Lower Back Pain

REAList_1 said:
There is no good news when your cushions are worn.
Pain in the legs means the nerves are pressured where they cross - operation is the only answer ss the channel must be opened.
Diclofenac tablets works for the pain but over time will kill your kidneys. But I still have to take it daily.
I had my L1 to L5 made solid some 4 years ago and since then I sit with bad lower back muscle pains. Stretching helps somewhat.
I’ve given up on being pain free.
I’ve had three nerve numbing (incl laser) procedures to get rid of the pain but it was always back after a few months.
In total I’ve spent about R200k on operations alone on this.
Click to expand...

Mind sharing your doctors details?
 
Noob-Noob said:
Hi there,

I hate to complain,

I was wondering if anyone has some alternative methods I can try for lower back pain, or maybe recommend me some pain killers which does not cause drowsiness, or I don’t know, maybe there is a breakthrough procedure I don’t know about. My doctor is close to 70 and I don’t know if he is up to date with everything….

I’m one of the lucky few who has scoliosis & Scheuermann disease (fck knows why they call it a disease, on the upside it’s not noticeable). I don’t know if the scoliosis is the cause of everything, but my real issue is my lower back whereby the scoliosis is slightly higher up, 2 of my disk’s (the kussingtjies) are gone right at the bottom of my back, so the vertebrae is pressing against a nerve which causes my leg to die (the dead leg is not the issue though, the back pain is)

I have been to the doctor several times throughout my life and done multiple x-rays. Basically, the only real solution he knows about is surgery, but he very highly discouraged that. He gave me a list of exercises to do and said If I can live with the pain, then rather live with the pain. The surgery has a high potential to leave me worse off.

Now the issue is, yes, I’m living with the pain, have been living with it over 20 years now, but it pains 24/7. And it gets bad, really bad and the past year or so it’s been the worst it has ever been. Every now and again when it gets very bad they will give me an cortisone injection where the nerve is also pressed. It works for about 2 weeks but then its back to square one. It always feels worse after the 2 weeks, but I suppose it’s because I get slightly used to not feeling the severe pain and then it just comes back out of the blue. The doctor has also told me they cannot continue giving me cortisone the whole time. (I cannot use voltarin)

I used to gym a lot as I loved bodybuilding, but there came a stage I could not do it anymore. I sometimes wonder if the deadlifts caused it. But ja exercise is not the answer I have learned, especially back exercises. So the last time a gym has seen me is +- 5 years ago which on its own makes me depro. Also used to play cricket and do amature wresteling, all out the window now.

Painkillers does not work, well the ones I have tried. I have tried Tramacet / tramahexal & ibuprofen and a few others I cannot really remember, But it does nothing for the pain and makes me drowsy.

What works is THC, well I also cant really say it works, I still notice the pain I simply don’t care about the pain… But at least I can fall asleep for 8 hours straight. Unfortunately, this is not the answer for daytime. And lets not kid each other. THC has its own bunch of negatives. Plus, my fiancé is anti-anything THC. So, to keep the peace, I don’t use THC anymore.

But honestly this is no way to live my life. I’m in pain all the time. I’m in my late 30’s and when I have to stand up its like I’m close to 90. And nothing relieves it. Not sitting, not laying down, not standing still, not walking….

Does anyone have any possible advice?
Click to expand...

Lay off the BBC for a couple of months
 
Pho3nix said:
If you have your X-rays etc, you don't. I went to one and got an MRI and specific X-rays he wanted to see.

Took me going to 6 different doctors to get a workable solution as they couldn't see an issue with my back, only 2 doctors did. On cortisone injections at the moment.

Surgery at 30 isn't ideal so managing as best as I can.

As for your fiancé, you need to have a frank conversation about the THC. It's for a reason, you really become a different person having to manage pain 24/7. Wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Edit : have you tried the higher dose of Lyrica? It helped me get sleep. Got rid of most of my meds after a kidney scare by Lyrica, Synaleve, OxyContin (emergencies) and Celebrex were my daily meds
Click to expand...

Oxycontin in ZA?
 
