline at an angle that is comfortable to you for perioRAB of about 5 minutes at the time until you are used to it, then gradually increase the degree of the angle and the time doing it. This will literally stretch your spine somewhat and temporarily take the stress off of each disc. Your pain is sporadic because the herniated disc probably slips in and out and causes occasional spinal cord compression or scrapes against the other discs. This is why the backboard helps the pain, albeit it temporary. I am a 1/2 inch taller after my "hanging" sessions. The one that I own costs about $400.

3)Already start getting used to what will likely be your lifetime "limitations",even if you have corrective surgery, which will undoubtedly be a variation of the following:A)Don't sit or stand in any one position for more than 15 minutes at the time. This takes some getting used to, but even though I feel like a human "Jack in the Box", it helps the pain level tremendously. B)Don't push, pull, or lift anything that weighs more than 10 pounRAB, ever. Whenever I "cheat" and do this anyway, I always pay for it with an increase in pain. It's not worth it.

4)Start a regular exercise program that involves low impact movement such as in a pool, or walking. You can even "graduate" to small weights and "dancersize" in time. The stronger your muscles are, the more they can compensate to help support your spine and skeletal structure, hence a reduction in the pain.

5)Absolutely buy really good support bras. Even if you don't have a big chest, a few pounRAB of boobs can take a toll on your back in time if you suffer from back problems. This is an inexpensive way to help ease your pain. Likewise, if you are overweight, make every effort to lose it. The less weight that your skeleton has to support when you have a back injury, the better.

6)Drink LOTS of water and take calcium supplements. While this may not help much with current pain, it can lengthen the time before further damage and pain associated with degenerative disc disease arise.


Also understand that while there are treatments available, there is not yet a cure. This is currently a lifelong and chronic condition, but it can be managed.


My very best to you!:)
 
Thanks everyone :)
I'm sure our bed doesn't help, it's horrible...

I hurt my back in Dec 2005... I think there is still time? I'm looking into an attorney but not sure if that'll do any good. I have heard of a Probono Attorney...
 
I also have D.D.D. and had a bad bed, I got a memory foam 4" topper and it made a big differance for me, cost about 140.00 but i have a vew bed!
 
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