johnhar71

Close Back Pain

I am a 38 year old male who has been diagnosed with very advanced disc degenration, severe spinal stenosis, and moderate to severe psoriatic arthritis in my lumbar as my major issues. I have had 3 surgeries on my lumbar in the past 2.5 years. I am currently in pain management as the surgeries or physical therapy have failed to significantly reduce my pain levels. I am looking for support from other back pain suffers who can understand the difficulties that I am faced with on a daily basis.

Treatments

Bedrest Somewhat Helpful

I have trouble standing or walking for more than 15 minutes at a time so lying down helps to reduce my pain level.

Chiropractic Adjustment Somewhat Helpful

This helped keep me out of surgery for a few years but ultimately it could not prevent seeking a neurosurgeon and surgery.

Cortisone (Injection) Somewhat Helpful

This provided minor short term relief of no more tha 2 months.

Darvon Not Working

Did not work.

Epidural Injection Not Working

Due to the severity of my spinal stenosis the second injection of 3 forced me into my first surgery as the medicine caused a herniated disc to severly pinch a nerve that caused so much pain that I passed our more then once from it while trying to stand.

Flexeril Not Working

Did not work.

Heat Somewhat Helpful

Helps in the morning to relieve the stiffness in my lumbar due to my arthritis.

Hydrocodone Somewhat Helpful

Provided very minor pain relief for very short periods of time. Provided no relief once my body built up a tolerance to it.

Physical Therapy Somewhat Helpful

Mainly this helped in providing me wirh a traction machine that I use to help decompressed my back. Other than that if did help me to recover from my last surgery quicker and provided me ways to do things to help reduce my pain level.

Zanaflex Working / Worked

Taken at bed time. Works better than Flexiril and has helped to relieve muscles spasms and stiffness.

Close Degenerative Disc Disease

I have been diagnosed with advanced disc degenerative disease.