Skip68's MRI, not good X-mas news

[skip68]

I have had about 5 months

[mauve66]

 
5 months left??
been 5 months since you had one??

[RECHRGD]

[twodko]

What's going on??? 

[skip68]

Let me try again.   I've had about 5 months of pain in my lower back.   I cut down 6 pines and 2 cottonwood tree this summer.  Then I had the joy of chopping the rounds into several cords of firewood by hand with a 7lb mall in 110 degree temps.   I started getting slight pain but thought it was just sore muscle.  It got so bad I told my wife something wrong and I'm starting to have trouble just walking.  Went to the doctor and they did an xray and found that I had a twisted vertebrea in my lower back.   They put me on pills tried a quack-o-practor.  No good.   Then I get put on steriods, worse..... So I say f-it and ask for a brace and I get this girddle bs brace, still no good.   I get sick and am in bed a few days and then my back starts feeling better. This last a few weeks until about 2 weeks ago I moved a table into the house and it started hurting again and got worse.   I go back and see a new doctor and she sends me for a MRI right then. (last friday). Yesterday we go and the doctor says I need to go t

[elacruze]

Dammit man! Put a piece of tape over the 'Send' button...

Glad it's not more serious.

[SRT-440]

My back isn't that bad, but everytime I do ANYTHING I can barely walk afterwards...my doctors advice: "Don't lift or push anything...ever..go!" 

[68X426]

I didn't know there were trees in Vegas that could be cut.

Sorry to hear about the back pain. I think we've all been there at some time.

I can only add that if surgery is recommended (after multiple second opinions) then don't delay. My wife delayed neck fusion surgery, trying every option. After a decade of pain, finally had the surgery, and she's doing great. Better than ever. Delaying the inevitable wasn't smart for her. Hope you recover soon.

[Richard Cranium]

Let me try again.   I've had about 5 months of pain in my lower back.   I cut down 6 pines and 2 cottonwood tree this summer.  Then I had the joy of chopping the rounds into several cords of firewood by hand with a 7lb mall in 110 degree temps.   I started getting slight pain but thought it was just sore muscle.  It got so bad I told my wife something wrong and I'm starting to have trouble just walking.  Went to the doctor and they did an xray and found that I had a twisted vertebrea in my lower back.   They put me on pills tried a quack-o-practor.  No good.   Then I get put on steriods, worse..... So I say f-it and ask for a brace and I get this girddle bs brace, still no good.   I get sick and am in bed a few days and then my back starts feeling better. This last a few weeks until about 2 weeks ago I moved a table into the house and it started hurting again and got worse.   I go back and see a new doctor and she sends me for a MRI right then. (last friday). Yesterday we go and the doctor says I need to go t

Is that all? After reading your initial post, I (and others) thought you were a gonner.

[BIGBLCK11]

Glad it wasn't worse!  "had 5 months" didn't sound too good there for a minute.  I hope you get that back taken care of man.

[71ChallengeHer]

Maybe , Chuckles pain meds were kicking in when he was trying to post.    Chuck , Hope you get to feeling better. 

[oldgold69]

 can you say morphine worked on me  had two lamectimys  tried steriod helped for 6 months  you know what they say weak back strong mind

[jb666]

That sucks, Chuck!!! I really hope you are f

[skip68]

I'm having technical problems sorry.   Long story short, I need a surgeon.  I have a twisted vertebrea and a messed up disk.                                  My right leg is 1/2" shorter than my left leg and 22" longer than my middle leg.  I couldn't resist, sorry for the joke.   Anyway, I thought I would share the news and get sympathy and pity since you all love me so much.  Please, no tears, just send cash... Just kidding.     Chuck...

[jb666]

I'm having technical problems sorry.   Long story short, I need a surgeon.  I have a twisted vertebrea and a messed up disk.                                  My right leg is 1/2" shorter than my left leg and 22" longer than my middle leg.  I couldn't resist, sorry for the joke.   Anyway, I thought I would share the news and get sympathy and pity since you all love me so much.  Please, no tears, just send cash... Just kidding.     Chuck...

dude.. Seriously.. I'm sorry... Going through life with 24" legs must be tough.. Didn't know you were that short.

