Comments on: Degenerative Disc Disease

By: lori

lori — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 03:10:36 +0000

I am a 41 year old nurse who had to quit my job due to ddd. I had to have a hysterectomy and this made matters even worse from having to lay flat on my back for so long. 8 weeks later I am even in more pain than ever. I feel your pain. The only relief that I had OBGYN with the darvocet but that is long gone now. Good luck.

By: bob mencke

bob mencke — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:26:58 +0000

Dana, Alot of your problems are similiar to mine, although mine not nearly as bad as yours. Severe muscle tension/spasms caused my DDD. The muscle problems were caused by Lyme disease. Bob menckemr@yahoo.com

By: toni

toni — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:33:36 +0000

i am 28 years old living with ddd sciatica and canal stenosis my docs requested i have a breast reduction to relieve symptoms yeah right i had problems with this before breasts doctors wean u off meds and then what do you do some days cant walk have family cleaning house cant work and cant play with my baby doctors dont care living with this pain has riuned my life iam severely depressed and wonder why i have been dealt this hand in life i have a state paid doctor and she seems to to think i can work 40 hrs a week surgery not an option i have no income because welfare and my doctor forced me into a mandatory program that i could not do physically everything is falling apart along with my spine keep me in prayers and know u are not alone god will see us thru godbless

By: JONI

JONI — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:51:51 +0000

I have pain in my shoulder all the time taking all kind of pain meds and wake up hurting every day. I have a pinched nerve in my neck.I had been hurting for 8 years. I can’t seem to find a doctor to help. Should I consider pain management? I go for a Massage once a month…

By: nena johnson

nena johnson — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 02:56:59 +0000

i to suffer from djd from many years of nursing. i have tried many things without sucess since sugery was not an option. the best advice i can give is to find a good m.d. that work with you in regards to keeping you out of pain as much as possible and the rest is up to you. stay on a healthydiet exercise rest keep wt. down its not easy….

By: jodie

jodie — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:18:13 +0000

i too suffer from ddd, just found out today, and i am starting to realize how much these doctors suck they suck!!!!!!!!!!

By: Ginny

Ginny — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 05:00:29 +0000

Dear Dana,
I feel your pain and know how depressing it is to realize that your life is now controlled by chronic pain and a physical incapacity to move about without serious restrictions. Like you, I too can’t imagine living into my 70s or 80s, and I just turned 59. Unlike you, I have been able to get medication for my pain issues. However, after ten years of using Opiates, and other medications, I am now in the process of withdrawing from these opiates because they have slowly robbed me of my personality and motivation. As I reduced the opiate use by 75% from where I started, I have discovered that using opiates at higher and higher dosages over ten years had actually caused the increased pain levels I endured significantly over those years. I was also using Soma, and suffered from severe spasms which got worse and worse over the years. When I began reducing my Soma use from three pills a day down to one, I was shocked to see that my spasms problems significantly dropped in intensity and regularity with each pill I reduced. In some respects, be thankful that you have not had to suffer from increasing pain levels which were caused by the use of opiates and other drugs. I have talked to many others who are now detoxing off heavy pain medication use because they saw how the medications were stealing more of their life than they had ever imagined when they first began using them. Like me, they too are all reporting a significant drop in their pain levels once they detoxed off these drugs. It’s a no win solution when you turn to opiate based pain medications and other pain med’s as well. Eventually, they take far more than they ever gave for pain relief. I hope this helps you feel better about not getting pain medications for your chronic condition.

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:00:38 +0000

Dear Readers:
I am 56 years old I have had degenerative disc decease since the age of 27, probably before then,but that is when it was diagnosed. I have herniated discs in my spine as well and stenosis. I have been very lucky to have Doctors who understand pain. I am a Nurse, I have seen people who drug seek and I do understand why Doctor’s are reluctant to prescribe pain meds. After all, the liability is on their shoulders if people are not of stable minds. I know it sucks, but finding a pain management Doctor who is empathetic to our situation is key. In these times, you have to be proactive as well. I have seen Hospice patients who are on their death bed and Doctors don’t want to prescribe comfort medications. I wish I had answers but alot of Doctor’s don’t want to deal with something they can’t see to treat.

By: Dana

Dana — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:13:05 +0000

To Amber and others with Chronic back pain. I am DISGUSTED by the lack of compassion and treatment for those of us who Suffer with DDD. I am 48 years old, and have the gammet of Herniated, compressed and bulging Discs on all areas of my spine, along with Stohl’s Nodes. I fell a few months ago and now have a Anal Tear` this diagnosis comes from a Physiologist and an MRI, my Primary says if that were true I would be in a wheelchair Physiologist also thinks I am having small Storkes or Seizures- waiting for Ct scan results now. Nuerologist told me he does not want to oporate until I CAN”T WALK. Does it really need to go that far @@! I used to be 5’8″ and am now 5’6.5″. I also have Fybromaylgia, Nueropathy, Interstitual Cystittis, Mayofacial Pain Syndrome, and IBS. My Muscles are so tense that they are pulling my spine into opposite directions and has actually dislocated one of my ribs! My head no longer sits straight, and my right leg and foot sits sideways away from my body. I feel as if I am 70 years old. I cannot sweep, do dishes, or make a decent meal without my back feeling like it is on fire, and being in tears. I tried the shots once and the pain in receiving it actually made me pass out! It only lasted 2 months, and was not worth the pain or the expense. I take Endocet and Soma and my Primary wants to WEAN me off of them.I also have a TENS unit that I use regularly. Chiropractors will not touch me. What the h–l is left??? I have given up many of the things that I enjoy becasue it makes my conditions worse. I cannot sit, or stand for any period of time, laying down is also very painful. To top it off I have Carpal Tunnel in both wrists, and a bad tendon with bone cysts in my right hand- I am right handed and an Artist. I cannot wear a seatbelt across my collar bones becasue of the pain, shaving feels as if i am being raked by about 20 straight pins. Just the THOUGHT of living until I am 70 scares the hell out of me. I battle depression on just about a daily basis. The primary I just fired had the nerve to look at me and say ” I do not understand whay you are in so much pain” Are you kidding me! I am actually entertaining the thought of moving to France for more accessable, competant and affordable medical care. I HATE needles and was actually going to try Accupuncture, but my Insureance does not cover it. What the h–l am I supposed to do??? Marijuana helps quite a bit but is not legal yet in my state. It is up for a vote this year and I pray to God they legalize it. If my Primary “weans” me off of my meds, what am I suppossed to do. If it were not for my family and friends, I would not be here becasue it is just too much to deal with.

By: Amber

Amber — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:59:11 +0000

I suffer from DDD and am only 23. It started when I was only 21. It is not only one portion of my back (neck, upper, or lower) it is my entire spine. I have DDD from the first disc in my neck all the way down to the bottom of my spine. Because of my age and the fact that it is every disc in my back doctor’s don’t want to do surgery, nor will they use medication to help with pain control. I have tried the epidural steroid injections in my lower back without success, also have tried back braces, chiropractors, physical therapy, and several other things with no success. This makes my everyday life miserable and full of pain, but there is nothing the doctors will do!