Back pain advice

iwaxmyjimmy

iwaxmyjimmy

College Web Wheeler
Joined
Mar 10, 2007
Location
Greenville NC
I got out of the Army after just about finishing my initial contract, I was medically retired. Neurologist told me stick it out as long as I can, was 26 at the time and now I’m 31. It’s getting worse I’ve been laid up on the couch all week because I’ve got a good bit of pain shooting down my left leg around my knee cap into my foot. My L3-L5S1 are various 3-6mm bulges with a tear in L5S1 at the time of the MRI I had back in Nov 2014. Some narrowing of the spinal column and impingement on my sciatic nerve left side. Btw EMG was weird seeing the dude stab you with a needle and digging around but you only felt it when he got to your lower back.

Honestly I can’t keep going through spells of this every other month. I can’t work, I can’t sit, laying down even sucks, my 3 smaller toes on my left foot are in that feels like it’s waking up from being asleep stage all the time. I try not to over do it, but I hate being limited in what I can do and I’ve got a lot of stuff I want to do.

Ive decided to get checked out by a neurologist again whenever the VA can get me in. I’ve done plenty of physical therapy and I refuse to take the opioids they try to push at me because that’s a rabbit hole that just doesn’t seem appealing to me. Muscle relaxers do help with the muscle spasms I get in my lower back, but man they dehydrate the crap out of me and I feel lethargic. Main reason why they prescribed me a muscle relaxer is because my pelvis shifted from the muscle spasms and me attempting to suck it up and push through it as an infantryman. With physical therapy they were trying to keep it from further impingement on my femoral nerve, whole side or my thigh is numb enough I can’t generally feel my finger tips running down it.

I’ve tried massage therapy, traction, physically therapy, but open to more suggestions. I’ve been offered acupuncture at the VA, I just haven’t tried it yet.

So who’s had it? What type of surgery? How much mobility did you lose? I was trying hard to make it at least to 40, but I’m starting to notice the decline is picking up pace. I monitor my weight and try to stay active but I fluctuate between 170-180lbs and I’m not really a fat body.
 
PAT Ventures said:
TENS unit helps me somewhat with pain. VA gave me one
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They are great, forgot to mention I have one of those. And they do help with temporary relief. I’m waiting on the VA to call me back with an appointment. Really crossing my fingers I’ll be better in a day or two. I want to go wheeling so damn bad this year.
 
Father in law had very similar if not identical issues after 22years in Marines. He had some back surgery and it helped a lot. Not 100% but it helped with pain and normalized it quite a bit. He takes it easy now and avoids impact activities (like running, etc) and seems to be doing good.
 
I have similar buldging discs, and identical pain/tingling down the thight, through the one cap and to the foot.

Tried it all:
Accupuncture
Cortisone shots in the disc (a big no no...makes the disc more brittle and prone to future rupture)
Pain pills
Yoga
Stretching
Chiropractors
TENS shock therapy
Inversion therapy
Decompression therapy
Massage
Heat/cool
Over the counter pain pills
Icy hot (and all it's friends)

I had limited success with decompression therapy and visits to the chiropractor.....I would caution you to go to a decompression therapist that is also a chiropractor. Both of these avenues will likely be a lifelong maintenance program with the severity you have listed. The key is to maintain a strong core so your discs have to do less work....and yes this is a chicken and the egg scenario, can't get the core strong if you can't move, can't move if the core isn't strong. Take it slow and find a Dr. That will work with you.

I have also had really good luck with using a foam roller almost daily to stretch the lower back, legs, and all of the muscles of the core I cannot name. I have found the pain associated with disc issues causes my muscles to spasm, and once they start you are constantly bouncing off the pain rev limiter as these contractions pinch the discs and nerves. Keeping these muscles loose mitigates the leg numbness and associated muscle spasms to a minimum.

Good luck man, it is a hard road, but it is manageable without drugs. If you can't put your socks on one morning, you are not alone....
 
shelby27604 said:
I have similar buldging discs, and identical pain/tingling down the thight, through the one cap and to the foot.

