My lower back is junk

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I had L4,L5,S1 fused at the age of 35. Its been 13 years, I traded one pain for another by having the surgery... I pretty much didn't have a choice though as my legs would go numb with radiating pain down the *** and legs. I have never been given anything for pain since I had the surgery. Makes it tough to get motivated to work on the cars sometimes.
 
I just cringe at the thought of back surgery. I'll live with the pain. Have for years.
Also have Sciatica all the way down my right leg.
 
gzig5 said:
I blew the disk at L5-S1 junction. Not sure how/when it happened, kinda snuck up on me. Full impingement on the spinal cord. Couldn't feel my left foot of nearly two years, constant pain sitting or standing. Hated the pain meds and quit taking them after a week. Went to spinal specialist and got the MRI to figure out what it was. Started PT and made some progress but then stalled out. I DID NOT want any kind of fusion surgery so I got two epidurals 3 months apart and that took care of 90% of the pain by reducing the swelling. Still got to be very careful how I move, lift, or sit. Losing weight helps a lot and it is all about core strength to stabilize the spine and provide separation and not rely on the disks. I'm 55 now and pretty active with golf, bowling, softball and competition shooting but I get by pretty well for an old(er) fart.
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fishmarket said:
I had L4,L5,S1 fused at the age of 35. Its been 13 years, I traded one pain for another by having the surgery... I pretty much didn't have a choice though as my legs would go numb with radiating pain down the *** and legs. I have never been given anything for pain since I had the surgery. Makes it tough to get motivated to work on the cars sometimes.
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If you could find a good acupuncturist it could possibly help. I happen to have a Master Acupuncturist in my town. He has amazingly stopped all my sciatic back pain. Just like you it went from my buttocks down the back of my leg. I couldn't walk .......but after the acupuncture I could have done summer saults if I knew how!!!! This guy could stop a freight train with his needles!!!
 
I might have to try that again. I've done acupuncture before but not for my Sciatica. I think my Sciatica is caused from my Gluteal muscles and not my back.
 
moparmarks said:
I just cringe at the thought of back surgery. I'll live with the pain. Have for years.
Also have Sciatica all the way down my right leg.
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Caused by a bulged disc or irritation from arthritis or a bone spur. If a Chiro doesn't help (or accupuncture) you may need minor surgery. A friend had orthoscopic surgery to remove the spur and was on the golf course in a week. It was outpatient.
 
moparmarks said:
I might have to try that again. I've done acupuncture before but not for my Sciatica. I think my Sciatica is caused from my Gluteal muscles and not my back.
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No....the problem starts at the base of your back, at the very base (above the tail bone). That's where the nerve is pinched. My acupucturist put needles in my lower back and down the back of my leg. I couldn't believe the results!!!
 
It can also cause by the glutes gripping around the nerve. Have had a few professionals tell me this. Also I'm a tight ***. :lol:
 
I was rear ended by a drunk driver back in 1988 doing over 90 mph... Chiropractor helped, but I need to go in for periodic adjustments from time to time...
 
I used to have a bad pain in my ***, but I divorced her and am feeling much better now....
 
Most of the time Sciatica is caused by the nerve being pinched in the back like you stated but not 100% of the time. After looking at MRI my pain doctor that did my nerve burn also thought that my Sciatica is being caused by my glutes. My muscles are always in a knot. Have a friend that did deep tissue massage on me and my Sciatica hardly ever gave me any problems. She was amazing. She retired a few years ago and the Sciatica got progressively worse. My nephew is a deep tissue therapist and is going to be coming to town every other weekend and he is bringing his table so can't wait for that to happen. I've also tried Rolfing but that was years ago. I know a really good acupuncturist so I'm up for trying that too. I'm up for anything that doesn't involve drugs.
 
moparmarks said:
Most of the time Sciatica is caused by the nerve being pinched in the back like you stated but not 100% of the time. After looking at MRI my pain doctor that did my nerve burn also thought that my Sciatica is being caused by my glutes. My muscles are always in a knot. Have a friend that did deep tissue massage on me and my Sciatica hardly ever gave me any problems. She was amazing. She retired a few years ago and the Sciatica got progressively worse. My nephew is a deep tissue therapist and is going to be coming to town every other weekend and he is bringing his table so can't wait for that to happen. I've also tried Rolfing but that was years ago. I know a really good acupuncturist so I'm up for trying that too. I'm up for anything that doesn't involve drugs.
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I agree.........some folks respond to deep tissue massage of the buttocks. You have to try as many things as possible that might work until you kind the solution. FYI - Pain is a great motivator!!!!
 
