Digenerative Disk Disease Posted: 11-03-05 13:24pm
I am a 23 year old female who has been
diagnosed with digenerative disk disease.
I am in the untied states army. I have
never had problems with my back until
november 5, 2004. I was in the field and
fell when a bunker collapsed. I fell 5
1/2 feet. I immediately went to the
doctor. They told me that I had serious
strains and spasms in my neck and lower
back. It has been a year and I have gone
through just about everything I can do.
I have gone through steroid injections,
physical therapy, chiropractor. I have
had a cat scan done recently which shows
that my lower lumbars are not getting any
better. My legs go numb after sitting
for a long period of time. I can barely
sleep at night. I take sleeping pills,
lortab, skelaxin and I take an anti
depressant. Nothing seems to be
working.
My doctor doesn't want to do surgery even
though it is an option. He says that I
am too young and that since I don't have
any children he doesn't want to do the
fusing of my disk. He said that
eventually I would have have to have my
disks replaced.
My question is has anyone overgone the
facet injection? If so is it worth
doing? I am scheduled for my appt on the
14th of november. I am really hesitant
about doing it since nothing else seems to
be working.
Thanks
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IMShirl
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Mar 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posted: 11-03-05 14:29pm
Hi again jujubee ~
I replied to your other post as well.
You must have more then degenerative disk
disease or your doctor is doing the facet
injections as diagnostic to make sure your
pain is not coming from the facets. I
have had lumbar facet injections but they
were done to rule out the possibility of
facet joint problems. The injections
didn't help me at all so the showed my ns
that the facets didn't add to my pain. If
you have more questions please ask.
Thanks for the information. I don't know
what else may be wrong. I am sure going
to find out though.
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IMShirl
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Mar 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posted: 11-03-05 19:37pm
Juju ~
you are so welcome. Please keep me up
dated. If there is anything you need
please feel free to ask.
Imshirl :d
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azchev
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 2 Location: phoenix
Posted: 11-12-05 14:00pm
First thing, make sure you get a copy of
your service medical records upon
discharge so you can file a claim with the
va. Second, file a claim with the va as
soon as you get out. Your condition
sounds pretty serious and you'll probably
need the va compensation to help out until
you get on your feet. You also might
qualify for voc. Rehab with the va.
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keef
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Nov 2005 Posts: 2 Location: St. Louis
Posted: 11-14-05 18:51pm
Hello juju,
azchev gave you good advice.
If I could do it all over again (how I
wish) I would go one further and get
copies of records while still in the
service.
I waited until I left the navy to get a
copy of my medical records.
It was too late.
The navy had already lost some of my
records and as a result i'm not getting
any disability from the va for my back.
(i've been fighting them for years.)
i have a degenerative disc in c7,c6,c5 and
the recommendation is to have a surgery.
Does anybody know if physical therapy
could help???
Also when I was checking the internet I
found out about a machine called " pronex
- cervical traction device " that helps in
decreasing pain and in the healing process
in general. Did anybody try it ?
I had the facet injections and they didn't
do anything but hurt my back more! I also
had the invasive surgery and the doctor
found that the disks were pinching my
nerves, unfortunately, it didn't help my
back and the numbness in my leg has gotten
worse. I can honestly say that I
completely understand how you feel :cry: .
I wish u the best and hope your doctor
can do something mine couldn't or
wouldn't.
Jascencion
I tried a full year of physical therapy.
It didn't do much good but the relief I
got in those sessions felt wonderfull! I
hope your therapy goes well. :p
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46270
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Florida
Ddd, Fjd, Spinal Ar Posted: 03-28-06 02:13am
I was in the air force, I took a fall in
japan in 94, we rotated back to the states
oct 94, the fine air force dr's told me I
had just bruised my spine. The pain was
getting worse, finally jan 95 one morning
getting up to go too work, the pain was so
bad I could not get out of bed, finally
the wife help get me dressed, I called the
shop told them I was going to sick call.
All the doctors at the base wanted to do
was feed me pills. I was seen at walter
reed, they did nerve surgery, this made
things worse. I finally got to be seen by
a neruo surgeon. I had my xrays from my
fall his word "hell sgt your lucky you can
walk at all. It turned out I had broke
back in two places. The only thing that
saved me was I was in great shape. The
muscles had saved my life. I have a dcs,
they wont do the plating and fusion of my
back, because they arent sure if it will
help the pain. I have had injections,
nerve surgery, inplants. I live with so
much pain. Most of my time is spent
lying on my couch. There are days I cant
even make it to the living room. The va
rated me at 70% and un employable.
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backfixer
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 20 Location: north brunswick, nj
Back Pain Relief Posted: 03-29-06 12:29pm
You are no doubt very frustrated and I
would be too. I would highly suggest
seeing another chiropractor, preferably
someone who is at least certified in
sports injuries. You also want someone
who does myofascaial release or graston,
since this will speed recovery and someone
who also gives their patients exercises
once the area responds. A really good
chiropractor should be able to help if you
are not a surgical candidate.
Check out backfixer1.Com for further
info...
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46270
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Florida
No No I Cant Handle the Pain Posted: 03-29-06 12:52pm
I went to a chiropractor, I live with
pain, I dont mean a little pain, when I
was in the air force I kept saying the
pain cant get worse. The pain I liuve
with now is like 20 on a scale of 1 to 10.
By the time I left the chiropractors
offce I could not walk at all. I ended
up going straight to the er. It took a
iv with morphine to help.
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