I am a 35yr old male. Fairly active. 2 yrs ago I suffered from a slipped and bulging disk. My doctor at the time treated me with bextra and prednisone. This seemed to work, although it still took a month or so for the pain and stiffness to completely go away. I attributed my 3hr/day drive with heated seat partially to my recovery - or at least comfort.
Well...About one month ago I was getting off the sofa and pulled an upper back muscle. I thought it was temporary. It turned in to extreme lower back pain. I first medicated myself with celebrex (over the counter here in mexico). When that didn't work...I went to a chiropractor who straightened me out and told me to ice my lower back pain. That worked for a few days. Finally, I found myself locked after sliding off the sofa (trying to get off the sofa) in a position for 3 hrs with excrutiating pain from the muscle spasm every time I tried to move an inch. I finally warmed my muscle enough to go to the hospital where I received a shot on both buttocks of cortisone and supradol (painkiller). The supradol has helped to manage the pain. However, my doctor would like for me to come off of it. He has prescribed profidene, vitamin b, and nuroflex plus (a muscle relaxer) along with heat at night. None of it seemed to work. Now he has prescribed a new anti-inflamatory drug along with losec (for the stomach) and a mild painkiller, and valium at night to relax the muscles enough to get some sleep. None seem to help except the valium at night and the supradol 4-5 times per day. We did xrays and the doctor believes that I have a muscle contusion. My hips are about 5mm off and my back is slightly crooked. He believes that I have one leg shorter than the other and that my muscles are pulling my spine slightly to one direction. He never mentioned anything about a possible slipped/bulging disk. My biggest problems is getting out of bed in the morning due to stiffness and managing the pain all day. I really do,not like taking all of this medicine. And, I am getting very depressed because I don't feel like I am healing, only masking the problem.
Does anyone have any advice? I am worried that the dr may have misdiagnosed my problem.
Down and out in mexico - b