[tan top]

oh  crikey  chucky  , back problems  , not good , once you get problems there , almost never go away    ask me how i know  
hope you get is sorted soon !!  guessed disc ,  ouch , i could not even move a week  good few years back !

[twodko]

Damn......worried the hell out of us Chuck. If your MRI suggests any kind of fusion, disk replacement or rods/screws get a 2nd and 3rd opinion until you're satisfied with the choices you have. Hopefully your options won't involve the kind of surgery I got to enjoy. Spine/neck surgery is hit or miss when it comes to making you whole again or just partially repaired. I had some chassis work done in 2007 because I couldn't function anymore. My capabilities are a little better than they were but I'll never be as strong or flexible as I'd like. At 57 I can live with things I can still do and not stress about what I used to be able to do. After its all said and done the best thing you can do for yourself is to walk, walk and walk. Good luck and keep us in the loop.

PS If you have any questions I might be able to answer or if ya need to talk it out, PM me.

[68X426]

Damn, Tom, are those Mopar Performance parts in the xrays? 

[skip68]

Very funny Jeff.  Make fun of me when I'm "down".... Feeling "low".....Not "up" to par.....how "big" of you...  Lol.   It sucks for sure and I've been in alot of pain.  I AM A BIG BABY WITH DOCTORS.  I'm just one of those guys that don't go until it's to late and then I'm in the ER.   

[skip68]

68x426, I think I have a bad lifter.      Twodko, thanks.   I won't know more until I see the surgeon but I am scared.  I've broke bones several times and had other injuries but have never had a surgery.   I can't even watch when they prick me with a needle.   I just hope this doesn't mess me up for life.  I'm only 41 but I'm feeling like 90.

[RECHRGD]

I had a ruptured lower disc about 25 years ago.  I was flat on my back for two months and tried the chiropractor thing too.  Nothing worked.  Finally ended up having a papaya enzyme treatment done.  They shot the enzyme into the protruding portion of the disc and dissolved it.  It took about a year to get back to 90% but I've been fine since.  They don't use that treatment anymore because a small percentage of people had fatal reactions to the enzyme.  I guess I was lucky.  I know how painful it is.......Hard to make a living doing electrical work with a bad back!  Bob

[twodko]

68X426 of course they're genuine Mopar parts........I'd be run off the forum otherwise!
Chuck, at 41 you're still young enough to bounce right back and you will too! Believe it!

If I had underwent my spine thingy when I was 41 I'd still be working as a "chassis lift" for the babes!

[tan top]

crikey Tom  , you had some work going on there 

[ITSA426]

Better living through chemistry.  I've had back issues for about 40 years.  You learn what works, but don't do anything without at least two good opinions.  Good luck.

[68coronetGLwannabe]

Hang in there buddy. Keep us posted

[charge69]

Well ,I don't really know you but, at 41 and seriously down in your back, I would be VERY careful about any surgery you might have. No one I know has had the satifaction they thought they would have when they had the surgery done.  Your back is just not one of those things that ever heal up anywhere near 100% and I would only recommend it as a last resort. That said, I would still get the recommended solutions from my doctor and think about the things they said.

I feel for ya and hope you find relief in some easier way than surgery but, relief is about  as good as it will get. At your age , I was a little younger, it just doesn't get a lot better and taking care of it from now on is about the best thing you can do. Your back is what the vast majority hurts at one point and taking care of it from then on is the best thing you can do for it. Not a real good prognosis but, we all have our back problems as you can see.

The wisecrack about your legs and their length did have me laughing a lot and you let yourself in for that LOL ! by the way, I am well past 60 now and my back still hurts every time I try to do some manual labor and you do just get used to it and kinda expect it to happen.

[The70RT]

Get well Buddy 

[skip68]

Well guys and gals, i'm sorry if chuck freaked you all out. We wont know more till after the first, but to expedite things: "1968 Dodge Charger-General Lee For free to the most deserving dc.com member!" Rules of playing are available in russian, chinese, tiwanese, and alien." no purchase necessary, many will enter, few (if none) will win! LOL! Mrs.skip68

[Dans 68]

After I read the first post a few times I checked my calendar to see if it was the first of April....

I hope you get well, Chuck. Soon.

