Back problems?

Scotty
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Scotty
Edited Date/Time 1/25/2012 6:20am
Anybody have any experience with sciatica problems? I've been dealing with it for the past year or so, but the past two weeks have been hell. Dr basically just gave me meds and wrote me a script for physical therapy. I tried acupuncture on friday, and it gave me some relief through the night. But by saturday morning it was back to the way it was before. Any idea's on how/what to do? I've been doing back stretches, heating pads, ice packs, muscle relaxers etc and nothing has helped yet. Thanks!
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JPT
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JPT 1/18/2009 10:54pm
1/18/2009 10:54pm
Chiro keeps me going.
Scotty
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Scotty 1/18/2009 10:56pm
1/18/2009 10:56pm
Tried that also. It helps for maybe a day or two and thats it.
JPT
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JPT 1/18/2009 11:00pm
1/18/2009 11:00pm
It's not a magic fix just kind of like a tune-up. If I don't go for awhile and it gets bad I gotta go couple times a week until it stays put. I do best if I go about once a month whether I'm hurting or not.

What usually happens is I get to feeling good, don't go for 3-4 months and then have a real bad spell.
fcr
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fcr 1/18/2009 11:02pm
1/18/2009 11:02pm
Absolutely sure on the diagnosis? Do you trust the diagnosis. Where is it bothering you? Back problems are really tough to deal with. Make sure it is correct before you do anything invasive. Acupuncture and acupressure can be a very good way to limit pain, if done consistently.

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Scotty
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Scotty 1/18/2009 11:09pm
1/18/2009 11:09pm
I'm not 100% sure on the diagnosis, just what my quack dr is telling me. I have another acupuncture apt tomorrow so hopefully that helps as well. I have my doubts though. It's my lower back, and I get the shooting pains down my legs. I'm in the construction biz, so it makes work difficult to say the least. I've heard spinal decompression may help also, but at $2k-4k for treatments, I'd rather not take the gamble unless it's 100%.
fcr
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fcr 1/18/2009 11:21pm
1/18/2009 11:21pm
Use the acupuncture and pressure to keep it in check. In construction it is so common. My Father was a Carpenter and his back was toast in his late 30's. My cousin that I was with at A2 same thing. You need to find someone that you trust for a diagnosis. My wife just had an MRI she has upper back/neck issues due to an injury and just found out she has 3 herniated disks in the lower cervical area. Dr told her one hit from behind could send her to a wheelchair. We have been to 3 different practioners to get to this. Finally by process of elimination she is pretty sure of this guys views. You are in East county correct?
flarider
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flarider 1/19/2009 6:07am
1/19/2009 6:07am
I have degenerative and bulging discs at L4/L5/S1



Occasionally, I will have a sciatic pain, where it radiates through my ass to my leg.
Recently, my right leg will have a "vibrate" feel, as if my cell phone is on vibrate in my pocket.

Push your doctor for an MRI in order to get a clear diagnosis.

I just had a new one done last week, waiting to hear the results
SteveS
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SteveS 1/19/2009 6:33am
1/19/2009 6:33am
Sciatica generally comes from disk disease....it's the nature of the malady
slowvet
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slowvet 1/19/2009 7:13am
1/19/2009 7:13am
flarider wrote:
I have degenerative and bulging discs at L4/L5/S1 [img]http://catalog.nucleusinc.com/imagesenlarged/1159W.jpg[/img] Occasionally, I will have a sciatic pain, where it radiates through my ass to my leg. Recently...
I have degenerative and bulging discs at L4/L5/S1



Occasionally, I will have a sciatic pain, where it radiates through my ass to my leg.
Recently, my right leg will have a "vibrate" feel, as if my cell phone is on vibrate in my pocket.

Push your doctor for an MRI in order to get a clear diagnosis.

I just had a new one done last week, waiting to hear the results
I've had 2 fusions in the L5,S1 area, neither one helped. I never had any pain like you guys have in the butt or down the legs. Recently I've felt the vibration in my right thigh. On again off again, no pain there but a completely new sensation that I never had before. Just like Fl. said, if feels like a phone vibrating. The only thing that I can recommend that's not evasive is to strengthen your abs and concentrate on posture so your core is helping to carry the load instead of your back. Good luck.
BlueThumper
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BlueThumper 1/19/2009 8:14am
1/19/2009 8:14am
Get a MRI. If your foot is tingly then you're in trouble of permanent damage to the nerves.

I had the same problem and ended up having microdiscetomy surgery. Haven't had a lick of pain since. Still do all the things I used to before the injury.
Phlapjax
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Phlapjax 1/19/2009 8:18am
1/19/2009 8:18am
Try to do everything you can before getting the surgery. Once you do the lower back surgery you will most likely have to do a neck surgery afterward. It's a 99% chance you will have to.

