Who has back pains or any pain and how do you cope?

[djk]

It is absolutely imperative that you read "The Egoscue Method" by Pete Egoscue.

Your library should have it.

His new book is "Pain Free", I don't have it yet. They run about $15 at a bookstore.

His website:

http://www.egoscue.com/htdocs/index.asp

Read the book before ordering any gimics, you can get by without them. All you really need is a couple of bath towels and the floor.

43 visits to the Chiro guy didn't help. 15 minutes a day with this book got me on my feet in 4 days(L-4, ruptured disc, pinched nerves, etc). Use no drugs, and just say no to surgery.

Do the 'static back' right NOW! use a chair and roll up a towl for under your neck and another for under the small of your back. The first time you do this it will take 45 minutes or more, and it may hurt! Do it three times a day and the pain will ease off and take less time on the floor.

http://www.egoscue.com/htdocs/Pains/painfree_back.asp

DO NOT USE the gravity inversion table, as your knees must be bent.

Do the 'static back' right now!

I have purchased over 20 copies of "The Egoscue Method" for friends and co-workers, this works.

The book also has the cure for 'carpal tunnel syndrome'.

[Colin]

sitting pillow squeeze and others recommended by my mother's therapist for her leg and back problems...

[oscarsear]

My story.......

Have a history of bone spurs.....everywhere. A large one was clipping a nerve root in the neck that supported the right arm, shoulder, etc......... Drugs couldn't help, it was bone. Accepted a surgical intervention. Had C4 thru 6 fused and plated. Came out worse than when I went in....had both arms paralyzed for 2 years and pounds of daily pain. Got all the way to Oxycontin for daily pain meds. Pharmacy ran out of Oxycontin and I thought I could wait a few days for a refill....HAH, WRONG!!! A most charming weekend that was. Weaned myself off of all narcotic pain meds. Live on ibuprofen and tylenol and some other non-narcotic stuff. Just can't do things without paying a price. Fortunately music listening is on the "do" list.

So, my advice... Be very circumspect and sincerely try anything other than the most radical 1st. Stay away from the narcotic pain meds. They can take your life away as much as the pain.

Someday, hopefully, research will identify better diagnostics and treatment approaches. In the interim pain management is such that the treatment can be as bad as the malady. There's a lot of options and sadly a lot of gimmicks. Sorry to learn about everyones situations.

[Jay481985]

as controversial as stem cell research is, I wish it were available to

me and everyone else that is in pain and such. Supposedly it may lead

to a way to regenerate damaged spinal tissue. Please don't make this a

sland thread, I just wanted to be hopeful.

And for everyone here telling me their ways or stories, I thank you.

[Rockets]

Have you tried a massuse? I haven't suffered from back spasms,

but for a while my back muscles were strained and knotted. I mean

migraine causing knotted. I went and had a massage and could not

believe the difference. Since then I've bought a hot tub. Now when ever

I'm in need of some deep tissue therapy...I turn off the jets in the

other seats, kick both pumps on high and hang on. The first time I did

that I thought it was going to rip my skin off. Any of your

friends or neighbors have a hot tub? Maybe demo a unit at your local

dealer. You can get your doctor to write you a script and then you

won't have to pay sales tax. Try a massage, if it works then go buy a

tub...it'll pay for itself in less than 100 uses. Hopefully it'll work

for you. GOOD LUCK!

[theryugobuddy]

I am looking for work right now, and I came upon a job introducing a new therapy for back pain to doctors--all of you guys should check this out--

http://www.spinaprogram.com/

Its a new therapy that might look like traction but its much more technological and effective--about 400 doctors nationwide have these machines, and most insurance programs cover the therapy--

Maybe this is the end of some of your problems!

[Rockets]

Hanging from an inversion table decompresses the disk too and it's a

lot cheaper. There are other "professional" decompression

machines out there, like the "Vax D" http://www.vax-d.com/

also. Does it do a better job than gravity and an inversion

table? I kind of doubt it, or at least the version I used in a

Chiropractors office didn't even come close. I also don't think you'll

ever see an inversion table used by any "professionals". It's rather

low tech and smells like quackery. Besides you'd feel rather ripped off

if some doctor charged you $100 to turn you upside down. That and

keeping those silly gowns from falling over your face, exposing...

