My Issues

D.W. Verts · June 28, 2018, 07:07:49 PM

So we have this part of the forum where we don't have to feel like we're going to be labeled as whiners. That's a good thing. So why do I have problems writing this down?

So instead of making a story out of all this (I'll leave that to the fishin' stuff) I'll just list my problems. I'm hoping something could come out of all this. Thanks.

In May of 2010 I suffered a minor stroke. It's been since then that I've developed my pain problems, and it was hugely compounded in April of 2014 when I tore my ankle up.

The year after my stroke I was overran with pain all over. Weird stuff- not really debilitating, but nasty. I did check negative for Fibromyalgia.

Most of that went away- any other pains I could say were typical fifty year-old issues.

The I broke my ankle at work in '14. I was misdiagnosed, spent six weeks in a cast, and MRI then showed a torn ligament AND a tendon, and I finally had surgery five moths after the incident, and I've never recovered from a crazy major rebuild that took over three hours (forecast was for an hour). I've fought that and limped and walked stupid since I broke it in the first place. It is little better than it was after the cast came off.

I started having severe leg and ankle pains in February of 2016. In August I was diagnosed with Gout. I fought it successfully for a year with diet and vitamins and natural supplements. Until August of last year when it all came crashing down.

And that's why I'm here at UB. I was bedridden sometimes for several days in a row, something I talked about when I first joined the site. However after spillin' my guts right off I felt like a whining freak and went on about my business.

It took four months to get the Gout under control (my doc said he'e never seen such a bad case).

Then the very first day I felt some noticeable relief, I had to to pull two old, large TV sets out of my dumpster at the restaurant. I figured (and found out I was right) that my neighbor had put them in there. I could write a funny story about how much easier it is to get two heavy BIG old TV sets into a dumpster than it is to get them back out. It's a slimy mess.

The very next day I was cleaning at the restaurant and picked up a bag of trash that weighed something less than two pounds. My bank went "thump" and I almost hit the floor. Other than a sciatic deal a couple of times years ago I have never had back problems. Now I do. In fact, that's what prompted me to write this- I came home form work early because I can't even stand up straight.

I went to a chiropractor for the first time in my life in February- he informed me that I have a bunch of arthritis in my hips, and worked me over on a couple of visits. He said I need recoup time after a treatment- I don't have TIME for recoup time.

And the other pains I've had the last few months- the cramps, and my hands, neck, etc. are everyday.

The pain is bad sometimes. Being down since 2014 is worse. And every day it seems to be something new. I blamed my lack of fishin' this month on too much work, and while there's always work, I flat just haven't felt like it. When you're hurtin' too much to set the hook on a big fish like I did Monday, you are hurting too much.

I think I need to go find a new doctor, maybe. Mine seems pretty jaded. I'm tired of being told that all of this comes with age. Bull. And 54 isn't that old. I know if I lost more weight (thanks to that Prednezone script that put over forty pounds on me last fall and winter) it would help but it's hard to perform cardio when you hurt.

Mostly I'm just tired of the pain. I get some minor depression (I'm not mental, and I understand the why's of me being depressed). But here I am again, almost down with my back. So I'm open for ideas.

Thanks for readin' what of course turned into another damn story. Sorry.

DocIrv · June 29, 2018, 02:25:14 AM

I feel for you. You are way too young for this. Have you consulted a neurologist? If not I highly recommend that you do (and I am a retired chiiropractor). I suffer with gout which just laid me out for three weeks and now my left foot is deformed from a tophus.
I have no other suggestions other than I wish you well.

Oldfart9999 · June 29, 2018, 06:59:20 AM

Dale, try to get a referral to good spine person and a scrip for an MRI on your back, it's the best way to find out what the problem really is and what can be done about it. I have 4 discs, L1-L4 and stenosis in 2 vertebrae, therapy was the answer as I'm not a candidate for for disc replacement. The owner of the therapy office is a trainer as well as a therapist and I spent an hour with her, she gave a routine that helped a lot with my back and lets me stand in the boat.

Bud Kennedy · June 29, 2018, 07:21:10 AM

Dale, best of luck in finding some treatment for your ills. This has to be a real bummer for you.

Lipripper · June 29, 2018, 10:14:46 AM

Dale your right 54 is to young to be having so much pain. I hope you can find someone that can help you figure out what's going on.

Mike Cork · June 29, 2018, 11:52:21 AM

As many here know I have a lot of back trouble. I've been through three surgeries with multiple disk fusions. (I think all are documented here, the first one might be limited). And after all that, I'm still screwed. But the last surgery got me walking again and I only need the cane after a long day. Unless it's a tournament I limit my fishing to just 4 hours or so. I am only 49 and my back rules my world. It decides how much I sleep, how much I work, how much I sit, how much I stand and yes how much I fish. Last year was the first year, but I had to quit a tournament early because of my back.