I say this cause my wife has the same thing. Physical therapy has helped hers but it still comes back every once in a while. Just keep doing there exercises and it will eventually get better.
FLmxer
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FLmxer 1/19/2009 8:32am
1/19/2009 8:32am
I fractured my L3 horizontally all the way across and burst 2 discs and bulged two. A piece of bone broke off and was lodged into the sciatic nerve and caused a lot of nerve damage. I had 8 epidurals and had microdiscectomy surgery to cut out the bulging discs that were impinging on my sciatica and remove bone fragment. I never had back pain, all pain was in hip and leg. I thought I had shattered my hip and femur and it was horrible. The surgeon said my nerve was the worst damaged he had seen. I still have a bit of flare up of pain here and there but i am almost back walking normal and swimming. I hope to be back riding with in two weeks. I have an inversion table that is a form of traction and I can feel my spine get back in line and relieve the pressure. It took months for me to just walk so mine was pretty bad. I lost like 25 lbs and thought I was done doing anything but i just kept on working hard and it has helped.
dougie
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dougie 1/19/2009 8:59am
1/19/2009 8:59am
Ive read somewhere that its very important to have strong abs. Supposedly helps alleviate lower back issues. I have lower back problems and I do a shit load crunches every week. Still have back pain but not nearly as bad as it was say 10 years ago. Just a thought.
Oldmotoguy
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Oldmotoguy 1/19/2009 9:12am
1/19/2009 9:12am
dougie wrote:
Ive read somewhere that its very important to have strong abs. Supposedly helps alleviate lower back issues. I have lower back problems and I do a...
Ive read somewhere that its very important to have strong abs. Supposedly helps alleviate lower back issues. I have lower back problems and I do a shit load crunches every week. Still have back pain but not nearly as bad as it was say 10 years ago. Just a thought.
YOU'RE SO RIGHT..i had low back pain..crunches don't do it..i got a slant board over 10 years ago..you are so right about strong abs..strech your ham strings to relieve low back pain also..I have worked up to 25 to 30 lbs on my chest and do about 80 total..thats a ton..TRAIN ,DON'T STRAIN

those inversion tables are excellent for your back..i need one
i have a lat machine to pull my upper back up..that helps..it actually relieves the tension..i plastered for 20 years and my shoulders were hurting ,but not much anymore..
strenching and muscle therapy beats drugs..the drugs don't do much
CR500Rider
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CR500Rider 1/19/2009 9:33am
1/19/2009 9:33am
Phlapjax wrote:
Try to do everything you can before getting the surgery. Once you do the lower back surgery you will most likely have to do a neck...
Try to do everything you can before getting the surgery. Once you do the lower back surgery you will most likely have to do a neck surgery afterward. It's a 99% chance you will have to.

I say this cause my wife has the same thing. Physical therapy has helped hers but it still comes back every once in a while. Just keep doing there exercises and it will eventually get better.
I've had 2 lower back surgeries, one was a bandaid as it turned out and the 2nd one was a ray cage. No problems now. Definitely no neck surgery.
slowvet
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slowvet 1/19/2009 9:49am
1/19/2009 9:49am
My last surgery was in 04 and that was to remove the hardware, (screws and a bracket). My second fusion was in 99, I've never heard of people having to have neck surgeries related to lower spine surgeries. I dont know if I read that post wrong but 99% of people having lower back surgery get neck surgeries later? I dont agree.
Cygnus
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Cygnus 1/19/2009 9:55am
1/19/2009 9:55am
Sorry to hear that Scotty. Sounds like lots of us have back problems. I have a pinched nerve in my upper right back that is sending sharp pain down my arm right now . I need to go get adjusted . It really helps till I case or flatland a jump then I have to go get back in line. My Chiro is old school no appointments just show up and wait . The best part is he only charges $15.00.
Scotty
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Scotty 1/19/2009 10:35am
1/19/2009 10:35am
Thanks for the help guys. I actually stayed home from work today( I never stay home) because I wanted to try and rest. Funny, I feel the damn vibrator type feeling in my right leg as well. I usually keep my cell phone in my rear pocket, so I would always be checking it Smile I guess that explains it. $15 bucks for a chiro? Wow thats awesome, mine charges $40. My Dr has suggested surgery also, but I really want to avoid that if possible. Thanks again

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Scotty
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Scotty 1/19/2009 10:36am
1/19/2009 10:36am
fcr wrote:
Use the acupuncture and pressure to keep it in check. In construction it is so common. My Father was a Carpenter and his back was toast...
Use the acupuncture and pressure to keep it in check. In construction it is so common. My Father was a Carpenter and his back was toast in his late 30's. My cousin that I was with at A2 same thing. You need to find someone that you trust for a diagnosis. My wife just had an MRI she has upper back/neck issues due to an injury and just found out she has 3 herniated disks in the lower cervical area. Dr told her one hit from behind could send her to a wheelchair. We have been to 3 different practioners to get to this. Finally by process of elimination she is pretty sure of this guys views. You are in East county correct?
Yep I'm in east county. I have a really good chiro that rides moto who is in oldtown.
Scotty
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Scotty 1/19/2009 11:28am
1/19/2009 11:28am
FLmxer wrote:
http://www.spine-health.com/video/microdiscectomy-lumbar-microdecompression-spine-surgery-video
http://www.spine-health.com/video/microdiscectomy-lumbar-microdecompres…
That actually doesnt seem to bad of a procedure? I have an apt with my doc to day. I'm going to get a referal to a back specialist. I need to do something, I cant do shit right now. suppose to race this weekend and its not looking good
fcr
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fcr 1/19/2009 11:50am
1/19/2009 11:50am
Just get some different opinions and see if they reach a consensus. And push for MRI etc.. Don't let the insurance company dictate what can or can't be done. I know there are good neuro guys over at Scripps area. My wife didn't get results to find out what was up with her until we pushed for the MRI with a neurosurgeon.
az2u
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az2u 1/19/2009 2:37pm
1/19/2009 2:37pm
Scotty here's a link to a biomechanics specialist in San Diego. His name is Justine Price. http://www.thebiomechanics.com/2006/pages/main.htm The phone # is at the bottom of the page. If he can't help you,I'm sure he would be able to refer you to someone who can.

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