Would a high dose of Neurobion work? I’ve heard it’s very good for nerve pain. Not sure if it’s useful in this situation tho?
 
neoprema said:
Would a high dose of Neurobion work? I’ve heard it’s very good for nerve pain. Not sure if it’s useful in this situation tho?
Click to expand...

No. You will make very expensive pee though
 
Noob-Noob said:
Hi there,

I hate to complain,

I was wondering if anyone has some alternative methods I can try for lower back pain, or maybe recommend me some pain killers which does not cause drowsiness, or I don’t know, maybe there is a breakthrough procedure I don’t know about. My doctor is close to 70 and I don’t know if he is up to date with everything….

I’m one of the lucky few who has scoliosis & Scheuermann disease (fck knows why they call it a disease, on the upside it’s not noticeable). I don’t know if the scoliosis is the cause of everything, but my real issue is my lower back whereby the scoliosis is slightly higher up, 2 of my disk’s (the kussingtjies) are gone right at the bottom of my back, so the vertebrae is pressing against a nerve which causes my leg to die (the dead leg is not the issue though, the back pain is)

I have been to the doctor several times throughout my life and done multiple x-rays. Basically, the only real solution he knows about is surgery, but he very highly discouraged that. He gave me a list of exercises to do and said If I can live with the pain, then rather live with the pain. The surgery has a high potential to leave me worse off.

Now the issue is, yes, I’m living with the pain, have been living with it over 20 years now, but it pains 24/7. And it gets bad, really bad and the past year or so it’s been the worst it has ever been. Every now and again when it gets very bad they will give me an cortisone injection where the nerve is also pressed. It works for about 2 weeks but then its back to square one. It always feels worse after the 2 weeks, but I suppose it’s because I get slightly used to not feeling the severe pain and then it just comes back out of the blue. The doctor has also told me they cannot continue giving me cortisone the whole time. (I cannot use voltarin)

I used to gym a lot as I loved bodybuilding, but there came a stage I could not do it anymore. I sometimes wonder if the deadlifts caused it. But ja exercise is not the answer I have learned, especially back exercises. So the last time a gym has seen me is +- 5 years ago which on its own makes me depro. Also used to play cricket and do amature wresteling, all out the window now.

Painkillers does not work, well the ones I have tried. I have tried Tramacet / tramahexal & ibuprofen and a few others I cannot really remember, But it does nothing for the pain and makes me drowsy.

What works is THC, well I also cant really say it works, I still notice the pain I simply don’t care about the pain… But at least I can fall asleep for 8 hours straight. Unfortunately, this is not the answer for daytime. And lets not kid each other. THC has its own bunch of negatives. Plus, my fiancé is anti-anything THC. So, to keep the peace, I don’t use THC anymore.

But honestly this is no way to live my life. I’m in pain all the time. I’m in my late 30’s and when I have to stand up its like I’m close to 90. And nothing relieves it. Not sitting, not laying down, not standing still, not walking….

Does anyone have any possible advice?
Click to expand...

My mom has been battling really bad back pain(osteoarthritis) to the point where she fell into depression. If you are in CPT, we found Dr Liebenberg, and he knows his ****, very expensive, but know his ****. A couple of months later, where her pain was 15/10, it's now a 4/10 and slowly getting better.

Neurosurgeon Cape Town Northern Suburbs | Dr Adriaan Liebenberg

Neurosurgeon in Cape Town's Northern Suburbs. Dr Adriaan Liebenberg is a neurosurgeon with more than 20 years of experience and has an interest in the non-surgical management of spinal pain as well as minimally invasive surgery.
www.adriaanliebenberg.co.za www.adriaanliebenberg.co.za
 
Reading your post, all my regular go-tos (physio, biokineticist for exercise) are probably not applicable any more. You probably did that already, and I doubt they can do anything for worn disks.

I do agree with getting a second or third or fourth opinion from a specialist.

Also, I'm not pro-THC by any measure, but since you already tried it and it works, and the stuff the doctor could prescribe that's strong enough to help will probably be almost as bad or worse, I think you need to have a sit down and have a serious discussion about it. Find out what she (or he) doesn't like about THC and work to address those concerns.
 
