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Chronic back pain unable to walk longer than two minutes

Posted by wincardona @wincardona, Mar 11 3:50am

I am 81 years old and have been suffering from back problems for the last 20 years. I have had three spinal fusions, with the last one on 09/31/2024. I never recovered from the last one, resulting in chronic back pain, rendering me with a disability where I am unable to walk or stand longer than two minutes without having to either sit or lie down. I have tried epidural injections and Radio Frequency Ablation, which hasn't helped. My doctors have no answers as to why I'm experiencing this type of pain. My surgeon said that the surgery was a success based on my CT scan and MRI. I have arthritis in the spine with scar tissue as well. Im wondering if I'm a candidate for HFX or spinal stimulation. Is there a difference, and if so, which method would I be more responsive to? I want some feedback; thank you.

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Profile picture for olv
olv | @oveanlover1224 | Aug 24 4:28pm

THIS is me exactly!!!!!!!!! I have SEVERE lumbar stenosis L3 L4 L5 with slipped discs! I have seen 2 neurosurgeons now and they both say if I have surgery I only have a 50/50 of it being successful WTH! seriously what kind of odds are going through such a major surgery for maybe nothing maybe worse with the knowledge that adjacent syndrome is most likely!!! So as of now I live in CHRONIC PAIN can only walk for 2 minutes at a time! I am a 62 year old woman who was a athlete and played tennis my whole life competitively! all I take for pain is advil as it does not really work flexeril doesnt work great,, and LYRICA was just prescribed and I just had ANOTHER INJECTION! AVOIDING surgery for now all there seems to be are complications! any other pain medications to suggest it would be SOOOO greatly appreciated:)

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4 replies
Profile picture for carol1024
carol1024 | @carol1024 | Aug 25 5:52am
In reply to @oveanlover1224 "THIS is me exactly!!!!!!!!! I have SEVERE lumbar stenosis L3 L4 L5 with slipped discs! I..." + (show)
Profile picture for olv @oveanlover1224

THIS is me exactly!!!!!!!!! I have SEVERE lumbar stenosis L3 L4 L5 with slipped discs! I have seen 2 neurosurgeons now and they both say if I have surgery I only have a 50/50 of it being successful WTH! seriously what kind of odds are going through such a major surgery for maybe nothing maybe worse with the knowledge that adjacent syndrome is most likely!!! So as of now I live in CHRONIC PAIN can only walk for 2 minutes at a time! I am a 62 year old woman who was a athlete and played tennis my whole life competitively! all I take for pain is advil as it does not really work flexeril doesnt work great,, and LYRICA was just prescribed and I just had ANOTHER INJECTION! AVOIDING surgery for now all there seems to be are complications! any other pain medications to suggest it would be SOOOO greatly appreciated:)

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Have you tried any opiods? I've had back issues for over 20 years and take hydrocodone. It still works after all these years. I'll be 67 in October and at this stage in life, addiction is not something I'm worried about. Just had hysterectomy for stage 3C endometrial cancer too and was told it's stage 4. Not worried about addiction, just give me something that works. 😊
I also take gabapentin for the neuropathy and nerve pain.

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3 replies
Profile picture for darcybechtel67
darcybechtel67 | @darcybechtel67 | Aug 25 6:08pm
In reply to @oveanlover1224 "THIS is me exactly!!!!!!!!! I have SEVERE lumbar stenosis L3 L4 L5 with slipped discs! I..." + (show)
Profile picture for olv @oveanlover1224

THIS is me exactly!!!!!!!!! I have SEVERE lumbar stenosis L3 L4 L5 with slipped discs! I have seen 2 neurosurgeons now and they both say if I have surgery I only have a 50/50 of it being successful WTH! seriously what kind of odds are going through such a major surgery for maybe nothing maybe worse with the knowledge that adjacent syndrome is most likely!!! So as of now I live in CHRONIC PAIN can only walk for 2 minutes at a time! I am a 62 year old woman who was a athlete and played tennis my whole life competitively! all I take for pain is advil as it does not really work flexeril doesnt work great,, and LYRICA was just prescribed and I just had ANOTHER INJECTION! AVOIDING surgery for now all there seems to be are complications! any other pain medications to suggest it would be SOOOO greatly appreciated:)

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I have some of those same issues. 3 bulging discs. I have had a steroid injections nerve block and nothing. So I thought maybe they would look more into but have heard nothing. I'm in Montana. Hopefully when I come back to Mayo this fall they can help. Sending lots of love hugs and prayers for you

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Profile picture for wincardona
wincardona | @wincardona | Aug 25 7:45pm
In reply to @darcybechtel67 "I have some of those same issues. 3 bulging discs. I have had a steroid injections..." + (show)
Profile picture for darcybechtel67 @darcybechtel67

I have some of those same issues. 3 bulging discs. I have had a steroid injections nerve block and nothing. So I thought maybe they would look more into but have heard nothing. I'm in Montana. Hopefully when I come back to Mayo this fall they can help. Sending lots of love hugs and prayers for you

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Like I mentioned, I cannot stand or walk longer than two to three minutes; my problem is arthritis in my back. Im wondering if physical therapy might help. I can no longer have injections. Im on blood thinners. Any advice for older men with severe arthritis in the back?

