About 3 years ago I was lifting/stacking semi truck tires. Each weighed about 120lbs each. I was doing it alone and after about 3 stacks of throwing these things 8 high, I heard a pop/crack. I had x-rays and was told my lifting days are over. Over the last 3 years the pain has gotten worse. It goes from my lower back, down both legs and even in my feet. Sometimes I've felt what feels like electricity in my lower back.

The pain has gotten so bad now that I don't sleep well, I am on my feet at work from 9 to 11+ hours a day, 5 sometimes 6 days a week. (I sell cars for a living). At the end of each working day I am usually hurting so bad lately I don't hardly feel like driving home.

I had an MRI done yesterday and got results today of herniated lower disks, (my opinion) they said bulging but I know it has to be more from my research because the pain is intense. My back, hips, groin area, legs and even my feet (more so the left one). It is hindering my work, it hurts to sit, stand, walk, go down steps, bend over slightly, etc. My family Dr. said after the MRI report today he could send me to physical therapy and a neuro surgeon. He said I just need to strengthen my stomach muscles and the neuro surgeon would probably not do anything. My insurance won't cover physical therapy and from what I've read you can't get disability from back pain. I don't want to bleed the system, I was brought up to work hard. I just want to know what's going on, Virginia has nothing like short term disability to help as I try to recover, my employer does not offer it until the "open enrollment periods"

Now here I sit, stand or lay to try to get the pain to ease up but during my family doctor wanting to use me as a lab rat I'm going to lose my house, cars, etc because if I don't sell I don't get paid. Again I don't want to make a career of being on disability but even if I were to get disability I know it can take 1 to 2 years. My wife of 20 years, my 16 month daughter, my 3 yr old daughter and my 14 year old daughter will be on the street by then.

I said all that to lay a foundation of what is really doing on and how I can do to fix it. I can't spend the next few months doing physical therapy (which my insurance won't fully cover) and the possibllity of having surgery form this neuro surgeon.

I feel stuck with a doctor that either don't believe I am in so much pain or he has no idea of making a proper diagnosis of what is going on. The doctor said that doing my same job is just going to make it worse not better. Do I have any options other than to work till I'm crippled or should I look for another doctor that knows more about what is going on.

Sorry I posted so much but when it's 1:00am and I'm wide awake from pain but something has got to give.

@carsalespapa

My immediate thought is that you need a pain specialist. Mine has been a huge help to me.

I applied for Social Security Disability when I was 55, and was approved the first time I asked. The first check was retroactive to when I applied. I think that your chances of getting approval the first time out are much better if you go through an agency. Disability isn't really enough for my wife and me to live on. After paying for Medicare and supplements, I get just over $1000 a month. I'm sure that disability insurance would pay much more than that. I suppose you filed a report when you heard things pop and crack. I don't really understand why or how you've kept going this long. If you can't get accident insurance, something's wrong.

I get needing to talk about your pain. The length of your posts is certainly not a problem. Write anytime, either here in the group or to me personally.

Jim

I have a condition called cervical dystonia. And severe arthritis in my neck, back, foot, and hip. I spent a week up at Mayo's in August and they want me to enroll in there three-week pain clinic. It offers physical therapy, group therapy, individual therapy, and adjusting of pain medications.
I'm concerned about spending all that money and just wondering if someone's been through the clinic and now helpful it's been. In reading some of the current communications I haven't seen anything about anyone attending the pain clinic at mayo.

@liz1945, I am in the process of helping search for you. I know we have had members discuss the Mayo pain program in the past, it is just taking me some time to find that discussion. I will post here as soon as I find it!

@liz1945, I found a discussion that has members talking the pain rehab clinic and program: Pain rehabilitation, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pain-rehabilitation-21da8b/. I think this discussion will have some information and discussion points that you are looking for.

Thank you Justin for finding that for me. Liz