Chronic lower back pain

Hello all,

I am a pretty new member;this is only my 2nd thread started and I think I may be in the right place. I have dealt with back pain on and off for the past 25 years. Last time I had an MRI was 12 years ago and it showed a bulging but not herniated disc. I recieved epidural blocks, trigger point injections and physical therapy and the pain resolved itself in 3 months.

I also have sciatica in my left lane with intermittent numbness in that leg. I work as a nanny, and the stress of picking up little ones no doubt added to the episode of pain I have had for the past 5 weeks.

I went to see an ortho specialist 3 weeks ago. He did an MRI of my neck first(due to my abnormal reflexes) and it shows a herniated disc & arthritis. I did not go in for neck pain though and just got an MRI done of my lower back recently. Doc did send me for PT but my insurance would only pay for a week's worth. I definately need more!

I will be getting the results of the back MRI next week. Sounds like a few of you deal with back pain. I take tramadol for when it gets really bad and advil for inflammation. Ice and moist heat alternating usually helps. Anyone have some more tips for me? I am tying to make myself as comfortable as possible. I also suffer from migraines.

Thanks for listening. It's hard to talk about pain issues with people who don't understand.

Hi ~ When you get the results of the MRI, ask for a copy of the REPORT for yourself. Then post it here, as I'm pretty good at deciphering them. LOL Perhaps I can make some sense out of it. Doctors usually don't tell you everything that's in the MRI.

When I had my spinal surgeries, my neuro sent me to "back school" -- there, we learned the proper techniques of doing things. One BIG thing we learned was to NEVER use heat on our spines! Heat draws blood to the heated area, thus causing more swelliing and inflammation and pain. ICE reduces the swelling and inflammation, does not draw blood to the area, and reduces pain! You should of course wrap ice in a towel and never put ice directly on the skin. We were told to put ice on for 20 minutes every 2 hours. This has always helped me, unless I'm in a terrible flare.

I've been a chronic painer for over 26 years, and have had 2 open spine surgeries, plus a spinal cord stimulator implant and removal, and every single procedure that a pain doctor can do. So now I'm just on pain management -- there's nothing else they can do for me. NUTS.

If Tramadol isn't helping, you might want to talk to him about putting you on an Opiate, i.e. MS Contin, Methadone, etc. OR, perhaps sending you to a pain management doctor. Keep us posted on what goes on, and let us know about your MRI. God bless. Hugs, Lee

Thank you, Lee. So far the tramadol has been helping with the pain. I usually do stick to ice also because it just feels better. In fact I am using an ice pack right now. I will let you all know the results of my MRI, sounds like you have lots of experience dealing with back issues.

Misscath, welcome! You will find a number of fellow back sufferers here. Sorry you're struggling. Yes, let us know what the latest MRI results show. I assume, of course, that you know how to be careful in doing such things as lifting properly--by bending the knees and not just bending over to pick up things. I assume you're having to pick up children!

I sometimes use a cream (also available as a roll-on) called Biofreeze that I get from a chiropractor. People can just go in and by it without being a patient. You just rub it into the ailing areas. It's like an ice pack made easy. It's best to use ice packs, but at least you can just put the Biofreeze on and go about your business. However, it does smell like a medicinal ointment for awhile....

Maybe your PT can give you some exercise you can do at home, since your insurance won't cover over a week.

Let us know how things are going, please! You are in the right place to complain about back pain!

Thanks, Payne. I have used Biofreeze in the past, when I was seeing a chiro he recommended it and it does work pretty well. I also recieved some excercises from the PT that I can do at home. Guess I just wish I were healed already, it's very hard to be patient.

Also, I find that the pain just exaserbates my feelings of depression and despair. It kind of feeds off of each other. I try to tell myself that it's only temporary and the pain will eventually go away but I am unsure. Does anyone else feel this way?

Oh, I get super depressed, but i've been depressed since I was a child. So I'm on an antidepressant and have been for years. The pain doesn't help matters tho. It does make it harder to control the depression.

Unfortunately, my doc said my back will only get worse so consequently so will the pain. Goody. That doesn't help the depression either.

I'll stop whining now. Think I'll have a little cheese with my whine. LOL

Hope all have a less painful night. God bless, Hugs, Lee

Just got back from the orthopedist to get my MRI results. I was there for over 2 hours, doc wanted me to get further Xrays(digital) on my neck & back. He is recommending a procedure called lumbar fusion. Said that my L4 disc is shot and that surgery would be the only thing he feels would help. But again, may not take the pain away 100% I might only get a 60-70% relief. Also since it is only the one disc and the other discs are healthy, I have a good chance of pain being relieved.

This doc is an expert in minimally invasive surgery & has even been on television and in the newspaper. I do trust his judgement but I am still going to think about it.

Home now and I am going to take a look at a DVD the doc gave me on the procedure. Just took a tramadol and I am going to lay down with an ice pack & veg out.

[quote=Leed;2407346]Hi ~ When you get the results of the MRI, ask for a copy of the REPORT for yourself. Then post it here, as I'm pretty good at deciphering them. LOL Perhaps I can make some sense out of it. Doctors usually don't tell you everything that's in the MRI.

When I had my spinal surgeries, my neuro sent me to "back school" -- there, we learned the proper techniques of doing things. One BIG thing we learned was to NEVER use heat on our spines! Heat draws blood to the heated area, thus causing more swelliing and inflammation and pain. ICE reduces the swelling and inflammation, does not draw blood to the area, and reduces pain! You should of course wrap ice in a towel and never put ice directly on the skin. We were told to put ice on for 20 minutes every 2 hours. This has always helped me, unless I'm in a terrible flare.

[quote]

I did get a copy Leed, and will post the findings in the morning. I do use ice packs and sometimes moist heat helps. I agree that the ice is better for the inflammation, and I have a lot of it.