Hello, I know how you feel. I ruptured a disk during training,(i am in the military). Ever since I can't do any of the things I used to. Walking, sitting, sometimes even laying down hurts. I am currently seeing a pain management specialist to see if there is someway that I can stay in the military. At times I feel bad because there are days that I have to depend so much on my girlfriend to be able to do things. I feel like I am useless. But thanks to her encouragement and that from my family I have been able to push through it. Oh and I am only 29 yrs old right now. Something else the Dr's have told me is that the way the disc ruptured and the location prevents me from being able to have surgery.
I used to make fun of a freind of mine when she complained of back pain until I started going throught the same. All I can say is keep doing what you are doing, try not to over do it on the days that you feel good cause you kinda end up paying for it shortly after. Hope you get better.

Hi Rob,

My physio thought that my disc ruptured but I am waiting for the authorisation to get an MRI. I totally agree with you unless anyone has had it themselves then they don't understand. I try to hold on to my sense of humour as I know if that went then I would be in trouble. I can't sit or stand for long so I know what you guy's are going through. I agree that family and friends keep you going. You really know who your friends are when something like this happens. I feel like I am being bounced around at the moment and I am told that crhonic pain is hard to treat but we have to keep going don't we! I feel bad when I am down as people have worse problems. This site is great though. It's great to be able to have that support .

Take care

Shania

I have the same problem as well. I know how you all feel. I am 35. I have had back pain for many years but it has always gone away...except for this time. It hurts to walk, stand and yes even lay down! everyone seems to think that a Loratab and a heating pad should fix anything. Well, IT DOESNT!! I do agree that your friends and family should be supportive to you. I say this but my family has pretty much turned their back on me. I have a mental disease as well and have been very depressed since this happened. I have had rampant suicidal thoughts, but they dont really want to hear it anymore. I just got fired from my job because of this (unspoken), I am on disability ($623 a month, that is all) and I am being forced to move out of my house at 35 and move in with my grandmother in her apartment.
My girlfriend has been supportive somewhat. She thinks that I can "will" my recovery and that I should be doing Yoga. It sounds good in theory, but it doesnt seem like it is going to happen that way. She is just about fed up with me as well. I REALLY do not want to lose her. She is the love of my life. I have never loved anyone the way I love or as much as I love her! She means EVERYTHING to me and I feel like this is driving a wedge between us. She gets frustrated when I grunt or groan at the pain or if I wake up in the middle of the night in pain. She doesnt want me "doped up" either. I dont really want that either, but I NEED pain meds.

One of my friends really is understanding about this and appreciates the intensity and severity of it. We have friends that have major back problems, his mother has rheumatoid arthiritis as well. So I really feel like he understands, BUT at the same time, I feel like he is just looking at this as a way to get Oxycontin, IF they give that to me on Thursday. So, I feel like he has some alterior motive.

I have been so depressed since this has happened to me. It has really broken me. As I state dearlier, I have just about lost everything that I have and am used to. I have been very suicidal and those thoughts have pretty much consumed my every thought for the past 2 weeks.

I am sick of doctors thinking that I am just "drug seeking"! I am in pain and it is proven that my back is messed up pretty bad! I have a "massive ruptured disk" and "many degenerating disks", so my condition is not getting any better and to me the outlook is bleak.

I HOPE that I get what I need on Thursday at the Pain Management doctor. I hope that my girlfriend, who at the moment, according to her through a text message, is VERY DEPRESSED. I dont know why, she will not say, but I am sure it has something to do with us and our situation and my back pain. I hope that I dont kill myself and my family will SOON come around and just "be there" for me. I hope that my sister, with who I am VERY close, will one day soon return my calls. I hope that people will not think of me as a burden anymore. I guess that is ALL that I have left...HOPE.

Hi,

You need to have a good chat at the Pain Management. You need meds that help you get a good nights sleep. You can't sleep so you can't handle the pain in the day. This give you negative thoughts and you think whats the point i'm lust existing. We have all been there. A lot of people with back pain have depression it's not your fault. Don't beat yourself up. Your girlfriend might understand more than you think. She might be down because she feels for you and what you are going through. Stay on this site as there are some nice people on here that will help you. I hope that I have been of some help. I was very down last week. I feel more positive this week. Take care

I had back surgery back in 1990. And I have only had 4 bad episodes since then. Back hurting, not able to move, walk or any thing. Any way I am ok thank God. I always feel my left hip, like it is weak or some thing. Hard to explain. I am careful how I sit. I drive with car seat straight up. And avoid sitting on floor unless I have back support. I hope that all of you find what work for you. I know the pain and it can make you just stop every thing your doing and all you can think is "when will the pain stop?". But I have a question. I know some one with 2 raptured disk. And they are trying to get disability. Can they get this. Or is there a fix for raptured disks?
I do not know any thing about raptured disk. I had slipped a disk and it was pinching a nerve.

Thanks

have you seen a spine surgeon for proper evaluation and suggested treatment?

I don't understand why you are still suffering with herniated/ruptured discs and have not had any treatment or care for them.

Many will heal on their own with a good solid round of physical therapy that helps to strengthen core muscles, learn proper body mechanics etc.

If they do not heal on their own with this kind of treatment and possibly epidural steroid injections, then surgery is the usual next step.

Have you had any treatment for this and has surgery been recommended for you?

Fran

I have not heard of ruptured discs that could not have surgery done on them because of the way it ruptured or because of the location.

Where is the location and what type of rupture prevents surgery?

If I where you, I would get more opinions from other spine surgeons before I settled on having to suffer with this rupture for the rest of your life.

Have you had any rounds of physical therapy to help strengthen the core muscles, learn to move correctly etc.?

Fran

There is certainly a "fix" for a ruptured disc. Depending on the severity of the disc rupture, the usual treatment is an 8 week round of physical therapy to strengthen core muscles and learn proper body mechanics. If during that period of time, pain increases or doesn't improve, then a return to the spine surgeon would be needed.

At that point, they may try epidural spinal injections to ease the pain and see if the disc then heals on its own.

Most ruptured discs will heal on their own with physical therapy.

Also, surgery can be done. A disectomy on the discs will be done. If there is no disc left, then a fusion might be needed.

What your friend will not get is disability of any kind without first having any kind of treatment done on her 2 ruptured discs.

Disability is for those that can no longer work, unless she is looking for short term disability from her employer while she is under medical care to treat her ruptured discs.

Fran

I have been told that I just have to live with it. I can move around and work between attacks so it's a bit different for me. The attacks are agony though but I always recover they are just a bit too frequent.

just found this board. I guess I'm not the only one experiencing worsening pain for three months. Anyone heard of Norman Marcus, MD? I'm going to see him tomorrow, he's a pain guy, but doesn't do epidurals. I'm actually wondering how, physically, I'm going to get to his office, as I am currently lying on my back. I used to be an avid cyclist, but that has taken the chain off that cog. For now anyway. I'm also considering surgery, but I keep reading horror stories about failed diskectomies, so I may hold off. Also, taking Vicodin and Oxycontin.

Don't be afraid of having a disectomy. I have had one that has been a success for several years now and am having a second on another disc the end of June or beginning of July on a second one.

Please remember that most people that post on spine forums are those that are having or continue to have spine problems. those that have had success are off the forums and living their lives with no time to post.

Only a few, including myself, continue to post on spine forums to show that there are many, many success stories for those that have had spinal surgery. Far more successes than failures.

Sometimes it can depend on the surgeon and his skills and sometimes it just happens.

But there are more that have had successful spine surgery than have not.

Fran