I HIGHLY recommend holding off on any surgeries as long as you can. For two reasons, first is they don't always work. The last surgery I had maybe 10 different symptoms from leg pain to testicle pain. The doc went through them and the best chance I was given was 50 percent, the worst was 20% chance of relief go figure it was on the testicle pain. So I have days where I feel like there is a 4-year-old walking with me flicking me in my nuts every few minutes. When a surgery doesn't work, then the procedure is done and it can hamper reason number two. Technology. It is advancing by leaps and bounds in the neurosurgery realm. My first surgery was a simple discectomy, something they do with a small incision now and back to work in a week, back when I had it done they had to put 18 staples in my back to close up the hole and it was months of recovery. There was also the risk of nerve damage, and I ended up with some minor nerve damage. Then because things didn't go right in the first surgery I had to go back and have disks fused. My last surgery was to remove the hardware used to fuse my disks, because it was coming loose, and install more hardware to fuse more disk. Each disk that is fused reduces the normal flexing of the spine and the next disk wears out faster, so I have become a repeating customer for my surgeon.

ALL THAT SAID... going to a surgeon can help. He can tell you what specifically is wrong. Then with this information, a good physical therapist can keep you out of surgery. I know you've heard it and you'll keep hearing it... Core Muscle strength, when the muscles that surround and support the spine are strong a lot of the pain goes away. I spend a lot of time with PT exercises. When I get lax about them I feel it and the pain gets so back I can't dress myself. So I know they work.

Remember back in high school, we didn't play any sports activity without doing several stretches and minor strength work. Now that we are older we expect our bodies to jump right into activities without warm-ups and our bodies break. Once broken, it takes a lot of work to fix. I have a shoulder problem right now that I feel like I'm gaining only one percent of recovery every two weeks, but it's slowly working. Not trying to compare a broken shoulder to a bad back, but the theory is the same.

D.W. Verts · June 29, 2018, 01:49:41 PM

Thanks Mike.

The chiropractor (and believe me, it was a decision to go to one) says that I really am just out of whack and he didn't see any signs of anything bad. Good for me. Walking with a limp for so long while favoring my right ankle was hard on me. IS still hard on me. But I only went to him twice- he said I needed a few days off after a treatment to let things settle down and I haven't been able to do that.

Lipripper · June 29, 2018, 01:58:28 PM

Quote from: D.W. Verts on June 29, 2018, 01:49:41 PM
Thanks Mike.

The chiropractor (and believe me, it was a decision to go to one) says that I really am just out of whack and he didn't see any signs of anything bad. Good for me. Walking with a limp for so long while favoring my right ankle was hard on me. IS still hard on me. But I only went to him twice- he said I needed a few days off after a treatment to let things settle down and I haven't been able to do that.

Dale you never have any days off to just let things settle down.

Mike Cork · June 29, 2018, 03:47:06 PM

Anything from a hip to a big toe that causes a limp can put your back out of whack and cause major issues. All of my troubles started from sweeping under an F-15 what seems like a thousand years ago. Just a broom.

Smallie_Stalker · June 29, 2018, 04:01:45 PM

Quote from: Mike Cork on June 29, 2018, 03:47:06 PM
Anything from a hip to a big toe that causes a limp can put your back out of whack and cause major issues. All of my troubles started from sweeping under an F-15 what seems like a thousand years ago. Just a broom.

It's funny how the smallest things seem to be the start of back problems. My long list of back issues all started with me standing at the bathroom sink. I was in my 20's athletic, working out and studying martial arts and probably in the best shape I have ever been in my life. I reached for my toothbrush which was laying not more than 3 inches from me. Never bent my back, never twisted nothing I can identify. But all of a sudden I couldn't move.

I have to believe there were problems already that I just didn't know about yet but I still can't understand how just reaching my arm straight out that short of a distance is what triggered it all. $:-\$

Deadeye · June 30, 2018, 09:21:29 AM

Yep our body is an amazing complex system of nerves and tendons.

I rarely talk about this, but my back issues started back when I was in my early teens, maybe 13-14. I was with my dad going to his lumber mill to help out during the summer and the dump truck we were following had something flying up then back down in it.

Eventually it flew out and the truck kept going. Dad pulled over to see what it was. It was a pack of styrofoam about 6 ft long by 2 ft wide. Dad told me to grab it and throw it in the pickup bed.

When I did I felt something happen in my neck/upper back that made a movement. Within a few minutes I didn't feel good and told Dad so. He brushed it off like most Dads would and did back in the 1970's.

By the time we reached his mill all I wanted to do was lay down on the truck seat. Dad went in to work and after awhile came and jerked open the door to ask if I was going gto lay there all day or get to work. I got up and went to work.

Several months later while we were doing some farming, one of my uncles said to my mom "what is wrong with that boy's neck? He's holding his head off to the side". Mom replied "he's been running around that that for months now". My uncle called me over and grabbed me by the head and snapped it back up straight and something snapped in my neck. He said "there now keep it that way".

Growing up for the rest of my teens I had a burning sensation right between my shoulders in my back. It became normal to me and I thought everyone did. It wasn't until I was about 20 that me and some friends were in one's bedroom and cracking each others backs. One said to me "hey Fred we found a new way to crack the upper back, let me show you". It was done basically by holding your head in a Full Nelson and with a quick jerk upward and forward it would stretch your upper back and neck.

When he did me my neck/back cracked like a rifle shot and when he left me go I fell face forward right onto the bed and stayed there. I remember telling him "you hurt me John, you hurt me real bad".