Tried it all:
Accupuncture
Cortisone shots in the disc (a big no no...makes the disc more brittle and prone to future rupture)
Pain pills
Yoga
Stretching
Chiropractors
TENS shock therapy
Inversion therapy
Decompression therapy
Massage
Heat/cool
Over the counter pain pills
Icy hot (and all it's friends)

I had limited success with decompression therapy and visits to the chiropractor.....I would caution you to go to a decompression therapist that is also a chiropractor. Both of these avenues will likely be a lifelong maintenance program with the severity you have listed. The key is to maintain a strong core so your discs have to do less work....and yes this is a chicken and the egg scenario, can't get the core strong if you can't move, can't move if the core isn't strong. Take it slow and find a Dr. That will work with you.

I have also had really good luck with using a foam roller almost daily to stretch the lower back, legs, and all of the muscles of the core I cannot name. I have found the pain associated with disc issues causes my muscles to spasm, and once they start you are constantly bouncing off the pain rev limiter as these contractions pinch the discs and nerves. Keeping these muscles loose mitigates the leg numbness and associated muscle spasms to a minimum.

Good luck man, it is a hard road, but it is manageable without drugs. If you can't put your socks on one morning, you are not alone....
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I was warned to not do the chiropractor route. I think after the doc told me one wrong move and I could possibly not walk again, it made my mind up really quick about that. The doc in San Diego didn’t want me to do cortisone shots, she shot me straight saying it’s a 50/50 shot and often can cause more damage.

The foam roller gets whipped out almost daily but lately I can’t even use it on my lower back because of the discomfort. I became a believer in those. Use to be my go to after long runs and ruck marches. And yeah the spasms set it off a chain reaction and you can’t move. It’s the worst, but comparable to farting or sneezing, lol.

I know I need to the get back in the gym this because I did feel better when lifting. Kettle bell work outs or stiff legged deadlifts were a hell no, and I couldn’t squat heavy. I wish there was an easy button for this crap. Btw don’t ever go oystering with back problems, made that mistake New Year’s Eve. But Swansboro oyster are damn good.

I feel ya on the putting on your socks hurts, my biggest fear with back surgery is loosing mobility and the pain staying the same. A friend is telling me to try CBD stuff to help. I’m skeptical but willing to try at this point.
 
Decompression therapy works to create a pumping motion that is suppose to suck the jelly and moisture back into the discs.

Chiropractors aren't for everyone, but a chiropractor is more likely to have invested in better machines for decompression therapy, I opted for what I later found out was a guy who was pushed out of the chiropractic profession and setup shop as a decompression office only......avoid Dr. Offices where the Dr. Drives a 10 year old Kia...

The decompression process doesn't involve any twisting, it is mostly layi g on your back, on a slight decline and being stretched or bounced ever so slightly. Non-invasive and worth a shot, most will give you the first one for free.

Best of luck no matter what!
 
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shelby27604 said:
Decompression therapy works to create a pumping motion that is suppose to suck the jelly and moisture back into the discs.

Chiropractors aren't for everyone, but a chiropractor is more likely to have invested in better machines for decompression therapy, I opted for what I later found out was a guy who was pushed out of the chiropractic profession and setup shop as a decompression office only......avoid Dr. Offices where the Dr. Drives a 10 year old Kia...

The decompression process doesn't involve any twisting, it is mostly layi g on your back, on a slight decline and being stretched or bounced ever so slightly. Non-invasive and worth a shot, most will give you the first one for free.

Best of luck no matter what!
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I’ll look into that, when I was in Cali they sent me to a physical therapist off post that has this machine he massaged my back, butt cheeks and legs with. It really did help relieve the sciatic pain. I wanna say it was like crystal thing or something, I can’t remember though. Then when he attempted to massage my back and put pressure on individual vertebrates in my lower back and my hips down went numb. It freaked me out a little and he recommended I get an MRI. It took several months for the Army to do that because my PA at the troop medical center lknew” it was a muscle issue....
 
