So after months of not being able to shake my current back issues I went to a back specialist for treatment. Here is what has been determined.
I have a slight herniation in my L5-Si
Stenosis in L4-L3
Also more than likely some arthritis.
Dr said my back issues should be treatable enuf to be able to run again.
His recommendations:
Mobic (anti inflammatory drug)
Cortizone shot in the spine do reduce swelling to promote healing. Relieve pain.
No running for 6 weeks.
So far two days into the Mobic my pain has greatly decreased, actually feel like running but not going to.
Have to schedule the cortisone\steroid injection.
I have been hearing a lot about spinal decompression and it is supposed to be able to cure a herniated disc. Asked my Dr about it and he said although he doesn’t practice Spinal Decompression what he does know about it I would make a perfect candidate. The great thing about spinal decompression… it’s supposed to be a cure, no drugs, no surgery. Drawback being it’s about 4000 out of pocket. I would think totally worth it if it works but there are no guarantees.
Any experiences with injections to the spine or mobic? I really hate the idea of being on drugs for the rest of my active life.
What would you do. Spinal Decompression (out 4000 bucks) or Drugs and injections to the spine…?
spinal surgery will not cure back pain. it can cure leg pain. if you are experiencing pain down the back of your leg decompression can cure that. but surgery will not cure whatever aching pain you are having in your back. That is best treated with the injections and anti-inflammatories. Surgery will carry the risk, however, of making the back pain, if you do have it, worse, because surgery will cause more tissue damage in an area that is already inflamed.
i’ve seen patients who have struggled to find the right combo for their pain for >10 years. IMO if what you’re on is working, stick with it, because surgery will do nothing for your back pain.
There will be plenty of people who will disagree w/ the above poster on surgery and back pain. And plenty that will agree. I know people who have been on both sides. And one person who got only very temporary relief from a shot. You just never know.
Have you done extensive physical therapy?
I don’t know what spinal decompression is, but it sounds cool! And if it “cures” a back problem, then $4K is CHEAP.
Yes, i have done quite a bit of physical therepy.
Has helped a little bit. But as soon as I go back to running and getting into any distance the pain is back again.
this topic has been discussed multiple times. please search the forum for herniated disc. lots and lots of us have had the injections and surgery with great success.
I had a herniated L4 due to a weighlifting injury (squats, doing max weight with weak form) that was exacerbated by a rear end car accident about 8 years ago. It also resulted in severe muscle spasms due to my support structure trying to compenstate and take weight off my lower back. I am by no means a doctor, but the above is my laymans terms explaination.
I did a combination of sports chiropractic, physical therapy, and massage. I would stay away from the shots unless you can no longer stand the pain and hold off on the surgery.
For me, stretching combined with very, VERY light weight (like 10-15lbs) back extensions (the machine where you put the peg on the desired weight, with the machine against your back in a crunch position, then slowly sit up, do you know the one I mean?) helped tremendously. My sports chiropractor swears that the back extensions can help a slightly herniated disc, but I don’t know if there is any medical basis/data that support that. The herniated disc stopped bothering me after a few months but I still suffer from the muscle spasms. Lots of stretching and a deep tissue massage at least once a month keep them under control.
Try to get the massage and stretch a lot so you know that it is the herniated disc causing the pain and not ancilliary muscle issues. You may also want to get your doc to put you on a muscle relaxer if you find that the muscle tightness/spasms are and issue.
Take some time with the therapy and the anti inflamatories before jumping into the shot or the surgery.