Persistent Lower Back Pain

[Jamesc]

I see a market for medical books about female anatomy with models from Japan.

It will make the medical students hit the books harder and study more.

[Ckll]

3 minutes ago, Etnt said:

i feel you. Have you try inversion table? It does provide temporary relief.

I contemplated getting an inversion table or a small traction table. But I feel that since the relief is temporary, I didn't get either. 

[Etnt]

I've used the inversion table for quite a while, although the relief is temporary much like eating painkillers, at least it doesn't carry the side effect of those pills.

It's basically muz like doing traction at physio, excepting using your own bodyweight.

[mersaylee]

2 hours ago, Ender said:

Unless he surf without sitting down for hours.🤣

Then we'll see him complain in the leg pain thread...😁

[mersaylee]

1 hour ago, Atrecord said:

ha ha ha you're right. Was so bothered by the niggling pain that i resorted to lying down now and then before the op. Didn't surf much as a result. Now should have more time to do so 😁

Did the doctor also prescribe missionary only with an excuse to be at the bottom...?😁

Get well soon...more horse riding expenditures await...😉

[Wind30]

54 minutes ago, Etnt said:

For more than a decade, it was an off and on thing, and gradually juz became worse and worse till I couldn't walk for a few minutes before needing to sit down as the pain will radiate from butt down to calf, and can be either/both sides.

Tried many things before finally accepting surgery as the final option. I dunno if doing it earlier would prevented the side effects from the nerves being pinched for such a long time, but as you said, I'm glad that the pain can be put behind us.

 

exactly my problem. I had this since four years ago and still putting off surgery. Pain at side of the butt that resolves itself from sitting. It got a LOT better during Covid and working frm home, with running everyday. 

BTW, what is your age group? I am 45 so I am not that keen in doing spinal surgery at such a "young" age...

[Etnt]

1 minute ago, Wind30 said:

exactly my problem. I had this since four years ago and still putting off surgery. Pain at side of the butt that resolves itself from sitting. It got a LOT better during Covid and working frm home, with running everyday. 

BTW, what is your age group? I am 45 so I am not that keen in doing spinal surgery at such a "young" age...

I did it early 40s and they put spacers to replace the disc rather spinal fusion.

Now looking back, I would say I wish that I'd done it earlier.

Btw, one year after my spinal surgery I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. The dr cannot conclusively say what caused it, but I would say the long term usage of painkillers probably played a part.

[Wind30]

1 minute ago, Etnt said:

I did it early 40s and they put spacers to replace the disc rather spinal fusion.

Now looking back, I would say I wish that I'd done it earlier.

Btw, one year after my spinal surgery I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. The dr cannot conclusively say what caused it, but I would say the long term usage of painkillers probably played a part.

I never took pain killers to relieve the pain. It only happens when I walk for long distances and recovers when I sit down. Running everyday seems to help a lot. I am happy I did not go for surgery as my doc was saying it will only get worse. for my case, it got a lot better in the past year. Maybe I was worrying about another health issue that I neglected to worry about my back...

Take care. 

[Ckll]

5 minutes ago, Etnt said:

I did it early 40s and they put spacers to replace the disc rather spinal fusion.

Now looking back, I would say I wish that I'd done it earlier.

Btw, one year after my spinal surgery I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. The dr cannot conclusively say what caused it, but I would say the long term usage of painkillers probably played a part.

I'm sorry to hear of your ordeal after the op. I believe the use of spacers is great. I asked my doc why he didn't put in anything after removing my disc and he just said there was no need to. I was young and naive and was already in anguish dealing with the op then so I didn't think much of it. 

[Ckll]

4 minutes ago, Wind30 said:

I never took pain killers to relieve the pain. It only happens when I walk for long distances and recovers when I sit down. Running everyday seems to help a lot. I am happy I did not go for surgery as my doc was saying it will only get worse. for my case, it got a lot better in the past year. Maybe I was worrying about another health issue that I neglected to worry about my back...

Take care. 

It's funny you brought up sitting. A few years ago, I'd wake up with a very sore and stiff back every morning. I had to endure doing lots of stuff like preparing bf for my kids, changing into office wear and finally driving to work. In the 30 mins driving journey, my back actually got a lot better. When I reached my office, I noticed that I could walk better and the back wasn't that sore and stiff anymore.

That said, not all seats are built the same. The one that worked the best for me was the one in my Forester. In my subsequent drive, it came with "lumbar support" but I was worse than the Forester's.

[Atrecord]

21 hours ago, Etnt said:

For more than a decade, it was an off and on thing, and gradually juz became worse and worse till I couldn't walk for a few minutes before needing to sit down as the pain will radiate from butt down to calf, and can be either/both sides.

