Darn back!!

[Rockn Robin]

I've had back issues since in my twenties. Playing hockey, weight training with too heavy of weights, and now finding out that the exercises we performed years ago were all wrong . . . nice!

I just got the results from an MRI done of my lower back. I have been having quite a bit of lower back pain lately, also off to the sides and hips. Well, the MRI and x-rays indicate that the lower two vertebrae are practically touching showing severe disc degeneration and sever bulging. Other discs are mildly degenerated with one showing severe bulging. Two days ago while at the coffee machine in my kitchen, I sneezed, and got what felt like an electric shock in my lower back. I couldn't move or walk after without terrible pain. This morning will be my first visit to a physical therapist. I hope that this works because the last resort is an operation. But I don't want to have to go through this for the remainder of my life, and if eventually I'm in a wheelchair, I might as well be in one for trying an operation. If all else fails, of course.

Has anybody else suffered with back problems like this? Have you been helped with therapy, or did you resort to back surgery?

It's rather ironic really. the past month and a half I have been focusing on my health. I've gone Vegan, well, 99% that is. I still eat a little fish now and then. To be honest, I feel it was a good decision. I haven't felt better. No bloating, more energy. enjoying my bike rides more, and on top of that I have lost 13 pounds. Now I am sidelined by my back. It's really frustrating after all this work to be healthy, and bingo, I have back issues, bad ones by the looks of things.

I hope that I don't have to give up one of my little pleasures in life, cycling.

 

[Racing roadkill]

You can always go for a recumbent trike, or bike, if things get too bad.

 

[roadrash]

I did resort to surgery, but didn't get the results that were expected

..https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/there-is-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel.164232/#navigation

 

[Rockn Robin]

You can always go for a recumbent trike, or bike, if things get too bad.

Yes, but I sure as h hope not.

 

[Slick]

Things are much different here with how we treat things like this between UK and the USA.

I've had back trouble for years due to hard graft and much like yourself, doing it wrong. The only thing I've been offered has been painkillers, which was no use to a self employed scaffolder so I had to find other solutions like osteopathy and chiropractic solutions which did eventually bring some relief.

A family member lives in America and complained of neck pain and was diagnosed with degenerative disease in the C spine. She was operated on almost immediately and got almost instant relief.

It may feel like bolting the stable door and all that, but they reckon stretching is the thing to keep an old back young. Maybe a bit of yoga?

 

[vickster]

I had a discectomy 25 years ago and have been broadly fine but I’ve started to have issues on and off with muscle spasms. Been seeing a Physio and she wanted me to see a specialist which I’ve done today and had an MRI of my whole spine.

I don’t plan to have more surgery so I’ll continue with Physio

 

[Trigger369]

Had a discectomy myself bout 13 years ago . I had sciatica and no amount of physio helped one bit It was a couple of yearsof physio and a lot of waisted time . Had the operation and it worked. No more pain in the back ,backside ,legs ,toes . Tho when I started working agian 5 years later I do suffer now and agian but it's a different sort of pain . But the op did work .

 

[roadrash]

I had discectomy , facetectomy and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion all done together in a six and half hour operation, initially things started to get a little better but that didn't last long , still have trouble with sciatic pain and numbness in right leg and foot , to be honest with hindsight I wish I hadn't had it done,..

after my last mri scan surgeon said another op needed for further fusion , NO THANKS , if I had got more relief from first op I may have considered it , but not willing to go through all the pain discomfort and reabilitation again to be unsure of outcome.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I've had back pain of and on for years, it's got worse of late, I've been down the doctors twice with it and both times been told to take painkillers.

 

[Rockn Robin]

I did resort to surgery, but didn't get the results that were expected

..https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/there-is-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel.164232/#navigation

I started reading into it. Dang, so sorry. I will read the rest of the thread later. Getting ready to head out the door for physical therapy with tons of questions. One being: I better be able to ride my bike, right doc?

Things are much different here with how we treat things like this between UK and the USA.

I've had back trouble for years due to hard graft and much like yourself, doing it wrong. The only thing I've been offered has been painkillers, which was no use to a self employed scaffolder so I had to find other solutions like osteopathy and chiropractic solutions which did eventually bring some relief.