Noob-Noob said:
Hi there,

I hate to complain,

I was wondering if anyone has some alternative methods I can try for lower back pain, or maybe recommend me some pain killers which does not cause drowsiness, or I don’t know, maybe there is a breakthrough procedure I don’t know about. My doctor is close to 70 and I don’t know if he is up to date with everything….

I’m one of the lucky few who has scoliosis & Scheuermann disease (fck knows why they call it a disease, on the upside it’s not noticeable). I don’t know if the scoliosis is the cause of everything, but my real issue is my lower back whereby the scoliosis is slightly higher up, 2 of my disk’s (the kussingtjies) are gone right at the bottom of my back, so the vertebrae is pressing against a nerve which causes my leg to die (the dead leg is not the issue though, the back pain is)

I have been to the doctor several times throughout my life and done multiple x-rays. Basically, the only real solution he knows about is surgery, but he very highly discouraged that. He gave me a list of exercises to do and said If I can live with the pain, then rather live with the pain. The surgery has a high potential to leave me worse off.

Now the issue is, yes, I’m living with the pain, have been living with it over 20 years now, but it pains 24/7. And it gets bad, really bad and the past year or so it’s been the worst it has ever been. Every now and again when it gets very bad they will give me an cortisone injection where the nerve is also pressed. It works for about 2 weeks but then its back to square one. It always feels worse after the 2 weeks, but I suppose it’s because I get slightly used to not feeling the severe pain and then it just comes back out of the blue. The doctor has also told me they cannot continue giving me cortisone the whole time. (I cannot use voltarin)

I used to gym a lot as I loved bodybuilding, but there came a stage I could not do it anymore. I sometimes wonder if the deadlifts caused it. But ja exercise is not the answer I have learned, especially back exercises. So the last time a gym has seen me is +- 5 years ago which on its own makes me depro. Also used to play cricket and do amature wresteling, all out the window now.

Painkillers does not work, well the ones I have tried. I have tried Tramacet / tramahexal & ibuprofen and a few others I cannot really remember, But it does nothing for the pain and makes me drowsy.

What works is THC, well I also cant really say it works, I still notice the pain I simply don’t care about the pain… But at least I can fall asleep for 8 hours straight. Unfortunately, this is not the answer for daytime. And lets not kid each other. THC has its own bunch of negatives. Plus, my fiancé is anti-anything THC. So, to keep the peace, I don’t use THC anymore.

But honestly this is no way to live my life. I’m in pain all the time. I’m in my late 30’s and when I have to stand up its like I’m close to 90. And nothing relieves it. Not sitting, not laying down, not standing still, not walking….

Does anyone have any possible advice?
Click to expand...

I feel you, man. Pain sucks! I have hypermobility syndrome and dislocate even if the living room coffee table just looks at me funny... Both shoulders, knees, jaw, and fingers have been dislocated multiple times with torn ligaments. And I have rheumatoid arthritis which doesn't help either.

One of the best things I've used to manage pain is Kratom, combined with a low-carb diet, THC, and Omega 3 oils. I don't take any other pain meds. Kratom is worth a shot if nothing else seems to be working for you. Just do some research as it affects everyone differently. I take a combination of white/red strains daily to help with ADHD/wellbeing and general pain management. I take it daily for a month until it runs out, then I normally let a month pass before I order the next batch, just to let my tolerance reset.

Wish I could offer a more permanent solution, but this might be a crutch in the meantime.

 
I also have a lower back problem that usually is quite manageable, but every once in a while I twist or turn it and then I can barely walk. My GP then prescribes me a combination of Tramazac, Arcoxia and Lyrica. I think the medication that is the most effective is the Lyrica. A good summary of Lyrica according to a quick Google search is as follows: "Lyrica is the brand name for pregabalin, a medication used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic (nerve) pain, fibromyalgia, and generalized anxiety disorder (off label). Pregabalin works by reducing the number of pain signals that damaged nerves send out."

