Back pain sucks

hi have am a cna and have had my c5-7 spine fused twice and in more pain now then i did before my surgery. i have adopted 5 special needs children and 3 of them are in wheelchairs and yes my bio-daughter is not liking the other responceabliities that she had to do because ,i can't lift as much as i use to. also degenerative disc diease that my lower back is killing me alot of time! i am on morphine twicw a day and lyrica for nerve pain. sorry for the spelling as am not good at it

Hi. My name is Karen. I am an xray tech(was for 18 years) taht was hurt lifting a patient, herniated a disc at c6-7. I have an inherited early degenerative disease that reeks havok on my entire spine. I know how it feels to care for people for a long time, and then…nothing. I get some of that back from being here.

God Bless You And You Are not the only one that says back pain sucks! I have it in my back,shoulder,left leg foot, and my wrist really bad. I used to do a'lot myself and not anymore. I think I spend more time in doctors office's now then I ever did my whole life growing up. I have to drive 9 hours just to get my medications because it is against the law to fax, mail even call in the medications I am on. Just think how I feel after driving those hours without making the wrong turn somewhere because of roadwork! It is taking me over 6 months to get a doctor in the area I am trying to move in that sucks! If people would stop abuseing the system and messing it up for those such as us that need the medication life just might be a little easier. Just try to tell yourself you can do it it works for me 3 days out of 7 and that is better then not working at all!

That's why I love this site! You can come here and state your complaints and not be judged harshly. Because we all understand what eachother is going through. It sucks that pain takes so much away from us!! I used to go dancing every weekend and since the pain started, I'm not able to either. And with winter in full swing, you just want to hibernate till spring! But that makes you more stiff… Damned if you do and damned if you don't…

That is so true. With the holidays past and the Super Bowl played, I am ready for the warm weather to come back. I did hear that the groundhog did not see his shadow so that supposidly means that Spring will come early this year.

Hello, my name is Linda. I've been suffering with back pain more years than I can remember. When I first started hurting it was due to a combination of improper lifting, improper exercise methods and being overweight. Each pregnancy left me with a few extra pounds that just wouldn't come off. During my third pregnancy I would sometimes cry myself to sleep, my back hurt so bad. During delivery I felt and heard a pop in my spine. For a while after that I felt a little better, I was no longer carrying the extra weight of the baby; but walking around carrying him in my arms soon became painful, too. He was a big baby and the bigger he grew, the more it fell to his dad to carry him around.

In a couple of years time I was on my own with my children and had to work long hours, usually at two jobs. The daytime job invloved a lot of physical activity and I would hurt all day, then at night I was a cocktail waitress, again on my feet, till the wee hours. Through a number of years and a series of events I ended up in very sedentary office jobs during the day then in college classes 15 hour per week.

After gaining my Associates degree I worked in a grocery store as a cashier for approximately 8 months to make some extra money for the next school year. I had been accepted to a college where I would have to commute 90 miles round trip each class day. I had finally lost some of my weight but was still obese. I cried as I clocked out every day. I went home and lay in hot baths and winced at doing housework. It was during this time a urinary tract defect was found and I had a surgery to correct it. then there were complications. Another surgery to correct the complications. Did I mention, the Doctor assured me this would put an end to my back pain? He was wrong. I became totally disabled.

For two years I was unable to exercise and the pounds packed on. I developed type 2 diabetes and it saved me in some ways. I was finally able to start an exercise program and got on a healthy diet. I started losing weight and found it easier to move. I began walking miles at a time, but not without pain. Finally when I just couldn't walk more than 1/2 block I was diagnoised with degenerative disc disease and spondylosis. I'm living on pain killers and muscle relaxers and hating it. I have problems getting someone to ride with me for outpatient proceedures like injections so it's hard to make progress.

That is quite a story. Sorry about all the problems. Since you are still in pain, what are the docs saying now. Are they giving you any hope of correcting this or do they tell you that you just have to live with it? Are the outpatient injections helping at all or do they just take the edge off the pain?

The outpatient injections only help for a day or two. But, like I said, I have trouble getting anyone to go with me for these so I go months at a time between injections. Sadly, because of Medicare/Medicaid regulations, I must complete all of these before moving forward with other courses of treatment. I also have severe COPD which, at this point, means major surgery is out of the question.

The outpatient injections only help for a day or two. But, like I said, I have trouble getting anyone to go with me for these so I go months at a time between injections. Sadly, because of Medicare/Medicaid regulations, I must complete all of these before moving forward with other courses of treatment. I also have severe COPD which, at this point, means major surgery is out of the question.

