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Posted: 12/17/2001 1:35:41 PM EDT
Got diagnosed about 10 weeks ago with "scoliosis" at age 44.  I've been in pretty much constant pain ranging from practically none to wanting to crawl out of my skin.  Went through 8 sessions of PT which helped stop the constant muscle spasms.  Existing on pain pills and doing the required exercises religiously every day... still the damn pain.  Thinking about see a Chiropractor.  They help much or just make matters worse.  I see the doc again tomorrow.

Your thoughts appreciated.
Link Posted: 12/17/2001 1:56:34 PM EDT
[#1]
Lawdog,

I know what you're going through man. I've had two Microlaminectomies on my lower back. 1st was in 1990, 2nd in 1999. Both provided relief. PT has NEVER done a thing for me. Only exercise that helped was walking a mile or two a day.

Get 2nd opinion. Find a doc that does JUST backs! If you can and insurance allows it.

Chropractor told me he could not help me....I had ruptured discs and then really bad sciatica 9 years later.

Learn to love Ibuprofen.

If anyone tells you to swim, be VERY careful. Swimming aggravates Sciatic pain in many cases (it did mine).

Again, make sure your doc makes you comfortable with what he/she tells you.

Good luck man
Link Posted: 12/17/2001 2:00:26 PM EDT
[#2]
Drugs man, drugs.  You've got to get more drugs.  A Vioxx pill a day seems to be working for me.
Link Posted: 12/17/2001 2:08:02 PM EDT
[#3]
[Shudder]

I feel for you man...trust me.  I know exactly what you are going thru.  I had four leaking disks, two repared thru surgery.  I also have arthritis and advanced premature aging in the bones.  Basically I am fucked!

Screw PT
Screw Chiro
Screw swimming

Get a back Doc expert....and I mean now!!  Everyone else is just talk!!

And yes, I love and hate my pain killers.  They work but I get pissed off that I have to take them.  It truely is a double edge sword.  I have gone thru many different procedures and I have learned volumnes on the back subject.  So if you need to talk feel free to e-mail or IM me.  I can help but you must do the reaching out.

Good Luck,

Sgtar15
Link Posted: 12/17/2001 2:15:51 PM EDT
[#4]
I have six fused vert. in my back and am paralyzed from the belly button down.  I too have chronic back pain. Mostly from sitting IMO. I do find that stretching every morning helps tremendously. I would go out and find a good book on the subject as my experience with PTs is poor to say the least. Most don't know anything about excersize science and are only booksmart at best. Perhaps you should seek someone in the sports medicine field for advice on proper stretching.
Link Posted: 12/17/2001 3:45:30 PM EDT
[#5]
Lawdog, I truely know what you are going through. I am 33 with scoliosis too. Sucks don't it. I was diagnosed to late in life, or else I would have gone into the military. I have gone to serveral back specialist without much success.

One thing that I have JUST found that is working wonderfully... Look for a [b]Licensed Massage Therapist[/b] (LMT). The lady that I see is working wonders for me. Now it did have to go through 4 LMT's before I found one that had the talent to work on my back.

I too have had the wonderful time of living through muscle spasms. I had a limited choice of pain killers that I could use (allergic to Morphin, Demeral, Daladid , and most of the codine based painkillers).

I finally got really desperate (after a weeks vacation of motorcyle touring that totally fvcked up my back) and started calling chiropractors offices to see if they had LMT's. It took 3 months of twice a week to get to the point where I could actually feel good (pain still there but was berable). I did start seeing the chiropractor for adjustments (got a really good cash discount), the doctors (husband and wife team) didn't BS me about "Yea we can straighten your back!". They said, lets try for a bit, and see how things feel. If your back feels better, lets continue, otherwise we can't help.

I have been going for about a year and a half now and have been pain free for 6 months (I am now having sessions every 2 weeks) and loving it. Actually I have a been able to see an improvement in the shape of my spine.

I am now going to start the PT program (both the LMT and chiropractor agree things are good enough for me to start). I have to work on my posture to see if we can fix the rotation of my hips. Neither of them want to start heavy duty PT yet. That is still 6 months to a year from now.

Oh yea, stretching, lots of stretching. I am somewhat lax in that area. But when I do get into the groove, things get better.

So for summary, find a LMT first! Then a good chiropractor that won't BS you (this optional though). You are at the beginning of a long road, have patients.
Link Posted: 12/18/2001 10:16:13 AM EDT
[#6]
Thanks to all who responded.  It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one out there suffering... that sounds bad, doesn't it??  You know what I mean.

Doc gave me an injection and he is referring me to a chiropractor (how's that for ironic??)and a TIMS (not TENS) unit.  Got the Rx prescriptions refilled.  I'm going to get better, dammit or I'm going to die trying!!!!

I'm too young for this s*!t.  I wish all you other back pain sufferers all the best and pray that you find relief as well.  Merry Christmas guys!!!

