Lets talk low back pain/issues

[Dadnatron]

General Lee...

finally someone has hit on what I do.

I'm not sure of your age, which must be taken into account along with any other medical issues. But, given your complaints, I would recommend seeing a Pain Management specialist. It is likely that either an epidural or facet injection would make a big difference in your symptoms. Depending upon exam and MR findings. They are NOT curative, however, can make a big difference in day to day functioning.

Weight is also a major factor, so work to either attain or maintain it. I cannot stress this enough. I have patients who become angry at me for telling them that what they do to their body everyday by simply living is going to outdo anything that I can do to help them. The stress on the spine is increased 4X for every extra lb a person weighs, due to design and leverage. So carrying an extra 25lb requires the back to do an extra 100lb of work with every movement.

Belts are not truly supportive, they are restrictive, which helps to insure that you don't put your back into a situation in which it can be injured to a greater degree. The issue I have with belts is that they tend to restrict movement, which then results in an inability to move. As funny as it is... I recommend yoga to my patients, and those who actually try it almost invariably believe it improves not only their symptoms but their daily functionality. The belts tend to cause people to end up 'stiffer' down the road. I'm not saying they don't have their place, but I am saying limit their use to the times when you will be physically active and need the 'reminder' of what you should and shouldn't be doing. You can do yoga via YouTube or DVDs if you don't have the inclination to go to a studio.

Look into an injection. I think there is a good chance that it will make a world of difference for you.

 

[Dadnatron]

I just saw that you are 40.

For someone to have DJD and disc disease at your age, it is almost always genetic. Scheuermann's changes result in advanced disc breakdown and is a common issue for younger 'bad backs'. An additional common 'young' issue is Pars defects, which can lead to everything you have stated. These are small fractures which typically happen between age of 12 and 20 and are not associated directly with trauma.

Again, I would look into getting a Pain Management physician. At your age, maintaining mobility is key for the best functionality during the next 40yrs

 

[Paddy]

General Lee,

I too have had a bad back for many years. In my early 20's I was helping a friend change a tire, I used my back to lift the lug wrench, when the lug not suddenly came loose, there was the feeling of a rubber band snapping my lower back. For 8 years I tried to keep working in the construction world. I was out of work for many weeks a year. Finally I gave up and went to engineering school.

I still can get a stiff/sore back and once in two years I'm in bad shape. But always it's me stressing my back. I have kinda learned, "don't do that!".

What I've leaned; as soon as you feel the pain come on, lay down as flat as you can. This let's all the parts realign. By keep working you start to slouch/lean and compensate in bad ways. Standing as straight as you can. If you find yourself in the slouch and can't straighten up, lay down and let everything get back in place. Lastly, my heavy lifting days are over, no exceptions. Brother in law needs a safe moved, sorry, I can't help. I'm 56+ years old and in far better shape than when I was in my late 20's

 

[RandyT]

I feel your pain. I have mild spondylosis of the L1-L5 with narrowing and vacuum disc formation at the L5/S1 age 48. I am overweight but the pain makes it difficult to do some activities for any length of time. I am sitting right now with numbness and burning in the front of my thighs due to a pinched nerve.

I have had back issues my entire life. Couldn't sit on the floor and play for very long do to low back pain. Was evaluated for back issues at the age of 5.

 

[CADplans]

I am not a Dr,,, but, I understand what causes my back pain,,
I have the leg numbness,,, sore lower back,,, etc,,
I DO NOT have damaged disks,, etc,,

If you think of your body like the tube in the center of a roll of paper towels,,,
the strength comes from an even distribution of the muscles around the body.

Go get a paper towel tube,, try to bend it,, it is strong
Now,, take a knife and cut the tube where your stomach muscles are weak.
The tube INSTANTLY overloads the remaining muscles, and they become "sore".
The tube collapses,, because the part of the tube that is left can not support the weight of the tube.

If you look at what a physical therapist is teaching you,,,
virtually 100% is aimed at strengthening your stomach muscles,,,

In my case,, I try to do some small amount of exercise daily to strengthen my stomach muscles.
It works,,, for me!!

