OT: I May Have a Slipped Disc

[elucid]

oh man, you all make me wish i had insurance. my back is f-ed i'm 27 and have done alot of construction labor. everyday when i wake in bed the pain in my lower back is obscene. it's become quite distraction in my life. boohoo i know the thing that sucks though, and i suspect is partially a cause, is sitting around playing guitar the longer i play the better i get the more my back hurts the more my back hurts the less i play the more miserable i be maybe i should just stand the whole time

[KenElevenShadows]

Hey Elucid, if you don't have anything like a ruptured disc, and you are suffering from something more like sore back muscles from lifting, seriously consider doing Iyengar yoga. I mention Iyengar, not that the other kinds of yoga are not effective (they often are), but because Iyengar yoga is one sort of yoga that really places a heavy emphasis on doing the form correctly. It's a very precise form of yoga that is really good for people suffering from things like back pain (although it's good for people who are not suffering from pain as well!). The other thing that is really easy to do is to drink a LOT of water. This sounds silly, but it really helps get everything flowing through your body. Your body has rejuvenating properties, and water helps get it there. Things like heat, massage, water, etc. get the blood flowing to the afflicted areas, the tight areas, and help to heal the muscles. The Chinese are good proponents of this, and although obviously the Chinese will do surgery, they try these things first. And it really does work. On the American side of things, since we sometimes know what's up as well, we have some really great stretching books for lower back pain by someone with the last name of Anderson. I don't remember his first name, but the guy is pretty good. Find a book on lower back pain with the last name of Anderson, and that should be the guy. He incorporates some yoga techniques, and the charts are fairly easy to follow. Honestly, I think the Iyengar stretches that I learned are moore effective because they are much more precise than Anderson's, but the Anderson stretches are very helpful. Another thing that is really helpful is to have pillows or leg bolsters under your knees to elevate your legs when you are sleeping, which helps take some of the pressure off your lower back if you sleep on your back. If you don't sleep on your back, then what you can do is take a large pillow and wedge it under one of your legs while you are on your side. This really helps, and it's also really comfortable. And finally, get someone to massage your back and dig in pretty good. It feels great, and it really helps your back out!!!

[Dan South]

Ken, I've coped with two herniated disks for the last six years. Chiropractic has been the biggest help - but you have to find a good chiropractor, not a crook who signs you up for three months of visits in advance to bleed your wallet dry. I've also had to make a few minor changes in activities - no holding the phone with my shoulder, no holding towels or sheets with my chin while folding them, etc. I also have problems sometimes if I fall asleep on a train and my head flops forward. I wore a soft brace at night for a couple of months, but I didn't need it after that. I try to keep good posture, and if I experience pain while playing (rare) I take breaks and rest as much as I can. I'm going to avoid surgery as long as possible. It only helps a third of the patients and it actually makes another third worse. If they come up with a say to insert artificial disk-like tissue in there someday, I may give that a try. I hope that some of this info is relevant to your situation, and I hope that you're feeling better soon.

[KenElevenShadows]

It is relevant, Dan. Thank you very much. I don't know how long I've had a ruptured disc which is pressing against nerve endings and causing partial paralysis, Dan, but I've had severe back problems for 13 years, and the last ten months have been debilitating and horrible. Then, there's the very real fear that certain movements -- or sitting too long -- will make my muscles go into deep, painful spasms that prevent me from even walking much (this has occurred four times in the past ten months). For the past ten months, I have not been able to sit for more than 15-20 minutes at a time until I started taking the painkillers/muscle relaxants, could not lift anything more than about twenty pounds, cannot bend, always in pain, cannot sleep, sometimes can barely walk, sharp pain in the hip and buttocks for months on end, can barely move my right toe up, numbness, etc. etc. I mean, it's really bad. I've done yoga for 2-3 hours a day, gone to chiropractors, acupuncturists, neuromuscular therapists, masseuses, doctors, drank lots of water, improved my posture, etc. etc. I do not wish to live like this. It completely disrupts my life, which is wonderful in every way except for this back/hip/leg pain. i am still taking those hideous painkillers and muscle relaxants just to get through the day. I am going to get the best advice I can from professionals, but really, the MRI showed a giant ruptured bulge that was so huge that even I saw it within 5 seconds -- BEFORE the doctor pointed it out. I am really anti-surgery, Dan, but for something this severely ruptured, I am starting to think that minimally invasive surgery may be the best approach. [quote]Originally posted by Dan South: [b]Ken, I've coped with two herniated disks for the last six years. I hope that some of this info is relevant to your situation, and I hope that you're feeling better soon.[/b][/quote]

[F7sound -]

Ken, Last winter I herniated a disc in my neck while in karate. Damn thing hurt like hell for months. My left arm was completely numb and tingly and the pain ranged from intense to constantly agonizing. First Dr. I went to said I needed surgery (after getting my MRI back). I told the second Dr. I went to that surgery wasn't an option for me. Ended up that I went through intensive physical therapy for 90 days which included lots of exercise, and traction, along with a mild anti-inflamatory. That combo worked. It took a while, but now I'm back in karate (after being on "IR" for 2 months). I work out as hard or harder than before, but with the consideration that I have a herniated disc that could possibly become even worse. Especially if I get hit by an opponent (remember, it's karate that got me into this). I still have pain, but it's manageable (which is a major improvement). There are a few things I can't do, like "reverse push-ups" (pictures can only describe) and cartweels (I'm serious), but most other 34 year old men (without injuries) can't do them either. One thing that's really helped is that I purchased a home traction device (kinda looks like an S&M toy). It stretches my neck. I use it a few times a week and it works well. The unit cost me about $400 of my "tasty gear" money, but it's well worth it. The moral of the story is to keep a good attitude, be patient, and find a Dr. that isn't into cutting! Michael Oster F7 Sound and Vision http://www.F7sound.com