Young dad struggling to keep going with chronic pain

[daylatedollarshort]

For whatever reason, yesterday was a good day. Had the energy to have good time with my wife and son and got some work done as well. Today I feel it creeping back in...doing the exact same routine as yesterday...what is the difference? I know it's possible to feel good, why can I not experience that more often? I just hate living like this. I need to be able to play with my boy without pain in the background...

A PT told me that how you feel today is usually a result of what you did or didn't do the day before. I found that to be true for me. So what did you do the day before yesterday? You could keep a log of your diet and activities and look for patterns.

In my case I never found a miracle cure but many little changes that all added up, with muscle balancing / posture training the most helpful. My kids have had some tight muscle issues, one from sports, and was helped by Feldenkrais and Alexander Technique therapists.

I have tried some crazy stuff along the way to find what really works. The nuttiest in hindsight was homeopathy. My husband called that my "eye of newt" therapy. That was money down the drain.

 

[Dash man]

I think it's a waste of money to try all those "alternative" options as they simply don't work and come prey on folks like you. Keep looking for a pain management specialist and a good physical therapist. It took me several tries over two years to find the right ones. Be careful of antidepressants because they gave me suicidal thoughts and I dumped the Cymbalta quickly. Find a neurologist too. Keep pressing these doctors to find the cause so it can be treated, and find new ones if they don't help. Make due they listen to everything you tell them and not just look at X-rays and MRI images. Get an EMG if you haven't. That told me surgery wouldn't help my situation though two neurosurgeons were ready to cut. A third neurosurgeon agreed surgery wasn't going to help me a led me to the interventional pain management Doctor that gave me my life back. I tried several physical therapists too and found two that work together that also helped me get my life back.
Body pain tells you something is wrong and you need to find out the cause and keep looking for that Doctor that won't give up.


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[SteveNU]

I'm 59 and have had lower back pain for years. Over the past few months it got to the point where I could not stand up straight and my feet were tingling and occasional leg weakness. Just started on gabapentin and it is working! Not something I want to rely on but the pain relief is welcome. Tried to get a CT scan but insurance won't approve until we try 6 weeks of drugs/pt etc. I know what you are going through. As others have said just keep looking, there is someone out there that can fix this.

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[cyber888]

POSSIBLE EFFECTIVE SOLUTION:
Try Ultrasound therapeutic massager ... I bought one from a Canadian company. Surface hand or heat Massage cannot cure deep-seated pain, because it is not reached by any form of surface level massage. The Ultrasound solution will be able to stimulate your damaged tissue 4 - 5 inches beneath your skin to heal, as the ultrasound waves vibrates deeper than any hand or surface heat massage. I had intense pain my my foot ankle that could not be healed by simple massage or any other method. I could hardly walk from the pain.I tried the ultrasound and it was able to vibrate deeper and heal that pain.

Below is one example. Can cure Sciatica. No amount of massage or heat compress will get to that pain, but Ultrasound can !

http://www.lgmedsupply.com/lgpoulun.html?gclid=CP-Ij4q808wCFdcZgQode08C7w

 

[MRG]

POSSIBLE EFFECTIVE SOLUTION:
Try Ultrasound therapeutic massager ... I bought one from a Canadian company. Surface hand or heat Massage cannot cure deep-seated pain, because it is not reached by any form of surface level massage. The Ultrasound solution will be able to stimulate your damaged tissue 4 - 5 inches beneath your skin to heal, as the ultrasound waves vibrates deeper than any hand or surface heat massage. I had intense pain my my foot ankle that could not be healed by simple massage or any other method. I could hardly walk from the pain.I tried the ultrasound and it was able to vibrate deeper and heal that pain.

Below is one example. Can cure Sciatica. No amount of massage or heat compress will get to that pain, but Ultrasound can !

http://www.lgmedsupply.com/lgpoulun.html?gclid=CP-Ij4q808wCFdcZgQode08C7w

I've had ultrasound treatment at a PT's office and was very sceptical. Till she did it! I was amazed, instant relief.

This pain was odd. I have c-spine issues and a person thought stopping on I-70 was optional. During treatment for the accident an overly aggressive adjustment lost the little range of motion I had left. I was like a stick person that couldn't move my head at all, then that ultrasound made it 75% better right then. Don't know if this is the same or if it works on all types of pain? It would be interesting to see if it was an appropriate treatment.

