What a pain in the neck

[Barracuda4]

   LOL.  Lends new meaning to "Old School."

[torredcuda]

I had lots of worries about having surgery as I talked to people who went thru it and 50/50 said it was the best thing for them or they were in worse pain than before.I was lucky I guess as after trying all the therapy,meds,and steriod injections I ran out of options and opted for surgery and am 90% better than I was.I still have leg pain from the damaged nerve but the back only bugs me when I use it too much.

[Barracuda4]

I had lots of worries about having surgery as I talked to people who went thru it and 50/50 said it was the best thing for them or they were in worse pain than before.I was lucky I guess as after trying all the therapy,meds,and steriod injections I ran out of options and opted for surgery and am 90% better than I was.I still have leg pain from the damaged nerve but the back only bugs me when I use it too much.

That's the problem--either it's much better or much worse.  I'll wait it out and see what happens.  When I can't shift anymore, I'll ask for surgery!

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I know 3 guys that have had surgery... all three tell me DON'T! I also am hearing about this plastic injection thing they are working on, sounds promising. At least I'm not to that point yet. Did have the cortisone patch tho..... waste of time! I  see alot of us here are pretty much in the same club! Now the whole site knows who the geezers are.     

[torredcuda]

I  see alot of us here are pretty much in the same club! Now the whole site knows who the geezers are.     

   though I warn the young wise a$$es at work not too mess with too much or they`l be real embarassed when they get beaten up by an old man with a bad back! 

[JayBee]

I  see alot of us here are pretty much in the same club!

...and just like CC.C it's growing everday.

At 18 a factory wouldn't hire because my back x-ray showed I'll have problems later in life (so they said). Now whether they can tell at such a young age is one thing but they were right.

[Aussie Challenger]

  I still work in the auto game but pay others to do most of the heavy work, I couldn't be told when I was young and now I am paying for it. When I have to do too much lifting or bend/twisting I almost have to sit down for a while because my back cannot take it. I am always doing small stretching and twisting exercises during the day to keep my back moving. Cortizone injections stopped working for me 20 years ago, I have had my shoulder joint operated on to remove a lump which tore the muscles in my shoulder and locked up my arm if I raised my arms above my head. I didn't want the operation but had to have it. 

[heminut]

Guess I'll confirm my geezerhood too! After 22 years of climbing in and out of 4 door patrol cars (not easy at 6'4") while wearing a 14 lb. gun belt with enough crap on it to put Batman's utility belt to shame my low back is shot. I became close friends with my chiropractor after I retired and my back is actually better than it was 6 years ago. I still spend an hour or so each morning sitting up in a chair after getting out of bed (drinking coffee and messing around on the net) before I can get up and walk around reasonably pain free. Like one of the other guys said here, I keep going because I refuse to sit and 'rust'. I don't take painkillers either, I hate taking medications and they don't help me that much anyway. I sympathize with each and every one of you who have spinal problems.

[Super Blue 72]

    Sorry to hear of your troubles, Bigs.  Hope you'll get better, maybe with some physical therpy.  The exercises themselves may not help too much but they may be able to do some teaching about proper body mechanics and what not.

Becareful operating machinery as the meds may make you drowsy  and some of the pain meds may make you constipated!    Drink lots of fluids, use Colace (stool softener) (generic-ducosate sodium), you can find this in any pharmacy.

Watch out for the way that you sleep.  You know how people say you're taller in the morning?  That's true to some degree as when you lie down, it allows your body to stretch out from the compression of you vertebrae from standing all day and it may help prevent any nerve pinching.  Do some light neck strtching here and there through the day to aid this. Make sure your neck is well supported when you sleep and not bent in a funny angle, etc...

Surgery-don't do it until you really have to.  When/if you do then find the best guy out there and don't be afraid to travel!  You health is worth it!

Hope you're doing well.