Disc pinched nerves

[Dsnow9]

I defined agree with the cbd cream, I did a lot of stretching, and got a little inflatable of for my low back when driving. I also couldn’t sit on a soft chair for months. I was told I needed to strengthen my inner core, almost sucking bellybutton to spine and keep good posture during my pt and chiro appointments.

 

[Sytes]

Saw the specialist today. He showed my mri and its amazing detail is invaluable. Due to my prior spinal injury and current meds taken since '12, it scratched out a few options to work and his assessment is surgery.
Apparently it's two weeks competely off work where I'm extremely limited w/ abilities. Then 6-12 weeks of very limited.
Almost a deal breaker if it wasn't such a human necessity... I'm fit in for the 10th and doing whatever work tomorrow (blood work, etc) I have enough time off to hold over then I'll see about light duty status. To be real, this effin bites!

Is what it is. I'm set with orders w/in a time frame so I must make this move now.

Anyhow for any faced with or having gone through, chime in. I'll keep posting as this progresses.

Thanks to all for your info.
@Dsnow9 CBD - does it hold any THC properties? I imagine it does. As a Fed employee, it's still illegal. Another few years and we'll see. Glad it works for yourself and others. I'm not knocking it in any way - however, it's a bit too close to an area that I'm looking for other options. Again, glad to hear it's working well.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Sytes,

Only the best, only the optimum in return to good health and strength is hoped and prayed for you.

Take the time-out in your life and get the body back closer to the strong normalcy. The investment in time and care will bring priceless returns.

Listen to your doc, listen to your physical therapist ... and most importantly, listen to your wife. 'Sounds like she is number one looking out for your well being.

 

[Dan O]

Sytes good luck with the procedure. I hope in the long run you get back to normal and without pain. If there is anything I can do to help out I'm only 90 miles away.
Dan

 

[Hem]

Good luck with the procedure Sytes.
Bummer but sounds necessary.

 

[TheJason]

Best wishes. Think the long game here.

 

[MarvB]

Best of luck @Sytes, keep true to the rehab! After 3-1/2 months I’m finally feeling like my new knee will get me out of the elk woods this fall. Was mentally just about ready to give it a pass and then broke through to the next pain threshold and all is getting better! Good luck to you

 

[Dsnow9]

Saw the specialist today. He showed my mri and its amazing detail is invaluable. Due to my prior spinal injury and current meds taken since '12, it scratched out a few options to work and his assessment is surgery.
Apparently it's two weeks competely off work where I'm extremely limited w/ abilities. Then 6-12 weeks of very limited.
Almost a deal breaker if it wasn't such a human necessity... I'm fit in for the 10th and doing whatever work tomorrow (blood work, etc) I have enough time off to hold over then I'll see about light duty status. To be real, this effin bites!

Is what it is. I'm set with orders w/in a time frame so I must make this move now.

Anyhow for any faced with or having gone through, chime in. I'll keep posting as this progresses.

Thanks to all for your info.
@Dsnow9 CBD - does it hold any THC properties? I imagine it does. As a Fed employee, it's still illegal. Another few years and we'll see. Glad it works for yourself and others. I'm not knocking it in any way - however, it's a bit too close to an area that I'm looking for other options. Again, glad to hear it's working well.

I work for the city and county of Denver. I have my cdl and get random drug tested. It had not been an issue for me. You have to be very careful about what you get because some do contain thc. In order to get the full benefit (full spectrum cbd) most companies use trace amounts of thc, I use cbd by young living that has essential oils added to it to make it full spectrum.

I understand the hesitation and wouldn’t want you to put your career in jeopardy. Hope the surgery goes well and you heal quickly! Don’t skimp on any PT!

 

[OntarioHunter]

Good luck! You'll be dormant for quite a while so adjust your eating habits accordingly. You don't want to add weight when recovering from a back injury. I know about that. I've been battling a string of internal disorders since last year - emergency appendectomy, gallbladder, and hernia. Keeping my weight down while couchbound between surgeries has been tough. Finally able to get back in the gym but Africa is only a few weeks away with rough country cape buff and kudu on the menu again. Did my nine-step stairs regimen yesterday for the first time in at least six months and was surprised I could finish thirty repetitions. Not real fast but nonstop. No problems. Rode the bike several miles last week and the hernia mesh was talking to me, "Don't rush it!" On the scales when getting COVID test in Fargo on Friday I was only seven pounds over where I'd like to be. I expect to lose at least five pounds during the terrible flight connections to Africa. Maybe lose that much the next couple days worrying about getting my gawdam gun export applications signed by feds in time. They have had the stuff since April but bureaucrats "working from home" has actually been an eighteen month coffee break. Total bullshit!

Anyway, hang in there and take care of yourself 100%. If it means taking a hunting season off, don't hesitate. Like said above, think long game.

