Chef Jim Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 I know I know but this is serious. I've had a back issue for about three months. It's kind of like sciatica but I've been told that's not what's going on. They say I have some disc issues and degenrative bone disease. Exruciating pain that starts in my lower back and shoots down my leg. I've had x-rays, an MRI and see a nerve specialist in a couple of weeks. My doc also has given me a referral to a neurosurgeon which is scary. I'm on pretty heavy duty pain meds now that do nothing other than give me a buzz. Which isn't a bad thing but frustrating that they don't help. I've done the chiropractor thing to no avail. She said it could take a couple of months to find relief but I can't wait that long. I have a high threshold for pain (lifelong Bills fan will do that) but it's beginning to wear on me. I'm considering acupuncture. Anyone try it? Did it work? Now flame away if you want but serious posts would be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 My mother swore by acupuncture for back pain. Said it was the only thing that helped. It may be worth a shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zona Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 I would encourage you to try the acupuncture. at this point, it probably cant hurt, and i have heard some really good things about it. Though, I have not tried it myself, i have been considering it for neck pain due to arthritis and old injury. You can help me decide... let us know if you try it how it works... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 This is where my mother went:: http://buffaloacupuncture.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\GoBillsInDallas/ Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 If you try this type of therapy you'll forget about your back problems completely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Is this an advice thread? You must be in some serious pain. Vicodin and beer. If you try this type of therapy you'll forget about your back problems completely. No he won't. But he'd have one helluva good time for 2 minutes or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Hammersticks Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 My Father had major back surgery a little over a year ago. Prior to that, he tried just about everything to help manage his pain, including acupuncture. The feedback I got from him was that it was effective in the very short-term. Although he wonders if the relief was due (in large part) to him being preoccupied with having a zillion needles stabbed into his body...haha. I sincerely hope you don't need to have surgery similar to my Father's, chef. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Buy and use an inversion table. That's not very good advice...but it's the best I've got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kemp2Warlick Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 I've had sciatica pain...excruciating....all I did was walk everyday for at least 30 min. sometimes twice a day...used a cane on bad days. About 2 weeks I started to heal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CountryCletus Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Johnny Hammersticks has a neighbor that might be able to supply you with something to take the edge off... Honestly though, it sucks that you are going through that, I hope it gets worked out!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 My ex-wife swore by the acupuncture treatment she was getting for some pain issues. It won't hurt to try a couple of sessions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BringBackFergy Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Have you tried the stretches?? You lay on your stomach, hands at your sides, rest for five mins. Then, bring your arms up and rest on your elbows pushing up slightly (arching your back). Then rest on stomach with arms at sides again. Then, up to your hands slowly and arch your back for 30 seconds then rest. The idea is to get the natural lordosis back in your lumbar. Do it 5-10 times a day and in bed when you wake up. It will hurt like a bastard at first but a little progress each day it restores the lordosis (curve in your lumbar). Now if you are saying you have a herniated disc (or two) with radiculopathy (shooting pain down your leg), this may not help, but a discsectomy or laminectomy nowadays is a safe surgery and will relieve your pain. Try to avoid a fusion if you can. Feel sorry for you...had many clients with lumbar issues - never fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 discsectomy or laminectomy nowadays is a safe surgery So is a lobotomy ... The situation must be bad if Chef is looking for advice... FWIW. If you happen to be carrying any extra weight, dropping it may help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BringBackFergy Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 So is a lobotomy ... The situation must be bad if Chef is looking for advice... FWIW. If you happen to be carrying any extra weight, dropping it may help. Yeah, it's rare you see Jim looking for input. Must be pretty painful because he doesn't want any smart ass answers (which for most of us is extremely difficult) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 (edited) Thanks guys. Yeah it is bad. Drives me nuts. I was in tears this morning and dying sitting in the car in the way to work and then doing yard work and chopping up trees this afternoon. It has however taken my mind off the torn rotator cuff from two years ago. I'll look in to acupuncture. I wonder if there are any Chinese in the Bay Area that do that? Edited July 27, 2014 by Chef Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Vader Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Thanks