Anyone here with spinal issues?

I am so sorry about you pain and spine problems.  It can literally wear you out.

Many of my clients used the TENS unit with good success, so it is surely worth a try.

My best friend had major back problems and recently started Neurontin (the generic of it) and it has made a huge difference with her.

When I was having sever back spasms we tried Skelaxin (muscle relaxant) with predisone dose pack (for inflammation)and it was a huge help.  No drowsy on it either.

I cont. with the the muscle relaxer after the dose pack was finished and it was a huge help.

You can also request a TENS trial thru a PT and see if it helps before renting or purchase.

LuAnn...I'll check with my friend who has MS. She recently had some sort of pump implanted in her abdomen to release meds that ease spasms. I know that she also gets significant relief from Lyrica, as Diane suggested.

I'm so sorry that you have to be in such pain all of the time. That can really get you down. Hang in there....we'll come up with something!

~Marin

luann,

i am sorry for what you are  going through.

wish i could help.

my husband was hit by a car when he was four. he has been in a wheel chair ever since.

my sister had a car wreck she had a fusion done.

hope you get well dear. 

LuAnn - my mother-in-law has a tens unit.  (sp?  - I also am not sure of spelling).  She has had it for years (known my husband 17 years, and she has had it at least that long!).  For her it works amazingly well, I don't know what her specific type of back problem is, tho.  Although I have noticed in family pictures she is about 2 inches shorter than she used to be!

Her battery needs to be replaced about every two or three years - that is also implanted so is out-patient surgery.  The reason I say it works amazingly well for her is that I saw her once when her battery had failed - she could not even stand up and was hunched over like a 90 year old woman.  She would panic if anyone would even get near her as if to hug or touch her - she was in that much pain.  New battery - presto - new woman!

My opinion - if the unit is something doctors think will help your pain - go for it!  Let us know what happens.

Luann,

Right before I was dx's with bc i had a disasterous spinal operation and I never got corrective surgery because of the bc.

You are right about the epidermal injections- sometimes they help people but in my case they caused more nerve damage and more spasms.

I take Skelaxin. it is a non narcotic muscle relaxant so you aren't loopy. It does help a lot. It even helped when I had the bilateral and tissue expanders because the muscle pain in my chest was eased with it.

I have a tens unit. I am on my third one! I feel they work wonders. But you have to have a PT show you how to use it correctly or you can wind up in more spasm. They will show you where to place the electrodes and you will definitely feel a relief.

I also take Anaprox- the rx strength Alleve. It works much better than ibuprofin for back pain for me and a lot of other people.

And I also make sure I walk when I am in spasm. I know that sounds crazy but I found that lying down and not moving makes it worse.

There is also a natural supplement I take called Bromelain. It is made from the pineapple and is a natural anti-inflammatory.

The secret to bulging disks is patience. They will shrink back on their own. It is the way the nerves are affected and the muscle spasms react to protect the nerve. If you can get the anti-inflammatories in there to shrink back the inflammation and get the muscle relaxer to stop the spasm you can really feel a great improvement.

I hope this helped!

Feel better!

Love,

g 

I was just to Phys Therapy today for the first time. I was also having pain in my lower left side of my back. I have been having this pain since mid July. I've done muscle relaxants, pain meds. I sit in my hot tub alot and nothing was working. After seeing the physical therapist, it was my hips that were not properly lined up. One was way lower than the other!

Some stretching and adjustments and I feel amazing tonight and no pills. I'm going back again tomorrow.

She didn't want to use a tens on me because there is that possibility of bone mets looming. Not good to use if you could have cancer in your bones. It increases blood circulation to the greedy little cancer. Since I'm a cancer survivor, not worth the risk.

How did this uneven hip thing happen suddenly.  Probably all the weird positions I've been in since having a bilateral mast with tram flap recon..........not standing up straight......not laying down in bed and sleeping in recliners. Generally walking, sitting, standing with very bad posture.  Who knew!

Sharon

LuAnn,

Don't give up. Although the tens unit is probably not a good idea since you have bone mets, keep looking for something or somebody to help you. I would definitely seek some kind of physical therapy. Maybe there is something that they can do and teach you to do at home as well that will help relieve the pain.

Don't give up!

Sharon