Decompression Back Treatment

[walker1]

Been dealing with a herniated disc issue for 20 months. Jumped all the hoops, ctscan, mri, physio etc.etc. Waiting on word for a possible surgery but exploring all options.

 

Anyone know of someone who tried the decompression route. There is now a clinic in Calgary and I am thinking on it. Although expensive, worth it if it works!!

 

thanks

[misterbig]

My neighbour has a inversion table and swears by it to solve his lower back ache. I am not sure if it will work if you are at the level of surjury though. Costco sells them for $300 bucks might be worth a try as long as your doc gives green light.

 

[walker1]

Thanks. I think my disc issue needs more than inversion but, I am no doctor.

[misterbig]

I think you maybe surprised how little it takes. My neighbour will go from hardly walking to playing catch with his kids in 2-3 days.

 

If he needs a little extra he holds onto dumbells. 30 min twice a day.

 

M

 

 

[walker1]

I think you maybe surprised how little it takes. My neighbour will go from hardly walking to playing catch with his kids in 2-3 days.

 

If he needs a little extra he holds onto dumbells. 30 min twice a day.

 

M

 

 

Do you know if his back problem is disc related?

[LynnF]

We're looking into that for Mike as well - but his is a nerve issue. However, the reason we found out about it is through my friend who has neck issues due to a herniated disc high up. She absolutely SWEARS this has saved her from surgery so far. And she doesn't care about the $$. It hasn't totally alleviated her pain but she has gone from spending days in bed on a board, unable to move, to being able to work on a regular basis and enjoy life again. If that isn't reason enough to try something, I don't know what is. I'd try just about anything before I let someone open up my back.

[misterbig]

Do you know if his back problem is disc related?

 

I will ask and get back to you

[walker1]

We're looking into that for Mike as well - but his is a nerve issue. However, the reason we found out about it is through my friend who has neck issues due to a herniated disc high up. She absolutely SWEARS this has saved her from surgery so far. And she doesn't care about the $$. It hasn't totally alleviated her pain but she has gone from spending days in bed on a board, unable to move, to being able to work on a regular basis and enjoy life again. If that isn't reason enough to try something, I don't know what is. I'd try just about anything before I let someone open up my back.

 

 

I also have the nerve issue. ( Sciatica) They go hand in hand. The pinching on the nerve from the disc causes this. You sound like you know this already.

 

The benefit of the surgery is it takes out the leaked portion of the disc. I will try almost anything.

 

thanks

[misterbig]

I will ask and get back to you

 

He had a slipped disc. Doctor told him to try it. He said he would never turn back and it was the best advice he ever received. He also recommended one that had different angle settings as hanging straight upside down is pretty intense if it is bad. Slowly move to 90 degrees does the trick. I would talk to the doc and see if that would work.

 

 

[LynnF]

I also have the nerve issue. ( Sciatica) They go hand in hand. The pinching on the nerve from the disc causes this. You sound like you know this already.

 

The benefit of the surgery is it takes out the leaked portion of the disc. I will try almost anything.

 

thanks

 

That's exactly what Mike has and this treatment is supposed to be meant for it. I'm in the process of finding out if extended health covers it and then we'll proceed. Quick question - and you've probably already gone this route - but have you had regular chiropractic treatment? Mike gets to the point during his "episodes" where he can't stand straight and can barely walk but a few cracks from the bone doctor and he's good. I don't really "believe" in them, but I see the amazing results he has.

[darrinhurst]

I had a herniated disc when I moved to Calgary in 2001, had surgery to repair it in 2002. Had all the lovley symptoms, including the sciatica. Woulnd't wish that kind of pain on anyone. 24/7 not really much you can do about it either. My disc was a total blow out and the only thing correcting it was surgery. I tried chiro, pain treatments, acupuncture, everything. Even physio with a lumbar stretching thing, nothing worked. Then I found out it was herniated, not bulging, and required surgery. After the surgery the pain was still there from swelling, but a couple months of Vioxx cleared that up.

 

I thought I had a recurrence about a year ago where I couldn't stand up straight or walk without leg pain. Talked to my doctor, gave me some percocets (love those things) and told me to get some physio done. Reluctantly, due to my previous failure, I went. She pulled on my legs to straighten my hips, and it started to work. I then started seeing a Chiro at the same time, and the pain went away in about a week, completely gone inside a month. I now keep regular visits to the chiro to keep my spine in line and it has worked wonders for me.

 

If you're in the SW and need a good name for a Chiro, let me know.

