Back pain, way to deal with it

[wizardofid]

I have had a long standing problem, since my early 20's, the specialist's advice was, well you are too young to consider a back op, which I agreed with however I am regretting that now, situation changed, without medical aid, even if I were to get medical aid cover in the short term, it would be considered a preexisting condition not sure they would cover it.

Even without medical aid, I would definitely not consider a government hospital as the next step, for such a major surgery.Reason I know the only option is surgery now, is that L4 and L5 naturally fused, however it is only fused one side, so is putting both pressure on L4 and L5, 15 years ago there was already some disintegration of disk above L5.

Last few months pain would come and go, however the last 3 weeks is has been non stop, about 7 on a scale of 10.I can't bend, can't stand for too long and is no affecting my lower extremities, numbness, all pointing towards nerve pinching.

We have a local clinical here and a doctor that comes once a month, I live in a very small rural community, so every knows every one, don't have a problem going to there.So looking at safe medications to consider, any suggestion would be helpful, don't mind going to a doctor to get a Scheduled prescription, would be prefer to deal with pain, as long as I can before considering surgery, still too young.

I would definitely need some thing that both deals with pain and inflammatory affects. Ibuprofen is definitely not good for chronic use, and isn't that effective for me.

Synap Forte did the job, however not sure if the ban on that has been lifted or not, that really worked well.A replacement suggestion would be appreciated.Currently sitting on a chair with my feet raised on a chair, with a cushion behind my back basically "sitting like a slapgat".

It is coming to the point where it is making me completely unproductive

 

[zippy]

I suffered a lot from back pain. Also have issues with fusing of spine.

I now take etoricoxib(brand arcoxia), 60mg. You also get it in 90mg and 120mg, but you want to take the lowest dosage possible as there can be side-effects which differ from person to person. Been taking it for years. When I was in SA, I was prescribed some other trash which only minimised the pain. In the UK, the doc started me on arcoxia etoricoxib about 5 years ago. I take 1 60mg tab a day(even miss a day or 2). Works. No pain, no discomfort.

The drugs don't help with the fusing, but it relieves the inflammation which causes the pressure on the nerves. You should exercise to delay the fusing. The inflammation makes exercise painful. The drugs help to allow you exercise and thereby control the fusing. The fusing can cause serious problems when you get older, so you really need to exercise while you are young.

I know its available in SA. My mum took a fall and badly twisted her ankle and they put on this for a week. I'm still highly pissed that it was never prescribed to me when I was in SA. Its made a tremendous difference to my life in the UK.

link : http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/seniors-health/medicines/arcoxia.html

 

[Ocali]

im not trying to be funny or anything, and i do realize that this is looked down upon by society neither am i promoting such activities , but indulging the likes of Sativa and Indica.. might be a worthwhile option.

 

[HavocXphere]

Synap Forte did the job, however not sure if the ban on that has been lifted or not, that really worked well.A replacement suggestion would be appreciated.

Painkillers are a dime a dozen. Finding one that works isn't the problem...finding one you can safely take for an extended period of time is. A lot of the painkillers are straight up unsuitable for long term use...people do so anyway and then get a pile of stomach ulcers...and then they're all "I didn't know"...grrr the packaging says don't take for more than a week". Then you end up needing two fkin operations...

Realistically though you'll need a med aid...because this is going to end in surgery one way or the other. I'm a tiny bit fuzzy on the rules, but personally I'd sign up asap & wait till the pre-existing condition thing expires (I think they do?). Until then I'd have a heart to heart chat with the doc as to what can be safely taken long term.

im not trying to be funny or anything, and i do realize that this is looked down upon by society neither am i promoting such activities , but indulging the likes of Sativa and Indica.. might be a worthwhile option.

Which would be illegal - and thus I can't suggest it....but I felt like quoting this anyway just because I can.

