1. < Spine Health

Low back pain & neuropathy issues

Posted by timmckinney @timmckinney, Feb 6, 2018

68 years old and lower back+neuropathy issues make staying active hell. Used to be avid jogger and now cannot be on my feet for more than 10-15 minutes. No meds help. Very depressing.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

grandmaR | @grandmar | Feb 11, 2018
In reply to @powerl2017 "Same hear I have three procedures no help . I am looking to stem cell info..." + (show)
@powerl2017

Same hear I have three procedures no help . I am looking to stem cell info now.

Jump to this post

And it is NOT going to get any better. It IS going to get harder to get pain meds. I am only taking them when the pain is unbearable. My pain doc does not prescribe pain meds very easily. Damn, he won't prescribe any walking aide devices either. He feels I am too young (62 yo). I really don't know what age has to do with it????? If he wasn't so good at what he does, I wouldn't be seeing him and travel 2 hours to get to him.

REPLY
bonnieh218 | @bonnieh218 | Feb 11, 2018

@grandmar you mentioned in another post I read that you thought it would be great to get to a good hospital like Mayo. It is possible. I’m 65 so am on Medicare. I see Mayo doctors in Rochester for fibromyalgia. They have an excellent pain management program; it is a two week program. I have not done this program yet. You should call Mayo to get an appointment. It is not hard to get in. I always used to think it was so much more expensive to go there. It is not! Things work at Mayo within relatively short time spans and you get test, etc. reports right away so their teams of doctors work together to make a plan for your individual treatment. I don’t know anything about your situation but I hope you would be able to give this some thought and possibly get answers and relief.

REPLY
5 replies
cognac | @cognac | Feb 11, 2018
In reply to @jimhd "@timmckinney Parus is right. You're not alone. I had compression fractures in my lower back when..." + (show)
@jimhd

@timmckinney

Parus is right. You're not alone. I had compression fractures in my lower back when I fell several years ago, and have peripheral neuropathy pain in my feet. I had a spinal cord stimulator implant in June last year, and the pain in my feet has been reduced significantly, though certainly not completely. It's frustrating not to be able to walk like I used to. I take morphine sulfate contin and I'm trying Gabapentin again. I'm hoping that one of the medications for neuropathy will work, now that I have the stimulator. None of them did anything before.

Going to a pain specialist was one of the best things I've done. He took a sincere interest in helping me. I had been through all the neuropathy meds with the neurologist, with no success.

What doctors have you seen about the neuropathy? Keep pressing them to try everything they can. Don't let them give up.

Jim

Jump to this post

Lyrica does not help me. But as you know, it all depends on the make-up of who is taking the drug. It works for some, and not for others.

REPLY
GailBL, Alumni Mentor | @gailb | Feb 11, 2018
In reply to @grandmar "I feel your pain...literally! I am 63 (in a month) and I also suffer from chronic..." + (show)
@grandmar

I feel your pain...literally! I am 63 (in a month) and I also suffer from chronic pain. My lumbar and cervical spines are in real trouble! At one point I stopped walking for over 2 years because of the pain. I also had severe, I want to die pain in my left arm to fingers that came from my cervical spine. I went to a pain doc who gave me a shot. The shot was the answer and thankfully it worked for years!
As for my lower issues, I saw 4 docs. They all tried lots of things that didn't work. Three years ago I moved and went to one doc who was good for nothing. I searched and searched and finally found a pain doc who is about 1-2 hours away (because of traffic, it can be longer). He has worked MAGIC on my lumbar spine!. He uses a fluoroscope to find the sweet spot, based on my MRIs and what I tell him. His shots usually last 8-12 weeks if I behave.
I agree with Jim. You are too young to be homebound. Do some research in your area for a good pain doc. Read reviews by patients and other docs.

A couple of sites you can use:
vitals.com
Zocdoc.com
nationalpeerreview.com
WebMD.com
ratemds.com

Hope this helps.
Ronnie

Jump to this post

@grandmar

Since you are deciding to have major surgery, may I recommend that you seek a second opinion about your cervical surgery? I'm not doubting your surgeon, but it's always a good idea before having major surgery you check with another doctor. Also, please be aware that both surgeries you mentioned may not relieve your pain, but may keep you from needing a wheelchair. My brothers have both had multiple back surgeries and have told me to be very careful because once you start with fusions eventually you end up having more and more of your disks fused. I don't know that your surgeon has fusion in mind for you, so this is just a suggestion. My laminectomy was an outpatient surgery where they sawed off part of my disk to remove the part that was impinging on my spinal cord. Just make sure you do your research before going to surgery. It took a year to be fully healed from my outpatient surgery.

I'm wishing the best for you and relief of your pain. My shoulder has also improved with the ART treatments. You sound very hopeful and having a positive attitude is a big part of recovery.

Gail B
Volunteer Mentor

REPLY
grandmaR | @grandmar | Feb 11, 2018
In reply to @grandmar "I feel your pain...literally! I am 63 (in a month) and I also suffer from chronic..." + (show)
@grandmar

I feel your pain...literally! I am 63 (in a month) and I also suffer from chronic pain. My lumbar and cervical spines are in real trouble! At one point I stopped walking for over 2 years because of the pain. I also had severe, I want to die pain in my left arm to fingers that came from my cervical spine. I went to a pain doc who gave me a shot. The shot was the answer and thankfully it worked for years!
As for my lower issues, I saw 4 docs. They all tried lots of things that didn't work. Three years ago I moved and went to one doc who was good for nothing. I searched and searched and finally found a pain doc who is about 1-2 hours away (because of traffic, it can be longer). He has worked MAGIC on my lumbar spine!. He uses a fluoroscope to find the sweet spot, based on my MRIs and what I tell him. His shots usually last 8-12 weeks if I behave.
I agree with Jim. You are too young to be homebound. Do some research in your area for a good pain doc. Read reviews by patients and other docs.