guys. Yeah it is bad. Drives me nuts. I was in tears this morning and dying sitting in the car in the way to work and then doing yard work and chopping up trees this afternoon. It has however taken my mind off the torn rotator cuff from two years ago. I'll look in to acupuncture. I wonder if there are any Chinese in the Bay Area that do that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BringBackFergy Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Thanks guys. Yeah it is bad. Drives me nuts. I was in tears this morning and dying sitting in the car in the way to work and then doing yard work and chopping up trees this afternoon. It has however taken my mind off the torn rotator cuff from two years ago. I'll look in to acupuncture. I wonder if there are any Chinese in the Bay Area that do that? Fi dolla...they prick you long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Yoga and losing weight is doing it for me but I've been told my back is structurally sound. Chiropractor said I have a frozen sacro-iliac joint in my pelvis. LMT said I have a chronically tight quadratus lumborum muscle on the same side. Physical therapist went farther and said my whole body was tight. Deep tissue massage was expensive and short lived relief. Core strengthening, stretching, and relaxation are all coming from yoga. And I've lost over 30 pounds since April. Not sure if any of that helps you, but good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Chiropractor said I have a frozen sacro-iliac joint in my pelvis. "Frozen sack in your pelvis" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 I am going to stand on a soap box a little bit here. I have met a great deal of you here and most of you have seen pictures of me. I'm a pretty big dude, and for 4 or 5 years I was heavy. I was 6'2" and 240 lbs. with a 42" waist. I'm down to 215 lbs. and a 34 1/2" waist currently. I probably lost 40-45 lbs. of fat. Anyway. I am very in to fitness, and I'll give a few ideas. I am happy to see how smart and amazing some people are, everyone gave great tips. Jay provided a great deal of help suggesting you look at loosening up your skeletal structure before surgery. I had lower back issues something terrible in my early 20's and spent 7 hours a week at a PT retraining my body to work correctly through posture, core strength improvement and muscle and tendom/ligament stretching. I had an X-Ray done to all of this and they had said my vertebrae were healthy looking for someone in their 40's and that I may need to go on some sort of medicine to help that. That was from an M.D., he referred me to a specialist in back care who introduced me to that PT. What he taught me has changed my life. My quads were tight, my back was tight. My abs and obliques were weak while my hamstrings were lose but strong. This caused an imbalance of strength which offset my hips to put extreme pressure on my lower back. I was B, and as you can see my lower back was put under extreme pressure from leaning backward on it. Combine this with scoliosis, my left side was elongated and more flexible and stronger while my right was tight and weak. The PT said I need to alter my diet, train a little bit, and eat better foods. I started eating better, getting proteins, amino acids, and including Jell-o to rebuild ligaments. It works, Jell-o. No joke. I have little to no back problems now, at least related to that, although I do believe I may have something serious going on because it gets very painful from time to time. But, it's in my head. So, before anything, I think you should look at getting in some better shape, dropping some weight, getting in some strength exercises, look in to yoga or stretching. Hell, if you want, PM. I would gladly spend any amount of time I can helping you - send you the best YouTube videos and the best articles. I would much rather spend some sweat, time and a little bit of money before I would risk a surgery that may or may not help and a lot of money. If anything it'll just get you in better shape. Buy and use an inversion table. That's not very good advice...but it's the best I've got. Only if he can do so without straining his back, yes. A 30degree inversion would be just enough. Have you tried the stretches?? You lay on your stomach, hands at your sides, rest for five mins. Then, bring your arms up and rest on your elbows pushing up slightly (arching your back). Then rest on stomach with arms at sides again. Then, up to your hands slowly and arch your back for 30 seconds then rest. The idea is to get the natural lordosis back in your lumbar. Do it 5-10 times a day and in bed when you wake up. It will hurt like a bastard at first but a little progress each day it restores the lordosis (curve in your lumbar). Now if you are saying you have a herniated disc (or two) with radiculopathy (shooting pain down your leg), this may not help, but a discsectomy or laminectomy nowadays is a safe surgery and will relieve your pain. Try to avoid a fusion if you can. Feel sorry for you...had many clients with lumbar issues - never fun. He could do what I do for my core. Yoga and losing weight is doing it for me but I've been told my back is structurally sound. Chiropractor said I have a frozen sacro-iliac joint in my pelvis. LMT said I have a chronically tight quadratus lumborum muscle on the same side. Physical therapist went farther and said my whole body was tight. Deep tissue massage was expensive and short lived relief. Core strengthening, stretching, and relaxation are all coming from yoga. And I've lost over 30 pounds since April. Not sure if any of that helps you, but good luck. I'll have to add this to the post to make it work but this is a great stretch you can do to help your quads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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