A family member lives in America and complained of neck pain and was diagnosed with degenerative disease in the C spine. She was operated on almost immediately and got almost instant relief.

It may feel like bolting the stable door and all that, but they reckon stretching is the thing to keep an old back young. Maybe a bit of yoga?

I had my first appointment with my Physical Therapist. I was out through various exercise along with water therapy. Many different exercises in the pool. Also, they put weights around my ankles, and while holding onto floatation devices. In the deeper end of the pool, the weights allowed for spinal stretching. I felt so much better after. I have numerous future appointments, and hopefully soon all will be ok. Bulging discs can be reversed over time. Good news, he told me that soon I can ride my bike. For that I am grateful and living in hope.

 

[Rockn Robin]

[QUOTE 5400348, member: 9609"]Yes, I had horrendous problems about 10 year ago, crawled about on the floor for about 3 months, couldn't even sit on a chair.

MRI sounded dreadful. Far Lateral herniation at L4 compressing the femoral nerve with motor loss to the left quad, loss of patella reflex and numb foot along with unimaginable pain. L5 nerve compressed by bulging disc between L5/L4, then a herniated disc between L5/S1 giving all the classic sciatic problems down the right leg. On top of that narrowed foramen touching nerves, end plate damage, facet degenerate change and hypertrophy of the lower 4 lumber levels along with spondylotic changes and a couple of root neuroma. And the visual images of the spine were even more disturbing.

They were going to operate then changed there minds - took about a year to get mostly pain free, and another 5 years to get back to normal. Seem to be able to do most things, today for instance, painting windoe=ws this morning, sorted out a fallen tree in a neighbours garden, probably cut and split about 2 ton of oak, then cycled 20 mile the night - not even a twinge (sometimes I will get twinges and take it easy for a day or two) but generaly I would say I do as well as any other bloke in his 50s.. Presumably all this nonsense in my MRI is still there ?

don't rule yourself out just yet.[/QUOTE]

Wow, so long to get help. I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what you must have went through, but happy to hear that you are finally getting relief.

Today I had my first physical therapy session. I feel so much better. I was told that over time bulging discs can be reversed. I have a number of exercises I have to do each day, and soon I should be back in the saddle.

Back problems are like an epademic, so many suffering from it. Be careful how you move and lift things. It’s important to be very mindful of that because as we age our discs dry out. Proper exercises will, over time hydrate them. My PT mentioned that I shouldn’t sit for too long, and when I start riding he mentioned that I should stop every 30 minutes and stand for awhile. Sitting compresses the vertebrae, and more so if we don’t practice proper posture.

All the best with you back.

 

[Rockn Robin]

I had discectomy , facetectomy and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion all done together in a six and half hour operation, initially things started to get a little better but that didn't last long , still have trouble with sciatic pain and numbness in right leg and foot , to be honest with hindsight I wish I hadn't had it done,.. View attachment 432708

after my last mri scan surgeon said another op needed for further fusion , NO THANKS , if I had got more relief from first op I may have considered it , but not willing to go through all the pain discomfort and reabilitation again to be unsure of outcome.

My goodness, after all what you went through. I’m so very sorry. Isn’t there anything that can be done other than further surgery? How about physical therapy? I’m feeling a lot of relief after my first session this morning. I have to keep going back for quite a few for times, but the good news is that I should be riding again soon.

 

[Rockn Robin]

Had a discectomy myself bout 13 years ago . I had sciatica and no amount of physio helped one bit It was a couple of yearsof physio and a lot of waisted time . Had the operation and it worked. No more pain in the back ,backside ,legs ,toes . Tho when I started working agian 5 years later I do suffer now and agian but it's a different sort of pain . But the op did work .

I'm glad the opp worked for you. I'm a little concerned about going under the knife. My cousin did 1 1/2 years ago. He's now wearing diapers because the doctor botched it up. A big court case going on right now. My cousin's lawyer thinks he has a good chance of winning. They are suing the doctor and the hospital. Yep, American's are sue happy.

It's a big risk when it comes to spine surgery. You were one of the fortunate ones.