low back pain
By ironicone
@ironicone (3)
United States
March 12, 2008 10:36am CST
hello all! this is my first discussion to post since my entrance into mylot. i am looking for anyone who has had any experience with back problems, specifically in the low back area. i have developed arthritis in my facet joints and stay in constant pain. taking pain killers on a regular basis is really getting old. i have been suffering from back pain for about 4 years now and it has gotten progressively worse, especially in the last year or so. on top of the arthritis i had two discs blow out in the L3 L4 vertebrae. the procedures in the beginning worked fine but last month the latest procedure had no effect and now they want to fuse the vertebrae that are the problem. i guess i would like to hear from anyone who has had similar problems and have had any success in getting relief. i am in an inordinate amount of pain and would like to get back to work while i am young, i am only forty years old. i have been unable to work for almost year and am about to file for disability because of the strain finacially. please help if you can. i look forward to any advice i can get. God bless
3 people like this
2 responses
@dangnabit67 (2021)
• United States
12 Mar 08
Once you start fusing disc together you will likely have to continue till your whole spin is. You probably have no other choice but to get it done. My father hurt his back 25 yrs ago. They automatically fused his lower 6 discs. I can tell you he has never went back to work in that time. He is always in pain. He recently had 6 more discs fused together in his neck-because the nerves were pinched and he couldnt walk. Its been 3 months since his surgery he can barely walk or move his arms-yes he does therapy. He is still in pain.
My mother has COPD-it took her a 2 years to get disability. Lots of paper work to fill out. Even after you get disability you have no medical coverage, I believe you have to wait 2 years after you get disability.
I have a friend that has tried to get disability with a lawyer for two years and still doesnt have it.
I suggest trying to find a good doctor and get lots of MEDICAL advice.
1 person likes this
@dangnabit67 (2021)
• United States
12 Mar 08
Sorry you are in pain. I watch my father daily and its hard to see him suffer. He still tries to make the most of everyday and keep a smile on his face.
Good luck to you, I hope you find a good doctor.
1 person likes this
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
12 Mar 08
Boy, I feel really sorry for you. I have back pain, but I'm 61 and it's nothing like as bad as what you have. There's no cure for Arthritis, which I probably have in my neck, and as for work, after an operation to fuse vertebrae, your back will be a lot stiffer and there's no guarantee that you'll be pain free either. So I think that any job that requires physical work, walking and lifting things, might be out of the question. I think that you should see a good occupational adviser who can probably make suggestions about the type of work that you can do now. But 40 if far to young to be having these problems.
