Degenerative Disc Disease Support Group
Degeneration of the intervertebral disc, which is often called "degenerative disc disease" (DDD) of the spine, DDD is in fact a condition that can be painful and can greatly affect the quality of one's life. While disc degeneration is not a normal part of aging and for most people is not a problem, for certain individuals a degenerated disc can cause severe constant...
I was diagnosed with Multilevel degenerative disc disease about 6 years ago while i was in the Marines. I don't know how to handle this pain anymore to be honest but i am glad i am finally seeing a doctor here in another week. I work about 70 hours in a warehouse a week and i love my job but this is kicking my ass bad. Its the only thing i think about all day long and am looking to see if my symptoms match anyone else. My legs feel like they are going to give out underneath me(very weak). Besides that the pain is only on the right side of my body, My right eye twitches. Headache on the right side of my body, Ribs on the right side of my body are in an extreme amount of pain. And my right leg is horrible, I limp all day long and have developed a crazy walk/waddle(but im still a beast at work lol, I just make myself keep going....and it sucks bad). Everything i look up about what i was diagnosed with says that the pain shouldn't be this bad and was looking for some people dealing with the same thing. Im only 29 years old and should be in the best shape of my life and by no means am i lazy, looking for someone to talk to about this b/c my friends have all lost respect for me from bitching about my pain all day long(i just cant help it). Once again just looking for someone to talk to that is dealing with the same thing.
My chiropractor sells a Maxtens 1000 for $90. I got one on Ebay for $20. My pt told me to wear the tens unit for an hour on and an hour off and to not crank it up while working. I just got it this week - it's kind of a pain with the wires, but I think it helps.
I have been looking online for someone with similar symptoms and you are the only person I have found! Ditto on being there for you too.....anytime you need to talk you can send me a note. I do hope you can find some relief. It's been 3 months of pain for me - like an unwelcome guest that just won't go away. Today I'm feeling pretty good. I think the gabapentin is kicking in - it's like I keep looking out the door waiting for the pain to come back. The med is a nerve block and I wonder if I will have to be on it forever. I've been tolerating it well - somewhat spacey and forgetful, but I was like that before. So fingers crossed that you are having a better day.
I had a collapsed C5/C6 disc and was fobbed up with a variety of meds and physio that didn't work for just on 5 years, and my condition continued to deteriorate. I had a disc fusion (with a carbon fibre plate and cage) about a month ago, and already my arms and legs are feeling stronger.
Going to share my past month of what has been helping me with my neck. First I think I mentioned I am non-surgical as my cord is not in danger. I have good strength and motion in my arm and hand. My pain radiates up the back of my head and sometime into my shoulder.
It goes off the chart when the barometric pressure drops .
My most recent experience has been PT with light manual traction and dry needling. In dry needling the therapist finds the trigger points
(the areas where the muscle is tight and knotted) he inserts a tiny needle. This process releases the the tightness and pressure. He does a light massage with warm oil first and finds those trigger points.
He works on them as he goes. Then there is the the light traction and some general manual movement or adjustment of my neck. Not what I would call chiro work so much as simple things one could do ones own.
In the past I have had no luck with physical therapy. It has been ultrasound, a machine for the traction (I called it the torture machine)
And some heat I could do at home. This new therapy has been a positive experience with positive results.
I am a long termer on DDD. Have tried the gaba, neurotin, Celebrex, tramodol, mobic and others I can't remember. Oh yes Lyrica and Cymbalta. They all made me ill. In fact I am unable to take tramadol,ultram, and any NSAID. I have ischemic bowel disease.
My go to is a low dose of norco and only 3xday. I have been on that for years. I also take topomax for the nerve pain in lieu of the gaba.
It does the job for migraines, essential hand tremor and some of my nerve pain.
I am in agreement about a med from doctor in lieu of the Alleve. You would be able to take an extended release tramodol and skip the Alleve. My brother inlaw is a veteran and has two shot knees. He is still working and walks on cement and climbs stairs. He is waiting for retirement before he has the knees replaced. He works fine while taking the tramadol.
My spine doctor tells me they are very close to stem cell implants for the spine and are already seeing results for knees and shoulders.
There is hope. I know the pain is hard. Some days I have pain that is so bad I am sure I am having a stroke or that something else terrible is wrong with me and I come close going to ER. Two days later I feel better and I wonder how could the pain have been that bad. It is frustrating this world of DDD and not having answers.
I hope the scans will give the doctor a better idea of how to treat you.
One thing I must ask. Have you tried resting your back? Maybe accepting the muscle relaxer and just laying flat with the pillows under the knees for a few days. Just getting some good rest and doing some simple stretches and resting the back. Sounds simple but if you haven't tried it couldn't hurt to try.
Many good wishes for healing
hippy