Thank you, life is tough after 70, especially if you can't walk.

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1 reply
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gently | @gently | Aug 25 9:48pm

wincardona, have you had an MRI?

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zilla | @zilla | Aug 26 8:00am
In reply to @wincardona "Like I mentioned, I cannot stand or walk longer than two to three minutes; my problem..." + (show)
Profile picture for wincardona @wincardona

Like I mentioned, I cannot stand or walk longer than two to three minutes; my problem is arthritis in my back. Im wondering if physical therapy might help. I can no longer have injections. Im on blood thinners. Any advice for older men with severe arthritis in the back?

Thank you, life is tough after 70, especially if you can't walk.

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I have had amazing results with gentle PT strengthening exercises for my “core”. PT has never done squat for my knee (I had unsuccessful TRK 10 yrs ago) but REGULAR exercising for my back has done a lot . Just simple things a PT taught me.

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1 reply
Profile picture for clehome
clehome | @clehome | Aug 26 9:57am
In reply to @oveanlover1224 "THIS is me exactly!!!!!!!!! I have SEVERE lumbar stenosis L3 L4 L5 with slipped discs! I..." + (show)
Profile picture for olv @oveanlover1224

THIS is me exactly!!!!!!!!! I have SEVERE lumbar stenosis L3 L4 L5 with slipped discs! I have seen 2 neurosurgeons now and they both say if I have surgery I only have a 50/50 of it being successful WTH! seriously what kind of odds are going through such a major surgery for maybe nothing maybe worse with the knowledge that adjacent syndrome is most likely!!! So as of now I live in CHRONIC PAIN can only walk for 2 minutes at a time! I am a 62 year old woman who was a athlete and played tennis my whole life competitively! all I take for pain is advil as it does not really work flexeril doesnt work great,, and LYRICA was just prescribed and I just had ANOTHER INJECTION! AVOIDING surgery for now all there seems to be are complications! any other pain medications to suggest it would be SOOOO greatly appreciated:)

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God bless oceanlover. Please don't feel like you are alone. Unlike your neurosurgeon, I was not given the stats. I was one of the losers of the 50/50.
I had my L2 - L5 fused. I am in worse shape now then before I had the fusion.
I have tried everything and the only thing that gives me some relief is opioids. However, depending which state you live in doctors may not prescribe. Pain management is a joke. They need to call this profession something else. I am 57, and like most, doctors have no idea, nor do I think they even care.

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1 reply
Profile picture for olv
olv | @oveanlover1224 | Aug 26 3:19pm
In reply to @clehome "God bless oceanlover. Please don't feel like you are alone. Unlike your neurosurgeon, I was not..." + (show)
Profile picture for clehome @clehome

God bless oceanlover. Please don't feel like you are alone. Unlike your neurosurgeon, I was not given the stats. I was one of the losers of the 50/50.
I had my L2 - L5 fused. I am in worse shape now then before I had the fusion.
I have tried everything and the only thing that gives me some relief is opioids. However, depending which state you live in doctors may not prescribe. Pain management is a joke. They need to call this profession something else. I am 57, and like most, doctors have no idea, nor do I think they even care.

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They do NOT give opiods at all where i live! No matter how much pain! I am sooo so sry to hear your surgery was unsuccessful! In worse shape then before UGH That is why i am trying to live in chronic pain without surgery if i would come out even worse ugh CRYING!

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Profile picture for jackiet
jackiet | @jackiet | Aug 27 7:51am

May I ask where you live? I live in New York State in the US. No problem getting opioids for my spinal osteoarthritis. I am so sorry to hear your plight.

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dawnj | @dawnj | Aug 27 10:16am
In reply to @carol1024 "Have you tried any opiods? I've had back issues for over 20 years and take hydrocodone...." + (show)
Profile picture for carol1024 @carol1024

Have you tried any opiods? I've had back issues for over 20 years and take hydrocodone. It still works after all these years. I'll be 67 in October and at this stage in life, addiction is not something I'm worried about. Just had hysterectomy for stage 3C endometrial cancer too and was told it's stage 4. Not worried about addiction, just give me something that works. 😊
I also take gabapentin for the neuropathy and nerve pain.

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I got fir my op on Monday

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