A couple of sites you can use:
vitals.com
Zocdoc.com
nationalpeerreview.com
WebMD.com
ratemds.com

Hope this helps.
Ronnie

Jump to this post

Hi Gail,
Thank you so much for your input; I really appreciate your concerns.

I have been researching surgery on and off for over a year. My surgeon did speak to me about fusion and the reasons why he really does not do it anymore. It is what you said about needing additional surgery later on. He will remove the 2 discs that are creating the issues in my cervical spine, then replace them with artificial discs.

I've done my research on this doc and I haven't found one bad thing said about him. I went on about 5 or 6 different sites. I saw a surgeon at Johns Hopkins 5 years ago and he told me then that is wasn't a question of IF surgery will be needed, he said it was a question of WHEN. I wasn't ready for surgery at that point. I felt I had not exhausted all the non-surgical options. 5 years later I barely walk and I had to retire 2 years early on disability, taking a BIG hit on my pension. I had no choice since I could no longer do my job the way it needed to be done.

My hubby and I do feel comfortable with this decision. I will let you know how things go.

Again, thank you for all your input!!
Ronnie

REPLY
grandmaR | @grandmar | Feb 11, 2018
In reply to @bonnieh218 "@grandmar you mentioned in another post I read that you thought it would be great to..." + (show)
@bonnieh218

@grandmar you mentioned in another post I read that you thought it would be great to get to a good hospital like Mayo. It is possible. I’m 65 so am on Medicare. I see Mayo doctors in Rochester for fibromyalgia. They have an excellent pain management program; it is a two week program. I have not done this program yet. You should call Mayo to get an appointment. It is not hard to get in. I always used to think it was so much more expensive to go there. It is not! Things work at Mayo within relatively short time spans and you get test, etc. reports right away so their teams of doctors work together to make a plan for your individual treatment. I don’t know anything about your situation but I hope you would be able to give this some thought and possibly get answers and relief.

Jump to this post

Hi!
I've tried 4 or 5 times to get an appointment in Mayo, they keep turning me down. I am on Medicare and BC/BS. The benefits are great. As of last week, they still won't take me. Could be that it might be a smaller facility and will take less patients. At one time my hubby and I actually thought about going to Rochester. For some reason, Rochester comes up in discussion during the winter. Not the best time to go. I am not rich by any means, but we are both desperate to try to get the old me back.

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Feb 11, 2018
In reply to @grandmar "I am sorry about your pain and insurance issues. I NEVER heard of being rejected for..." + (show)
@grandmar

I am sorry about your pain and insurance issues. I NEVER heard of being rejected for insurance due to age, depression and pain. Have you tried to get Medicare or Medicaid? I am 63, have chronic pain and I suffer from anxiety. No problem here.
ronnie

Jump to this post

Good luck to you on back,neck surgery I want to caution you, know everything about not only operation but the recovery once you have this the flexibility will be gone .So be aware of this and ready for the results.Being your last option Good luck

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Feb 11, 2018
In reply to @jimhd "@timmckinney Parus is right. You're not alone. I had compression fractures in my lower back when..." + (show)
@jimhd

@timmckinney

Parus is right. You're not alone. I had compression fractures in my lower back when I fell several years ago, and have peripheral neuropathy pain in my feet. I had a spinal cord stimulator implant in June last year, and the pain in my feet has been reduced significantly, though certainly not completely. It's frustrating not to be able to walk like I used to. I take morphine sulfate contin and I'm trying Gabapentin again. I'm hoping that one of the medications for neuropathy will work, now that I have the stimulator. None of them did anything before.

Going to a pain specialist was one of the best things I've done. He took a sincere interest in helping me. I had been through all the neuropathy meds with the neurologist, with no success.

What doctors have you seen about the neuropathy? Keep pressing them to try everything they can. Don't let them give up.

Jim

Jump to this post

All my Dr,s only give steroid injections no more then 3times a year because of the injury to organs I don't understand how you can get them every 2 months? Even Prednisone is given in a reduction of pills till your done. Have you tried Lidocane patches? This is what my Rheumatologist have me

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Feb 11, 2018
In reply to @powerl2017 "Same hear I have three procedures no help . I am looking to stem cell info..." + (show)
@powerl2017

Same hear I have three procedures no help . I am looking to stem cell info now.

Jump to this post

That sounds like an activator some chiropractors use this tool Go to the website to see how you do Tapping ,you tap on certain areas of your body with your fingers.Tapping.com

REPLY
Gary, Alumni Mentor | @gman007 | Feb 11, 2018
In reply to @jimhd "@timmckinney Parus is right. You're not alone. I had compression fractures in my lower back when..." + (show)
@jimhd

@timmckinney

Parus is right. You're not alone. I had compression fractures in my lower back when I fell several years ago, and have peripheral neuropathy pain in my feet. I had a spinal cord stimulator implant in June last year, and the pain in my feet has been reduced significantly, though certainly not completely. It's frustrating not to be able to walk like I used to. I take morphine sulfate contin and I'm trying Gabapentin again. I'm hoping that one of the medications for neuropathy will work, now that I have the stimulator. None of them did anything before.

Going to a pain specialist was one of the best things I've done. He took a sincere interest in helping me. I had been through all the neuropathy meds with the neurologist, with no success.

What doctors have you seen about the neuropathy? Keep pressing them to try everything they can. Don't let them give up.

Jim

Jump to this post

I was on a dosage that was above what is recommended as a maximum and weaned myself off of it as I could never tell that it helped. It felt like I had my old brain back, to an extent. There is definitely a "brain fog" that accompanies Gabapentin.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.