Tried many things before finally accepting surgery as the final option. I dunno if doing it earlier would prevented the side effects from the nerves being pinched for such a long time, but as you said, I'm glad that the pain can be put behind us.

wow, you endured the pain for more than a decade? For me it was about 3 mth after it first started, and i took the doc's advice to go for the op.

one thing that contributed to it, is the doc said after assessing my toes' and legs' strength, that the left leg is already slightly weaker than the right. He said that even after surgery, it (left leg's strength) might not return to normal, but if delay the op, got chance the weakness might be even more... i didn't ask - but think he meant the nerve was affected by the compression, and hence caused the weakness...

[Atrecord]

21 hours ago, Ckll said:

Get well soon! 

Glad you did key-hole. The recovery period should be shorter and there should be minimal damage to muscle. I have a 10cm railway track on my back when I did mine (L3/L4) in 2001. 

I'm still struggling with daily pain as the spine has degenerated along the way since then. Some days are good, some days bad. 

Strengthening core is impt. I regret not doing it as I was young then and thought nothing more of it. Now want to do also cannot do much. 

Sorry, this is not about me. Just wanna let you know that you're not alone in this as you can see there are many bros here (maybe sis too) that were/are in the same shoes as you. Think positive and rest well! 

Thanks!

Even for keyhole, also got a would about 5-6 cm leh 😅 , but i guess the recovery should indeed be faster. So far not much pain felt - maybe it's really faster recovery, or the painkiller is very effective!

I'm not v young, but i've heard enough to be convinced to give it a go at strengthening the core muscles. 

and yes, i'd heard about slipped disc way back, but didn't find out specifics. Since I was diagnosed, i've heard from so many friends/colleagues about so and so had it... it's more common than i thought.

I still think the Govt should raise awareness about this, and encourage people to be mindful of their daily habits from young to avoid getting this later on.

[Atrecord]

21 hours ago, Ender said:

Running, if done correctly, activate the glutes with hip extension. Strong glutes for better lower back. Get some hill climbs for more effects.

Thanks.

Another complication... is that I also have pain in my left knee. Was diagnosed with minor meniscus tear i think 6-7 yr ago, but doc said just manage and live with it, cos not worth the risk of surgery...

So i've been avoiding stairs wherever possible for some years now. still can jog though, but i've never tried going above 5 km for fear that the strain will cause damage to the knee.

[Atrecord]

21 hours ago, mersaylee said:

Then we'll see him complain in the leg pain thread...😁

got arrh? i already eligible, unfortunately... 😂

[Atrecord]

21 hours ago, mersaylee said:

Did the doctor also prescribe missionary only with an excuse to be at the bottom...?😁

Get well soon...more horse riding expenditures await...😉

ha ha ha... ok, hope to be able to think these soon 😆

[Atrecord]

20 hours ago, Wind30 said:

exactly my problem. I had this since four years ago and still putting off surgery. Pain at side of the butt that resolves itself from sitting. It got a LOT better during Covid and working frm home, with running everyday. 

BTW, what is your age group? I am 45 so I am not that keen in doing spinal surgery at such a "young" age...

If it's manageable, then you can maybe use your muscles to take over the function of the spine, as what my classmate (the one who does ultra marathon now) has been doing. For me, the pain was on and off for both sitting and standing, and i was not sure if exercising would make it worse, so eventually took up the option of surgery.

[Atrecord]

20 hours ago, Etnt said:

I did it early 40s and they put spacers to replace the disc rather spinal fusion.

Now looking back, I would say I wish that I'd done it earlier.

Btw, one year after my spinal surgery I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. The dr cannot conclusively say what caused it, but I would say the long term usage of painkillers probably played a part.

Oh no... hope you have recovered fully from the kidney cancer. i better stop taking the painkillers soon...

[Atrecord]

20 hours ago, Ckll said:

It's funny you brought up sitting. A few years ago, I'd wake up with a very sore and stiff back every morning. I had to endure doing lots of stuff like preparing bf for my kids, changing into office wear and finally driving to work. In the 30 mins driving journey, my back actually got a lot better. When I reached my office, I noticed that I could walk better and the back wasn't that sore and stiff anymore.

That said, not all seats are built the same. The one that worked the best for me was the one in my Forester. In my subsequent drive, it came with "lumbar support" but I was worse than the Forester's.

hmm...

according to my doc, our back are subject to these amt of strain:

- 20 newton when lying down

- 100 newton when standing

- 150 newton when sitting straight

- 250 newton when sitting and body bent forward

so he's asked me to avoid sitting down on prolonged basis going forward....

i better stand up now....