Arthritis Information -Arthritic degeneration of the spine

Hi, I'm new to the board and I am here to ask advice on my husband's problem. He was hospitalized this past month with viral meningitis type problems and pain which I believe stemmed from epidurals. We have found out that his back is not sensibly operable, due to age (71) and other health problems. I know exercise is likely desirable; but what type other than walking, I'm not sure. He also has used an opiate for the pain and is clearly addicted to that. He has lost much of the muscle acuity and expecially noticeable in his bladder as he has to use a cath to eliminate throughly. My question is: Can his muscles be made more healthy throughout his body by using proper diet and proper type exercise?

Thank You,

I'm so sorry to hear about all the problems your husband has been having. It sounds so similar to my boss' father - the similarity is amazing. He also ended up in the hospital for an extended time due to an infection in the lining of his brain, which is believed to have occurred when bacteria was introduced into his spinal column during epidurals for pain management. It was a slow recovery, but he is doing much better now.

I suggest you work with your husband's doctor and get him into a physical therapy program which includes water exercises. They allow you to exercise without fighting gravity and the warm water feels great. I think he will see a pretty rapid improvement in muscle strength, and the stronger his muscles are, the better they support his spine.

Good luck to you and your husband. He's lucky to have a loving wife looking for ways to improve his quality of life!

Hillhoney, Thank you for your response. I will ask the Dr. the next time we see him about the exercises you mentioned. I think it would also be a great help and hopefully we can find the proper place here to take him for that. Have a great night!

Hello Bj. I'm new to this site also. I'm also a Bj. I feel for what you are going through. It's unexplainable to a lot of people what you feel but I know what you are saying. Your trying to figure out what is going on with your husband's health. I'm wandering what type of epidural was given to your husband. The reason I ask is-I just learned today after I had a lumbar epidural that the cotizone was not exactly approved by the FDA. Epidurals are used on me because my spine does not warrant a surgery, and I thank the Lord for that. I asked what type of cortizone was used. It was Depomedrol and a pain killer. Not a good thing as I researched. I'm 56 years old, a female and have had a knee and shoulder replacement, arthrisitis in all my joints and oseteo in my spine. Beleive me, I hurt. I was a truck driver, 18 wheeler for 26 years. My work destroyed me, I didn't just sit behind the wheel of a big truck, I worked my butt off and now all my parts are literally falling off. I found, through my own pain seeking ways to releive my pain that water excercises in an indoor pool with a controlled temperature is the greatest thing I have done and a bicycle that you sit on where your knees are even with your hips, in other words, straight out in front of you. My muscle in the shoulder completely collapsed after the shoulder replacement and I have been trying to build it up for 8 months with no success. There is something out there that can help your husband and myself. I try to keep a thought that I thank the Lord each day that I am able to move. You-I worry more about, our pain is physical but yours is mental. Keep your thoughts from thinking there is no releif. Keep close to your husband. He's lucky to have someone who cares.