Dan

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Feel better man....back issues aint no joke.  Like others have said get many opinions.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

[b5blue]

"Gee Skipper" you scared the crap out of Ginger and Mary Ann! (and me TOO!) Stop playing Paul Bunion and Mover Mike now!    Get well soon! 

[mikepmcs]

Sorry to hear this Chuck.  I wish you a speedy recovery.
Hope your family has a wonderful christmas.

Jeff,
That 24" leg joke cracked me up big time. But then i realized it wasn't so funny cause i'm 5'7" 

[69bronzeT5]

Damn Chuckie....get better soon buddy!!!!

[Vainglory, Esq.]

Well ,I don't really know you but, at 41 and seriously down in your back, I would be VERY careful about any surgery you might have. No one I know has had the satifaction they thought they would have when they had the surgery done.  Your back is just not one of those things that ever heal up anywhere near 100% and I would only recommend it as a last resort. That said, I would still get the recommended solutions from my doctor and think about the things they said.

I feel for ya and hope you find relief in some easier way than surgery but, relief is about  as good as it will get. At your age , I was a little younger, it just doesn't get a lot better and taking care of it from now on is about the best thing you can do. Your back is what the vast majority hurts at one point and taking care of it from then on is the best thing you can do for it. Not a real good prognosis but, we all have our back problems as you can see.

The wisecrack about your legs and their length did have me laughing a lot and you let yourself in for that LOL ! by the way, I am well past 60 now and my back still hurts every time I try to do some manual labor and you do just get used to it and kinda expect it to happen.

I agree.  Be very cautious here.  I'm not particularly old, but last year I herniated three discs in my back: L4, L5, S1.  I had terrible sciatica all down my left leg, including total numbness on the left side of my foot.  

From what I have heard, surgery makes it worse about 1/3 of the time, it does nothing about 1/3 of the time, and it helps about 1/3 of the time.  If you can avoid it, I would look into every option.  I did, I never had surgery, and I am very well down the road to recovery with no invasive procedures.  Like I said, I'm younger, but still, it's something to think about.

If you want to know more about what I did, let me know, but either way, I wish you the very best.  Back injuries are godawful.

[General_01]

Hope your back gets better without the surgery Chuck. That would be best. If you do have surgery, I am hopeful for a full recovery for you.

[nh_mopar_fan]

Good luck with whatever you decide. I've had back issues since I blew mine out when I was in my early twenties.

Was a regular monthly visitor at the chiro for 2 decades and it did help.

Honestly, the best thing I ever did was strengthen my core. Lost 40 lbs and worked on strengthening the core. I've has zero issues for over a year now. No more chiro.

Not sure what shape you're in but if/when you feel up to it, something to consider.

Hope you feel better. Anyone who hasn't been in your shoes really has no clue. You never take stuff like walking to the bathroom for granted again.

[CB]

 
Sorry to hear that you got into this back problems Chuck.

I told you too much back riding ain't good for ya 

j/k hope you get better soon!!!

Christian

[skip68]

Thank you to all our Mopar friends for the kind words, and great info. We appreciate it! it's very hard to see your spouse be in this much pain for 5 months. And to know that there's more to come really sucks cause chuck IS the biggest baby when it comes to doctors!!! Lol! Thanks again you mopar fanatics! Mrs.skip68   

[dkn1997]

Hope you get better soon Chuck.  I'm same age as you and while Im fortunate not to have back problems, my dad has had a few and some friends too, including an electrician I worked for who had a few surgeries in his 40's (was in his 50's when I met him)

1.  If there is any way on this earth to prevent surgery, do it! Do not let them cut you open for a back problem. NEVER!!!!  If it was me, I would scour the ends of the earth for another solution.  I don't know anyone who has ever gotten better from back surgery.  Please go seek 3rd, 4th, and 5th opinions.  Dr's are like everyone else. There could be one out there who has the solution. 

2.  Building up your core is great advice.  I don't know anyone who's in good shape and works out regular who has a bad back.  I don't know what type of shape you are in, but building up the other muscles takes strain off the back. 

Here's to you getting better in the new year!   

[TeeWJay426]

1.  If there is any way on this earth to prevent surgery, do it! Do not let them cut you open for a back problem. NEVER!!!!  If it was me, I would scour the ends of the earth for another solution.  I don't know anyone who has ever gotten better from back surgery.  Please go seek 3rd, 4th, and 5th opinions.  Dr's are like everyone else. There could be one out there who has the solution. 

