My lesson in anatomy this week: The Spine | Arthritis Information

Hi kids,
I've been studyin' up on the findings of my last spine MRI's, and have got a basic understanding of what's going on back there. But ya know, you can read all the stuff you can find on a subject but it's never like getting the "real deal" you get when you talk to folks with the same issues.
So, here I am---pestering you all. Aw, I feel for ya. My good friend has been having problems with bulging discs. She just got a steroid shot and it's helped. A lot. crabby - yes, three years ago had no low back problems at all, and suddenly had four discs collapse and dxed with DDD (degenerative disc disease) and had to have a L5-S1 microdisc surgery for full blown sciatica down to the toes of my right leg. A recent MRI shows it worsening, with one herniation going into the spinal canal, instead of bulging out and away. Not good. I am on strict weight lifting precautions and pay if I forget and get too ambitious. Good luck. CathyHi

I have cervical stenosis (dx 2007) and C4, C5, C6 were the ones that bothered me the most. Started out with PT and exercises. Finally bought a home traction unit as it was cheaper to buy rather than keep paying the costs of PT. The traction seemed to have worked and I now only do traction as needed. My doctor's view is anything but surgery first. Too much risk involved if you're dealing with the cervical area. Be sure to get a 2nd opinion if surgery is the recommendation.

Hope it resolves quickly - the pain can be quite terrible.

Cathy

like Cathy.. I have stenosis of the C4,5,6 w/ encroachment... and I have an L5S1 herniation.. I opt for ALL PT to hold in place... no surgery or any invasive procedures.. through PT I went from an 80/y/old to acting 40is again LOL.I have a buldging disk in my lower back....can't remember what the #was (location wise) and I can make one wrong move and "WHAM!" I can't stand up straight or move for days. I had to leave work early yesterday and could barely make it up the stairs with help from my husband by the time I got home. After anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers and pain pills (heat too) I'm much better today but it's still very sensative when I move wrong. Luckily it always gets much better after a few days to a week and I haven't had to deal with the continuous disk problems. I can't imagine being in that type of pain daily.

I have lots of daily back pain....but when it's a disk; HOLY COW, you know it!

My back sounds like Cathy's. I had to have microdisc surgery L5/S1 for decompression. The space had narrowed/collapsed and entrapped the sciatica and I was down for the count. After surgery I felt great. Literally no pain. That was 12 years ago and neuropathy and sciatica pain is escalating now. I'm going to talk to the ortho about a PT referral.

I hope that you can get relief from PT. Take care and be careful. Lindy

I also have DDD, and I keep looking at the inversion tables and wondering if they would help. I read the reviews on line and it all sounds good, but they are about 300 bucks, and I don't have that right now.

Has anyone tried an inversion table - did you like it?