Back pain...

[DKCDKC]

My wife has had horrible osteo arthritis and went through various meds, TENS units, injections and such. Each worked for a while, but the pain returned. Then we looked into surgery. Some surgeons only do the heavy hardware of bars and screws - proven, but very invasive and old school. Others do these newer techniques with small metal inserts to brace and fuse vertebrae. Some use an even newer technique of plastic wedges and screws - much less invasive.

My wife, an RN, chose the wedges and has had seven vertebrae fused in two surgeries by an outstanding spine surgeon, the last two months ago. Almost no pain. Uses a cane on rough ground, but can get on and operate my John Deere easily. Not too shabby.

Check out the surgeons in your area and talk to the best in each category, asking about successes, duration of the procedure (a few hours for one or two vertebrae), later flexibility, incision size (wife's incisions were about an inch in the side) and cost/insurance. You may be surprised.

Check different hospitals too. There are ongoing fights between spinal surgeons, neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons for the lucrative spine business. All have positives and negatives, and some hospitals have only one kind of surgeon allowed to work on spines.

As with artificial joints, most people who have these new kinds of back fusion operations seem to come out only regretting they did not do it earlier.

 

[dmccarty]

I found this neck stretcher for $30 plus shipping. Is this like yours Dan?

Neckstretcher.net–Inflatable Neck Traction | $29.99 + Shipping to U.S. and Canada

Looks like this would be the ticket!!
Thanks!

It is like mine, though mine is a prettier shade of blue and has more folds.

I think I paid about $30 for my neck stretcher. I easily could have recouped the $30 if I had let coworkers stretch my neck for $5 a pop, errrr, session. :laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[Western]

My mother has used a "neck stretcher" I have never seen one, so the only neck stretchers I'm familiar with are all the ones in the old western movies:laughing: I can see how one would help after getting my back done with a back stretcher though.

 

[Lloyd_E]

A few days later, I visited my chiropractor. I was telling him the Doc had prescribed a TENS, but I didn't think I was going to purchase it because of the price. He excused himself, came back im a few minutes with a thin catalog, thumbed a few pages then said "Do you think this would work?" A TENS unit for less then $200!!! Looked just like the one the rep was trying to sell me!


Similar story... Sports medicine Dr. tried to sell me a velcro waist belt thing for $450. Bought the same style at my local pharmacy for $49.95. I only have a one time purchase of $1000 so I wasn't going to waste $450 if I needed something more expensive later. And you wonder why the med insurance is in the toilet!

 

[Depmandog]

I think I mentioned that I have a neurostimulator implant for pain. It was outpatient surgery. The hospital bill for the 6 hours I was there..... $41,000.

I understand R&D & product liability costs. But this thing is basically a $200 TENS unit that is put inside the body. Ok, it does have a nifty recharge through the skin feature and a remote control, but holy smokes - the price wes crazy.

Oh well, at least I can boast of having a remote control that can turn me on HA HA HA

 

[Western]

I think I mentioned that I have a neurostimulator implant for pain. It was outpatient surgery. The hospital bill for the 6 hours I was there..... $41,000.

I understand R&D & product liability costs. But this thing is basically a $200 TENS unit that is put inside the body. Ok, it does have a nifty recharge through the skin feature and a remote control, but holy smokes - the price wes crazy.

Oh well, at least I can boast of having a remote control that can turn me on HA HA HA

Well, you would be the first person I have ever heard say " I have to go re-charge the old batteries" and actually mean it:laughing:

 

[Depmandog]

Well, you would be the first person I have ever heard say " I have to go re-charge the old batteries" and actually mean it:laughing:

I have been known to tell people that I have a electrical cord that hangs out my arse - and that's how I recharge. . Not one person has ever said - prove it!!!