No chance at all? Is the COPD out of control or is it the risk that is too much? Again we are stuck with regulations. I know that in my area there is a complimentary bus that helps with lower income and seniors get to and from their doctors appointments.

I am very high risk. I have medicaid taxi to take me to and fro but they, like the Dr., require someone to ride with me after a procedure. There are no agencies that provide for an attendant to have a procedure done.

I didn't realize that you had to have someone with you. Wow, I am so sorry to hear about your trouble. You would think that they had people who would do that as a service or for minimal pay. Hope you get some relief soon.

At my income level I need someone who will do this pro bono. It's amazing how quickly ones friends forget the number of times you make special arrangements and put your life on hold to do the exactly same thing for them.

I am also concerned about the need to have someone ride with you…do they not recognize the Medicaid driver is riding with you???? S/He could call for help if you had a relapse!!!

I talked on another discussion about home help, they often DO have people who will take you shopping or to the Dr., if necessary. I am in a poor state and they had it here. The home help agencies act as an intermediary with medicaid and then you have PROOF you need their care, and their assistance to get back and forth after your Medical visits. They got in the business to try to keep people in their homes rather than a hospital, so insurance pays them gladly, it's cheaper!!

You can also contact agencies such as Shiba, and they intervene with your insurance if necessary. If they don't, keep calling whoever you can think of, and BE SURE to call the 800 phone numbers for medicare and medicaid as they will give you advice. When I got kicked off Medicaid I did that and since then am getting back on it.

Some lawyers on TV advertise they help and your insurance has to pay them, so the end result is they know the law better than the insurance company does. Mentioning a lawyer to the insurance company is what you MUST do, and if they still won't find a way, do call a lawyer. Usually they fall all over themselves because they know if the lawyer is involved they have to pay.

Are you on oxygen for your COPD? Do you have asthma, and see an asthma Dr. for that so you can get the breathers? I have it and have had it for many, many years. As long as I do the breathers every day, twice a day, mine doesn't bother me as much. Some people do almost out grow it, like I did. Good luck in your quest for treatment…get pushy, in a nice way of course!! I will pray for you, if all our minds are on your side, we will find a way!!

Medicaid taxi also requires me to have someone ride with me when I have been put under anesthesia for the protection of both myself and the driver.

In my state the home health agencies do NOT allow their employees to drive clients anywhere if they're receiving Medicaid funds. My aid comes in the afternoons and proceedures are scheduled early mornings, especially because of my diabetes.

There are simply no agencies that I have found that will help with this one thing because of all the possible law suites it would leave them open to. The fear of lawyers also prevents people from helping!!

Yes, I'm on oxygen for my COPD. Yes, I have asthma and see a lung specialist and I have several inhalers and take nebulizer treatments 3 times a day. I developed my asthma later in life and it hasn't improved.

Most people have a friend or family member that go ti these appointments with them. My best friend doesn't live close anymore. My daughter is only close with me if it looks like she will benefit in some way. Prayer is my best answer now!!

I am SO sorry that your state has these regulations, and that your situation is so tough right now. I agree, prayer helps…it is the best meditation, and I pray for you also. I know how sometimes kids can be that way, I have a daughter who is like that…I'm glad to have a son who is so kind he gave up a job in Texas to be with me and family.

I will talk with a person who recently contacted me and see if she has any other suggestions. She works for an agency which watchdogs Medicare and Medicaid.

I was also thinking about the possibility of when you find someone who would go with you, having an attorney fill out an agreement releasing them from any and all liabilities if there is a problem during transport? That might settle some fears for many people…perhaps a church member if you are affiliated with a church. Pastors often help to ask members to help, so you don't have to do it yourself.

You might also contact volunteer agencies, and see if someone would do this, with the attorney contract made up before, so they could see it for proof. Call the Chamber of Commerce in your town, or contact the Mayor to get a list of volunteer agencies. Please keep me posted and I will keep looking for solutions. I will pray for you also, and mention you in a prayer circle online, as well. God Bless you and soothe your pain.

Lori,

That is incredibly nice of you to help her with this research. I am thinking that the volunteer organizations are also the best bet. If she could have the procedures in the afternoon it would be easier since High School kids are always looking to do service. Honor Society is a great organization that is all about service. Thanks for caring for someone who you have never met and who just needs a friend. I am sure you will be blessed for your efforts.

I'm also, new to the community. I have degenerative disc disease and have had it for about 15 years. Everynow and then It bothers me a great deal. I've been on pain killers for quite awhile now when the pain gets serve and I can't move.

