Lumbar Disc Disease

Yes, I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease in my lumbar back in 1991. I was told then that I would probably be in a wheelchair within 5 yrs. Well It been 16 yrs and I'm still on my feet, well for the most part. I have a couple of other conditions, arthritis and Fibromyalgia, that make things worse. If you have caught it early the best thing I can recommend is exercise to keep the muscles around the spine in shape. The hard part is finding an exercise that doesn't irritate the problem or cause excrutiating pain. You might ask your doctor to recommend a therapist who deals specifically with back problems like yours. A pain specialist might be something to consider. I don't want to scare you but this is a painful condition and you have to find some way to deal with the pain. I don't take any heavy medication except on very rare occasions when it becomes intolerable. I get by mostly with Ibuprofen and an occasional muscle relaxer. I have taught myself over time to mentally block out a lot of it. Another choice to consider is a holistic approach. There are combinations of vitamins, minerals and external therapies that can help. Look into getting a TENS unit. Sometimes your doctor can prescribe one so your insurance will cover it. They are excellent for certain kinds of back pain. There are small units available that aren't that expensive, under $100 that work well. Sorry if I rattled on but I've been at this for a long time but I can sure sympathize. There are a lot of alternatives but your best weapon to fight this is knowledge. Read, research and ask questions. There are many types of disc disease so find out specifically what your problem is by name and then research and read everything you can about it. I'll close with my final bits of advice... pillows are your friend and avoid lifting. Take care and I wish you the best.

In India Ayurveda treatment is available which is helpful rather than spending a lot of money on English system.

Hiya there jiffy!:) I too have it..I was diagnosed in 1997 when i blew out a disc at work and then after my first surgery..things just got worse..and the discs started to deteriorate..and i have had3 all together..the last one was the worst..he put in so much hardware,,pins,screws,,took bone from my hip..blah blah..and now 10 yr later.,,ik no better off than i started..i personally wish i never had the surgeries..i lost feeling from my bum down.the skin is i should say..liek when ur foot falls sleep..then i get these shooting pains mostly on the right side from my hips to my pinky toe..and i just collapse,,its aweful! but im on meds as well for pain and they help me especially my arthritis..ask about Celebrex,and some muscle relaxer..i use tramadoll for pain too..i used tio be on oxycontins for 5 yrs til i got preganant..and omg th ewithdrawl was so bad i wanted ot kill myself!! thats some bad stuf!!..and i was on other meds as well.but i would rather suffer with some pain than have an addiction like that..well if ya have any questions at all id be happy to talk about it with ya..take care and i wish u the best of luck hun!! April