 

[Amethyst]

It is no surprise to me that the lift did not help. If your discrepancy is in the leg bone, your body has had 34 years to adjust to the discrepancy; perhaps not a good adjustment, but the best your body was able to make.

I don't know what kind of lift you had, but be aware there are different kinds.

In my mid-20's, I was prescribed an expensive, solid (hard plastic) lift of the size of my discrepancy (one cm). Never mind that it was impossible to fit the orthotic into women's pumps for work...I changed into athletic shoes as often as I could (ignoring ignoramuses' jibes about how "your shoes sure look good with your outfit.") My pain actually got worse while wearing this lift.

A different doctor suggested a cheap option: two Spenco innersoles in the shoe of the shorter leg. This provided a soft, giveable lift of roughly 1/2 the height of the actual discrepancy. It brought me back to the 1/2 cm discrepancy that is considered normal. It was not a cure, but as part of an exercise and fitness program it was a help. I change the Spencos every couple of months, because they squash down with use.

Amethyst

F

Some things I have tried...

Leg length - one doc said my legs lengths were different so gave me a shoe lift for one side. wore it for several months, no change.

e

 

[soupcxan]

I had another cervical and thoracic spine MRI done and while the doctor said the results were "fine" he didn't bother to explain any of them. There were a couple notes that didn't look normal on them.


C-spine:

Findings: Cervical vertebral bodies show normal height and alignment. Intervertebral disc spaces are maintained. The cervical
spinal cord is normal in signal and morphology. Limited evaluation of the cervicothoracic junction demonstrate slightly low-lying cerebellar tonsils without evidence of Chiari I malformation. No significant prevertebral or paravertebral soft tissue signal abnormalities are seen.

Individual levels are as follows:

C2-C3: There is no significant disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal compromise.
C3-C4: There is no significant disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal compromise.
C4-C5: Uncovertebral jointspurring and disc bulge with minor bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing.
C5-C6: There is no significant disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal compromise.
C6-C7: There is no significant disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal compromise.
C7-T1: There is no significant disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal compromise.

Impression:

1. Uncovertebral joint spurring and disc bulge at C4-C5 resulting in minor bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing.
2. Slightly low-lying cerebellar tonsils without evidence of Chiari I malformation.

T-spine:

Findings: There is convex curvature ofthe upper thoracic spine to the right. Thoracic vertebra demonstrate normal height and
alignment on sagittal images. No fracture or significant subluxation. Intervertebral disc space are maintained. The thoracic spinal cord is normal in signal and morphology. CSF pulsation artifact is seen throughout muchofthe thoracic spine. No significant disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal compromise. Note is made of a 1.5 x 1.1 cm hemangioma at T6. No significant prevertebral or paravertebral soft tissue signal abnormalities are demonstrated.

Impression:

1. Convex curvature of the upper thoracic spine to the right.
2. No fracture or significant subluxation.
3. No significant disc herniation or stenosis.

 

[W2R]

I had another cervical and thoracic spine MRI done and while the doctor said the results were "fine" he didn't bother to explain any of them. There were a couple notes that didn't look normal on them.

Maybe time for a second opinion. Your doctor should be communicating better with you, IMO. It really frosts me that he didn't even bother to explain any of them to you.

 

[haha]

It would be most unusual to find a spine with no issues, even in young adults. Generally surgeons are looking for any semi-justifiable reason to cut. It's what they are trained to, it's what validates them, and it is what gives them those Porsche buying incomes.

Sometimes it is best to look at things that may or may not help much, but are very unlikely to make things worse.


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[MRG]

I've seen a couple of mine and I'd be happy to trade concerns/reports. Mine talk about multiple bulges, herniations, stenosis, narrowing and a whole bunch of scary terms(yours doesn't sound bad to this layperson. Yes they mention C4-C5. Do you have any symptoms related to these nerves? Have you ever had an EMG?).
Talk with your Doc or get a second opinion, I'm not a professional but I wouldn't worry.

Like said it's almost impossible to have an MRI that's perfect. I had a neurosurgeon reassure me that my scary sounding report could describe millions of people all who led normal lives. Do get someone to explain it to you and relieve your concerns, or give you next steps. Best wishes.

 

[ERD50]

It would be most unusual to find a spine with no issues, even in young adults. Generally surgeons are looking for any semi-justifiable reason to cut. It's what they are trained to, it's what validates them, and it is what gives them those Porsche buying incomes.