The pain was severe for 1-2 days but each day after it got better. When it left so did the burning that had been there. I talked with a Chiro about it years later and he said it made perfect sense. According to him the muscles on the side that was pushed out of place had grown used to being compressed while the other side grew used to being stretched. Once John did that the Bones popped back into place and the pain was from the muscles getting used to being where they were supposed to be.

He was amazed that I dealt with that burning pain for all those years.

That same area of my neck/back now is one of my main areas of pain issues. The arthritis in there has grown so bad that my Neurosurgeon agreed to go in and try to fix it. At that point I could no longer turn my head to the left.

The surgery was to take 1 hour. It took 3 hrs instead. Will be 2 years in December and already I can feel the tingling/burning in my left shoulder/arm happening again.

Point of that whole story is we do things and don't take care of them when we should and we pay for it later in life. I don't hold it against Dad, he just didn't know any better. Neither did Mom, but today I seriously doubt anyone would let their child "run around like that for months" like mine did back then.

Over the years I have gone to several different Chiropractors. Some were great and some were terrible. Some would have me come in for 1-3 adjustments then tell me "come back when you need me", while others want you to become part of their regular paycheck.

Dale don't know actually what to tell you, but don't ever think your talking about your pain issues is whining. Only those that deal with it really know.

I would say before agreeing to any surgery I would seek the advise of a Neurosurgeon and not just an Ortho Surgeon. I have been told by two different Drs that if I had shown my MRI's to an Ortho they would of had me in surgery the next day. By following the advise of my Nero I have been seeing a Pain Management Specialist Dr and he and his staff has me walking and able to live life again. Prior to seeing him I couldn't walk or stand for longer than 10-15 minutes.

I hope you find what works for you.

D.W. Verts · June 30, 2018, 09:31:50 AM

Thank you Deadeye.

Bud Kennedy · June 30, 2018, 11:39:01 AM

You guys have me feeling guilty. I am 72 and other than normal aging I have no pains. Sure my back can get tired after a few hours of casting. I can strain a muscle from time to time but for an old geezer I am mostly pain free. I am a bit overweight although I contend that I am not overweight but just too short. Currently I am 50 # lighter than when I retired. I do eat better than before and seldom eat out. I don't really take much in the way of prescriptions and I have no blood pressure or cholesterol problems.

I have never had a job that required any physical activity and have mostly been an administrative type of person. I am not an athlete nor have I been so most joints are free from damage but can get a little tendonitis if doing around the house work that requires a few days of activity. Painting the house from a ladder is one thing that gets my shoulders to hurt but only for a day or two. I guess I am just lucky.

I am so fortunate to have had time to enjoy some of my retirement before something goes really wrong. I am a senior citizen so I can't do what I used to do and my strength isn't much.

D.W. Verts · July 11, 2018, 03:56:19 PM

Wellll... I went to the Back 'n Kracker again Monday. We discussed my issues again, and this guy LISTENS. We also talked over some other things to try if these treatments don't produce results soon. And he really leaned on me this time- I'm thick, and I still have a fair bit of muscle. Really. And he has to get thru all of that. He still thinks that nothing major is wrong.

And then he laid into me and we got one of those ker-THUDS that I've been wanting to have happen.

So I was really sore the rest of the day, but was quite a bit better yesterday- a little sore, and very tight, but better.

I got up and went fishin' this morning early, and fished for four hours out of my bass boat, with no real pain Soreness, and still kinda TIGHT in my lower back, but not bad.

My intention was to trailer to the upper Lake this afternoon for when they start to generate current. But I decided not to push it- I feel pretty good, so I took the afternoon off to rest it some more.

Fingers crossed- I fished four hours Sunday afternoon and was in misery the whole time Here's hoping.

Smallie_Stalker · July 11, 2018, 04:22:11 PM

Sounds like you're making some forward progress and that's always a good thing.

Sent from my LG-H932 (LG V30 Plus) using Tapatalk

Lipripper · July 11, 2018, 05:44:33 PM

Dale that's good that you could fish for 4 hours without all that pain.

It was also a wise choice not to push it to mach in one day.

D.W. Verts · July 11, 2018, 08:15:18 PM

But four hours ain't much fishin' time either. And I have so much to (re)learn. Oh well.

Oldfart9999 · July 12, 2018, 05:29:23 AM

It'll come Dale, it'll come, just be patient. You're making progress!!!
Rodney

Deadeye · July 12, 2018, 06:10:12 AM

Great News Dale!

I love to find a Chiro that really knows what they are doing and LISTENS to what you are telling them.

The one I had been seeing was the best I ever had met, then she took over more of a management roll, she owned the practice, and the next guy was so-so. The he left and the next guy was great. He was able to get my body to respond like she did and he would listen when I would tell him of ways other Chiros had been able to get success on me.

Unfortunately he transferred to another branch and the guy that replaced him was friendly but just didn't get it for me. All he wanted to do was use that new style Hammer Gun and it doesn't help me at all, I need the real movement to get mine to go.

Haven't been back for almost a year but am still doing well.

Wish you continued success.