Is this normal?

[SiberianDVM]

I'm depressed as hell right now. Despite my 2 spine surgeries, I am in constant pain, sometimes mild, sometimes severe. I haven't had a decent nights sleep in 18 months.

I can't play golf (tried, almost fall down). Can't work on my cars for more than 30 minutes before having to lay flat on floor or get on inversion table. I'm taking NSAIDS at least 6 times a day just to keep from screaming. ******* doctors don't have the balls to prescribe narcotics anymore.

Going to work makes the pain worse, so I have decided to retire at the end March. My income will drop to maybe 30%, so no more vacations or racing. I have started selling off my cars.

This sucks. Now I know why my mother's 2nd husband almost drank himself to death after he retired.

 

[limpalong]

Sorry to hear!!! The body can make us miserable... especially if it is dealing with something the docs can't seem to fix. I hope you have had more than a single doctor diagnose and make recommendations. Local friend owned a jewelry store. Had spent his entire life on those hard floors. Back got to where he thought he would have to sell the store. Local physician wanted him to have surgery on his spine. He was told the end result could work... or it might not. Regardless, the recovery time would be long and he wouldn't be able to work. One day he happened to pick up a magazine that listed some of the fastest growing businesses in the U.S. One was "The Spine Institute". Within days, he saw a commercial on television. Drove to Tulsa... about 5 hours from us for a Monday appointment. They checked him over Monday afternoon and told him they could do surgery the next morning. Said he would be released the following day, Wednesday. Not only was he released, but drove home that day. Went back to work a few days later and just recently retired. He passed the business on to his kids and has spent the past couple of years rebuilding a stone barn and some cattle sheds on his farm.
There almost has to be something out there that will help... without getting you hooked on opioids. I can tell you to keep your chin up. Won't help because it ain't me that's hurting! It is so difficult to stay positive. Just don't give up on finding someone... somewhere who can fix it.
Good luck and wish I was close enough to help in some way!!!!

 

[azgreg]

God damn that sucks doc!

 

[TEA Time]

Have you tried CBD oil? You can get flavorless oil that you can put right under your tongue, or as I like to do, mix it in beer. Makes my back pain disappear.

 

[SiberianDVM]

Have you tried CBD oil? You can get flavorless oil that you can put right under your tongue, or as I like to do, mix it in beer. Makes my back pain disappear.

Tried it. Didn't help me.

 

[TEA Time]

Bummer.

 

[eclark53520]

According to the radio lately, CBD oil cures everything from hiccups to hemorrhoids.

 

[SiberianDVM]

According to the radio lately, CBD oil cures everything from hiccups to hemorrhoids.

See, that only fixes problems that begin with "H".

I finally got to sleep this morning at 4 and had to get up at 5 to go to work.

 

[TEA Time]

See, that only fixes problems that begin with "H".

If you start at hiccups and go alphabetically, you'd have to go past Z, cycle back to A, and eventually come back to hemorrhoids.

It also fixes [my] back pain. Unfortunately your mileage varies.

 

[IrishGolfer]

P I L A T E S !

 

[eclark53520]

Doc - My back problems were pretty bad at one point...like couldn't get out of bed for a week bad.

Two things that really helped were squats/deadlifts to strengthen the muscles in the back and a TENS device.

 

[Fairwaysplitter3320]

That sucks Doc! I'm with Glark a TENS unit helps my back issues.

 

[azgreg]

A TENS unit didn't put a dent in my back pain.

 

[SiberianDVM]

I used a TENS unit when it was just in my left leg, but I'm not sure it will be practical with this. I'll try it though.

 

[eclark53520]

A TENS unit didn't put a dent in my back pain.

I walked around with that bitch on full tilt for about 10 hrs, then used it as prescribed after that.

Fixed me right up good.