I use this combination for 5 days at most, then my back is usually back to where it was.
 
My wife is 35 and also has scoliosis and in constant pain. Pain meds does nothing. But she is also very sick and doesn't have much strength. She is supposed to go to the biokineticist for hanging and stretching exercise, but doesn't have the energy or strength to do it, and her body too fragile to handle most of the treatment they do. So it is a two edge sword, one side the constant pain is part of what makes her very sick, the other side she is too sick to be able to do something about it. Sorry for you pain OP. It sadness me to see my wife in pain everyday but there is nothing I can do for her.
 
Last edited:
Good morning everyone,

Thanks for all the replies and advice, I really do appreciate it. I will respond as I get time. But here is a lot of advice I have not tried and will definitely be doing.
 
saor said:
I know I know - I'm gonna recommend youtube and people are gonna tell me youtube isnt a doctor. But imo it's worth going through a bunch of exercises or stretches or whatever is recommended for your issue and stick with one that feels like it works. As youtube keeps recommending more just try them. Or go see a physical therapist / biokineticist who can provide you with some exercises / stretches to help? See another doctor for a second opinion?

I understand the desire to respect her wishes, but respect works both ways. If some arbitrary position against THC is more important to her than your pain relief you need to chat.

You've tried CBD products? Natural anti-inflammatories like curcumin (either turmeric powder or curcumin supplements...longvida is expensive but works quite well) and ginger or black cumin oil.
Click to expand...
The doctor I went to did give me a whole program of exercises and stretches I have to do.
Maybe I gave up too quickly but after doing it +- a month I stopped as the pain was getting worse instead of better. But I will check out youtube, I never actually thought of this.

If anyone does know of a very good doctor in the pretoria area I can go to for a second opinion, Please DM me the details.


Regarding the THC thing. Ja it's a touchy subject. It's difficult when you have been taught your whole life dagga = gagga. But at the end of the day, it's still a difficult choice, Yes I don't notice the pain, or you rather don't care about the pain, But the problem is it affects other aspect of your life. Eventhough I can sleep 8 hours straight, you are extremely tired the next day. You cannot do it every day as your tolerance for THC builds up extremely quickly. And its really not good for your memory. Also when you use it you are pretty useless. So you can only really use it directly before bed time.

CBD I have tried before, but it did absolutely nothing. But there are so many brands out there, not sure if I used a good legitimate brand, or if my dosage was right ETC. If anyone does use CBD for pain and it works, Please DM me the brand and dosage (or post it here so other can also see)

Regarding the turmeric, I did not want to mention this as its unrelated, but I have diverticulitis as well. So I have tried turmeric before, but turmeric and my diverticulitis were not friends at all. It gives me extreme cramps.

I will try the longvida, Ginger and black cumin oil. Never heard of these before. Thank you
 
Reading threads like this remind me to be grateful for being in good health.

Now l'll go make some coffee with no sugar because it's rather good but mostly because I'm rather fat.
 
Pho3nix said:
If you have your X-rays etc, you don't. I went to one and got an MRI and specific X-rays he wanted to see.

Took me going to 6 different doctors to get a workable solution as they couldn't see an issue with my back, only 2 doctors did. On cortisone injections at the moment.

Surgery at 30 isn't ideal so managing as best as I can.

As for your fiancé, you need to have a frank conversation about the THC. It's for a reason, you really become a different person having to manage pain 24/7. Wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Edit : have you tried the higher dose of Lyrica? It helped me get sleep. Got rid of most of my meds after a kidney scare by Lyrica, Synaleve, OxyContin (emergencies) and Celebrex were my daily meds
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply,

Honestly never heard of Lyrica, Synaleve and OxyContin.

Cerebrex I know, I used it a few years ago when the pain was not as bad. Not really sure why I stopped. I'm making a list of everything and will be asking if I can get a prescription.
Not sure if any of them contain diclofenac (i'll google), Since being diagnosed with diverticulitis (about 3 years ago) , I cannot use diclofenac at all anymore, which limited quite a few things I used which worked.
 
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