 

[oosik]

Yesterday I had a three hour session with the chain saw - thinning one of my stands of small (less than 6", on the butt) pine trees. It meant I was bent over all the time, running the chain saw and cutting the trees off at ground level. From years of experience, I know that if I do not "prepare" for this adventure - I will probably spend at the next two day with some form of back pain.

So, before I start anything and when I'm out on the property where only the wildlife can see me - I go thru about 15 minuets of stretching exercises. It warms me up and unless I do something really stupid, I can stop at around three hours and feel nothing but tired. I've found if I push on beyond three hours - I will suffer back pain equivalent to not doing warm up at all. Its one of the "benefits" of getting old.

Of all the tasks I do here on the property - using the chainsaw to thin my pine stands is probably the most likely chore to cause me back pain. Later this summer I will be chipping these pines - by that time I will have thinned at least half a dozen stands - and that I can do most all the day with no resulting back pain.

 

[Dadnatron]

Yesterday I had a three hour session with the chain saw - thinning one of my stands of small (less than 6", on the butt) pine trees. It meant I was bent over all the time, running the chain saw and cutting the trees off at ground level. From years of experience, I know that if I do not "prepare" for this adventure - I will probably spend at the next two day with some form of back pain.

So, before I start anything and when I'm out on the property where only the wildlife can see me - I go thru about 15 minuets of stretching exercises. It warms me up and unless I do something really stupid, I can stop at around three hours and feel nothing but tired. I've found if I push on beyond three hours - I will suffer back pain equivalent to not doing warm up at all. Its one of the "benefits" of getting old.

I tell my patients... "When you are 20, bulletproof, and stupid... you can get away with things. But when you are 40+, you had better use that 20+ years of experience to your advantage. Because regardless of where your 'mind' thinks you are, your body knows differently."

 

[oosik]

Dadnatron - Man, that is the God's honest truth. I'm 74 and my mind still thinks I can do the same work that I did when we moved down here 35+ year ago. Fortunately, I listen to my body and years of experience and know what works for me and when to stop. I really appreciate - "No Pain" - and recognize it will still be there and I can finish "IT" tomorrow.

 

[Sheldon Hamblin]

I'm not going to recommend anything, but I would like to share my experience.
I was just about 40 when I started having significant back pain. I was in the fire service, but I don't think there was any one issue causing it.
For about 5 years I saw a neurologist that fed me flexural, naprosyn, and finally Vicodin. The pain literally was unbearable.
If I didn't have a desk job, and the guys didn't cover for me, I would have lost a lot more time from work then I did.
Finally after an MRI, the neurologist offered to refer me to a surgeon. Now, I never wanted surgery as I had seen so many go bad.
But, I couldn't stand the pain. Upon seeing the neurosurgeon, he explained he was going to do a laminectomy.
In the recovery room I had relief from the leg pain that in itself made the surgery worthwhile. That simple surgery worked great for about 10 years. Then I started having more problems with my back and legs. The legs mostly. Cramps, inability to climb stairs etc.
The first neurosurgeon had retired by then .
The new MRI showed spinal stenosis. To make a long story short, I'm recovering from my 3rd fusion in the lumbar spine, but I feel better each time, than before surgery.

Moral of the story, find the right doctor and follow their advise. But if something isn't giving you relief, keep on looking until you do get relief.

 

[beowulf]

Been there. Being put out of order with back pain when you want to be doing something is depressing. What works for some may not work for another, but I am a very firm advocate of building up the core - however you choose to do that. Also, carrying around a bit more weight in the belly does not help. Stretching is good. But right now I now use DDP Yoga (DVDs). This guy really connects with me - takes it easy - recognizes some of us are older, and beat up and so on, and you do it at your own pace - starts very slow - stretches - a focus on back relief in the beginning (which is where I am). Seriously - it has really worked for me - but you have to be someone who would actually do it. . . I know many would not.