She had an extremely bad hernia in her L4-L5 discs.  She's since had a laminectomy to take care of her hernia, and it's greatly improved her pain, but she still needs exercises to deal with her injury.  I hear strengthening the lower back muscles will do more than anything else to empower her -- what exercises, exactly, strengthen the lower back?\n\nWe're really searching for help.  She's perfect, and god, I wish I could take her injury from her upon myself.  Please help us find some way to cure her.\n\nThanks!
134095
You're a great guy to be so empathetic for her. Lower back pain isn't fun, and I'm glad the laminectomy helped. \n\nIt may sound odd, but abdominal exercises help the back because strong abs can support themselves instead of pulling on the back muscles. So have her do crunches... lie on her back, knees bent and feet flat on the floor. She can put her hands behind her head or resting on her abs. (Having hands behind the head makes the exercise more difficult.) Then she should slowly curl up about halfway, and then go back down slowly. She should start with ten reps and do three sets, or whatever she can tolerate. Gradually work up to 20 reps for each set.\n\nFor her back, have her buy one of those inflatable exercise balls. I like the medium-size one -- about 18 inches across. She should get on her knees in front of the ball, lie face-down across it, cross her arms over her chest, and curl backwards. In other words, she should use her back muscles to curl and uncurl. \n\nOne yoga exercise that relaxes the back is the "Child's Pose." She should get on her knees and bring her head all the way to the floor, so she's completely folded up in a fetal position. Then place her hands alongside her feet. It stretches the back and helps to relax the muscles and ligaments. When she's in this position, you might also try gentle massage on her lower back. But put the pressure on either side of her spine, not directly on it.\n\nI hope she feels better soon.
377429
Hi I knowI am not a woman but my wife has had it.  She was dealing with it ever since she first started her period but did nto knwo it and was put on the pill to control it.  When we got married it intensified and got ten times worse, sex was out fo the question, rough honeymoon.  Anyway she did the Lupron and it did the same to her as it seems to have to you, nothing.  She was a wreck and it still was there.  She did surgery and it helped for about 2 months.  HErs was stage 4.  The doc was offereing a hystorectomy but we ha just married and wanted kids but not now.  She found a chiropracter that practiced applied kiniseology.  It was kinda crazy but it worked.  She had her on all these "potions" to support her body and did alot fo work with her more emotional than physical.  Not sure what happened or how it worked but she has been Endo free for 8 yrs, zero pain.  Still struggling with the weight gain but now we can blame it on two wonderful kids.  Find a doc in your area that practices applied kinesiology, usually a chiropractor.  Sounds crazy I know but it worked a miracle for us.  All the pointion and tinctures and emotioanl counseling she did for my wife was on top of the world when it was over.
468203
My girlfriend does exercises to strengthen her pelvic muscles(kiegle exercises). It's amazing, she can make her muscles pulsate in rhythm.  I can definitely feel it.
465308
Ive got a simillar problem to Yours! I have to bulged disc's #3 and #5 in my lower lumbar, and let me tell you there is no quike fix. I got hurt at work last Jannuary 2006 and after 7 epidurals I am now slated for a full blown back surgury! I feel for you! I have chronic back pain, and have run the gauntlet looking for relief, I've tried, Perscription drugs, Loratab 10's 5 a day!(Same as Vicoden but no acetemetphen/Tylenol) Alchohol (Makes it worse (The pain). I most recently am using pot! I dont smoke it, but rather leach out the THC into butter and use it as a spread for toast or abit in my morning oatmeal whatever, And I by God Works. But I am going in for surgury on the 27th of this month. And at this point, Though I have heard all types of horror stories about back surgury, I welcome the promise of relief. Good luck to you!And hang in there
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Don't fool yourself....you're talking about being pain free with herniated discs. No way is that a possibility.\nBack and/or neck surgery is a tricky option.  It could correct it for a while or it could make it worse.  You mentioned that you have a degenerative problem.  Well, there you go.  This is a widespread problem in your body.  One surgery is not going to cure or heal it.  It will most likely come back and as you age it will get worse.\nI know quite a few people that had the operation you are talking about and after a couple of years they were right back where they started.  If you can, hold off for as long as you can with the surgery.  Research other options and try other avenues of pain relief.
