Bad back and other bad news

Hi All,
I've told a couple of people I got laid off in June so I'm unemployed at present
Things are worse than I've let on though.
Apart from issue with teeth/dentist (from Dec 2010), arm, (from Oct 2009) my back is also screwed up.
I have a herniated L4/L5 disc.
Lot of people complain about bad back, I actually have proof
I had MRI in July and pulled a couple of pics off CD. There are 95 pics total, this is just the easiest to see/explain
Small picture at bottom right shows section, this is moving down spine from top o bottom
the 'white section in center is where nerves 'live
1.

2. 'white section isn't there :'(

3. little bit lower, area is open again, the black 'dots' are nerves

I'm pretty fucked up, difficult to stay positive with all this shit going on

Re: Bad back

Dude, that blows. I can't say I've experienced the same life scenarios, but no matter the circumstances, try to keep your chin up.


If you need any encouragement dude, you've got thousands of fellow brothers and sisters here on the DTT.

Re: Bad back

Thanks for the moral support.
I get pretty cranky with everything that's happening.
I can only 'work' on bike for about 40 mins, then need about 4 hrs to recover

Re: Bad back


That really sucks man. There is rampant back/ disc problems in my family, so I have seen firsthand how painful and debilitating the true back problems can be, especially with the herniated/ ruptured discs. So good on you for getting this far with it.

Are you able to have anything done with it?

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Ouch man. I got lucky on my back when I hurt it in the service. Nothing permanent.

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I had one ruptured disc and two herniated. Results of 20 years of heavy weight training. The ruptured disc probably a result of an off road excursion when I totally missed a 15 mph left hander and ended up in a plowed field, which is probably what saved me from really serious injury. Anyway, sciatic nerve severely pinched. Kept working out. Weird thing was, I could work out (no weight bearing stuff) for two hours and not feel pain. Shortly after I stopped, I'd start limping again. A week before surgery, I could no longer walk and was bed ridden. As soon as I woke up from surgery, the first thing I noticed was that the pain was totally gone. Three years later and my left leg is still not 100%, but my back feels great. No more membership at a hard core gym for me. Those days are over... Just wanted to share. I know what kind of pain you are experiencing, bro. I hope it works out for you as it did me.

Re: Bad back

that sucks pj... keep positive man.

are you still down in florida? first break I'm getting from college I'm planning on taking a road trip down there. I would love to give you a hand (and be completely blown away by the knowledge you bestow upon me) if ya wanted it.

no herniated disks or anything that serious for me, but i got scoliosis and minor MD which makes me cringe every time I have to straighten up from being bent over for more then a couple seconds. swimming helps a bunch; strengthens your core and isnt a very aggressive workout.

Re: Bad back

Hi David,
Yep, I'm still in Florida, about 10 miles from Orlando.
Send a PM if your coming down and I'll give you my phone number

I think I need to tell everyone, this isn't caused by clip on's and rear sets, they actually make my back feel a lot better as the position removes weight from damaged area.

It was caused by showing people how to put bike on center stand, (actually, by showing what they were doing wrong trying to lift instead of using mechanical advantage/leverage : )
Unfortunately, I can't ride at present because of surgery on my arm, I'm less than 50% of where I should be

Re: Bad back

If I could give any advice I would say stay on top of your PT. My girlfriends father is a physical therapist and I worked with him on my shoulder after a rotator cuff injury and avoided surgery. Doing and keeping up with your PT will really help you with mobility and recovery.

Re: Bad back

2nd pic 84 of 95..

is that ur butt hole at the bottom?
killer!

Re: Bad back

Sorry to hear that PJ. I have a couple vertebre that never healed from being broken in a car accident a few years back. I know how bad it sucks, and know how riding can actually help it feel better (a bit) too.

If I can do anything from up here in Pittsburgh say the word man!

Re: Bad back

I feel your pain PJ.

