Back Pain

Posted on: Sun, Sep 16 2007 3:25 PM

Posted by: Hypatia Posts: 373

Sometimes it's hard to determine why we're having back pain, and even our Drs. don't know why, and for others of us the reasons why are apparent.

As for myself, I have scoliosis, which is fairly pronounced and causes me to have a difficult time with good posture, for one thing. I also have fibromyalgia.

I had a spinal cord AVM, which hemorrhaged in 2002. Prior to having it embolized it also caused a considerable amount of back pain.

Because I have an SCI and therefore have considerable neurological deficits to most of the left side of my body (except for my arm, neck and face), and to the right side of my trunk (I do walk, however), like most of us here, the degree to which I am able to do most things depends. I guess I'm used to talking to the able-bodied!

Although I have prescriptions for narcotics to help me deal with pain, it isn't my first choice, as I like to think in the area of trying to deal with why I'm having the pain to start with when I'm dealing with the pain itself.

These are the main things I try first, and on a regular basis, to deal with my back pain:

* Stretching - there are basic stretching exercises I try to do daily (if I can physically manage them). Some of them were taught to me by physical therapists, others I learned from yoga. I do whichever ones I can manage, but just about any stretching really helps get the oxygen flowing to the muscles and helps to 'open' them up.

* Staying well hydrated - important for muscles and tissues. Many SCI people, especially, know how important this is since we can have a difficult time regulating our body temperature.

* I ride an indoor, recumbent bike. Exercise in general is beneficial for overall pain management. Even though I have to push more with my right foot and leg, since the left one is so weak, it is still good exercise and helps in preventing atrophy in my left leg muscles.

* I use a TENS unit, which is helpful in reducing the pain to a certain extent (it varies) and in loosening tight muscles. Because of the extensive neurological pain to so much of my body, I can only use this on my neck and upper traps, but that is better than nothing. Also, it only seems to help while I'm actually using it.

* Moisture - I use one of those moisture-type heating pads, which is very helpful. Also, even though many of us cringe at the thought of putting ice on our bodies, ice is extremely useful in breaking up the cycle of pain. Moving ice is more beneficial than stationary ice. Personally, though, I can't have ice on the areas of my body that were affected by the hemorrhage - my ability to feel heat and cold were altered and cold sends me through the roof!

* Massage therapy is one of the most useful tools in reducing and managing pain. I would get it much more frequently myself if there wasn't so much of my body I can't stand to be touched on.

* Most of the time a combination of these things helps me get through the pain. I try hard not to resort to the oxycodone or tramadol, but, when I really need to I do.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/

www.ffrf.org

Posted on: Mon, Sep 17 2007 12:16 PM

Posted by: Hawkeye46 Posts: 559

Hi. With me it's the reverse: FMS first, back pain second. The FMS leaves me tired to the point of exhaustion with exercise. I know I don't get enough. As far as the pain is concerned, if Aleve doesn't help, and heat doesn't help, I grin and bear it.

Posted on: Mon, Sep 17 2007 1:31 PM

Posted by: MissAutumn Posts: 27

I, too, have back pain. I know it's because of my posture (i have slight scoliosis), possibly days i don't get enough H2O, and a big obvious would be from breaking it. I have gone to Dr's about it and a lot of times their first resort is a 'pain pump'. Sadly I usually laugh in their face. Are you kidding me? I'm 22 and really do not want 1. A foreign thing in my body, 2. Anything sticking out from under my skin. I do still like to wear my cute, probably too tight at times, clothes. I did have back surgery 2 months ago too so that is a large portion of my pain although the Dr says it will decrease.

For the surgery they removed my hardware, which was broken, so if you have hardware in your back and it is no longer necessary consider getting it removed. Since it was broken it was rubbing against things in my back. They also did a laminectomy, also known as a decompression. My spinal cord was getting pinched therefore causing back pain and increased spasms. I truly think my surgery worked wonders, now it's the recovery part that is the hardest.

Another great way to help with pain is Reiki. 'Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing.' I am actually trained in Reiki and I do it on myself and I am happy to say I will become a Reiki Master in the next 6 months.

I have also found that massage therapy is great. Plus it just feels good to get all those knots worked out so it's 2 in 1. One more thing I suggest trying is Reflexology. 'Reflexology is the application of pressure, stretch and movement to the feet and hands to effect corresponding parts of the body.' I also used to get this done for my spasicity and it did wonders.

