Treatments For Chronic Back Pain

[hurryupnwait]

What treatments are there for moderate/severe chronic back pain?

I use

1. Tens unit

2. Salonpas patch

3. Vicodin

My VA PCP also recommended glucosame, which I have not tried.

I d like to explore other options.

Paul

[poolguy11550]

Heating pads, cold wraps, injections, and in some cases special braces to tighten the waist line to help reduce curtain back pain.

[tssnave]

HurryUp,

What type of TENS unit do you use? I had it done for my hip and loved it (but not the price - $60/15 min) but you can't buy the hospital grade machines on the open market and I don't want to rent one from the hospital.

I did buy a Sharper Image TENS unit for your back but haven't gotten it out yet to see if I can wrap it around my hip (and shoulder) instead of my back.

As far as your back goes - the best thing for a bad back is strong abs and core body. Ask for a PT consult and find out what exercises would be safe for you to do with your back problems to strenghten your abs. I'm surprised if you are using the TENS machine and are on Vicodin that they haven't had you in PT to strengthen your core body. Simple exercises can really net you a great deal of relief from back and hip pain.

Thanks,

TS Snave

[hurryupnwait]

HurryUp,

What type of TENS unit do you use? I had it done for my hip and loved it (but not the price - $60/15 min) but you can't buy the hospital grade machines on the open market and I don't want to rent one from the hospital.

I did buy a Sharper Image TENS unit for your back but haven't gotten it out yet to see if I can wrap it around my hip (and shoulder) instead of my back.

As far as your back goes - the best thing for a bad back is strong abs and core body. Ask for a PT consult and find out what exercises would be safe for you to do with your back problems to strenghten your abs. I'm surprised if you are using the TENS machine and are on Vicodin that they haven't had you in PT to strengthen your core body. Simple exercises can really net you a great deal of relief from back and hip pain.

Thanks,

TS Snave

Physical Therapy at my VAMC, which is an hour and half drive from my home, issued me a personal tens unit, Ultima 5 after about 4 visits. When I was issued this unit, I asked them if I needed further appointments and they said no. I do some simple exercises at home that they showed me.

[rentalguy1]

Core muscle strengthening = Good if you can do it early on. Once the damage is done you can strengthen your stomach all you like, but it will not cause the herniated disc or spinal stenosis to release that impinged nerve. It can even be very harmful if your condition is bad.

Heat and Ice = Effective in the very short term, but the ice is painful

Braces = suck

Chiropractic = bigtime suck. Can make things much worse.

Physical Therapy = bigtime suck. Can make things much worse.

TENS Unit = indifferent. Wasn't a big fan of my butt tingling and excessive involuntary muscle contractions.

Narcotics = useful, but not extremely effective

Muscle relaxers (especially Baclofen) = effective, but short lived

Massage therapy = effective for up to a few days, but expensive

Epidural Steroid Injection = no personal experience, but I've heard they are 50/50 effective for up to a few months. My first one will be in early January. It was supposed to be yesterday, but they snuck a new MRI in on me at the last minute.

Surgery = no personal experience (yet), but I've also been told they are 50/50.

Of course, this is from the last 15 years of my own personal experience. Others' experiences can be far different from mine.

[john999]

I am going to get a back brace. My back hurts when I sit down, but not when I stand or walk. I am hoping the brace will let me cut down on the narcotics I use. I do exercise but it makes the pain worse. I can do situps all day but it does not help my back.

[vmo]

I had the spinal injections for pain (pain clinic) administered by anesthesiologist. The first series of injections: facet bloc's, the second series: epidurals. Each series required 3-4 visits. Not much relief. My spinal problems are multiple. Spondylolisthesis, stenosis, arthritis, etc. etc. According to my surgeon, I waited too long for surgery. Now have permanent sciatic problems. The only therapy that helped me was "aqua therapy" and walking as tolerated. Pain meds and muscle relax's were never much but temporary survival. You guessed it, I had a spinal fusion. This definitely helped improve quality of life. I still suffer pain, stiffness, and sciatic problems. I think sometimes you end up trying a little bit of everything to decide what is best for you.