Severe back pain

@johnhuebert
Welcome John,
I am so sorry for what you are going through.
I feel your pain, literally.
I have the same issues with my back as you do.
I have been battling back and leg issues for many years.
Finally, it became so bad, I had to retire early.
Here is a list of what I tried.
Chiropractic adjustments
Theraputic massage
Acupuncture
Cupping
PT, land and/or aquatic
Radio frequency ablation
**Steroid injection

Frankly, nothing was really giving me sustained relief, except *steroid injections. However, it took me 5 doctors before anyone one of them actually helped. I kept changing doctors when they said they won't be able to help me.
Almost 5 years ago I moved to a new state. I tried a pain doc who was reccomended to me. He didn't even give me temporary help. I realized I needed to take matters into my own hands. I did a lot of reseach until I found the right pain doc.
This new pain doc was not close to where I live . The others were and that didn't prove anything. So, I wound up with a doc whose office is about 1 hour away with no traffic and 2 plus when there is traffic.
This doc was a blessing. For the first time in many YEARS, i found a doctor who could help me. He gave me 4 to 12 weeks without pain. Not one doc before him could give me a day or 2, if anything.
Sadly, after 5 years of treatment first on my lumber spine and then on my cervical spine, the injections stopped working. The changes in my spine were just too great. Too many things developed.
(Effectiveness of shots depended, in part, that I maintained the careful lifestyle suggested by the doctor. )
After the shots stopped helping, I decided to see a neurosurgeon. (Although some orthpedic docs can do these surgeries, i wanted a surgeon who specializes in spines. Just my preference). The research begzn to find the area est neurosurgeon who had the qualifications I was looking for. (Again a distance from my home)
We decided i had participated in all the non-surgical procedures. In February I had 2 discs replaced disks (in my cervical spine) with artificial ones. It was an outpatient surgery. The recovery was quick and the pain was minimal.
7 wdeks ago I had a surgery called, X-lift fusion on my lumbar spine. Now this was a painful surgery and HORRIBLE recovery.
Sorry for being so wordy, but I hope it helps.

Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

Thanks, Ronnie. Your experience sounds a lot like mine. But I have not done the disc or X lift sutgeries. My pain Doctor is now recommending a high frequency spinal stimulator. I hope someone can tell me about that.

@johnhuebert
Hi, it's me again.
I actually started the process of a spinal stimulator about 5 years ago.
I did everything I was suppose to, including the psych eval. In case you didn't know, the eval is required because it is a relatively expensive procedure and product. They don't want you to have unreal expectations or decides you don't want it and request it be removed.
So, I went for the trial where they only put the leads in. I had it for a week. I kept having issues with the unit so the rep from the company came to TRY to adjust it. At home, I couldn't find a good strength. Too strong and I felt like I was twitching and getting what feltoke mild shocks. Too weak, and it did nothing.
About a week after the trial we were moving. I did ask the rep for the name of a doc in my new place who used that particular brand of stimulator. I was going to get one because the rep ensured me the final one would be better. The new doc felt he could help me and should not get the stimulator, yet.
Well, I never gor it. Probably best I didn't since the test did not work for me at all.
The stimulator works for many. They may have improved it since then
Hopefully, someone in the group can tell you.
One more thing... my surgeon said that a pain doc will usually NOT suggest surgery, no matter all the things you have had done. The reason, they are not surgeons and they don't want to lose you.
When I told my pain doc I was having cervical surgery since nothing else helped, he seemed annoyed even though I was still going for my lumbar. Now, I've done the lumbar, too.

Good luck !
Ronnie (GRANDMA r)

@gailmollin I dont know where my post went but what I said was I go to my chiropractor and have him release the nerve ,I get immediate relief .He will have you lay on stomach puts a tens unit and ice on back for 15 minutes then you lay out n your side with legs pulled up where he pushes on sciatica area releasing it ,immediate relief

That sounds simple. I need to try it.

Ronnie, thanks. The doctor is recommending an Hf10. It is a higher frequency unit that older ones. Any thoughts on this? When did you get yours?