Anyone with chronic back pain ever get better?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in peds, med surg, ER, Home Health.

I'm not looking for medical advice or anything, just very frustrated and need some support. I have been suffering from chronic back pain for about a year and it is really having a worsening impact on my quality of life. I have some cervical disk problems, will know more after I get my MRI results back this Wednesday, but also have Harrington rods for scoliosis, which is apparently keeping me from improving.

I had to leave my med-surg job in January and started working in an

Ob/Gyn office, which I loved, but I just had to resign from that job because I was in too much pain to work full time. I'm pretty sure I have a prn job lined up, and luckily my fiance' is able to support us financilly, but I am still really depressed about this. I've been nursing for less time than I was in school.

I'm seeing a pain management specialist and am taking pain meds and muscle relaxers, but I don't want to spend the rest of my life on narcotics, and surgery isn't an option at this point. I really want to have kids in the near future and I'm afraid I won't be able to because of the pain. So I guess what I'm getting at, is there anyone who has been through this and has actually gotten better? Is there any hope for me to have a normal life without drugs? Thanks to whoever has read all this and for any words of wisdom you have to offer!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I have a L4/L5 compression which results in low back pain in addition to a sharp pain that runs down the back of my right calf upon ambulation. I first noticed the pain in March 2005 and it has not improved notably. However, everyone responds differently to various treatments. I am prohibited from offering medical advice due to the terms of service for this site.

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Specializes in PICU, Nurse Educator, Clinical Research.

kirsti-

I pm'd you....trust me, I know how you feel! I'm happy to offer what support I can.

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I want to be encouraging and there is good news. While my back pain never completely goes away, it is better at times. But what I have found is that I have learned to tolerate the pain better. Pain that would have had me calling into work, doesn't seem as bad. All pain is personal. I think that we all have to learn how to deal with it.

I am not trying to play down your pain at all.

Actually I have become thankful for my back pain. Because this year I have had to go through chemo and radiation treatments for cancer. The back pain taught me a lot that helped me handle my treatments.

I don't know if this posting will help you much or not. But I will keep you in my prayers....other people's prayers have helped me a lot this year.

God bless you.

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L4-L5 herniation here. Had surgery, better for almost 2 years. Reherniated same spot, bulges above and below. Did physical therapy. Pain went back and forth during the PT. A few months later, I'm slowly noticing the pain isn't as bad all the time. It's definitely not as bad as the first couple months when I could only find one position laying in bed that didn't make me cry. I even have the occasional day where I'm not taking any NSAIDs at all! I'm hopeful, that continuing to exercise, do my PT stretches, and avoiding sitting I'll at least get to where it's tolerable.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I can only tell you what worked for me.

Physical Therapy!!! Great stuff. You may be able to get a TENS type gizmo you can use @ home along w/your heating pad. Non-wt bearing exercise like swimming may help. Any exercise that strengthens your "core", aka, trunk muscles, DONE GENTLY!!, will help in the long run.

The PT I was going to earlier this year used a cold laser thing on me that was great. They also have an ultrasonic machine that is nice, too.

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Specializes in LTC, rehab, and now office nursing.

L5/S1 herniation and severe degeneration with cervical scoliosis here! Been living in pain for 2 years- I agree with PT- it helped me so much. I was completley off narcotic pain meds while I went for PT. If I could afford it now, I would be going 5 days a week. I know it will help me but I just can't afford it,plus I don't have the time. I know alot of people who had great success with surgery but that is very drastic and I guess it is a last resort. Even though I have low back injuries, I have ALOT of neck pain. I have not had a MRI of my neck yet and wonder what it would find. Hugs and prayers for you- it is so tiring living with chronic pain. Please address your depression as it will also make your pain more prevalent. PM me if you would like.

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