[walker1]

That's exactly what Mike has and this treatment is supposed to be meant for it. I'm in the process of finding out if extended health covers it and then we'll proceed. Quick question - and you've probably already gone this route - but have you had regular chiropractic treatment? Mike gets to the point during his "episodes" where he can't stand straight and can barely walk but a few cracks from the bone doctor and he's good. I don't really "believe" in them, but I see the amazing results he has.

 

Lynn I did all the red tape stuff I was asked to. I tried chiro on my own assumption and from there had tylenol3 for the first time.

Then it was many doctor visits and waits for ct scan. Next was 2 months of physio where he even told me this was not working. After that, the mri, and next to a spine specialist. They asked me to wait 3 more months but after 20 months of this I am not optomistic and hence........... looking at everything!!!

thanks

[Hawgstoppah]

walker. I may be going through the same thing with an injury at work. Is all the above (CT scan, MRI, etc) coming up negative and there saying your fine, yet your unable to do daily things and a day on the river is about as close to hell as it is to heaven? If so we are in the same boat man. Ive been a mole at home since dec 10 when I hurt my back. managed to get to the crow a couple weeks back and I think I am still suffering from it..... getting so tired of this daily hell..

[Bandi]

Been dealing with a herniated disc issue for 20 months. Jumped all the hoops, ctscan, mri, physio etc.etc. Waiting on word for a possible surgery but exploring all options.

 

Anyone know of someone who tried the decompression route. There is now a clinic in Calgary and I am thinking on it. Although expensive, worth it if it works!!

 

thanks

 

Many of us are in similar shoes (note similar). Should you have lock-back pain (specifically Sacroiliac joint), you may be able to manage it for a while without going under the knife. The lower-torso rotation (while lying on my back) pops my backbone into right position and pain goes away in minutes.

 

If you want to give it a try, www.kalindra.com/Dontigny/homeprogram.pdf

However take cautions and do not push if you feel additional pain.

 

Let us know how you are doing and if something helped.

 

[darrinhurst]

Been dealing with a herniated disc issue for 20 months. Jumped all the hoops, ctscan, mri, physio etc.etc. Waiting on word for a possible surgery but exploring all options.

 

Anyone know of someone who tried the decompression route. There is now a clinic in Calgary and I am thinking on it. Although expensive, worth it if it works!!

 

thanks

If it actually is a herniated disc, and not just bulging, then surgery is your only option. Decompression would work for a bulging disc, but once the "jelly" inside the disc bursts through the wall lining the disc, it won't do much good. I'm afraid you'd only be wasting your money.

 

At least, that's how I understand it.

 

[walker1]

If it actually is a herniated disc, and not just bulging, then surgery is your only option. Decompression would work for a bulging disc, but once the "jelly" inside the disc bursts through the wall lining the disc, it won't do much good. I'm afraid you'd only be wasting your money.

 

At least, that's how I understand it.

 

The spine specialist I spoke to says different when I asked the difference ........................ but who knows.

 

I recall reading the ct scan a year ago and the word bulge was there. Later, the word herniated was used so................................ still in the dark!!!

 

thanks

[walker1]

Many of us are in similar shoes (note similar). Should you have lock-back pain (specifically Sacroiliac joint), you may be able to manage it for a while without going under the knife. The lower-torso rotation (while lying on my back) pops my backbone into right position and pain goes away in minutes.

 

If you want to give it a try, www.kalindra.com/Dontigny/homeprogram.pdf

However take cautions and do not push if you feel additional pain.

 

Let us know how you are doing and if something helped.

 

 

Thanks so much. Will keep you posted.

[walker1]

walker. I may be going through the same thing with an injury at work. Is all the above (CT scan, MRI, etc) coming up negative and there saying your fine, yet your unable to do daily things and a day on the river is about as close to hell as it is to heaven? If so we are in the same boat man. Ive been a mole at home since dec 10 when I hurt my back. managed to get to the crow a couple weeks back and I think I am still suffering from it..... getting so tired of this daily hell..

 

Hawg

All results show there is a problem but it seems the waiting game is how it works with health care. They exhaust, with good reason, all routes before the knife. I am obviously not optomistic at this point. Some days are better than others and fishing does take it's toll. So does putting socks on in the morning some days!!!!

[tbone]

walker. I may be going through the same thing with an injury at work. Is all the above (CT scan, MRI, etc) coming up negative and there saying your fine, yet your unable to do daily things and a day on the river is about as close to hell as it is to heaven? If so we are in the same boat man. Ive been a mole at home since dec 10 when I hurt my back. managed to get to the crow a couple weeks back and I think I am still suffering from it..... getting so tired of this daily hell..