Sometimes it is best to look at things that may or may not help much, but are very unlikely to make things worse.


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I've seen a couple of mine and I'd be happy to trade concerns/reports. Mine talk about multiple bulges, herniations, stenosis, narrowing and a whole bunch of scary terms(yours doesn't sound bad to this layperson. Yes they mention C4-C5. Do you have any symptoms related to these nerves? Have you ever had an EMG?).
Talk with your Doc or get a second opinion, I'm not a professional but I wouldn't worry.

Like said it's almost impossible to have an MRI that's perfect. I had a neurosurgeon reassure me that my scary sounding report could describe millions of people all who led normal lives. Do get someone to explain it to you and relieve your concerns, or give you next steps. Best wishes.

Agreed (at least in my personal experience).

A few years ago, I had an MRI of the neck for something completly unrelated to spinal issues (they needed to check out a growth that turned out to be no problem at all). When I read the report, it listed so many issues with C4, C5 and a bunch of others, you'd imagine that I couldn't move my head, or that I must be in constant pain. It really sounded scary. Yet, I've only had a temporary neck pain issue once in my life, and it went away (and stayed away) with no treatment.

I got the sense that the person diagnosing the MRI is not told of the expected problem, as that would bias them towards looking for certain things. So they list everything they see. Can any medical professionals out there confirm/deny this?

-ERD50

 

[kaydedid]

Have you been checked for gallstones? I've got very similar pain caused by them. Also, seconding the low inflammation diet. I changed my diet to keep blood sugars low (85 +- 10 even after meals), and after a week or two, my chronic hip bursitis pain disappeared (although the gallstones got worse due to higher dietary fat).

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[pullmyfinger]

This may seem silly to ask - but what is your sleeping position? I had upper back pain for years, a constant burn across my left upper back and scapula. I went through years of MD visits, PT, massage, acupuncture and chiropractic. One day I wondered if my habit of stomach sleeping had something to do with it. No one ever asked me how I slept. The pain went away when I started sleeping on my back. I hope that you are able to find some relief soon.

 

[soupcxan]

I haven't been checked for gallstones but I don't seem to have any of the other symptoms of gallstones. I can ask about them.


I have tried sleeping in a variety of ways - back, stomach, sides, etc. with pillows but have not found a consistent difference.

 

[steady saver]

Another suggestion is the Egoscue method. He specializes in physiotherapy for chronic pain and has written a couple of books. I have "Pain Free" and find it really works for me (I have different pain, but still chronic pain.)

He even has a clinic in Houston. Houston, TX

I also find that eating an anti-inflammatory diet helps too. Basically minimize sugar and wheat intake, and eat lots of fruits/veg.

I'm sorry to hear about your chronic pain! I'm in Houston and have not heard of this clinic but it certainly sounds worth trying. I'd be remiss in not pointing out the possibility of food sensitivities contributing to your pain. I'm a functional nutritionist and I find many times over that the inflammatory response of a food sensitivity (not necessarily allergy) can cause great joint and muscular pain. Your conventional doctor probably won't be familiar with it but you can ask (mine wasn't until I explained it to her). You want to have an IgG test done if you're interested in ruling out food sensitivities. I use the one by US Biotek. If you have any gastrointestinal distress of ANY type (diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux, hearburn), that is also a clue.

 

[Nemo2]

I'm in Houston and have not heard of this clinic but it certainly sounds worth trying.

We recently borrowed the book from our local library - his theories sound plausible and we've started doing some of the exercises/positions.....early days yet.

 

[papadad111]

Things that helped me with back issues

1. Buy a new bed.

2. Acupuncture and /or Eastern medicine has been known to work for chronic pain. I was a dis-believer until I ran into a pain issue and acupuncture healed me.

Try every possible avenue

Don't give up. A remedy is out there and just needs to be found.

Last item - how's the mental state? Occasionally depression can rear it's ugly head as a physical ailment. Any thought of trying some anti-depressant meds ?

 

[soupcxan]

Last item - how's the mental state? Occasionally depression can rear it's ugly head as a physical ailment. Any thought of trying some anti-depressant meds ?

Certainly it's not great. I was on Cymbalta before, it didn't do much for the pain but maybe evened my moods out a bit. I was happy to get off of it in 2015, thought I was managing ok until things deteriorated in 4Q'15.


Would need to find a new primary doctor to get a new Rx since my office moved...such a nuisance...