I have back pain too, to the point that I can barely walk. The swelling gets so bad in my lower back that it looks like a goose egg has been split and laid cut side down. Pain killers don't touch it. So, Ibuprofen is a help, but only when I also add in my ice packs. About an hour with those, between my pants and underwear, at my belt line, Most of the pain goes away, and I can somewhat function. How long it lasts depends on what I do. I have to limit how long I am on my feet, be it standing or walking. Laying down, is as bad as walking or standing, my most comfortable position is sitting. Hence, why I am on here as much as I am. Wheeling doesn't bother me, unless I am out of my Jeep a lot. Getting in, pretty much sucks, but better now that I have had it linked and lowered.
Hope maybe some of this helps.
 
Nothing to add for relief but just to let you know it can be worse. Husband has left arm amputated plus other problems. How do you relieve pain in something thats not there? Doctors dont know what to do,just give him pills that he hates to take. As for surgery on him,that will take a act of God for that to happen. Hes already spent years to be wheres hes at now.
 
Halftrac said:
Nothing to add for relief but just to let you know it can be worse. Husband has left arm amputated plus other problems. How do you relieve pain in something thats not there? Doctors dont know what to do,just give him pills that he hates to take. As for surgery on him,that will take a act of God for that to happen. Hes already spent years to be wheres hes at now.
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So sorry to hear that, I’m sure that’s very stressful on you as well. I’ve got a few friends with phantom limb issues as well. I’ve always felt very fortunate nothing of that nature happened to myself while I was in. I know plenty of people that have to deal with things such as your family and husband do and I I honestly don’t know how y’all do it.
 
I have problems w the disc below L5 and sciatica in my left leg too.No feeling in the big toe besides feeling like it's asleep or burning and no feeling in the pads of the other toes. I had 3 steroid injections about 15 years ago and it helped me a lot. I use muscle creams about weekly and have found that rubbing it into my left calf muscle will often help w the sciatica and the lower back/ass cheek getting in knots. I also use it on the backside of my thigh where it gets tight the lower back and the cheek. When the pain in my lower back gets bad I lay across the bed on my stomach w my lower legs hanging off the bed @ the knee w my arms/elbows underneath my torso, fists @ my shoulders. I'll hold there and try to relax my back and rock my hips a bit while slowly pulling my legs/body across the bed w only my arms/elbows and my stomach muscles like i'm doing a sit up. I dig my elbows/forearms into the bed and pull just enough to feel the pull of my hips/legs in my lower back and hold it there while trying not to just drag myself across the bed, once I move up a bit I move my elbows up a bit and repeat,repeat etc.until I'm across the the bed. I'll often do this for 10/20 mins and then rest a while before getting up. It usually gives me some relief from pain and the sciatica.
 
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upnover said:
I have back pain too, to the point that I can barely walk. The swelling gets so bad in my lower back that it looks like a goose egg has been split and laid cut side down. Pain killers don't touch it. So, Ibuprofen is a help, but only when I also add in my ice packs. About an hour with those, between my pants and underwear, at my belt line, Most of the pain goes away, and I can somewhat function. How long it lasts depends on what I do. I have to limit how long I am on my feet, be it standing or walking. Laying down, is as bad as walking or standing, my most comfortable position is sitting. Hence, why I am on here as much as I am. Wheeling doesn't bother me, unless I am out of my Jeep a lot. Getting in, pretty much sucks, but better now that I have had it linked and lowered.
Hope maybe some of this helps.
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Have you tried suspension seats or do you have them? Was curious if they make a difference. I don’t know if I’ll be able to give up this hobby, I know one day I’ll have to give up driving a stick. But I just try not to worry about that.
 
