|
|
Post by tenacious on Sept 2, 2016 18:52:00 GMT
I have been struggling with dehabilitating back and neck pain for quite awhile now, and I finally dragged myself to a chiropractor who X-rayd me and confirmed I have severe degenerative disc disease in my back and neck. We have been doing decompression and other therapies for 3 weeks now, and I am feeling (not perfect), but, so much better! :-)
So, I am just wondering if anyone else has had this therapy and if it was more than a temporary relief. I really want to avoid surgery, and, I can live with the way I am feeling now....IF it is a lasting relief.
Any experience?
TIA,
Erin
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:03:11 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 19:01:22 GMT
Wow, glad that is working for you. That is awesome. My daughter had to have a spinal fusion. The surgery wasn't bad but she has also had two open heart surgeries this year so I guess I am comparing a bit.
|
|
|
|
Post by sugarmama on Sept 2, 2016 20:31:50 GMT
I think you need to stop going to the chiro and go to a spine specialist. Not saying chiros are bad--it just may be time for a really close look at what is going on. Sometimes surgery is the best answer for debilitating pain.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:03:11 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 20:46:30 GMT
I've never done that, but I do believe in chiropractic for some things - especially those that orthopedic doctors can't readily fix. As an example, by former husband had a lifelong spinal condition that caused him to get a pinched nerve when twisting certain ways, and the severe pain would last for a week. Orthopedic doctors had no solution; they took x-rays each year and monitored, as surgery was a last-resort solution.
My son had fusion two years ago. It was a big operation, and painful, and although he is feeling much better, he is (of course) stiff in the area that is fused.
If you are feeling better, I think that's great! I hope it keeps up.
|
|
|
|
Post by tinydogmafia on Sept 2, 2016 21:31:32 GMT
Yes I have and my SO has too.
For me it really helped. Truly changed my life. I couldn't' walk, sleep, sit, bend... nothing had helped. I did the spinal decompression and it worked. It was a slow process. That was 4 years ago. Every now and then I'd have a couple bad days, but nothing so bad I couldn't handle it. Unfortunately I recently re-injured my back and I go back for another start of the decompression on Thursday.
It did not work for my SO. He said he thought it made him worse. He has debated the surgery route, but is still very young for back surgery so has put it off. Has done a lot of PT and exercise.
|
|
|
|
Post by refugeepea on Sept 2, 2016 22:39:24 GMT
I hurt my back last summer and went to the doctor who had an MRI ordered. Then I was referred to a pain management doctor. I have received epidural steroid injections and they have been AMAZING! I just feel better after having the shots. I was prescribed some pain meds and they leave me feeling groggy the next day even if I take 1/2 a pill. The only side effects from the shot is some numbness in my leg. It is temporary and you should not drive for a few hours.
I have gone to a chiropractor but I was hesitant to continue because of the many issues with my back that weren't minor. I've been meaning to ask the pain management doctor his opinion.
|
|
|
|
Post by tenacious on Sept 2, 2016 23:10:02 GMT
I am sorry I posted and ran. My bad. I will be back soon to read/respond.
Thank you!
Erin
|
|
eleezybeth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,784
Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
|
Post by eleezybeth on Sept 3, 2016 1:27:37 GMT
I tried it. It didn't work and I agree that I think it just aggravated my DDD. I had back surgery at 26. I had a choice - become addicted to pain pills and never walk again or have surgery. I couldn't deal with the pain anymore so it made the most sense. I exhausted all other treatment so it wasn't like I just had back surgery for the sake of surgery.
I'm sorry you are going through this!!
|
|
|
|
Post by tenacious on Sept 3, 2016 2:42:08 GMT
Patter, I am so sorry about your daughter. That is tough on anyone. I hope her surgery was successful?
Thanks for the input. I feel very lucky that I am having good results. I was very skeptical about going to a chiro, but, I am kicking myself for suffering so long.
I will still have an MRI, and I have a neurosurgeon already who will read my results and give his opinion, but, in the meantime, I am quite thrilled to have found something that is helping--without drugs. It is an FDA approved therapy and is used by professional athletes, but, I had never even heard of it.
tinydogmafia-so glad to hear your relief was lasting! Sorry you re-injured. Best wishes on your therapy.
I suffered a catastrophic knee injury 20 years ago and I have had multiple knee surgeries. At this point I am just holding out as long as I can on the knee replacement. Unless they come up with a miracle way of treating arthritis and regenerating cartilage, I will most certainly be having a knee replacement. If I can avoid the back surgery, even for a few years, I will be thrilled.
I am 46.
Erin
|
|
|
|
Post by Lexica on Sept 3, 2016 5:29:43 GMT
I tried a chiropractor, injections, and physical therapy for my back/neck pain before I was told I had to seriously look at having surgery before I ended up unable to walk. I was afraid of spinal surgery. I have heard so many scary stories about it from my mother over the years when she used to work with spinal patients after surgery at the hospital. She said they seemed to always need to come back for additional surgery again and again. She had alway hoped she would never need any type of back surgery after witnessing so many people in such pain. This was quite a few years ago, and surgical technique has undoubtedly come long way since then.
In my case, I damaged the nerves and ended up with chronic permanent pain and will be on morphine for the rest of my life. Or something else if the morphine is no longer effective.. I have often wondered if I had not tried to put it off for so long if I would have had a better outcome. So based on my experience, I would say to have the MRI and see a neurosurgeon to see what they think about your situation. Just don't put it off too long. I thing the sooner they can get in there and repair it, the better your longterm outlook will be. I know I won't be hesitating if my neurosurgeon determines I need more surgery farther down in my spine or surrounding the areas of the fusion in there now.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:03:11 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2016 10:51:03 GMT
tenacious, glad you are seeing a neurosurgeon. That's who my daughter went to also. The ortho could not help her. The shots the ortho tried, etc., never did a thing for her. But the neurosurgeon first started with a discectomy but after two and the disc continued to degenerate, she had to have the fusion. And yes, it has been very successful. Thank goodness! She was so bad, she could not walk because her left leg would give out from nerve issues. Praise God it wasn't permanent damage. She now walks great. 
|
|
|
|
Post by tenacious on Sept 3, 2016 17:15:40 GMT
Lexica-I am so sorry. Back pain is horrific. I hope that with the developments in medicine they can find a better answer for you soon.
Erin
|
|
|
|
Post by Lexica on Sept 3, 2016 18:06:49 GMT
Lexica-I am so sorry. Back pain is horrific. I hope that with the developments in medicine they can find a better answer for you soon. Erin Thank you. I continue to ask if I am a candidate for any of the known treatments like cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, etc. The neurosurgeon explained the damage by having me picture a spaghetti noodle smashed. You cannot ever make it round and full again, which made sense and was a good visual. Apparently mine is in an area of my spine where none of the current methods for relief will help me out. But, like you say, they are developing new things all the time, so mine may be just around the corner. And really, the chronic pain thing isn't as bad as it once was before I was started on time released medication to mitigate it. I am so thankful that I can walk and didn't lose bowel or bladder control, which they also predicted would happen if I did not get into surgery so they could fix the issues. Apparently, I had multiple things going on in there in addition to degeneration, so I'm assuming I was not the usual case. And just because mine didn't give me 100% improvement doesn't mean the same will happen to you. From what I've heard, the majority of people that require fusion these days come out of it with little to no residual pain. That is if they get in to see a neurosurgeon in a timely manner and have a fusion or whatever the fix is for their specific case. I really think my fear of having it done and therefore delaying as long as I could contributed to my poor outcome. In other words, just don't do like I did and you will most likely be fine. |
|