For more info on Reiki or Reflexology you can visit.... www.reiki.org or www.reflexology.org You can also ask me and I'd be more than happy to help!

Posted on: Mon, Sep 17 2007 6:21 PM

Posted by: jbtrest Posts: 9

I have Fibro and an ISCI. I use as many modalities as are available to me.

Cymbalta, which is an antidepressent which helps  with neuropathy. Heat, Ice, Therapeutic massage, reiki, stretching, I take vicodin and tramadol (Ultram) three times a  day. Going without is not a prospect I can physically endure at this point. if I want to stay upright and vertical.

Hawk I know exercise seems impossible when you are so exhausted, but it is shown to work effectively for fibro. Start out with either walking, stationary bike, or swimming. Swimming is my favorite because in addition to providing a long stretch to my body, it makes me weightless which is an absolutely terriffic feeling with the spinal cord injury. 

Posted on: Sun, Sep 23 2007 5:55 PM

Posted by: Lola Posts: 142

i'm a c4-5 quadriplegic and i don't have trunk control, which makes me slouch a lot and i do have back pain.

i take percocet as needed when the pain is really bad and i lie down. it's hard to explain to people that i may not feel touch, but i can feel deep pain, such as back pain!

hugs, lola

Posted on: Mon, Sep 24 2007 11:58 AM

Posted by: Hypatia Posts: 373

Lola - I can feel touch, to a certain degree, in certain places. It really is bizarre to not be able to feel, or not feel very much, but to be able to feel pain! It's not fair - if we can't feel we shouldn't have to feel pain either, lol.

I take Cymbalta for neuro pain, and it helps a very little bit, but it doesn't help with fibro pain at all. I also take Topamax for the neuro pain, and it helps to take the edge off a little bit. I've tried Neurontin and Lyrica, too, but neither of them helped with the pain, and they both made me loco in the head. Couldn't handle not being able to concentrate or think clearly.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/

www.ffrf.org

Posted on: Mon, Sep 24 2007 12:15 PM

Posted by: Lola Posts: 142

you're so right, brokendonotuse!

it is bizarre and not fair, but oh well, what can we do? i take 300mg of neurontin 3 times a day for central/neuro pain and it helps me, especially that burning sensation in my ankles/feet when i lie down, which my neuro explained it's part of the central pain.

i'm happy you've found a med that helps you too!

hugs, lola

Posted on: Wed, Sep 26 2007 11:38 AM

Posted by: jel369 Posts: 4

I had back surgery a year ago Aug. 11.  I have been having a lot of complications that go from muscle spasms, to a ripping feeling in the muscle area,  to intense pain in the spine and hips.  I have nerve damage due to the spinal stenosis,  along with the disk degenerative disease.  I take 400 mg.  of neurontin 4 times a day,  along with a strong muscle relaxor.  When I came home from the hospital I noticed that my right shin was numb and my big toe felt like it had a string or something tied around it constricting it,  along with my right foot cramping every 3 hours and keeping me awake.  I found relief with these meds,  and they help me get a good nights sleep,  and deal with the nerve pain that I have in my right shin.   Pain is not something that is great to deal with,  but now I am faced with never being able to return to work,  and have been fighting to get my disability for a year now,  since the fight began,  I have gotten an attorney and they have a court date scheduled for next June.  When you said that you can feel touch to a certain degree in certain places,  in those places does it almost feel cold at times and sometimes like it is just wet just under the skin,  that is a sensation that I am having in my shin.  I have learned to deal with the pain, to a degree,  but the limitations that I am having to deal with keep me from having a normal life,  I want to travel to see my daughters wedding next year in Montana,  but I am not allowed the be in a car sitting for more than an hour at a time,  and I would love to be able to go shopping and not have to look for someone to get the items off of the lower shelf or reach for them on the top shelf,  and the one that gets me the most I would love to be able to take care of my house with out having to ask my husband that works 40 plus hours a week to do more than his share.  Being disabled really sucks,  and I would just like to be able to have someone else to share that with.  My husband understands what I am going through,  and I dont think that I could be going through this with out him,  he has been wonderful in helping me with things dont get me wrong,  but I think chatting with someone else that has similar problems would be more helpful.