So I just got back from the doctors office.

[Betticus]

I injured my lower back waaaaay back in high school while weightlifting and it's come back to haunt me. I've been getting the leg numbness, incredibly sharp lower back pain, etc...

Turns out that this last disc down there L5 or something like that.. the whole disc is shifted forward with the lower part more out of place than the top of the disc. Thankfully no degeneration shown on the x-ray.

Now the good news is that there's a long shot that I can correct it with stretching, exercise and doing a whole lower torso reconditioning thing.

Bad news is that when they said that due to my liver failing I could never drink again, ever, not even a drop of alcohol... that also meant that I can never take pain medication again as it's hard on the liver which I'm trying to get to regenerate.

So, basically I get to spend the rest of my life in pain. I'm not even a masochist.

 

[Netzach]

This sounds like the point at which western MD's become completely useless.

Consider acupuncturing the #(@!@ out of that mofo if feasible. It really does work, it's just easier to take meds.

 

[Betticus]

This sounds like the point at which western MD's become completely useless.

Consider acupuncturing the #(@!@ out of that mofo if feasible. It really does work, it's just easier to take meds.

No, the fix isn't going to be that easy oh Goddess of the North..

In order to get pain free while also regenerating my liver I have to get into very good shape.. like six pack abs all natural healthy lifestyle shape.

Never thought I'd ever get a prescription for that.. and glucosamine. I'm seriously the worst pill addict in the world. My thyroid script expired over a year ago. I hate opiates so basically it's ok.

 

[Netzach]

No, the fix isn't going to be that easy oh Goddess of the North..

In order to get pain free while also regenerating my liver I have to get into very good shape.. like six pack abs all natural healthy lifestyle shape.

Never thought I'd ever get a prescription for that.. and glucosamine. I'm seriously the worst pill addict in the world. My thyroid script expired over a year ago. I hate opiates so basically it's ok.

Meh, that just blows, as if that's not hard enough on its own.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

I injured my lower back waaaaay back in high school while weightlifting and it's come back to haunt me. I've been getting the leg numbness, incredibly sharp lower back pain, etc...

Turns out that this last disc down there L5 or something like that.. the whole disc is shifted forward with the lower part more out of place than the top of the disc. Thankfully no degeneration shown on the x-ray.

Now the good news is that there's a long shot that I can correct it with stretching, exercise and doing a whole lower torso reconditioning thing.

Bad news is that when they said that due to my liver failing I could never drink again, ever, not even a drop of alcohol... that also meant that I can never take pain medication again as it's hard on the liver which I'm trying to get to regenerate.

So, basically I get to spend the rest of my life in pain. I'm not even a masochist.

This sounds like the point at which western MD's become completely useless.

Consider acupuncturing the #(@!@ out of that mofo if feasible. It really does work, it's just easier to take meds.

No, the fix isn't going to be that easy oh Goddess of the North..

In order to get pain free while also regenerating my liver I have to get into very good shape.. like six pack abs all natural healthy lifestyle shape.

Never thought I'd ever get a prescription for that.. and glucosamine. I'm seriously the worst pill addict in the world. My thyroid script expired over a year ago. I hate opiates so basically it's ok.

Acupuncture is/wouldn't be a replacement for getting the disc put back into position and/or getting into good shape - it is/would be a replacement for pain meds. It's surprisingly effective for many pains that Western meds, including opiates (with which I'm overly familiar ), do little or nothing for, and its effect - even on those that opiates *do* help - quite often lasts substantially longer (as in days as opposed to hours) than almost any prescription meds.

One other nice thing about getting the pain reduced/eliminated: You will find that it's much easier to get in shape and shift that sucker back where it belongs if you can exercise pain-free (or nearly so). So seriously consider giving it a shot, o stubborn one. (But take the glucosamine as well. You're definitely young enough for that to help regenerate the connective tissues that you need strengthened in order to put that disc back where it belongs and keep it there.)

ETA: If you're not squicky about sticking needles into yourself, some acupuncturists will even teach you which needles to use and where to put them for "interim treatments" between visits to the acupuncturist him/herself.

 

[Netzach]

Acupuncture is/wouldn't be a replacement for getting the disc put back into position and/or getting into good shape - it is/would be a replacement for pain meds. It's surprisingly effective for many pains that Western meds, including opiates (with which I'm overly familiar ), do little or nothing for, and its effect - even on those that opiates *do* help - quite often lasts substantially longer (as in days as opposed to hours) than almost any prescription meds.