That said...I don't know if decompressing the spine would control

spasms. What's the trigger that causes a spasm? Pinched nerve? If so,

it might help.

[jheis]

Having been there, done that, lots of people have offered good advice.

The ONE thing that made the biggest difference for me was getting a good bed. I recommend a Sealy Posturpedic (that's what worked for me - other brands may be just as good) - avoid water beds, futons, foam pad on a platform (the tempurpedic (sp?) foam may be an exception - I don't know). A saggy, dorm room - college bed will kill your back.

On the medication front, be very careful about how much acetaminophen (Tylenol) you are taking. Maximum dosage is 4,000 mg per day (that's two 500 mg tablets four times a day). Acetaminophen is an ingredient in lots of other medications (cough

syrups, etc. - so, you may be taking it and not knowing it - it all adds up

and it all counts). Anything over the maximum dosage is an OVERDOSE - which will destroy your liver. The last thing you want is to end up on the waiting list for a liver transplant.

James

[Seismic_Pulse]

I didn't bother to read all the other responses so I apologize if this has already been said...

I have a herniated disc L5 S1

Pills do not do it for me. I found what does work is keeping my weight down specifically by walking (not running) and using an inversion table.

[sheltie dave]

Jay, I have had four back surgeries, two herniated discs, leg paralysis from sciatica, and lost over 80 lbs coming out of one surgery. It has taken me twenty years to regain about 70% of full function.

Some things that will help you out a lot include

-pick up a couple of rice husk warming pillows. You can throw these in a microwave and lay on them to help with the muscle pain.

-likewise with a couple refreezeable ice bags. The combination of icing down(to ease the inflamation) and heating(to relax the muscles) will eventually reduce your back spasms to nil.

- pick up a LARGE squirt vat of BioFreeze, available at MooreMedical.com, and many pharmacies. This was the best topical ointment I have found, and it's the only one that will allow me to make it through 18 holes of golf and remain standing.

Realize you are dealing with three issues - the muscular pain, the skelatal issues, and the meds. If you can eliminate the muscle spasms and posture issues excacerbating your real problem, you can accelerate your progress immensely. It sounds like you have already realized that scripts help to block pain, but not much more.

If your university has a physical therapy or occupational therapy program, get hooked up with a rehab program administered by the students. All chiropractic schools also have student outreach programs that may help.

Good luck!

[lo123]

Hi Jay - saw your original post and was amazed by all the replies and

thoughtful suggestions. I've had the low back problems for around

30 years, usually laying flat with ice will help after a couple hours

of ice, no ice, ice, etc. Some episodes have been worse than

others. Early December one eveining found me trying that routine

to no avail, just could not move without pain or get up higher off the

floor than my elbow. Made my first trip in an ambulance at 2 AM,

couple days in the hospital etc. For me, in my mid-50's, I have

become desparate to avoid or limit this as much as possible.

Started physical therapy again, and started walking (treadmill at the

local Y) as many have suggested, planning to work towards light weights

as next stage of therapy, etc. The orthopedic doctor I have seen

a couple time want me to eventually work towards a conditioning program

so I can get the muscles able to carry the load. Too much sitting

in my case, desk job, etc. I guess I would encourage you

as some others have, to try to get into a rehab, therapy program, the

sports oriented programs seem to be the best. Hope you can get to

a "minimal pain" time period so you can get hooked up with a good

program, hopefully thru school. Hang in and hope things start to

even out for you!

Larry

[Jay481985]

again everyone thanks for all the reposnses and various different methods for pain relief.

An update, today I had a EMG with is a neurological test that tests the

reflexes. The numbers from the machine say that I do not have a problem

with nerves not responding on my legs. Also I had an MRI today. funny

thing was it was at 10PM and lasted till 11:45.... almost two hours

stuck in that freaking machine... At best it sounded like an aweful

techno track.... since I had earplugs I can hear my heart, the machine

had a firealarm type sound, and the thump from the machine actually

made me thing I was in some kind of club... All I needed were strobe

lights to complete it [:|] Well I have actual photos though I

have no clue what it means.....