[Janie123]

Originally Posted by MightyDog

The bolded part strikes me as notable although, perhaps not. Did he start wearing a new type of shoes after moving here? Is he sitting in a new chair since arriving? Are the floors in your home a much harder surface to walk on than before?

Short story: About 15 years ago, I used to get a tightening in my back of about a 4 or 5 inch span on my spine between the shoulder blades. I couldn't get relief for it except to go to the chiropractor and that helped.

So, I'd go to the chiro every 4 to 6 weeks and get him to address that and my neck.

After about a 1.5 years of this, I happened to go on a 10-day vacation and didn't take the shoes that I wore almost everyday while working at home. About the time I returned, I realized I had experienced none of that stiff section in my back the whole time on vacation.

I always like to consider -- well, what was different that changed something? Wow, I realized it had been those shoes. I loved them but, they had a sculpted sole and they obviously contorted my feet just slightly enough to have it affect my spine. I stopped wearing them entirely and the problem has never occurred again.

Unreal....

Same here… I was having pain in back and feet… podiatrist suggested better shoes. Bought a pair of Hoka’s and went to Europe for 2 weeks, walked my butt off with zero pain. cancelled all my back and pain doctor appts…

[harby]

I did go with low back pain for a long time and decided to try with an acupuncturist in Ocala. Her name is Erica Olstein, DOM, AP,
352 615 5566. I can t believe how fast the pain is gone (unless I lift some, it will ache little) after three treatments! My ins. will reimburse me after I paid myself and sent the receipts to the ins. co. Good luck. Chas

[MidWestIA]

try one of these

https://chiropractorinoviedo.com/blo...-chiropractor/

[Drrichross]

As many have alluded to, looking at changes in lifestyle and activities since moving to TV might help. One major lifestyle change many have after the move is changing to the golf cart lifestyle. Does he do a lot of cart driving? Look at the steering column on a golf cart and compare to a car/truck. The column on a cart is on a much more vertical angle. Thus when you drive you are more hunched over the radius. You steer more with shoulders than wrists as the focal point of pivot. The forces then get transferred to the next joint in line which is spine instead of elbow/ shoulder. Also seats are more upright than a sedan style cockpit, so you get a much more horizontal load onto spine and hips. In a car your legs are more in front than below, which gives a pelvic tilt and unloads the spine. Also lack of shocks add more jarring force to an unsupported, compromised spine.
This may not be his particular issue, but it is a major lifestyle change that many villagers go thru without realizing. Part of the fun of TV is being able to drive for hours in a cart. That's what I tell people up north. But golf carts were not designed for this, and by design are possibly the worst mode of travel, but are so fun. Every time we come down (snow flakes) the first thing we do is hop in the cart and drive from Mulberry to explore the new areas. I always pay the price with back pain, but as an osteopathic physician I know some tricks and stretches that work for me. I would suggest that if he does a lot of cart driving he take a break until seeing the surgeon. Also maybe try a supporting back brace to take stress off the muscles that are trying to stabilize his spine. Just my thoughts. Good luck. But remember in most cases surgery is the last resort. It may help, but there isn't much to offer beyond that, and if lifestyle (bed, activities, weight, osteoporosis, exercise...) aren't addressed as well the problem just returns and now your last resort has been used.

[bsouthworth47@yahoo.com]

In 2017 in Ocala I had back surgery for a Herniated disc protruding on my right leg. In 2021 it was still bothering me a lot so I went to Shands in Gainsville and had back surgery again .Best thing I ever did. I now have no pain and can do whatever I want. The doctor who operated on me is Dr. Decker and now has an office in Ocala. I see him once a year to make sure everything is ok. Would highly recommend anyone with back issues to deal with Shands. If anyone wants any more information let me know.