126660
I hurt my back and hip mountain biking 6 years ago\nit was doing much better but last month it went out on me again (I slipped while shovelling, not a good combo)\nI was in bed for 3 days and people had to help me up to go to the bathroom but now I am back to exercising and feeling great\nit really as made me appreciate how important it is to exercise and stretch to keep mobile and healthy\nI know lots of people that give up doing things because they have been hurt (and now live with constant pain) but I think it is important to try to do as much as possible and stay active and healthy, don't give up
362798
OH MY GOD\n\nthose bring back possibly the worst short term pain memories of my life. I had the same problem. Two severe herniated discs. I went through a year of physical therapy, swimming, strong back muscles, no activity, lots of activity, braces, pills, basically anything you can think of. \n\nI went to the doctor at one point and said that I have two options. Surgery or epidural steroid injections. I took the ESI like anybody would and it was done in a rush after they got the doctor who performed this right before he left to go home. I dont know if this was normal but they only put 3 numbing needles. Then I easily went through the worst pain of my life. The needles into the epidural space are just immensly, undescribably painful. I was put in a wheelchair afterwards and then they said it will get better worse before it gets better. After 2 or 3 days it did get better to some extent, I could walk longer, stand longer, etc. In the end, the ESI did not work for me. They only served as an immense surge of pain. \n\n\nSince your husband already has 4 discs herniated, I would go for surgery. It is painless, quick, just so much better. I would much rather live a full life rather than a half life filled with steroid injections
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Massage and yoga. Both are extremely effective. I have friends that have tried and they had scoliosis before. It is perfect now. Perfect back. I STRONGLY recommend it
578267
Try checking out spine-health.com. I've had sciatica which is when the sciatic nerve is pinched or impinged upon sometimes by normal wear and tear and sometimes by a strain/slight injury (even without realizing it). It can also be caused by a disc problem. The pain is real and it usually effects the upper thigh and sometimes the hip and can radiate downwards. I use ice and Motrin. Of course your mom should check with her doc to make sure she can take an anti-inflammatory if indeed that is what it ends up being. That spine-health.com has a list of issues dealing with bulging discs, herniated discs etc. The bulging disc can range from mild to severe but there are treatments available that are successful. Also there is a ligament (can't remember the name of it at the moment) that runs outside and just below the hip through the outside of the buttock to the thigh that even if just strained can cause much pain. It's good she's getting an MRI to determine whether it's actually disc involvement or muscular in nature. I'm not a doctor, just played a lot of sports so have a bit of experience with some of these. Good Luck.
140563
Have her see a doc. people can guess on here and they may even be correct but she will still need treatment. it could be a hernia or a few other things, all need medical opinion and care.
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Im so sorry that your mum is suffering from this very cruel debilitating condition.\n\nAs I know you will be aware lupus affects so many internal organs so working out if this is lupus related is not easy, as the painful neck could be down to usual wear and tear etc. Musco skeletal injury, back pain, knee pain etc often presents itself as neck and head pain.\n\nHas she thought about a neuromuscular consultation?   to eliminate the chance that she may have accumulative strain through holding herself stiffly? The fact that the pain is worse when she slouches seems to point to it being a lower back problem?  (We are all really good at standing on one leg if the other one hurts therefore damaging the good leg etc)\n\nA neuromuscular therapist could show her how to relax, how to move in pattern, and how to recognise when her everyday movements are taking her into pain?\n\nGood luck to you both
650146
my mum has a very painful forearm so she went to have a scan and they revealed that it is a trapped nerve in her neck which put her out of work for 7 months. after the operation she had to have a cage put on her head and bolts in her neck. she stuggled sleeping because she had to sleep upright for 5 months! if i was you i would go and see your doctor right away. i hope i have helped and i also hope your wife gets better soon!
161889
When your 88 full recovery is very rare she might recover but at that age its rare to get for a full one. Im not meaning discouraging are anything but thats my personal expeirence Im wishing her the best luck though.
499401
Maybe you're "backed up". I'm not poking fun at it, I'm being serious. One of my exes had the same problem (going by your short description) and that was the problem. Doctors said nothing was wrong. It took a trip to the hospital -voluntarily- to find it out. She was in pain for a month and half, if I remember correctly. But, they took an x-ray and found out she was indeed, "backed up". The best way to find out is to go to a professional or specialist and ask. Specialist would be better because they focus on one part of the body and not the whole body which regular doctors guess way off than specialists. I'd say take laxatives or something as a suggestion but this is medical advice and can't really give you that since I'm not a doctor.
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I' m not sure why at this point someone has not addressed surgery. Is she being followed by a cardiologist? Unless something else is the cause of what sounds to be heart failure, it seems like her regurg. is finally become symptomatic. Has no one approached her about surgery? Has she been told for some reason that she is inoperable? You definetely don't want to jump into surgery if you dont need to. I feel like I need more info to adequately answer your question though. What I would do is direct these questions towards her doctor, preferably a cardiologist. Has she had a heart cath yet?  If not, maybe see if its time. Email me if you find out more or if you have anymore questions. Im a RN in the cardiovascular ICU, I specialize in heart surgery. Good luck to you guys!
505805
i too have a herniated disc. the dr told me that if I had the surgery there is no gaurentee, that the problem will not return. so I opted not to have the surgery. yes I have numbness, not in my feet but my legs. I was told that if you can bend at the waist, arms reaching for the floor in front of your toes, legs must remain straight as possible in order for the back to pop, that your back will pop and it will help relieve the pressure and discomfort. often it works, but there are times i have done too much and this treatment doesnt work it is a hit and miss type treatment
342279
MAN I FEEL FOR YOU I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH R.S,D FOR YEARS NOW . WHICH IS A NERVE DISE. I,M GOING IN DEC.1 TO HAVE ASPINAL CORD STIMULATOR PUT IN TO SEE IF IT WILL CUT DOWN THE SOME SO I CAN GET OFF THE PAIN  MEDS OR CUT DOWN ON HOW MUCH I,M TAKING A DAY.IT SUCKS BUT WHAT CAN YA DO .E MAIL ME AT ICDDPPL1995 @YAHOO.COM.GOOD JUCK