One other nice thing about getting the pain reduced/eliminated: You will find that it's much easier to get in shape and shift that sucker back where it belongs if you can exercise pain-free (or nearly so). So seriously consider giving it a shot, o stubborn one. (But take the glucosamine as well. You're definitely young enough for that to help regenerate the connective tissues that you need strengthened in order to put that disc back where it belongs and keep it there.)

ETA: If you're not squicky about sticking needles into yourself, some acupuncturists will even teach you which needles to use and where to put them for "interim treatments" between visits to the acupuncturist him/herself.

That was pretty much my meaning. Not that it would solve anything structural, but the idea that because you can't take pain meds you MUST accept walking around in major pain isn't necessarily so.

 

[DiscusDave]

I have almost the exact same problem. In high school I tweaked my back doing plyometrics, and I finally finished it off and got a bulging disc between L5-S1 vertebrate last spring. I was throwing weight during a practice for an indoor track meet. It hurts. It sucks. And at some times, it's scary.

The doctors are right though, exercise is one of the best cures. Strengthening your core... especially the lowest abdominal muscles and your back as well... will help support yourself. It will be somewhat discomforting to begin with, but using pool workouts helps. Get into the shallow end of the pool just to the point where the water is about at your armpits and walk around for about 10 minutes. Supporting yourself in water uses all kinds of small stabilizing muscles which will help prevent too much further damage to the area.

Besides that, what really helped me was traction. I was lucky enough to find a physical therapist who has a traction machine in his practice. Did wonders. It was this table that literally just pulled my lower body and upper body in separate directions. But after 2 months of 2 visits a week, I felt remarkably better and had noticeable (by the therapists tests) improvement on my range of motion.

 

[graceanne]

Yikes. *hugs*

And I second the whole acupuncture thing. I'd also try some meditation, it always helps me when I'm in pain and can't/won't take meds.

 

[satindesire]

Traction looks like it would hurt really bad, but I've heard it can really make a world of difference to disk-injury sufferers.

 

[Betticus]

Well, I just rearranged the garage so I can get my car in there. Gonna start doing the paint polishing, get that old oxidation off and it's simply way too hot and sunny out to do it outside.

Moved the whole weight set and it seems that right now my cutoff for lifting and moving stuff is 90 pounds... weak like a damn newborn kitten..

It was a decent workout tho, moving all that stuff. The work never ends.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

... weak like a damn newborn kitten..

Yo, Duh-mass... after what you've been through the last few months, you have a freakin' right to be weak. Get over yourself, accept that you're weakened by your experiences, and you're just gonna have to get back to being the real you.

 

[graceanne]

Yo, Duh-mass... after what you've been through the last few months, you have a freakin' right to be weak. Get over yourself, accept that you're weakened by your experiences, and you're just gonna have to get back to being the real you.

What he said. Especially the bold part.

*hides behind the 'no cookies for grace' sign.

 

[satindesire]

I'd just like to see a kitten of any age lifting 90 pounds.

What kind of Arnold Swartzehoweverthefuckyouspellit cat is that, eh?

 

[graceanne]

I'd just like to see a kitten of any age lifting 90 pounds.

What kind of Arnold Swartzehoweverthefuckyouspellit cat is that, eh?

Oh, lord.

The mental picture of a cat with big bulging muscles, and a funky accent.

 

[satindesire]

Oh, lord.

The mental picture of a cat with big bulging muscles, and a funky accent.

Ha ha ha!

"Hello, you've reached Arnold's Pizza Shop. I'm not here right now, I'm out killing pepperoni!"

 

[Tabea]

I know it’s very frustrating to think you will always be in pain, but keep in mind that doctors aren’t always correct and western medicine is limited.

I’ve had serious problems with my spine. My orthopaedist had already given up and wanted to do pain therapy. But thanks to an osteopath I am now free of pain. I would definitely recommend osteopathy.

Swimming is very good for back problems. Due to your shifted disc you probably shouldn’t swim with your head constantly above the water, though.

Heavy lifting probably isn’t a great idea either.

A very hot grain pillow sometimes helped me against the back pain.

I hope you get better soon.

 

[FurryFury]

I'm so sorry!

*HUG*

Speaking as someone that has dealt with some disk pain (in my neck) you can seek alternative treatments that can help. A home electrical unit can do you a LOT of good. A good chiro or physical therapist is a wonderful resource. A traction device can help as well. Yoga and medication can also help.

I also hear that acupressure and/or acupuncture can do a lot of good but I haven't tried it.

 

[pink]

i hope you can find some relief and healing from your pain, Bett.

 

[DVS]

I injured my lower back waaaaay back in high school while weightlifting and it's come back to haunt me. I've been getting the leg numbness, incredibly sharp lower back pain, etc...

