Wellness

[Reba055]

Hate to be Debbie Downer, but it really depends on the severity. I have degenerative disc disease, stenosis, herniated discs, facet joint issues, etc., etc. I've been in constant pain for 10 years. I've done it all short of surgery because they don't think it would help that much, and could in fact, get worse. 

I have bad and really bad days lol. I never just sit around. I'm always up and down doing something. Pacing helps, but I'll admit I've never really mastered that. There are times that it wears me completely out. I can't take anti-inflammatory meds. A positive attitude is important  but realistically if you have severe pain, at times it's hard. Don't let others make you feel like you just aren't "sucking it up". That's a pet peeve of mine. Listen, I suck it up everyday, and have for 10 years. Some people have no clue. Spinal arthritis in particular is bad because of all the nerves affected, that of course affect all parts of the body 

Now after that depressing info, you could do just fine after some injections. They helped me a great deal in the earlier years. Try to keep moving. Endorphins from exercise as someone pointed out is wonderful.  Try to get ahead of it if you can. After years of chronic pain your brain chemistry changes and it gets harder to control your pain. 

I never had luck with supplements though some people do. If you can take anti-inflammatory meds, that helps to reduce the inflammation. Chronic inflammation is not only painful, but drains all your energy. If you take those meds everyday, protect your stomach, and monitor your heart. Get educated after you find out your complete diagnosis. Doctors, especially today, have little time to devote to educating you about your problems and side effects and long term damage caused by meds. Both RX and OTC. Supplements are not without side effects and risks either. Read up on diet and inflammation. And lose weight if you are overweight. 

I hope yours is not that serious. And everyone has different pain tolerance. Don't suffer if you can get relief from recommended meds. I'm sorry, but I'm not in the camp of believing that you should just buck up and deal. If you can, your pain is not that bad. If you can't, do what you can to feel better, regardless of what others around you have to say. Sometimes it's best to discuss it with your doctor as well intended friends and family will all have their own ideas on what you should or shouldn't do. 

Good luck to you!

[Reba055]

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@dex wrote:

I heard of a woman who had some kind of stem cell transplant on her spine and is doing well.She was told by other doctors that she would end up in a wheel chair.The doctor is in Chicago but I cant remember his name.she travels there for follow ups since we have no docs in our area doing this yet.

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@dex  I checked into this. It's promising, but still in the early stages. It's more often used in joints such as the knee, elbow, etc. I've read where some people have good results but it doesn't last long. I also have read where some doctors think the treatment, especially if repeated over and over, actually makes the condition worse. It seems to work better to help repair an injury, not degenerative issues ( though many docs who do it, claim it cures all!). As with everything due diligence. 

Its something to follow for sure. 

[SeaMaiden]

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@halfpint1 wrote:

I CAN'T tell you much' I had an operation on my back. The pain doctor said he couldn't do anything for me so he sent me to a surgeon. I was told they got the arthritis out. Don't understand for dummy me I didn't ask much. I don't have t he pain in my legs anymore. Only thing my back hip hurts occasionally. Probably due to sitting and a too soft mattress. Prescription pain medicine never did anything for me th en. I had tro uble sitting up to get out of bed. Now if I have some pain I take Aleve which seems to help. The only thing is I can't take a bath for I would never be able to get o ut of the tub. I miss soaking for I hate showers.

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@halfpint1   I also had to give up my baths and could not afford a $12,000 walk in tub to be installed.  What I did buy was this lift chair from Amazon.  It has been a godsend for me as now once or twice a week I can soak and take my Epsom salt baths again.. It is not perfect. I am 5'8" tall and so I have to fill up the tub and scoot down to really emerse myself up to my shoulders.. but it is still worth it!  If you are shorter, the better it will work for you.  It allows me now to get up out of the tub again safely. I have had this chair for over a year and it just is the best purchase I have ever made. Here is the info:

Amazon.com: Drive Medical Blue Whisper Ultra Quiet Bathtub Lift, Grey: Health & Personal Care

Drive Medical Blue Whisper Ultra Quiet Bathtub Lift, Grey

from Drive Medical

Price:

$449.12 & FREE Shipping

 https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-Whisper-Ultra-Bathtub/dp/B00ABOHTK4/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UT...

[LilacTree]

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@Mom2Dogs wrote:

I saw the pain clinic doctor today...I have arthritis in the lower spine and am going to have an injection in a few weeks to 'numb' the area, trying to discover if the arthritis or if the stenosis, buldging disk is causing the pain.  The numbing shot will last several hours allowing me time to evaluate my pain level.

My question (which I will address at the next appointment as well, but is weeks away) since  arthritis cannot be cured, can it be stopped or is it something that you just learn to live with?  Does it get worse with age?  thanks!

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@Mom2Dogs

I have rheumatoid arthritis in my spine and have suffered ten+ collapsed vertebrae in the past ten years.  I've had kyphoplasty in two of them which did not help much.  My back is painful all the time, every day.  I do get relief when I lie down.  I am on 8 mgs of prednisone every day and do not take pain killers, other than OTC occasionally which only takes the edge off.  There are biologic meds available if it's rheumatoid, and they will surely be suggested to you if it turns out to be RA.  I do not take them for my own reasons.