Lawdog
Link Posted: 12/18/2001 11:22:23 AM EDT
[#7]
I suggest you look into acupunture.  It works wonders on pain and muscle spasms.
Link Posted: 12/18/2001 11:46:29 AM EDT
[#8]
I have a very good friend that has had a bad back for over 20 yrs. He's had Chiro, PT, Rx, LMT, TIMS, basically you name it until he saw a Dr. in California. This Doc is one of the few doing a new back sugery that is minimally invasive. This Doc makes a very small hole in the skin and surrounding tissue and grinds(ouch) a very small amount of bone off. The bone that is ground off, (in multiple places if need be), is usually the culprit by causing pain by impinging on the nerve roots between the vertebrae. My friend has been PAIN FREE for over 1 year with no side effects. Understand, this guy was taking class 3 controlled substances like candy and still had pain, before the surgery. Now, no pain.
I'll get more info if you like.
Link Posted: 12/18/2001 1:39:07 PM EDT
[#9]
Lawdog:

I've had some serious back pain in my life and have taken a simple vitamin supplement which, believe it or not, actually cleared up a significant portion of the pain. At first, I was skeptical of trying it myself.

Go to Wal-Mart, vitamin section, and get a jar of Magnesium. No Prescription Form needed. Take 4 or 5 a day over a few days and see if it helps any. Don't know if it will work re Scoliosis, but try it. It wouldn't hurt.

Some of the Over-the-Counter and Prescription Drugs use Magnesium as a key ingredient because for some reason it helps clear up back pain.

It seems some Back Pain is centered around vitamin deficiencies as we grow older. Doctors don't tell you this.

Link Posted: 12/18/2001 4:30:15 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
Got diagnosed about 10 weeks ago with "scoliosis" at age 44.  I've been in pretty much constant pain ranging from practically none to wanting to crawl out of my skin.  Went through 8 sessions of PT which helped stop the constant muscle spasms.  Existing on pain pills and doing the required exercises religiously every day... still the damn pain.  Thinking about see a Chiropractor.  They help much or just make matters worse.  I see the doc again tomorrow.

Your thoughts appreciated.
View Quote


lawdog,

I feel for ya.  I have a not so good back myself (I'm 25).  Go to the chiropractor.  The only drawback is they are expensive.  You will need to go constantly (i.e. at least 4 times per week) until your back is stable then you can go down to like once a week or month.  I would not be lifting weights now if not for the chiro.  If you have any questions about chiropractic email me, I'll be glad to answer them [email protected].

Link Posted: 12/18/2001 4:50:38 PM EDT
[#11]
I know a good chiropractor in Irondale. What part of Bama are you in? Email me if you want his name.
Link Posted: 12/18/2001 8:13:40 PM EDT
[#12]
lawdog,
my dad is a chiropractor (he is here in tx though he used to be in nc)
ill ask him if he knows any info on docs in the area (if you'll tell me where). i wouldn't see ANY doctor without recommendations or referrals first, unless it was urgent. mediocre docs in any field are dime-a-dozen. if pt helped, my dad knows lots of exercises and i can forward some info to you if you'd like (names of books to read, etc.) i was in a car accident this year and band/inflatable ball therapy worked immensely. back pain sucks, and personally i would go with non-invasive treatment as a first step.
Link Posted: 12/18/2001 8:18:31 PM EDT
[#13]
Link Posted: 12/18/2001 8:55:26 PM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
Drugs man, drugs.  You've got to get more drugs.  A Vioxx pill a day seems to be working for me.
View Quote
 Yes Vioxx is good, so is Lortab, Tylox, Lorcet, Darvocet, Soma and several others that you can only get in the alley behind the drug store.[;)]
Link Posted: 12/18/2001 9:18:58 PM EDT
[#15]
Hillbilly heroin!
Link Posted: 12/18/2001 9:28:19 PM EDT
[#16]

i hurt my back lifting dogs (among other things) at a vet clinic this past spring..i was fired soon after which i am positive was to get out of paying workmans comp.  still hurts and i havn't found a decent job so i'm unemployed.  at least i can go to the range once or twice a week now, and i even got out fishing more this year.  what sucks the most is that it limits my job abilities.
Link Posted: 12/19/2001 7:26:49 AM EDT
[#17]
colinjay:

 Tell me more about <>.  If you wouldn't mind, could you e-mail me any info you have on that.  Thanks,

Lawdog
Link Posted: 12/19/2001 8:31:59 AM EDT
[#18]
lawdog,my friend,can I call you my friend?.....I too have multiple physical ailments...Back included..GO TO GOOGLE....search "SISSEL" about the 3-4th one down is the ball exercises....Believe it or not ALOT of the NFL NOW TRAIN this way!...
Link Posted: 12/19/2001 10:48:41 AM EDT
[#19]
LawDog,

I am a Chiropractor in Cullman, AL.  Sent you an email.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding Chiropractic, feel free to contact me.  Best of luck.

BlackAdder
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