Turns out that this last disc down there L5 or something like that.. the whole disc is shifted forward with the lower part more out of place than the top of the disc. Thankfully no degeneration shown on the x-ray.

Now the good news is that there's a long shot that I can correct it with stretching, exercise and doing a whole lower torso reconditioning thing.

Bad news is that when they said that due to my liver failing I could never drink again, ever, not even a drop of alcohol... that also meant that I can never take pain medication again as it's hard on the liver which I'm trying to get to regenerate.

So, basically I get to spend the rest of my life in pain. I'm not even a masochist.

Life isn't over, dude. I had a regulation size trampoline in my back yard, when I was a kid. It was great fun, but one day, a friend and I were jumping together. He decided to sit down at just the same time I did a front flip. When I came around, my back landed on his knee. A vertebra a little above my tailbone was fused to the one above it.

I was about 14, at the time. I was in extreme pain for about 2 weeks, and really couldn't bend over much at all. Of course, back then, you didn't go to the doctor unless you were bleeding profusely from a gaping wound.

Because of this, my left side is slightly lower than my right side, when I think I'm standing totally straight. I've lived with it all of my life, and other than some times when I have trouble getting up in the morning, or when I've done a lot of bending or yard work, etc. it isn't that bad. I don't take meds for it, because I'm not a meds kind of guy. After a while, it gets to be normal, and you don't really notice. You just learn to accept it, and go on with your life.

I once thought about getting it operated on, but the doctor talked me out of it, saying I could end up worse. The best thing to do is to keep the area flexible. The more the rest of your back moves, the less you will notice what doesn't.

Keep in mind that any time you lift something, you must do it in the proper way. It's strange, but I will hurt my back more, when I'm lifting something like an empty box. You tend to think more, when lifting heavy things, and lift correctly. The light stuff is what gets you.

That stretching table sounds cool. There's a little discomfort, but knowing what it's doing for your spine is great. You might also think about one of those inverted table things or some anti gravity boots. Anything that takes the weight of gravity off of your back, allows it to stretch and there's less pressure on the nerve.

 

[DiscusDave]

Besides the traction machine (table), a physical therapist or even a licensed massage therapist would be able to to manual traction involving kneading and other actions like that. The idea of the inversion tables and gravity books is dead on. It's all about alleviating some of the pressure put onto the discs themselves. Hanging upside will do some of that.

The initial discomfort of any traction very quickly becomes relief.... let me tell you.

 

[ZRT]

Damn important thing about 'proper lifting' that they don't teach in the usual five-minute 'how to pick shit up' talk they give on the job:

If you're doing the whole 'crouch and lift' routine, you have to keep the weight centered somewhere in between your knees through the lift. If you're extending out past your knees to make the lift, you're actually putting more strain on your back than in a straight bend-over-and-grab-it lift.

DVS is dead-on right about light stuff. I blew my back out bending over to pick up some X-rays at a clinic, once.

(For an injury totally unrelated to my back, hilariously enough. Well, hilarious in retrospect.)

 

[Betticus]

One of the faeries offered to walk on my back, she looked so cute and miserable that I let her. I said "ow ow ow" when I felt her lil feet and she kept checking to make sure she wasn't hurting me.. Adorable lil things.

Anyway, I've decided on a course of action for this whole plethora of problems that I've been having.

I'm gonna Dom them out of existance.

Sooo, I'm going to drop 15 pounds in the next thirty days and also do lots of core strengthening and flexibility exercises.

I'll keep a running tally starting from this morning. Since I was on the scale this morning I'll round up and put my starting weight at 260 even.

 

[the_pet]

I had L5 issues too from a rotating pelvis (go figure right) and the chiropractor hooked me up. I went from crying when i had to get out of bed to pain free.

I can definitely sympathize with you I'm sorry you're hurting

 

[CurlyKat]

Besides the traction machine (table), a physical therapist or even a licensed massage therapist would be able to to manual traction involving kneading and other actions like that. The idea of the inversion tables and gravity books is dead on. It's all about alleviating some of the pressure put onto the discs themselves. Hanging upside will do some of that.

The initial discomfort of any traction very quickly becomes relief.... let me tell you.

Oh yes, I will completely vouch for this! To be perfectly honest, the uncomfortableness of the traction never really "hurt" to me. It felt kind of good, just because I could feel things moving back to where they needed to be. It was that good kind of pain. But that relief afterwards was just heavenly! It's kind of an addictive feeling.

 

[DiscusDave]

It was that good kind of pain. But that relief afterwards was just heavenly! It's kind of an addictive feeling.

And I can definitely vouch for that.

Oh and if you do traction enough, your posture will become better... which will actually eventually make you a tiny bit taller.