Ruth Said:

need any information possible.. chronic back pain sufferer with sudden joint pain all over..?

We Answered:

Colby C,

I'm sorry to hear about all that, it sounds horrible for you and especially for your mother.

It sounds very serious. I'll give all the ideas I can and hopefully something will help - at least a little bit.

Here's what I've got:

Some posture improvement exercises (that obviously she may not be able to do all the time):

- Rotate your shoulders forward and up and around and let them settle low and as far back as they'll stay, and get used to them staying back there.

- Sit with your head further back (NOT tilted back but pulled back like a double chin).

- Lean over so your thighs touch your chest before you sit down. You'll be on a different part of your bottom when you sit. Sit on that part of your bottom every time you sit.

- Suck in your belly and keep it sucked in for quite a while.

- Do yoga and stretches to improve core muscles. I have a resource that I'll put below that has more detail on these and other approaches if you are interested.

- Simple rigid back Pushups and Pullups can help with strengthening the correct muscles and keeping the back straight.

Accupressure: Cross your arms, and grab and squeeze your bicep between your fingers and thumb half way down the bicep. Its a pretty broad accupressure point so you can't miss it. The relax or walk around for 10 minutes. You should feel some relief.


- If you sleep on your side put a small towel roll (hand towel) just above your hip on your side.

- If you sleep on your back put a flat pillow vertically under your back so your shoulders and back are raised a bit. Don't tilt your head back but move it back, keeping it looking straight at the ceiling.

- If you sleep on your stomach, then ... well ... don't :) switch to sleeping on your side or your back. It might be uncomfortable at first but you'll get used to it. You can even switch in the middle of the night, just do what you can.

- Get a nada chair. These things help support your back way better than any real chair - they wrap around your knees.

Like I said above, I'm including a link below with more details on all this stuff and other approaches so you can dig deeper.

Good Luck to you and your mother,
John

Sheila Said:

Do you prefer surgery or non-invasive methods for correcting a herniated disc - if you were diagnosed with it?

We Answered:

I think its a good idea to try non surgical spinal decompression. There are no side effects. Treatment is painless, easy and results are quick. No medication, no surgery, no side effects....

I would exhaust all treatment options before going for surgery. Surgery is invasive, and there is rehab involved. Plus you have to get medication for pain control and to control infections etc.

Most people who get on this treatment are suffering from severe chronic lower back pain. Most times, surgery is the last option, and they have been recommended surgery by their orthopedic. They have tried drugs, epidurals, injections, PT, chiro, acupuncture and traction.

Not everyone is a candidate for this though- if you have had fusion surgery in the lumbar spine, surgical repair of an abdominal aorta, a fracture or cancer of the L spine or pelvis or suffer from severe osteoporosis- you may not be a candidate. The Dr has to take a look at your MRI's as well to assess the disc level.

I have never heard of any side effects of the treatment, so I would go for a consult to see if you are a candidate for this treatment. Hope this helps.

P.s I have seen many people who have been helped with non surgical spinal decompression- please at least see a Dr to see if you qualify for treatment. I have given you some good links to see how this treatment helped others.

Wesley Said:

Non-invasive surgery?

We Answered:

If she has torn the rotator cuff there is only one way to fix it and that is with an incision at the front of the shoulder. It will be about 6 inches long and will no doubt be closed with staples. It will look horrible. I called mine "body by Frankenstein". I took good care of the scar with vitamin E oil and massage to help prevent adhesions. Five years later I have a thin silvery line right where the shoulder/sleeve seam of my shirts is. It is almost invisible and no one notices unless I point it out. The reason the tumor left such a big scar is they had to remove tissue and stretch the remaining skin to cover the empty space. Also neck skin is more fragile than most of the other skin on your body so it scars worse. I expect your mom was just glad it wasn't cancer and the scar just reminds her how lucky she was.

Stacy Said:

Can lyphomas be removed with cyber knife?

We Answered:

I too have a tumor, but in my neck. The SAFEST way to remove it is by good old fashion surgery. The recovery time isnt long, only about a week or two. Not sure about the price of the cyber knife but I can assure you its way to much and probably only used when traditional surgery doesnt work. Also, not every hospital carries this machine. Its not main stream so there arnt many doctors that know how to use it therefor the price will go up even more!

Wayne Said:

11 yr. old Boxer injured back leg and/or hip very bad. What should I expect?

We Answered:

You need to get to the vet NOW.

If your dog has done damage to a disk in his back he needs steroids ASAP for him to ever have a chance at recovering.

The general rule is if a large dog is not able to get up after three days they are not going to be able to get up ever again. By the time you get him to the vet tonight it will have been 2 1/2 days since his injury.

Do whatever it takes to get the dog into the vet NOW.

I have had dogs with disk injuries and timely care is of the utmost importance.

11 is not too old for surgery - the vet will do pre-op bloodwork to make the determination. I have had dogs older then that have surgery and they were fine.

Your worst fear is they say put him down- but they may have no other choice because you delayed medical care for this dog.

Theodore Said:

I will do anything I can to get into the military. Will the following actions suffice?

We Answered:

One included "bulging disc" (my lower back has a herniated disc)...

this alone will not allow you to join, the armyhas a big thing about not allowing ppl in with bad backs. you do indeed have to get the surgery, then a waiver.

if that wasnt a problem you have to prove you dont need those meds for your anxiety, cause well.... lets say you get deployed to iraq, derkastan, etc. and you run out of meds... they cant get you those when you literally out in the middle of no where

also the marine corps. is the toughest to get into, with the toughest basic training. i do have some secrets for you but i cant really put them on here drop me an email at linzicofnov@aol.com. ill tell you them there