Well, call me the exception to that rule. Coming up on my 3rd anniversary of my back surgery, and I never regretted it. I herniated the L4-L5 disk, and my sciatic nerve was pinched so bad I had a range of motion of barely 30 degrees front to back in my left leg. 80 year old men got around better than I could. The pain was not only intense, but relentless. The most sleep I could get at one time was 5 hours, 'cuz that's how long the vicodin lasted before wearing off. If I wanted to sleep more than that, had to take another vicodin and wait for it to kick in. It was the most miserable I had felt physically in my life, and I welcomed the surgery. And when I say the relief was immediate, it was.... the first time in weeks that my leg didn't feel like it was on fire was when I was coming out of the anesthesia. It did take awhile to recover from the surgery itself, but the sciatic nerve was finally pain free once again.

That being said, do your research on the doctors that are available to you. I was getting physical therapy in an attempt to avoid the surgery, and all the therapists recommended the doctor I went to- they told me he was the best for spinal issues, and they were right. He also diagnosed arthritis in all my lumbar discs, so he told me that he was only fixing my immediate problem- exercise and diet would be key to minimizing the effects of the other bad discs. Walking is one of the best exercises you can do for back issues.

Feel free to PM me if you want any additional info on my experience, Chuck. While surgery isn't for everybody, I'm glad I didn't listen to the naysayers who said to avoid it at all costs- I would have suffered permanent nerve damage had I done that.

BTW, I'm 52 now... was 49 when I was operated on.

[Neal_J]

Chuck, get well soon.

[skip68]

Well guys and gals, tuesday afternoon is the appt with the spine specialist! Chuck is a big sissy when it comes to dr's so send him some encouragement if you will! We will keep our mopar friends updated on what goes down! Thanks, mrs.skip68

[b5blue]

We are all wishing you the best Chuck! 

[tan top]

We are all wishing you the best Chuck! 

yep X2

[68coronetGLwannabe]

Good luck buddy. Let us know how it turns out.

[Brock Samson]

      get better soon... please?..

[skip68]

Whats that about Brocky? Mrs.skip68

[skip68]

Never mind.

[Brock Samson]

  I'm headin' off to Tx. for ten days...,,  I'll checback to see you both are holding  up. In the meantime Take Care! 

[skip68]

Have a safe trip Brock! Lasoo (sp) a long horn for us! Lol! Mrs.skip68

[skip68]

Ok guys "Thoraciclumbosacral Rad ICD-9:. 724.4.   Is my diognosis.    They are going to give me several injections in my spine and do a surgery and scrape something from my joints.  I'm not thrilled about getting a needle in my lower spine. There is something else I think I'm leaving out but that's the basic story.  Oh, something about a narrowing...?.  Lisa will explain better because I'm going to lay down....

[skip68]

This is why I'm having trouble walking.  It's got something to do with my hips. 

[elacruze]

2011 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Code 724.4
Thoracic or lumbosacral neuritis or radiculitis unspecified.

That kinda sucks because they don't have a very specific source of the pain. Mine is due to generalized degeneration of the lumbar spine.
I've recently finished a series of facet joint injections in my neck, they're kinda creepy but really not too painful. The relief, for me anyway, was immediate.

[The70RT]

Slow down & hang in there buddy 

[bill440rt]

Wishing you the best for a speedy recovery!! 
Good Luck!

[Charger_Fan]

Skip, your back problem sounds a lot like mine. About 7 years ago, mine got so bad that I couldn't even get off the floor. Walking was not bad, but I couldn't sit at all (driving to work was a friggin' joke) & the sciatica nerve in my right leg felt like I had a knife stuck in my leg.
I thought a chiropractor might be able to get me fixed (read cheaper fix), and he sorta did, but it took a couple months! Honestly, I don't know if he fixed me, or if ME fixed me...but I never did go get "officially" looked at, so I don't officially know what's wrong...but I've got a pretty good idea. If it reverts back one day, I'll go get looked at.
I feel pretty good most days, but I really have to watch how I lift things. My days of bear-hugging engine blocks & walking them to my truck are pretty much over.

Big time back pain sux & I'm wishing you luck too, for a speedy recovery.