 

[Western]

Hate to bring up an old thread, but easier than re-posting. Came in from out of town jobs 10 days ago. Woke up Saturday morning in big time pain in lower back and left leg. Lucky I was able to get an appointment at the D.O. All they did was put me on the stretcher give me a couple of prescriptions and sent me home. Granted they saw me "in a hurry". Meds help, but it has been 10 days now, cant walk 20 feet without pain, or sit up for more than a few minutes. Pretty sure it is Sciatica as it fits the criteria read on the Google searches. really sucks when your leg does numb! I had to lay in the back of the truck just for the ride to the DO:laughing: felt like the wife was taking me to the vet

I have an appointment with a Chiropractor at 9am tomorrow, not a huge fan of chiropractors, but if he can get this "nerve" fixed, I'll mow his lawn every Sunday morning.

 

[sfloggie]

I have a herniated disc in my neck, compressed vertebrates and degenerative bone in the lower spine (from SF days). I use and have used a device to hang upside down called Back Revolution as purchased from a company in CO. I have bad knees that dislocate thus this is the only device I can use as it grips behind my knees instead of ankles. I hang about 45-60 seconds and have instant relief.
I breathe out as I hang and it lowers me each time. I do a slight move to the left or right and my spine pops as a Chiropractor would. In fact a Chiropractor introduced it to me and I never had to go back to his office. It cost me $350 and I have two (work/home).
This might help if you have something like mine. My wife has pain, but is not helped by this device as hers is deep muscle pain behind the hip bone.
Jim

 

[newbury]

<snip> I had to lay in the back of the truck just for the ride to the DO:laughing: felt like the wife was taking me to the vet

I've gone thru 3 back surgeries, and know well being the "dog in the back" feeling. I'd swear my wife would hit the same bump on every trip.

 

[Western]

Jim, My dad has a inverted hanger and that's on my "to get" list. There are a few people that cannot, or shouldn't use them, I.E. have glaucoma or high blood pressure, but I am OK in those departments.

Newbury, I kept waiting for her to hit a "big" one, I told her if I fell out, feel free to "trade" me in.

 

[Western]

Well, after 2 doctors who said basically, "We see no [problem" found 2 in Weatherford TX. that immediately saw problems in my lower back, all they had to do is "read" the MIR/CT scan reports..DUH!

After looking and reading then scan and associated report, the Spine Doc said he see's Nerve clump or ball" which is usually, result from prior surgery, spinal bifida or tumor. I have never had surgery,so.....

Monday I get a new MRI with contrast so they can get a better look at the "mass", then a full spinal x-ray. Got my fingers crossed:thumbsup:

My new doc's cant understand how the other doc's neglected the obvious, me I'm a tad PO'd since they charged me top dollar.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I'm glad they found the source finally, hopefully the new doctors will get you fixed quickly with little discomfort.

 

[Alien]

Understand your pain Western. I had a laminectomy around 15 years ago and now have been booked in for a spinal stenosis op. It is getting to the point where I can't carry a bag of groceries without my feet and legs going numb. It is a more difficult op than a laminectomy and I am not keen on the idea but it has to be done or I will finish up in a wheelchair. The surgeon also said that if it gets too bad then they will not even attempt doing it. I am between a rock and a hard place. I had steroid needles but they made no impression whatsoever.
I just want to be able to walk around my place but it is getting harder as my legs go completely numb and I have fallen over a few times. Hope it works out for you.

 

[Gary Farmall]

Dennis I have had several herniated disk's through out the years. Back pain for the last 40 years and I can tell from your last post that you are on the right track. My inversion machine is Weslo inversion flex system. I have no more back pain as I use it regularly. I used to use inversion boots but, to much trouble. Also I have no need for my Chiropractor any more, Good Luck Gary

 

[Western]

Doug, I have had the "numb" feeling and it is a pain in the butt, know exactly what you mean, fortunately it hasn't become permanent. The steroid/novacane shots, is an option for me too, but I like the new Doc's approach. He at least looked at the reports seriously and is going to do more than just prescribe pain meds.

Gary, I tried my dads Teeter EP-950 last night, incredible. I looked online and the new model is the EP 960 for the same price, so I will likely order that one today. I felt good after "hanging" last night, but this morning is the 1st day in over 3 months I have had no soreness after getting up. Placebo? I dont know, but I noticed the lack of discomfort before I remembered i used his inversion table.

BTW, both of the new surgeons use an inversion table, just for personal "therapy" on a daily basis, these guys are pretty sharp, so I feel much better shelling out $400 on a table.