 

My MRI was negative too, however I could throw my back out putting on a pair of socks. After almost a year of this, the problem just compounds on itself and your inner back muscles become very weak and strained. I tried chiro, physio, accupuncture you name it. Finally I went to one doctor who identified that I kept spraining a joint in my lower back because the muscles bracing that joint were too weak. Furthermore I could not sleep for more than 4 hours a night because my back would just go into spasm when resting.

 

After 10 weeks of CORE EXERCISES EVERY DAY I feel WAY better. Now I can bend down and lift heavy things. My fishing is no longer affected. The odd time I do tweak my lower back I can usually recover from it completely within 5 minutes of stretching whereas before I would be out for days with heavy swelling. As lame as it sounds, strengthening my inner abdominal muscles has pretty much cured me. I used to pretty much ignore this advice in the past thinking it had to be something more complicated.

 

BTW, I have always been pretty fit and have lifted weights often before the injury so I was surprised when I was told a part of my body was very very weak. I just never focused on core training when going to the gym and now its become my focus. Hope this info helps the people with "mysterious" back problems.

[Bandi]

After 10 weeks of CORE EXERCISES EVERY DAY I feel WAY better.

 

TBone, what do you mean on core exercises? Are those same as Pilates core or like these on MayoClinics

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/core-strength/SM00047 ?

Do you happen to have a link to description, photos, video about these? Thanks.

[AndyW]

As far as core exercises go you should see a PT first to get you on the right track with the core stuff after they do an assesment of your injury. If it truly is a herniated/bulged disc you should avoid all flexion (sitting and bending forward) as much as possible in daily life and try to keep a neutral spine. Seek a PT that practices the Mckenzie method, which is mostly extension stretches. I have been battling a severely bulged disc (MRI shows 14mm) for over 4 years. When it originally happened I got it under control, but it has since come back twice with a vengence and I am currently dealing with it. Surgery is rarely an option and that is why they make you wait so long for a consult with a surgeon.

 

Oh ya- My back rarely if ever hurts. All of the pain is in my butt cheek, leg, and calf, the typical sciatic pain caused by the disc compressing the nerve root at the L5-S1 level

[LynnF]

Wow....all you guys living with this type of pain. I only see it in Mike,never having had back pain, so can only sympathize. But I have a friend whose sister has a bulging disc, is hooked on morphine now (seriously) and is waiting for surgery and has been for the last 3 years. Problem being people who have connections getting bumped to the front of the line (and we actually have a friend who went from zero to surgery in 3 months so it does happen within in our wonderful healthcare system). Keep pushing back on your docs otherwise these people with connections will get preferential treatment and take your spot, your appointment, your scan, your surgery. It's a sick cycle of treatment if you ask me.

 

Now...as for core exercises, it is a well known fact that your core supports your back. If you have weak abdominals or carry alot of weight in your front, then you put that strain on your back. By strengthening your core (through whatever exercise or program you can handle), you are doing yourself nothing but favours. A strong core is the key to a strong back - every doctor will tell you that. Pilates and yoga are a great way to do that if you're so inclined. There's scantily clad chicks in those classes if that helps you become inclined

 

Good luck to all of you dealing with this type of pain.

[tbone]

Like I said my tests were negative. I agree that if someone knows they have a herniated or bulging disc that core exercises ARE NOT going to fix it. Im just talking about mysterious back pain with MRI / CT being negative. Talk to a doctor before doing exercises.

 

Bandee - What I mean by core exercises is I guess pretty vague. I dont do pilates (Doc said its a bit too intense for back injuries to start with) but a lot of the same positions I try to hold are found in Pilates. The link you gave is somewhat similar to what I do but a lot more of my exercies involve a ball. My doctor gave me about 40 different exercises (printed out on paper) to do and I pick 4 each day and do them. Rotate through them evenly and start with the easier ones and work up to the harder ones on the ball later on. About half of them use an exercise ball. Sorry I do not have an electronic version.

 

The most important thing is to engage your TA (transverse abdominus) and Multifidus muscles. These are inner abdominal muscles that support your back! You have to learn how to do these contractions if you have never done core exercises before. These contractions are the same thing that pilates is based around for the most part. Drawing your belly button into your spine without using your diaphragm etc.. I think the 3 most beneficial exercises for me have been the plank, side plank, and sit-ups on the ball with TA engaged.

 

I'll post more if anyone has more questions..gotta run.