[Santiagogirl]

If the people you:have seen have ruled out catastrophic causes of back pain (hugely blown disc, cancer, abdominal aneurysm, etc), trying a chiropractor or osteopathic doc who is skilled in manipulation may help. Dr David Kuhn is good. Got rid of my backache in a few visits. Told me to return if I had more problems and didn't try to convince me to receive endless visits/herbal supplements/unnecessary treatments/questionable tests like some providers I have encountered.
Office near City Hall in Wildwood. He is a senior like us.

[CooperDupper]

So many of us suffer from back pain as we age. I found going to chiropractor for relief is best, but he or she should want to see an MRI which will probably require a script from your GP doctor.

[cwmmfink]

I wont impose upon you with my horror story; but to say, Dr. Scott Stengel saved me from the pain without surgery. Try one visit with your MRI and he will tell if he can help.

[Smalley]

The excess weight problem is often ignored or just not mentioned. Being overweight puts extra stress on spine and joints. There aren't many things that we can control but we CAN control our weight. If you haven't tried "My Fitness Pal", get the free app or look at the website and get started. We've been doing it for 2 months now and seeing results.

[justjim]

Originally Posted by Smalley

The excess weight problem is often ignored or just not mentioned. Being overweight puts extra stress on spine and joints. There aren't many things that we can control but we CAN control our weight. If you haven't tried "My Fitness Pal", get the free app or look at the website and get started. We've been doing it for 2 months now and seeing results.

You are spot on about weight. It’s amazing what the loss of 10-15 pounds can do to help your back pain.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Denverdame

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can get him some help immediately or know of a reputable back doctor that will see him right away?
Thank you in advance.

So your description reads like a completely change in physical lifestyle, and many transition from sedentary to active aren't in shape to make that quick transition.

I have herniated a lower back disc twice. The first time in my early 40s, during a competitive soccer match. i thought it was muscular, and never saw a doctor. The second time a combination of competitive tennis match, golfing, and moving heavy objects, the doctor did say it was a repeated injury as he could see the original on the MRI. There were signs the second time, but I was ignorant of them. Now, I stop whenever the signs show up for potential issues again. The signs were there, if you know how they feel.

Two doctors said mine will heal on its own with time, and exercise. I worked at home on my laptop, laying prone on the floor all day for several weeks until I could walk without pain.. It takes a long time to heal a disc bulge/tear. . shorter with surgery, but that introduces other risks. .

So the answers for mine was:

Proper diagnosis with an MRI.
Proper preventive physical therapy for the rest of my life.

Walking with proper posture as my posture from computer sitting for day after day weakened the muscles holding my back in line.
Daily PT exercises core and back, with stretching to reduce stenosis
after pain free continue anaerobic exercises with light weights to strengthen more than sedentary lifestyle.

Losing weight,
Walking, walking, walking at pace, not dawdling.
not sitting in a chair for more than several hours without getting up and walking around the house.

anything you read might be familiar to your husband?

[PLedoux]

I agree with others who say “what was the diagnosis?” I have had back pain most of my adult life, but it got worse over time. I was diagnosed with scoliosis, resulting in degenerative disk issues. I tried, due to insurance regulations, the steroid injections. Sometimes they worked, sometimes not, but never for long. Just this past spring I had surgery on my L3 and L4 disks (a spacer was inserted between them to replace almost total disk failure.) It has made a huge difference, and my doctor is hopeful that the other disks will work for a while without help. (I think he was trying NOT to say “for the rest of your short life, because you are really old!”) But the reality is that the other disks are also degenerated so there is a chance that I will have to have further surgery.
If your doctor has referrred you to a surgeon, it may be what is required. Here in our hometown in Michigan, we do not have the long wait times for doctors, but if I had to I would have just put my name in and waited to see the surgeon to hear what he had to say. Maybe ask to be on a cancellation list, or look further out, like Ocala or even Orlando to find someone who can see you sooner. I was not able to find any relief until I had the surgery.
I do agree with others that lifestyle changes make a huge difference. I found that golfing was very hard on my back when it was at its worst. Also, weight changes over the years were a factor.

[Denverdame]

Thank you

[Denverdame]

Thank you