Hearing these stories is a great motivator for me. I have had really bad back px, done all the things, except surgery. Now Im getting up and stretching, reducing stress in my life and going slower to practice good body mechanics. Thanks for the motivation, I hope ya'll feel better or at least manageable.
 
JDMopar said:
Is the pain right in the middle like spinal / disc pain, or off to one side right above a butt cheek? If it's off to the side and lower, you might ought to see a good massage therapist. I had what I thought was back trouble for years, and some of the worst pain would randomly pop up when I was straightening up from tieing my shoes. Turned out to be a severely pulled muscle that would never heal completely. I was going to physical therapy, and a new therapist asked if she could try something, since she was also a licensed massage therapist. She had me lay on my stomach and went to work on it, and in 5 minutes I was good as new! Not gonna lie....it hurt like a S.O.B. when she first got started! After she got the knot worked out of the muscle, the pain eased up and just went away.
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I did go to one last night and I'm better again today ,if I could gain another 10% and not go backwards I would be able to survive
 
Has anybody tried Ablaision I have lower back pain that radiates across my lower back above my butt, much worse standing still but will bother me walking increasingly after about 20 minutes? This all started after a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis in late 2018. Currently getting nerve tests so my insurance will approve the treatment. They supposably burn off the offending nerve, lasts for an indeterminate amount of time as eventually the nerve will grow back.
 
I just had the burn done to my lower back last week and my neck last year. Really helped my neck. Still kind of waiting to see much it will help my back. They burned six nerves in my lower back.
 
clementine said:
Hearing these stories is a great motivator for me. I have had really bad back px, done all the things, except surgery. Now Im getting up and stretching, reducing stress in my life and going slower to practice good body mechanics. Thanks for the motivation, I hope ya'll feel better or at least manageable.
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Cool

Did a lot of reading and in the land of Woo-woo it talks about life stress finding a place to live and the lower back is a prime spot. Believe what you want... just food for thought.

Pilates and Yoga are real :eek: I don't fall to the floor and crawl up the wall to stand in the morning any longer
 
In all seriousness.
If you do a lot of sitting at a desk or driving, take you wallet out of your back pocket.
 
Stopped keeping my wallet in my pocket decades ago. Waring a tool pouch for 25 years helped to jack up my back and hips.
 
WV64Signet said:
Cool

Did a lot of reading and in the land of Woo-woo it talks about life stress finding a place to live and the lower back is a prime spot. Believe what you want... just food for thought.

Pilates and Yoga are real :eek: I don't fall to the floor and crawl up the wall to stand in the morning any longer
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My stress hangs out in my shoulders and neck and works it's way over the back of my head.. It is a real thing.
 
I am going through a couple series of shots to block the pain. All the doctors and Spine/Back specialist I have seen have left me nowhere!

3 MRI's and the last one was 1.5 hours! I was crying in pain when they pulled me out! This Doc claims up to 8 months of relief. We shall see!

In fact the Doc I am seeing now is the only one that has related my numb feet to the issue! I am not Diabetic but have a bad issue in my feet of numbness and pain at the same time.

Kinda like your socks are all rolled up underneath your toes feeling! Going to have an EMG/NCS test next week to help determine where the issue is coming from. Hopefully good results!
 
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They are all pretty much bullshit. The local place I've been to that fixed both Kitty's shoulders (and they did a good job) has seen me FOUR TIMES now and they have YET to lay hands on me. I went by today to pay a copay I owed from the last visit and I politely told them I was not returning, because I could not afford to keep coming back, paying a copay each time for nothing. My chiropractor has done me the best of anyone.
 
Old man ray said:
In all seriousness.
If you do a lot of sitting at a desk or driving, take you wallet out of your back pocket.
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I had a really good chiropractor years ago who told me the best thing I could do for my back was to stop keeping my wallet in a back pocket. I still go from time to time for adjustments, have had lower back pain for most of my adult life. Being 6 ft 7 in tall doesn't help, always having to bend over to work. I had a really good physiotherapist for a couple of years that also did acupuncture with amazing results. Unfortunately she moved away and I haven't found another one yet. Most of my pain is in the right hip area, walking helps me a lot, so I try to do as much as possible.
 
Inversion table was the best thing I ever did for my herniated disc. I also bought a sleep number bed and pay very close attention to how I sit and even the positions I sleep in. I use a chiropractor as well but not all the often at this point. But I think a chiropractor can also make it worse, depends on their knowledge and skill level. I have days where I forget I even have back issues, then I do something that reminds me quickly.
 
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