Also as a more general PSA announcement...never ever have a gap in your med aid cover...not even a day. All kinds of nasty clauses kick in. It has to be a smooth transition from one med aid to the other.

 

[wizardofid]

@HavocXphere @zippy thanks for the reply

Wasn't too bad too day, however do get up a lot and walk around, stretching and such.I had both ligaments replaced in my knee so that isn't helping either, so have chronic pain from that as well, it is painful as well, but not as bad as my back.

I don't think people fully understand the pain from a herniated disc it is not pain that goes away, it always there, really really really irritating pain

 

[Ocali]

medical aid is the answer, i too am not sure of the implications of having pre-existing medical conditions.. but surely it would be useful somehow or the other in the long run.

Pain killers do mess you up. big time, the tv show, House MD comes to mind..

wishing you well.

 

[Arthur]

Quite recently researchers in the UK discovered that around half of all chronic back pain is actually caused by bacteria. This was not known even a year ago, and certainly most medical practitioners don't know about it now.

Worth checking out.

 

[Arthur]

Just found a ton of links on this. Here's one from the Grauniad: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/may/07/antibiotics-cure-back-pain-patients

"One of the UK's most eminent spinal surgeons said the discovery was the greatest he had witnessed in his professional life, and that its impact on medicine was worthy of a Nobel prize."

 

[Grant]

Quite recently researchers in the UK discovered that around half of all chronic back pain is actually caused by bacteria. This was not known even a year ago, and certainly most medical practitioners don't know about it now.

Worth checking out.

interesting
my mother underwent a laminectomy some years back which failed.
however, she picked up a "surgical" infection, severe enough to be put in an isolation ward.

she has been suffering the most intense pain, crying every night & just wishing to just die & not to wake up in the mornings.

she has seen specialists all over the country, had x-rays, cat scans, mri & pet scans - nobody has been able to figure out the cause, as a result, the pain management clinic at uct academic hosp are unable to do much.

 

[HavocXphere]

Quite recently researchers in the UK discovered that around half of all chronic back pain is actually caused by bacteria. This was not known even a year ago, and certainly most medical practitioners don't know about it now.

Worth checking out.

Link?

Also, colour me mildly skeptical...if it were bacteria it would show up in the spinal fluid samples, no?

 

[Arthur]

Link posted above.

It's not in the spinal fluid.

I love these sorts of breakthroughs. Like the gastric ulcers one - also bacteria, and which won the Aussie doctor a Nobel. Most satisfying, after he was laughed out of the medical establishment in the 90s.

Btw, I had a very successful laminectomy and fusion more than 20 years ago.

Anyway, read the Guardian link posted above. You'll get excited.

 

[Grant]

Link posted above.

It's not in the spinal fluid.

I love these sorts of breakthroughs. Like the gastric ulcers one - also bacteria, and which won the Aussie doctor a Nobel. Most satisfying, after he was laughed out of the medical establishment in the 90s.

Btw, I had a very successful laminectomy and fusion more than 20 years ago.

Anyway, read the Guardian link posted above. You'll get excited.

my mothers was done about the same time back
the ortho insisted if he didn't operate within days, she would be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.
terrified & panicked, she never got a 2nd opinion.
the day she walked into the hospital, was also the last day she was able to walk.

 

[Arthur]

I am so sorry to hear that.

 

[wizardofid]

Btw, I had a very successful laminectomy and fusion more than 20 years ago.

after op care is critical , My mother has had 2 ops and and a neck op she has never been the same,which is why I would prefer to avoid it all together, but eventually.

But generally things aren't going to well in family, found out today my sister in law has rectal and intestinal cancer, also found some growths on her lungs and liver.

 

[Arthur]

Link?

Also, colour me mildly skeptical...if it were bacteria it would show up in the spinal fluid samples, no?

Did you check the link above? It's really important news for sufferers of chronic back pain.

 

[dunkyd]

Google Piriformis muscle and the You Tube clips showing how to loosen it.

 

[D3nz]

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