Have you tried any of the treatment options around to try and relieve the pain and get you off the pills. That is one of the nice things about chiropractors, no drugs and just treatments that are mostly natural. Not that you should definately use one, it is just an option. Physical therapy, acupuncture, and massage therapy are possibilities. Mostly, they can't hurt so you might as well try them.

I have had cortisone shots, and therapy both massage and physical. Helps for awhile, and then starts again. I hurt my back also, by incorrect lifting and having large babies (over 10lbs.) I'm overwieght and need to lose pounds. But, I have a disability other than the back pain, that limits my progress.

That's why I came to this site to see if I can learn about others with the same problems. And maybe help myself in the process.

OK, for now, I would try to use ice and heat. I get more out of my sauna then anything else I do. A good sweat helps with my overall health more than I can tell you. With the weight thing, I would just try to cut back things that cause you to gain weight and do your best. I am not one to talk as I am on a diet right now. It is working but it is hard work. I have noticed that it really does make a difference on the stress and pressure I put on my back. 20 pounds can make a huge difference in your overall health.

Hi Sara. Welcome aboard! :) I think this site grows a little more each week. I've suffered from one kind of pain or another, ever since I was a kid. I've had several broken bones…Broke my left leg in 2 places at the same time playing football…Broke my wrist once, broke a toe, a couple of my knuckled as fubar any time I punch something. I accidentally had a glass door slammed through my arm…Several deep cuts, the worst of which was approx. 7 inches long and so deep you could clearly see the bone. I've had a few concussions, etc., etc.

I was born with a degenerative disc disease that causes my spinal canal to narrow as I get older, so I've had back pain as long as I can remember. I didn't realize how bad it had gotten, or what the cause was until I had an accident during a training exercise while working at a Super-Max prison. At the time there was nothing that could be done surgically, so I had no choice but to live with it.

Several years later, the disc degeneration and the narrowing of the spinal canal had gotten so bad that disc ruptures are pretty much a yearly occurrence now. I've had 3 lumbar surgeries and 1 thoracic surgery. Now I'd give anything to never had the thoracic surgery. That's a whole different ball game. In fact, I recently had a doctor tell me it's so rare for a man of my age to have thoracic spinal problems…Normally he said, the only people he sees that require thoracic spinal surgery are 80 - 90 year old women with calcium deficiency.

Anyway, I think anyone that suffers from chronic back pain will attest, they'd pretty much rather go through ANY other pain than suffer through the back pain. I believe I would literally gladly give a leg or an arm for replacing the back pain. At least then I could get a prosthetic limb and be able to live a semi-normal existence. And I can tell you from experience, most people who have never had a back problem will act like it's no big deal and you should just suck it up and deal with it. They just don't understand what it's like. When the one thing that's primary job is to support your body hurts like Hell, then you're just going to be miserable, no matter what.

Anyway, I'm rambling on, so I'll just say again, welcome to the site. I look forward to hearing from you again, and I'm sure you're going to find some folks around here willing to share their trials and tribulations with you as well. :)

Well said Sabbz!!

Oh yeah, we can all share the trial and tribulations and occasionally a success. The nice thing is at least most people understand what you are going through to some degree.

What is a CNA? I am sorry to hear about the things that you just can't do anymore. That is perhaps one of if not the biggest adjustments that we have to make after we are hurt. So, do have a light at the end of the tunnel or are you going to have to deal with pain for the rest of your life? What are you doing to deal with the pain? Glad to have to on board…

A CNA is a certified nurses assistance. I will have to deal with the pain forever but I am getting used to it. I just use over the counter meds, I have no insurance, and heat when needed I also have a tens unit…

Does the TENS unit work for you at all?

Hey Dave…CNA is a Certified Nursing Assistant. One of those jobs that require a lot of bending, lifting and other crap that make us back pain sufferers so happy! ;)

They are also many of the workers who are with home help agencies, so You can see how they are trained to go with people who need help getting to the Dr., There are also LPN's, who are licensed practical Nurses, who may work for home healh agencies. All are capable if needed in an emergency. I agree, the "regulations" suck too. I was told I could have a Medical Taxi, but my son, who pushes the wheelchair, could NOT go with me!!!!! If I ever need that like some do, I WILL call an attorney and see how fast they change that rule!! Stupid rules make costs go up, and is why all of us must be involved in keeping costs down with medical services.

Thanks for the clarification. I can certainly see why that isn't happening for them any longer.