Severe back pain

I am so sorry to hear this. I have similar issues. Physical therapy helped me a great deal. Unfortunately, there is only so much PT and cortisone shots can do. Have you seen an orthopedic surgeon? Surgery may be an option to consider. Good luck.

@johnhuebert I have fracture,bulging disc but no stenosis but thigh pain from pinched nerves from fracture Sometimes pain med helps but I also use of ice on thighs helps I use a Tens unit to relax the muscles this is my experience for me and some suggestions you've may want to try what has Dr.recommended?I d nd water aerobics help also.Its a tough road we are on.

@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)

Hi @johnhuebert, here are a few discussions you may find worth your time to check out:

- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-pain-for-years/
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-pain-and-spinal-fusion/

@johnhuebert, @grandmar shared quite a few techniques that she has tried to help her back pain, do any of those options seem like something you would like to try?

...I have tried everything you have mentioned above but please tell me about radio abalation, and do you know anything about cell therapy including coolrelief...need to speak with people who have tried these new therapys...I am running out of new procedures to investigate...can't lose "Hope"🐼...
Thank you...Gail

@gailmollin
Hi Gail,
I've had radio ablation numerous times in different areas.
Basically, the doctor tries to find the nerves that are giving you the problems. Once it is found, the nerves are corterized. The nerves will regenerate so jow long this will last depends.
I've had it done by multiple doctors and each one has done it differently. My last and current pain Management docs did a test about 1 week prior to the actual procedure. After numbing the problem area, the doctor used a florascope xray to see where he puts the needs. One he finds the spot, a picture is taken. You are injected with a miild non steroid medicine. If you get an hour or more of temporary relief, it means he found the nerves. You come back and the doc uses the previous pictures to do the procedure.
Things to know..
1. Even if the test works, it does not mean the procedure will, or if ut does, no guarantee of how long.
2. The test part can be uncomfortable, but as soon as the needles are out, the pain is gone. I have no problem tolersting it.
3. The actual procedure is more painful. The last time I had it done, the doc gave me a little something in an IV to help.
4. The test and procedure is done in a sterile, operating room-like area. The body part is cleaned with a surgical soap, areas around the injection sites (yes there are more than one) are drapped, the doc will were a mask.

Leave if the following happens:
1. Doc does NOT do a test first
2. The test and procedure are NOT done in a sterile environment.
3. A florascope is NOT used
4. The doc DC oes not take precautions

As a matter of fact, I went for the test last week. I got good relief.

Good luck and I hope this helps!

Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

Thank you for responding!!! I don't want to put words in your mouth but are you saying this procedure is "hit or miss" that you will get positive results from this procedure! Do you know if there is in general a good track record? I will do my investigation as I always do trying to gather information..

@gailmollin Surgery should be the last Thing you do try everything else before read my post to you on chiropractor

@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

@gailmollin
No problem. In my instances, it has been hit or miss.
I've had the procedure done about 4 times, in different areas of my body, by different docs.
The first 2 did not do the 'test' so other than to use the flouescope to see the 'area' they were in, they really went in blind.
The last time I went through the test first snd it did give me just a few minutes, maybe a half hour of relief. Rather than do another test, the doc just did the procedure. Adly, it did not work. It was at that point and after trying everything else, I decided to have cervical spine surgery.
Surgery should always be the last option. If a doc tries to push it too soon, a red flag should go up.

Hope this makes things clearer.
Ronnie