I also get some relief from a hand held massaging shower head and hot as I can stand it water. Warning!!!!! do not get out of a scalding hot shower, dry off and then apply bengay Ultra strength to any skin :shaking: wait @ least 20 mins. or more before the rub.
 
mommucked said:
I also get some relief from a hand held massaging shower head and hot as I can stand it water. Warning!!!!! do not get out of a scalding hot shower, dry off and then apply bengay Ultra strength to any skin :shaking: wait @ least 20 mins. or more before the rub.
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I bet there is a story behind that, lol.
 
iwaxmyjimmy said:
I bet there is a story behind that, lol.
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it burns like gasoline........................................gasoline that has been lit on fire and it won't stop burning :eek:, skin turns bright red and trying to wash/rub it off w cool water and a towel does nothing for the burn. I had to drive to work 30 mins. later and sitting in the seat was like sitting on a hot plate, I raised my ass/thigh off the seat a few times to get some relief. The burn lasted for over an hour. I guess the hot water opens the pores and the stuff penetrates deeper into the dermis.
 
BrianGreen said:
That’s what she said.

I just thought my back pain was bad. Damn IBA.
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Man I don’t even have a cool war story to go with it. First gunnery as new private had to grab the 25mm barrel out the turret, slipped on the armor up front landed right on my ass. Those damn receivers will kick your ass trying to grab it out of the turret as well.
 
mommucked said:
it burns like gasoline........................................gasoline that has been lit on fire and it won't stop burning :eek:, skin turns bright red and trying to wash/rub it off w cool water and a towel does nothing for the burn. I had to drive to work 30 mins. later and sitting in the seat was like sitting on a hot plate, I raised my ass/thigh off the seat a few times to get some relief. The burn lasted for over an hour. I guess the hot water opens the pores and the stuff penetrates deeper into the dermis.
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Man I bet that sucked horribly. Trying out your stretch now, couldn’t do it on my bed, I’m 5’7” and handicap toilets I can swing my feet.
 
iwaxmyjimmy said:
Man I don’t even have a cool war story to go with it. First gunnery as new private had to grab the 25mm barrel out the turret, slipped on the armor up front landed right on my ass. Those damn receivers will kick your ass trying to grab it out of the turret as well.
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Still better than mine. Full battle rattle along with a fully loaded tool belt setting trusses. Sucks standing on something 1.5” wide spanning 40’ wearing all that crap while trying to keep your balance. POG engineer life....
 
BrianGreen said:
Still better than mine. Full battle rattle along with a fully loaded tool belt setting trusses. Sucks standing on something 1.5” wide spanning 40’ wearing all that crap while trying to keep your balance. POG engineer life....
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Damn dude you’re lucky a fall that far didn’t paralyze you or break a leg or 2. And that extra 30-40lbs of stuff surprising makes you fall faster but it doesn’t make you stop slower.
 
Not to be off topic a amputated person with major damage to that which was amputate. Will have that damaged pain come back worse then when it happend. Husbands left arm was chewed off by a wood chipper,his worse pain is when arm was sliced open in a fight,plus knuckle damaged in fights. With no arm the pain is all over the area. By the way hire the handicap their fun to watch. I hope you can find relief in your pain.
 
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Yeah, some days were easier than others. Nothing to climb down off the wall and dump a new 25lb box of 16d nails in the pouch.


iwaxmyjimmy said:
Damn dude you’re lucky a fall that far didn’t paralyze you or break a leg or 2. And that extra 30-40lbs of stuff surprising makes you fall faster but it doesn’t make you stop slower.
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iwaxmyjimmy said:
Man I bet that sucked horribly. Trying out your stretch now, couldn’t do it on my bed, I’m 5’7” and handicap toilets I can swing my feet.
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We've got a california king mattress. I forgot to include slowly moving my shoulders left and right to bend my back left and right too. Our mattress is a bit soft,pillow top and I think that helps w my hips/legs from slipping much while I pull w my torso. Laying on my back w pillows under both knees also brings relief and sometimes I sleep like that.
 
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