Back Pain Support Group
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. In fact, about 3 in 4 adults will experience back pain during their lifetime! The term back pain includes pain affecting the neck, midback and low back. Acute back pain may begin suddenly with intense pain but typically lasts fewer than three months. Usually, chronic back pain is persistent, steady, and...
Hello,
I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis over 9 years ago. My mother has it, and has severe back issues.
However, I seemed to get it the worst. I have DDD, arthritis, spinal stenosis. I had double fusion in L3 & L4, and compression on the S1.
After surgery, I made the unavoidable mistake, of not doing physical therapy for very long due to not working, and not having the money on my disability to pay for PT visits of 3x's per week at 20 bucks per visit!
so, I just walked. But, because I was more immobile, and the surgery didn't seem to help, my exercise was limited.
I felt a bit better walking, and then my left hip started to lock up, like I had to shake my leg, and twist to get my hip to straighten up.
Surgery was back in 2009, so for the last 4 years..I've gained weight, and the pain in my back, and my hip have gotten worse, and due to severe chronic pain, I can hardly walk/or stand, for more than 10 minutes. Laying down for long periods of time doesn't help...so I do try to walk.
I do have pins and rods in my back. I also have tried facet injections-nerve blocks, they don't help. I have had epidurals...I try to keep moving up and down, and not sit. I have been more mobile in the lst 4 months, than ever before.
Had injections in my hip, and my back, and then I fell, I had rented an electric scooter to go on vacation with, and when I got home, I used it to go to a parade, and it tipped over, and I fell, with it on top of my right side.
Now, since then I have MORE pain!!
I have a Dr's appointment with my Hip doctor next week, but I don't think I can wait. I'm in excruciating pain, however I fell over a month ago. I just thought since my back injection, they said, "It may get worse before it gets better. " Well, it's been almost 3 weeks, and it's not better, it's worse, and getting really bad.
I'm so frustrated...i'm having gastric bypass surgery at the end of August, to help myself, and get the weight off. But, with this pain..until I lose a substantial amount, I won't be able to exercise with this pain.
Last time when they did the facet injection in my back, last month..the dr said if this doesn't work, we can try radio frequency treatments.
does anyone know anything about that, or have you had it done? I don't know what it is, and that day, was under sedation, so didn't ask.
I'm so miserable. i'm thinking of asking about the fentanyl patches, I currently am on hydrocodone, and it barely takes the edge off.
Any advice or recommendations would greatly appreciated, and sorry this is soooo long...
But, i'm SO glad I joined this group! I Don't feel alone anymore....
Boo
I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis over 9 years ago. My mother has it, and has severe back issues.
However, I seemed to get it the worst. I have DDD, arthritis, spinal stenosis. I had double fusion in L3 & L4, and compression on the S1.
After surgery, I made the unavoidable mistake, of not doing physical therapy for very long due to not working, and not having the money on my disability to pay for PT visits of 3x's per week at 20 bucks per visit!
so, I just walked. But, because I was more immobile, and the surgery didn't seem to help, my exercise was limited.
I felt a bit better walking, and then my left hip started to lock up, like I had to shake my leg, and twist to get my hip to straighten up.
Surgery was back in 2009, so for the last 4 years..I've gained weight, and the pain in my back, and my hip have gotten worse, and due to severe chronic pain, I can hardly walk/or stand, for more than 10 minutes. Laying down for long periods of time doesn't help...so I do try to walk.
I do have pins and rods in my back. I also have tried facet injections-nerve blocks, they don't help. I have had epidurals...I try to keep moving up and down, and not sit. I have been more mobile in the lst 4 months, than ever before.
Had injections in my hip, and my back, and then I fell, I had rented an electric scooter to go on vacation with, and when I got home, I used it to go to a parade, and it tipped over, and I fell, with it on top of my right side.
Now, since then I have MORE pain!!
I have a Dr's appointment with my Hip doctor next week, but I don't think I can wait. I'm in excruciating pain, however I fell over a month ago. I just thought since my back injection, they said, "It may get worse before it gets better. " Well, it's been almost 3 weeks, and it's not better, it's worse, and getting really bad.
I'm so frustrated...i'm having gastric bypass surgery at the end of August, to help myself, and get the weight off. But, with this pain..until I lose a substantial amount, I won't be able to exercise with this pain.
Last time when they did the facet injection in my back, last month..the dr said if this doesn't work, we can try radio frequency treatments.
does anyone know anything about that, or have you had it done? I don't know what it is, and that day, was under sedation, so didn't ask.
I'm so miserable. i'm thinking of asking about the fentanyl patches, I currently am on hydrocodone, and it barely takes the edge off.
Any advice or recommendations would greatly appreciated, and sorry this is soooo long...
But, i'm SO glad I joined this group! I Don't feel alone anymore....
Boo
I am new here as well. I am going on my 3rd injection today. Have been told I might need to consider surgery if they don't work. Really nervous about surgery. I am glad to see another newbie here. I have considered gastric bypass surgery, if anything just to get everyone off my back about being overweight and it being the reason for my pain. I had the same pain when I weighed 115 pounds also... but I digress. I don't know much about the radio frequency, but if you find anything out... would love to find out what they are about. Welcome! Hoping you feel better soon!!
Hilda
let us know how your injection went! Gotta love that lidocaine, the numbing stuff? That lasts a whole day, and not much pain at all, when that's still workin'!! LOL!!
Wish i had a truckload of that stuff in my garage! Hahaha!!
Boo
I'm rarely here because I can't sit more than a very few minutes these days because of the severity of my own spinal degeneration.
I try to get on every once in a while when the pain isn't over the top.
Did you go to the ER after having that scooter fall on top of you?
If it's as big as mine is, that was a LOT of weight to have land on you!!!
That may, I emphasis, may, have caused more damage and thus, more pain. Perhaps an MRI would determine just what is what?
Who is managing your pain? Is it your primary or a pain management specialist? In my experience, primaries aren't able to address chronic pain very well and a good pain specialist usually can figure out
what would be best for your own condition(s).
Hydrocodone is well and good but depending on just how bad your pain is and what the root cause is, you may very well need a long acting pain med in addition to the hydro.
I hope you are able to find someone that can evaluate things and give you much needed relief!!!!
Wishing everyone a low pain day....
I have worked with a Pain Management center. They sent me to water therapy, but at that time, i couldn't afford it, at $20 per session, 3 time a week, as i'm on Social Security Disability. Now I have Medicaid, so I can go & start it up again. They also suggested nerve blocks, which i did have and they didn't help at all.
What long term pain reliever are you thinking of? I don't know what that would be? I'm curious.
I have a dr's appointment today..hoping she can help me, and prescribe something for me.
Boo
Well, the pain I've been having, ended up being a bladder infection!! So, I got antibiotics, and a pain pill for my bladder. then I asked her about the Lidoderm Patches. She prescribed them! And, with having Medicare and Medicaid , they only cost me $3.47. !!!
So, i'm on my way to feeling better soon.
Boo