Poll of the Day > Anyone have experience with degenerative disk disease?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I was diagnosed with it about 6 years ago, but didn't wanna do the surgery they suggested. Instead I adapted and am careful when I bend over/pick things up, and I only sleep on my side. I don't stand for too long, or sit without standing and stretching more than 2 hours and that seemed to work out just fine...until recently.

Now for some reason my right side, I think it's the muscles, they just cramp up hard all of a suggen sometimes, i can just be walking, or when i'm getting into bed etc. It's extremely painful and I can't move for a bit afterwards. Luckily it hasn't happened in a dangeruos situation (like going up and down stairs or on a hill etc) as I can't control the reaction, the whole right side by my lower back and up to my ribs siezes.

Could this just be a strain or something that might go away, or is this a progression of DDD and something I have to either live with or get surgery for?

I really don't want to do surgery or deal with hospitals again at all if possible.

---

Sounds like something you should talk to a doctor about.

---

as far as I know I have two or more herniated discs. it's hard to give advice since I don't know what anything is like for someone else.

random things I would say include:

- the pain from a herniated disc comes from a pinched nerve, and should be painful but seemingly not associated with anything. it hurts in a particular place, but there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with that place and moving that place doesn't "really" hurt. you might actually find that if you straighten (or move a certain way) a part of your back, that the pain goes away. for example, sometimes you can have a lot of pain in your knee or ankle and then remember it comes from your spine, straighten your back, and the pain mostly fades.

- there are other injuries that can give you back pain, like a pulled muscle. you "should" I think notice in those cases that moving the injured part of you is what hurts. it's also usually a different kind of pain. but it's not always easy to tell for sure.

- lately I've discovered that folding your back backwards helps tremendously, and folding it forwards is bad. try to keep your shoulders back, maybe even your arms behind you. try to keep your midsection out forward, and your pelvis and upper back back. (try to keep your back convex (from a laying on your back perspective), not concave). (this is something that I have no idea if it could help someone else; it's just what works for me.)

- if you have neck problems, I've also discovered that using a blanket for a pillow instead of a pillow seems to help a lot. it's a little harder on my ear, but you can adjust its shape and height a lot better. it's also a lot easier to clean.

---

Every disk I've ever known has been a complete degenerate.

---

funkyfritter posted...

Sounds like something you should talk to a doctor about.

Sounds like something he should talk to a DJ about.
---

degeneration disk disease can suck it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mysAiGzfris

---

Sahuagin posted...

random things I would say include:

Thanks, yeah it's mostly random, but seems to happen if I twist that part of my back etc, it may also be due to laying on that side most of the time, which tilts my spine in a certain way, for large portions of the day.

I'm trying laying on my tummy right now, and will eventually try and lay on the other side (just hard due to the positioning ofmy bed/tv etc).

I do have a virtual doctors appointment next friday, but it's through zoom, and just with my old doctor from a year ago (who actually speaks english so that is encouraging at least), not sure how much can really be done on zoom, but I may get some advice that way as well.

I have not been stretching, swimming etc much either especially since moving, so it may be contributing to it. I do hope it's not just my DDD getting worse. I still have this plans on getting healthier and traveling (especially to europe) and having my back issues actually get worse is the opposite of those plans.

---

I'm only experienced in regenerative techniques.

---

i have experience with muscle spasms on one side, due to scoliosis. just know your limits I guess. try to strengthen the muscles in your back. drink for the pain. that's all I have

i read this differently at 1st glance.... sounds bad, but still much better than what i thought
---

Krazy_Kirby posted...

i read this differently at 1st glance.... sounds bad, but still much better than what i thought

Lol:)

---

I've had two back surgeries, one at age 18 for an L5 disc which caused a constant pain in my leg that surgery was the only relief I could find .

Then at age 43 , I had a T 12 surgery to relieve numbness.

I have to do a daily routine of stretches to keep from feeling tightness and keep my leg strength up to help provide support to my back.

Along with stretching, there are several other types of low Impact exercises and light weightlifting that can keep your muscles strong enough to help reduce the effects of bone issues.

Sahuagin posted...

- lately I've discovered that folding your back backwards helps tremendously, and folding it forwards is bad. try to keep your shoulders back, maybe even your arms behind you. try to keep your midsection out forward, and your pelvis and upper back back. (try to keep your back convex (from a laying on your back perspective), not concave). (this is something that I have no idea if it could help someone else; it's just what works for me.)

This what my dad does and it helps a lot.


---

Thanks guys, it has seemed to get better in the last day, havn't had a sudden spasm at least all today (but have not been too active either).

I need to start stretching, and also need to excersize again, since I moved I have not been doing anything really..which is probably partially why i've been having problems.

---