 

[ivinsfan]

Things that helped me with back issues

1. Buy a new bed.

2. Acupuncture and /or Eastern medicine has been known to work for chronic pain. I was a dis-believer until I ran into a pain issue and acupuncture healed me.

Try every possible avenue

Don't give up. A remedy is out there and just needs to be found.

Last item - how's the mental state? Occasionally depression can rear it's ugly head as a physical ailment. Any thought of trying some anti-depressant meds ?

Unfortunately sometimes for these kind of things there is no remedy..I have a dear friend who has struggled with an issue like this for over a decade. She just did a 3 week inpatient chronic pain clinic...where the mantra was..it's part of your life, let's help you cope with it.

Telling people to just keep looking because there is a fix out there can be frustrating to someone in pain with no end in site.

 

[Lsbcal]

This is a long shot but might at least help a little. Have you examined your habits during all 24 hours? Habits are something that few medical professionals can help us with.

Some examples:
1) Do you brush your teeth stooped over the sink so you are putting some pressure on your lower back?
2) Do you wash your face maybe with a wash cloth so you don't have to bend over the sink too much?
3) Do you bend down the proper way using a lot of your thighs to take the pressure off the upper body?
4) When you tie your shoes, do you minimize lower back stress?
5) Do you grab a stool to reach a high place (good) or do you just stand on your toes and stretch upwards (bad)?
6) Do you sit in a position with head turned to view (not directly in line with spine) the TV or while listening to a lecture?

Lots of places where one could reduce the back stress. For me, it took some effort to not ignore the small things. This has improved my situation a lot.

I know when our son was young there was probably a lot of bending and lifting that could have been done better or maybe have been eliminated. I used to carry him around on hikes in ways that stressed my back but then again I was young as your are.

 

[Nemo2]

1) Do you brush your teeth stooped over the sink so you are putting some pressure on your lower back?

Still attempting to combat/resolve my problem with sciatica, I've found that, even if I'm feeling (moderately) 'good' when I go in to brush, after the 3 minutes it takes, I'm really feeling the discomfort.

I even tried bringing a chair into the bathroom, and sitting while brushing....to no avail.....still working on a solution.

 

[W2R]

At the risk of sounding like a nagging old lady (who, me? ) I'd like to mention the one really bad habit that some people have and are completely oblivious to, and that definitely causes severe back pain after a certain stage in life.

Here it is: Some people choose not to gradually ease into more activity after weeks or months of inactivity, but instead immediately start using the body like a teenager - - lifting heavy items, jerking them around suddenly, moving awkward large objects alone, playing sports with 18-year-olds when you're over 40, and that sort of thing. Good judgment flies out the window so easily and the result for most of us is crippling back pain.

 

[Lsbcal]

Still attempting to combat/resolve my problem with sciatica, I've found that, even if I'm feeling (moderately) 'good' when I go in to brush, after the 3 minutes it takes, I'm really feeling the discomfort.

I even tried bringing a chair into the bathroom, and sitting while brushing....to no avail.....still working on a solution.

This gets into some yucky details. I brush for 2 minutes using an Oral B mechanical thingy which gives off small sounds at 30 second intervals.

Anyway, one has a lot of saliva generated in that time. So the problem becomes do you spit it out and loose the toothpaste? That way one doesn't have to bend over quite so much (to avoid dribble).

I haven't really got my technique down yet either as I just realized a few days ago this habit was an issue for me.

 

[Nemo2]

This gets into some yucky details. I brush for 2 minutes using an Oral B mechanical thingy which gives off small sounds at 30 second intervals.

Anyway, one has a lot of saliva generated in that time. So the problem becomes do you spit it out and loose the toothpaste? That way one doesn't have to bend over quite so much (to avoid dribble).

I haven't really got my technique down yet either as I just realized a few days ago this habit was an issue for me.

We have the same/similar beeping unit, also with a visual timer...we do 45 seconds per quartile, and end up looking like rabid dogs at the end.

 

[Lsbcal]

Forgot to mention couches. We had a nice soft couch with a fairly deep seat (pan). That killed my back. Even putting cushions behind me, I could not make it support my lower back properly. Used it for years before realizing this would be a feature to fix in a new couch.

Got a new one a few years ago from Macy's that is modular. This one has a fairly stiff back so a cushion put in the lower back will not just sink into the couch. Much better support now for watching TV. DW in contrast uses the recliner part of the couch with feet up. This would kill my back.