I presume your vaxed? They wouldn't do my hernia surgery at Minneapolis VA hospital without it. You sure as hell don't want to be coughing your head off while trying to recover from back surgery. Ouch!

 

[hank4elk]

Have degenerated discs in C-7,6 area ,from almost getting head taken off @ 17.
It started bothering me driving trucks & tractors,falling asleep reading in chair. 45 yo.
One day I was just in pain & the next I'm partially seized up and my left arm is numb. I could hardly walk.
Long time dealing with WC with not much help from county employer I found a good PT,listened to MY doc, and still follow that PT's advice. When it starts tingling,getting sore,etc...stop doing what your doing.
Worst pain I ever felt was when I had deep tissue massage in PT and that gal basiclly reached under my left shoulder blade and grabbed the nerve in swollen tissue. I whited out and when I came to my senses I could move normally again.

I never had the surgery that was said to be needed. I have only had limits on what I am doing for myself. I sleep on my side & nap on the floor flat with back support and I'm good. Stretching & loosening up is daily start.
CBD helps as does THC....which leads to falling alseep in my chair....LOL,in no pain.
Good luck,I was never really comfortable with the fusing surgeries and such.

 

[utah400elk]

Thanks for posting this thread. I have gone through several painful surgeries and I believe I have a very high pain tolerance because of all the crazy stuff I did a a kid.

I was on a recent work trip to PR and as I grabbed my bag from the overhead my left arm started to hurt. I desperately did not want to got to DR in PR. I waited four days and went to insta-care as soon as I landed back home. They thought it was my hear and immediately ran a bunch of test. Turned out that my heart is in great shape and had pinched a nerve. They gave me simple muscle relaxers and anti inflammatory meds. They didn’t work.

I was in the ER the next morning. My arm hurt worse than anything I have ever experienced and all my fingers were numb. They did and MRI and determined I have significant Injuries to my neck.

I am working with a spine surgeon now. Wife went to appointment with me. DR said my heart was very healthy (actually said I have the heart of a thirty year old) and then said my neck is terrible. He said there is too much damage to determine what is causing the pain. I definitely have herniated disc in two spots at C3 and a torn and herniated disc at C7. There are also issues at C4 and C5. He said my neck looks like the neck of a 70 year old man.

I am working through physical therapy now and the pain now comes and goes. The pinched nerve pain is absolutely not a joke. It is incredible how bad the pain is. It has been worse than anything else I have experienced. I think I am going to have to get surgery in the near future but DR thinks PT will get me through the end of the year. I will get my hunts in this year but will probably have to go through a surgery or two in the next couple year.

Thoughts and prayers for all of you growing through pinched nerve pain or any other medical issues for that matter. I hope everybody has quick recoveries and you find big bulls and bucks in gentle country with easy recoveries.

 

[Matt R]

Sytes, I’ve had similar issues in my thoracic region for over a decade but symptoms have much attenuated by doing the following and I believe I may keep from doing surgery on it maybe ever:

Keeping my diet anti inflammatory more or less (more veggies and less sugar has helped for sure)

Working out with resistance bands rather than traditional weights 90% of the time (this has been good for my body overall)

Buying a vibrating foam and ball roller and doing pliability on my back and entire body (inspired by TB12 as I would highly recommend the TB12 method book)

Keeping my body properly hydrated throughout the day

Best of luck to you

 

[406dn]

I hope everything works out for you. Good luck

 

[Dsnow9]

Thanks for posting this thread. I have gone through several painful surgeries and I believe I have a very high pain tolerance because of all the crazy stuff I did a a kid.

I was on a recent work trip to PR and as I grabbed my bag from the overhead my left arm started to hurt. I desperately did not want to got to DR in PR. I waited four days and went to insta-care as soon as I landed back home. They thought it was my hear and immediately ran a bunch of test. Turned out that my heart is in great shape and had pinched a nerve. They gave me simple muscle relaxers and anti inflammatory meds. They didn’t work.

I was in the ER the next morning. My arm hurt worse than anything I have ever experienced and all my fingers were numb. They did and MRI and determined I have significant Injuries to my neck.

I am working with a spine surgeon now. Wife went to appointment with me. DR said my heart was very healthy (actually said I have the heart of a thirty year old) and then said my neck is terrible. He said there is too much damage to determine what is causing the pain. I definitely have herniated disc in two spots at C3 and a torn and herniated disc at C7. There are also issues at C4 and C5. He said my neck looks like the neck of a 70 year old man.

I am working through physical therapy now and the pain now comes and goes. The pinched nerve pain is absolutely not a joke. It is incredible how bad the pain is. It has been worse than anything else I have experienced. I think I am going to have to get surgery in the near future but DR thinks PT will get me through the end of the year. I will get my hunts in this year but will probably have to go through a surgery or two in the next couple year.

