I can relate. I am 41 years old and 4 years ago I was dropped on the back of my head and basically ruined my spine. Well, I got the same advice just deal without. I saw 9 different doctors including pain management and they were no help. Finally after going into my doctor he sent me to a spine specialist and that was the best. I had my first surgery 3 years ago for my cervical spine and did great. Until a year ago when I went to take my children to school and herniated 3 discs in my lower back. I went back to my specialist and found out the I have spinal stenosis which is usually found in people that are 70 years old or older. The stenosis and herniation required surgery and since then all has been well with my lower back the rest of my spine is degenerating faster than I had hoped for but atleast I can walk and be with my children and not have the lower pain! If it was me I would go to a spine specialist.

I can relate. I am 41 years old and 4 years ago I was dropped on the back of my head and basically ruined my spine. Well, I got the same advice just deal without. I saw 9 different doctors including pain management and they were no help. Finally after going into my doctor he sent me to a spine specialist and that was the best. I had my first surgery 3 years ago for my cervical spine and did great. Until a year ago when I went to take my children to school and herniated 3 discs in my lower back. I went back to my specialist and found out the I have spinal stenosis which is usually found in people that are 70 years old or older. The stenosis and herniation required surgery and since then all has been well with my lower back the rest of my spine is degenerating faster than I had hoped for but atleast I can walk and be with my children and not have the lower pain! If it was me I would go to a spine specialist.

You won't believe that my new insurance company (as of 3/1/04) has flatly refused to pay for celebrex that I have been taking for past 5 years - I am astounded. Insurance companies suck!

That is unbelievable! Have you tried vioyx? Or 800mg motrin 3x a day? Because I am a fusion patient I use 400mg celebrex and that's it. Before my surgeries I used the motrin and vioyx they worked. Ask about those.

Vioxx & mersyndol (the mersyndol forte aren't any better) are great, also add dhea(natural from health shop or I get it on-line from biosynergy) plus calcium & also 700-1000mg(each) twice daily of a combined tablet with glucosamine & chondroitin - these come recommended to me by a dr & I have had spine etc etc problems since birth & will be 49 in june.

Tankmama I know you're on meds but these natural ones could help more than you think both short & long term. My spine is disintegrating & the glucosamine/chondroitin combination is what my daughter's dr recommended I take (it's too soon for me to say whether it's worked but I know of others who it has worked for).

How much of the dhea? I must start some type of preventative and do not want to have to take ibuprofen or naproxen as they both kill my stomach. Thank you for your input.
Niap

With the dhea i'm not sure of the amounts as it is only available here from certain drs who have special government approval to import it & although my dr does import it he's put me on the others first & is waiting on test results before adding dhea.

He likes to put people on one med (even natural ones) at a time so as to see if there are any problems & then go on from there.

Also he starts people at lower doses depending on age/weight/other meds/health issues etc. So I would suggest that you ask a health store owner or contact biosynergy.Com which is where my dr orders from & get advice from them or from them as to where to go for advice.

Like you ibroprofen & naproxen etc kill my stomache!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! actually so do mersyndol but I can take the cheaper brands of mersyndol (i think it's because they don't use the yellow die that is used in mersyndols - it's weird but that's supposedly the only difference between mersyndols and the cheaper brands!!).

Please take the calcium (highest possible dose) & the glucosamine & chondroitin tablets, start at one a day & increase to 2 after about 2 weeks. Check toowith the health shop to see if they recommend any others (then before you buy check it on the net!!.).