Lower Back Pain

[DGx2]

I have had lower back pain most of my life. Diagnosed with arthritis and dengerative disc disease, I was wondering if any one has any advice for me regarding a remedy or at something to mitigate the pain. I have tried Dr. Boyles (chiropractor) and sometimes get some short term relief. Thanks DG

[mantfam]

Try DR.Yili Zhou in Ocala. at The Pain and Rehabilitation Center.
Harvard trained pain specialist.
352-629-7011

[aljetmet]

What does your orthopedist say? I have had similar issues and after physical therapy the Dr said I could get a direct injection of steroids to my spine because I had some more pain ( and could not play golf).

I opted out of that and took a steroid pack instead. Releived the pain enough that I could start working out at the gym. Long walks of 20 - 30 minutes daily is great exercise as well as swimming or even walking in a pool.

Last two years I blew my back out in the spring and lost half the summer without golf. Now that I have kept up exercising ( I stopped going to the gym in the winter) I am playing golf ( first time in 3 years playing in May!) and my back is fine. I still have very slight sciatica in my right leg.

FYI, I never used a Chiropractor....

[NotGolfer]

I've used Dr. Boyles and he was good for my lower back issues (I too have had this for years). I also had an appointment with Dr. Dan Spurrier (neurosurgeon) for an evaluation. You'd have to have an MRI to determine what's causing (presently as it changes) the pain. He will NOT do surgery unless it's a last resort! When he does do surgery...it's non-evasive, which I did end up having to have....due to a ruptured disc. It's a "day" surgery and the recovery is 2 weeks then no restrictions after that!! Good luck with finding care for yourself!

[Dennis Ga]

I just had a steroid shot in both sides of my lower back. This is the 4 time in the last 20 years. Going to a chiropractor helps keep the pain down but after 5 or 6 years the only thing that helps is these shots. I hurt my back at work and did all of the other things except surgery and the shots. The neurosurgeon said let's try this and it worked. Even though they numb the area when they get the needle in the right place you know it, but it has been 8 hours now and it feels sore but none of the sharp pain. Good luck on finding what works for you, but my doctor said to try everything else before surgery and even then think long and hard before you have it.

[OldDave]

Even though I'm not in Florida, I am all too familiar with this problem. I had spinal damage from a ruptured disc in my neck that was permanent and am fighting 4 buldging discs in my neck and lower back. I'm lucky enough to have a pain management specialist in this little town with great training. He was a spinal surgeon in China and has certificates out the ear. He now only does pain management which means the injections and implants that generate small amounts of current for really bad cases.

Here's what I can tell you. Chiropratics does really do anything. The idea that you are "out of alignment" is a wive's tale. They can provide heat and massage and manipulation, but really cannot help in the long run and some of the less reputable members of the trade can do damage. I know I'll get flamed for this but so be it. I've found arguing about this and homopaetic stuff is pretty much like arguing about religion and politics. Everyone has their mind made up so there is no use in discussing it. I'm only commenting from my actual experience. I've got a good friend who is a chiropractor and I trust her and i've been to her.

Back to the current doctor. A few years ago doctors did injections into the spinal canal. They didn't work very well, and were a little bit dangerous. Now they inject into the nerve root next to the spine. A good doc will use real time xray to place the injection in the correct space. It's usually a series of 3 shots two weeks apart. For many people this really helps. The cortisone and other drugs in the mix not only relieve pain but they reduce swelling which can help calm the source of the pain. In a good case they case work for up to 2 years, and certainly should work for 6 months at the minimum. They will have to be repeated and unfortunately the disc will not really get better.

I've had very good luck. My daughter is going to college to be a doctor and spent last summer shadowing this fellow. She tells me most patients seem to have good luck with the back injections and people with knee pain seem to do even better. I actually went to him the first time with bursitis in the hip. The injection worked great for that. These are expensive. $250 or so for an in office shot for the knee or hip. More like $2,000 each for the ones near the spine. Our insurance sucks, so yours might make it better. I don't know any of the doctor's down there, but be careful. This isn't yet a recognized specialty, although Dr. Fan says it will be in a few years. Get someone like him who has the background to understand these areas of the body. Avoid anestitists who like doing this. You really need to know where everything is.

Best of luck to you. I'm at about 1.5 years on my last lower back injections and doing pretty well. I'm also losing weight slowly which helps a great deal, ifyou can.

[Mudder]

I have had low back pain forever......tried everything. Recently was told about Dr. Chesire, an acupuncturist. WOW, 4 treatments and my back has not been "looser" in years. I work out regularly, play tennis, golf, pickleball, etc...Dr. Chesire will give you a free consultation, then you can decide how any and how often to have treatments or decide not to use him. The treatments are totally pain free, relaxing. His office is in Lake Sumter. Give it a try . It's non invasive, no side effects. I've been the route of all things mentioned in other posts.
By the way, Dr. Boyles actually hurt my back more than it was when I first went to him.

[peaches]

Dr. Cheshire's number is 1-352-430-2720. I did therapy and back injections which helped. The acupuncture took away the daily "brings tears to your eyes" pain. It took about 6 weeks, twice a week. I now do daily leg exercises to strengthen my back and haven't had a need to return.

[batman911]

I have lived with lower back pain since my early 20s. The best remedy is to keep your weight down and do mild exercise daily. I always feel better if I can run or do some light weight training daily. Over the years I have tried everything except surgery but, long term, I do best with exercise.

[Villages PL]

I have had lower back pain most of my life. Diagnosed with arthritis and dengerative disc disease, I was wondering if any one has any advice for me regarding a remedy or at something to mitigate the pain. I have tried Dr. Boyles (chiropractor) and sometimes get some short term relief. Thanks DG

Get down to your ideal weight, like a BMI of 19, if possible. Make sure you stay well hydrated (drink water)(no alcohol). Eat a healthy diet (no processed foods) consisting of fresh fruit, non-starchy vegetables, limited amounts of whole (intact) grains, legumes and limited amounts of nuts. Use small amounts of extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon as your dressing. Lots of dark leafy greens are good for your health (make salads). And make sure you're getting enough vitamin D3.

Get at least moderate exercise without causing stress to your back.

[billethkid]

weight loss and conditioning is the best medicine. When we were younger we all has more muscle mass than we do today. The muscles aid substantially in keeping the weight bearing off the bones. As we age and the muscle mass reduces, more of the weight does in fact come to bear directly on the skeleton, resulting in various types of pain(s) for some.

Do what you are able to physically in both cardio vascular exercising as well as light weight training to keep the muscle mass one has toned up.

Good luck.

btk