Thoughts and prayers for all of you growing through pinched nerve pain or any other medical issues for that matter. I hope everybody has quick recoveries and you find big bulls and bucks in gentle country with easy recoveries.

Take the year and find a good chiropractor as well. It’s worth a shot, could save you from needing surgery

 

[hank4elk]

Thanks for posting this thread. I have gone through several painful surgeries and I believe I have a very high pain tolerance because of all the crazy stuff I did a a kid.

I was on a recent work trip to PR and as I grabbed my bag from the overhead my left arm started to hurt. I desperately did not want to got to DR in PR. I waited four days and went to insta-care as soon as I landed back home. They thought it was my hear and immediately ran a bunch of test. Turned out that my heart is in great shape and had pinched a nerve. They gave me simple muscle relaxers and anti inflammatory meds. They didn’t work.

I was in the ER the next morning. My arm hurt worse than anything I have ever experienced and all my fingers were numb. They did and MRI and determined I have significant Injuries to my neck.

I am working with a spine surgeon now. Wife went to appointment with me. DR said my heart was very healthy (actually said I have the heart of a thirty year old) and then said my neck is terrible. He said there is too much damage to determine what is causing the pain. I definitely have herniated disc in two spots at C3 and a torn and herniated disc at C7. There are also issues at C4 and C5. He said my neck looks like the neck of a 70 year old man.

I am working through physical therapy now and the pain now comes and goes. The pinched nerve pain is absolutely not a joke. It is incredible how bad the pain is. It has been worse than anything else I have experienced. I think I am going to have to get surgery in the near future but DR thinks PT will get me through the end of the year. I will get my hunts in this year but will probably have to go through a surgery or two in the next couple year.

Thoughts and prayers for all of you growing through pinched nerve pain or any other medical issues for that matter. I hope everybody has quick recoveries and you find big bulls and bucks in gentle country with easy recoveries.

Sounds just like my neck.

PT and being physical while knowing my limits was vital. Simple exercises,BANDS not weights,stretching & strengthening. A towel under shoulder blades while flat on hard surface.
Keep your noggin & posture sound as possible.

My best to you Sykes.

 

[KB_]

dealing with that right now. Blew out 2 disks while in the military after falling off the wing on an v22 osprey. and I think I just mucked one up in my lower back at the damn trampoline park with my kids. Getting old sucks, Trying to drop as much weight as I possibly can to help relieve it. I do swear by the CBD stuff. You can find it without any THC as well and it really does help with inflammation.

 

[Sytes]

Thanks all. Lots of great comments- appreciate everyones input and direct experience.

When viewing the mri, Doc shared I had degenerative disk disease in my lower L area. Lighter color and good width higher up though at the lower lumbar levels they were thin, dark slots...
The word degenerative and disease are a literal pita. Hah!

Is what it is. Adapt. A few of you mentioned something similar in the C portion. Bet a pinch in the neck really increases the sharp shards of broken glass turn numbness sensation in the fingers! I recall that sensation during rehab from my C6-7 break.

Well, this year's a pass on my Bob sled Wilderness ass kicker... in a sense, I'm a bit relieved! Haha!

Great input all! Seems much more common with various levels of rehab and conditioning methods used.

 

[TheJason]

As part of your rehab, you may want to explore Pilates. My wife does personal training and worked with a gal who had all sorts of disc issues. After a couple of years, she was able to live a pretty normal life. That, and watch your weight. Mid section weight puts tremendous strain on your back.

 

[pre6422hornet]

I am in the same boat. Back in February I was hanging some lights inside our covered deck. Thought I was on the last rung of the ladder but actually was on the second rung. Stepped down to what I thought was the floor and then tried to catch myself, got off balance and my right foot landed on the floor. I felt my back instantly stiffen up like I pulled a muscle. Fast forward a few days and I could barely walk. Went to the chiropractor and the same words were used " degenerative", etc.... and a pinched nerve. I started a plan and finally about two weeks ago was feeling pretty darn good.

Then we flew to Florida and throwing luggage around for the wife and I and our 4 daughters I felt it tighten up again... then lugging coolers and beach stuff for 4 days followed by pushing two kids in a stroller at Disney for two days... now my left leg feels like I have a pulled hammy. Doesn't hurt to walk but getting up is PITA. Time to start over and make the wife carry heavy loads from now on... haha

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

Going through similar myself. Hardly any actual damage in the low back, but constant pain while standing.

Been fighting with Insurance for PT all year long, now trying oral steroids. Next option is the ole shot in the back


Apparently low back pain isn't an issue until it is. That's what the specialist said. Nothing really that wrong with the back, but if its causing pain then it is an issue.


Let me know if that CBD works for you. I'd hate to need it the rest of my life, but if it helps on the bad days it might be worth it.