Literally, I have degenerative disc disease, and had herniated disc with impingement on my spinal cord, at L4-L5. I had surgery and was a partial para from there down. I spent years in PT learning how to walk again. And I still have to deal with the pain Four hours is my max time spent up and around. I spend 20-23 hrs a day laying down.
That leaves a lot of time for screwing around on the internet. ;D

Take it one day at a time, and keep looking at what you can still enjoy, not what you can no longer do.

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Beard said:

2nd pic 84 of 95..

is that ur butt hole at the bottom?
killer!

Click to expand...

I don't think so, it would be a bit high up ( but I'm still and ass ;D )
Lighter colours are low density, black is high density, I think it's going through the bone at an angle
Researching disc problems, I found out my arm/elbow could be due to trapped nerves in cervical vertebra, C5,C6, C7. I may have had two surgeries and lost my job through wrong treatment.
Doctor (instead of surgeon) is getting MRI of my neck/shoulder and more nerve conduction tests. I'm seeing a different specialist next month

Re: Bad back

crazypj, I've got my fingers crossed for a good prognosis. My disc damage improved over a long period to where I'm OK as long as I don't stress my lower back. Like yourself and VonYinzer I find clip-ons more comfortable for riding as arms take the weight, not the back.

Good luck,
Crazy

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PJ have you tried a massage therapist or acupuncture/acupressure dude for the nerve problem. Nerves can be pinched by soft tissue as well a bone. It helps me, it may be worth a shot for you.

I get frustrated with the way Western medicine looks at a problem. Surgeons want to cut, MDs want to dope you up, physical therapists only get called in after the other two have already screwed things up, massage therapist get treated, by doctors and medical insurance companies, like hookers, and acupuncturists get treated like quacks.

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+ 1 on massage therapy and physio before surgery. I have had major back issues and those 2 things have helped to keep from having surgery in the first place. A good Chiropractor can help 10 X better as well than any GP or surgeon in a lot of cases. My GP almost crippled me after I slipped a disk and dislocated a hip while at work, She just gave me pain meds and muscle relaxants because I just pulled some muscles. Well afterr 2 weeks and I still couldn't walk I went to a chiro and he found the disk and relocated it and my hip, all the pain went away and I got up and walked right out, it lasted fro about 4 hours then went back out of whack, I had to go every day for a week, then every other day for a week, then once a week for a month to have him keep putting the joints back, eventually they stayed back where they were supposed to be. If I waited any longer he may not have been able to put them right at all. My friggin GP almost crippled me or made ma need surgery. My back and hip can still go out if I am not careful but I have learned when I start to get some pain or stiffness I can either get a massage or go to my physio and they can work it out before I can't get out of bed because of the pain. Not sure if any of that helps but hope you get better.

Cheers

Re: Bad back

My experience was the exact opposite. PT exacerbated my herniated discs. Surgery was the solution. 3 years later, so far, so good. As for Chiropractors, I've never trusted them and find it incredible that insurance companies recognize the "field". They're popping your joints and "manipulating" your neck and spine, for God's sake. (Shudder!)

Re: Bad back

biker_reject said:

My experience was the exact opposite. PT exacerbated my herniated discs. Surgery was the solution. 3 years later, so far, so good. As for Chiropractors, I've never trusted them and find it incredible that insurance companies recognize the "field". They're popping your joints and "manipulating" your neck and spine, for God's sake. (Shudder!)

Click to expand...

I get you, hence the "good" Chiropractor, they exist, but few and far between, a bad one will F' you up good. The one I found was amazing, and the wait to see him for anything but emergencies is like 3 months. I have since been to a few because I have moved that I wouldn't let touch me after a 5 min conversation.... now my massage therapist is great 1 hour with her.......... ;D

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Couple of years ago I had a real good chiropractor. (after a different work accident : )
After the very first visit I was noticeably 'better'

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Back problems run in my family and I've been dealing with back pain from untreated sports injuries since I was about 15. Played hockey for 23 years and I never told anyone when I was hurt because I wouldn't have been allowed to play. Luckily I have no disc or nerve problems, just a little out of whack and I get pretty bad inflammation from time to time.