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Confucius Say;
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
In what ways?View Thread
Confucius Say;
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
I've decided to post this tip that lists the steps a back patient should be following for obtaining an accurate diagnosis and getting an effective treatment plan.
1. Talk to your primary doctor. Describe the symptoms you are experiencing in detail and how it is affecting your daily life — keeping you awake, preventing you from functioning normally, what your pain level is on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the worst, etc.
2. If required by your health insurance, have your primary doctor give you a referral to a local spine specialist such as an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon. When seeing the spine specialist, make sure to again provide all details of your symptoms.
3. The spine specialist should send you for (or do in the office if they have the equipment) a CT scan or an MRI of your spine. An x-ray will not show soft tissue such as discs and will not show all that could be causing your back pain.
4. The spine specialist should then review the results of the diagnostic testing with you. Make sure you understand everything and ask questions until you do understand.
5. The spine specialist should then provide a recommended treatment plan. This could involve seeing a pain management specialist, a physiatrist, or something simple like OTC medications and applying hot and/or cold to the area that is painful.
6. Some people benefit from physical therapy, hydrotherapy, chiropractic care, injections, exercises, or other traditional and/or non-traditional therapies. Surgery should always be a last resort but may be needed in some cases.
7. Don't do any treatment you are not comfortable with or causes you more pain.
8. Do your research on-line and be armed with knowledge about spinal conditions. Here is a link to a resource I created on this WebMD Back Pain Community that lists links to good spine sites: http://forums.webmd.com/3/back-pain-exchange/resource/10?@guest@
I hope this helps people to know how to go about getting help for their back pain.View Thread
I agree completely. I had an MRI in June 2008 that was worthless. The neurosurgeon sent me somewhere else and the results were accurate but depressing. That second MRI was used as part of my SSDI application which was approved in only 2 months.
As with everything else in life, especially health care, we need to be proactive and persistent. We are in charge of our bodies and our health care. If we are not happy one place, try someplace else. It is terrible the hoops we must jump through to get the care we need but it can be done.
An_245368, you have an excellent attitude of tenaciousness and persistence. There is always hope and there is always help. I pray you get the proper treatment and relief you need.View Thread
This would be something you need to discuss with your primary doctor. It sounds like your best course of action would be to get an appointment asap.
After you have a diagnosis, come back and update us and ask questions.
I pray you can get treatment and relief soon.View Thread
Have a blessed and wonderful Wednesday, friends.
View Thread
by my 6th week post op I had my first x-ray and the surgeon stated I had fused 100% - rare but does happen - during the 6 weeks I drank lots of milk - breakfast, lunch and dinner - so maybe this helped -
you won't know if you have fused or start to fuse til it starts to show up on the x-rays so just cut down as much as possible - drink milk too!!
hope everything goes well - take care - JoyView Thread
I always say it's 90/10 Sometimes 90 one way and sometimes 90 the other.

Best of luck. Knowledge is power.
TimView Thread
I'm thinking of trying another one that uses flat panals instead of leads - the surgeon has about 90% success with his patients and has testimonials all over his walls! the one I had done was just leads and I could feel them which hurt -
JoyView Thread
Have you tried muscle relaxers? Those may help you and not be as stong as narcotics. I am not one to say take a pill it will help, but if you are starting to not be able function it may be a good idea. I have been working with a pain doc for about a year off and on now and I was deathly afraid of using meds, but as long as you are on the lowest dose possible and don't get addicted, they do help. You do have to be careful about addiction tho, because i have seen that happen to a lot of peopleView Thread
The board is great, somethings you just want to say in private and not necessarilly share with the whole wide world...or some sort of www
View Thread
Nothing against you and no offense intended, just my personal preference. Thanks.View Thread
OK, Steroids do have some bad side effects. WedMD has a medication section that includes side effects and drug interactions.
Continues steroid use will thin your tissues, but they're great at reducing inflamation. I've had great results for things like tendonitus.
Find out which steroid they want to use, read about it on Webmd, talk to your pharmacist about it (they're a great resource) and armed with all your new knowledge talk to the doctor. Sometimes I write down the important qestions I have so when the doctor comes in I can get right to it.
I'm glad the study helped you. I found it interesting and the FPS is interesting. Especially when applied to the elder patient. It's pretty cool that the company I work for tries to provide tools for health.
Good luck.
TimView Thread
MaryView Thread
I can talk about the stimulator as I had one placed in my lower back for pain relief in my lower leg for RSD. You mentioned it works for the leg but not the back.
How it works depends on the placement of the stimulator. If the wires were place low in your spine it will work for your legs - the higher up the spine the more it would work for the back.
Could you tell me where in your back/spine they place the wires? - the programmable magnet should be in front somewhere so it is easily reached. DebView Thread
When I was finally offered the Fentanyl Transdermal System this month by my primary care physician, I thought about the great success that you have had with this medication.
I am on my 6th patch and the pain relief is more consistent than anything I have tried. And the BEST thing about this medication is it has alleviated my constipation!! The constipation from extended release pills became so bad that the only way I could get relief was by doing 1-2 saline enemas per week and even after those, I still felt backed up! I can now go on my own. I only take a stool softner (Colace) every other day now. The constipation was causing chest pains, difficulty breathing, bloating, gas, and increased blood pressure and pulse. It was horrific! My stomach was 4 times its normal size by the 5th day without a BM.
My breakthrough pain meds now work faster and last twice as long (5-6 hours). I am on the 50 mcg/hr patch and I change it every 48 hours.View Thread
Here is a link to a Tip that lists links to websites that have good information about spinal problems and treatments: http://forums.webmd.com/3/back-pain-exchange/resource/10?@@
You can go to these sites to do your research on the technical details about each type of treatment, including the various available injections.
My wife has facet block injections with steroid on 2/2/12 and has had some lasting relief. The steroid caused her to have high blood pressure, though, and she is now continuing on medication for that. The pain management specialist is planning to do another set of injections without steroid for her soon.
As with any treatment, each patient gets unique results. I believe statistically the success rate for injections is about 50%. You need to understand the benefits and risks before making a decision.
I pray you find effective ways to manage your pain.View Thread
My suggestion is look for support group in your area that deals with chronic health conditions. I go to one and it has made a world of difference. I can vent about all these frustrations so I don't have to drive my family and friends crazy with them. Like this community on webmd - we all understand what you are going through and to find others who can relate can take a lot of the guilt off. I also suggest a good psychologist/therapist who specializes in people with disabilities or chronic conditions.
I've learned that it is completely ok to say no when I don't feel good to all the things my family and friends think I can still do but really can't. I don't give a big, long, explaination as to why. I just tell them I will definately try to attend something they want me at but can't committ until that day and not to take it personally. I also have learned my limits over time and try to at least do things I know are within my physical limits so I'm not completely home-bound. I decide which things are worth the pain afterward and choose the things I really want to do and not what other people really want me to do. It's ok - we know what we can do. They don't.View Thread
I had a RF ablation also yesterday. This was my second one, the first one only lasted six months, but it did take the sharp pain away so it was worth it.
Hope you are recovering well!
AmyView Thread
I've had epis do nothing and I had one about 9 months ago that was miraculous. If you have a good doctor and your insurance covers them, in my opinion you have a chance of great reward with little risk (always some risk)
I agree with everything else Joy said.
Best of luck and God bless you.
TimView Thread
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