I would have to research whether osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis differ in how they affect the spine and vertebrae, but I do know that rheumatoid arthritis, being an autoimmune disease, is incurable.  I hope they check you for both.  RA requires blood tests . . . RF factor, CRP, sed rate and anti-CCP (which is the most accurate for rheumatoid arthritis).

As to age . . . rheumatoid gets worse and I would assume disfigurement of the hands and fingers would get worse with osteoarthritis as well.  Doc tells me I could have a combination of both.  I have no experience with stenosis that I know of.

I'm sorry I don't have better news. 

[Hooty]

@SeaMaiden, OA do you mean Osteoarthritis aka Degenerative Joint Disease?  I also have this and as I age it is getting worse, in my knees and joints in my fingers, I am not ready for knee replacement, I need to lose some weight so hopefully that will help me out!

[SeaMaiden]

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@Hooty wrote:

@SeaMaiden, OA do you mean Osteoarthritis aka Degenerative Joint Disease?  I also have this and as I age it is getting worse, in my knees and joints in my fingers, I am not ready for knee replacement, I need to lose some weight so hopefully that will help me out!

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@Hooty   Yes OA.   OsteoArthritis. Not everyone gets it as bad as I have. It started in me in my 30's....and just got worse over time.

[sydsgma1]

Rheumatoid disease does not affect the spine...I have had it for many years. My back issues are caused by juvenile disc disease. Listen to your doctors..I have facet injections when I need them .. Keep moving as much as possible...I learned a lot from a 6 week program I attended about proactive back care. Pt can really help too.

best of luck.

[hckynut]

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@Hooty wrote:

@SeaMaiden, OA do you mean Osteoarthritis aka Degenerative Joint Disease?  I also have this and as I age it is getting worse, in my knees and joints in my fingers, I am not ready for knee replacement, I need to lose some weight so hopefully that will help me out!

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@Hooty

Losing weight should be something every doctor should tell their patients, if they are obviously overweight, and are there because of a back issue. Losing weight along with strengthening the core muscles(everything abdominal) and working on getting every muscle group on the rear side of their body as flexible as possible.

This includes every muscle and connective tissue group starting with the Achilles tendon up? Calves/thigh biceps(hamstrings)/hip flexors/glutes(butt)/and Spinae Erector. Stretch/Stretch and stretch some more. And work on the front core every day as well as well as all of the aforementioned.

Everyone that has no spinal structural or disease issues, would be well served to this BEFORE back issues arise. Why wait? Talk with anyone suffering from severe spinal pain and stories(I am one of them, except I lost little, if any flexibility or mobility), not a thing anyone wants to have to endure.

I kept most of my functions because soon after my first surgery I worked very hard at recovery, and continue to this day doing the same things, just not as long or as frequent, but every single day.

hckynut(john)

[Mom2Dogs]

@hckynut.....I try to stay active...I work outside the home (but do a lot of lifting of boxes when I have to deliver job work)  as well as 'work' at home, always doing something, inside and out....and I am not overweight.

I  also exercise, maybe not daily but I do exercise. This  diagnosis really threw me!  I have had back issues for years, starting in my 20's.  I did something while playing basketball with a friends child!  Next thing I did was sprain my pelvis while working in the yard...that took an entire summer to heal.....then I had no back issues for several years, then this!.....to me it is out of the blue.

I hope I am offered (or I will ask) if there is a class I can go to because I have no idea what I can and cannot do as far as exercising, lifting, etc. plus some of the replies to my thread have scared me a little....I am sorry there are so many in such pain.

[Trinity11]

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@Mom2Dogs wrote:

I saw the pain clinic doctor today...I have arthritis in the lower spine and am going to have an injection in a few weeks to 'numb' the area, trying to discover if the arthritis or if the stenosis, buldging disk is causing the pain.  The numbing shot will last several hours allowing me time to evaluate my pain level.

My question (which I will address at the next appointment as well, but is weeks away) since  arthritis cannot be cured, can it be stopped or is it something that you just learn to live with?  Does it get worse with age?  thanks!

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I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis about fifteen years ago. I have my days but the majority of time I am not in a lot of discomfort....just mild pain that I try to forget about. I have not gotten worse with age and I do find, though, that if I don't make myself do things during the day like walking and getting out of the house, I get a lot worse. I recently had pneumonia and wasn't able to keep up with my exercise routine and I noticed my first day out that I was having pain. So I push myself and that seems to work for me.

Don't be frightened by anecdotal stories on the internet. You may be like myself and do very well. Everyone is different but I was told when first diagnosed that the key to stenosis and arthritis is to move, move, move. Even on days when I can barely get myself out of the house, I make myself exercise and I feel so much better for having done so.

Be well and keep us posted how you are doing....