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Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
  
| I was wondering if anyone had this. I am suffering from a lot of neck and shoulder pain.
I have gotten a CT, X-rays, and an MRI and I am waiting on the official results from my DR at this time.
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) has been thrown out there before from my chiropractor. I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with this. Anything that helped you get more comfortable? I can hardly make it through the day at work anymore sitting here. They gave me Percocet, but it just totally throws me for a loop and I can not take it unless its right before bed. I take naproxen sodium during the day but it doesn't manage the pain well.
Thanks for the advice or tips! |
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
| I have a compressed disk in my lumbar spine. Stepped on my a horse when I was 2. Luckily I go to a great chiro as often as I can and don't need meds. But about once a year I have a flare up and man oh man i can barely move. My chiro gives me exercises to do everyday to help keep that disk space open. |
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  A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | I have DDD in my neck and lumbar areas. The VA says I do anyways. My neck always hurts and it moves to my shoulders at times, usually my right. I take 800mg ibuprofen once a day with 1000mg acetaminophen every 6 hours or so. That's on the bad days. I do have some better pain killers, but like you, I'm pretty much worthless with them.
I think DDD is just a term for 'normal' aging & damage. I was diagnosed at 25. So mine was more from stress & repetitive motions from what I did in the Marines for 5 years.
A good pillow helps my neck along with moist heat when it's bad. I also have a neck support thing I keep in the truck for long trips. It seems to help. And I do a lot of stretches. Seems to keep the pain lower if I remember to stretch. And rest usually helps when it's bad. |
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| I went to the SPINE INSTITUTE in Shreveport and the doctor put me on a VERY mild muscle relaxer. It really helped. I have to watch the pillow that I sleep on and can't sleep on two pillows. I went to a chiropractor and I think all that did was make it worse. I will stick with the neurosurgeon. I have two compressed discs and my cousin who is about 32 had one and uses the same doctor. She had surgery and he put a new disc in. She is fine and healed quickly. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Everybody has ddd. That said some problems are worse than others. If you have somethimg pinched. Then i would get a steroid shot. If that doesnot help then you need to twlk to a pain management specialist he will answer a lot of your questions.
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
Location: stray dump capital of the world | Mine was diagnosed last year (lower back) when I was bucked off a horse and broke some bones. I had mild problems prior to the buck off, but they were horrid after the buck off. I went to a neurosurgen and he blew me off, went back to my family doctor who sent me to a pain management guy who injected me and that helped for a couple weeks. After three rounds of injections, the pain management guy wanted to send me back to the original neurosurgeon, but I nixed him and went to a different one some friends use. He gave me some exercises to do to strenghten my back, told me to walk as much as possible, so I try to walk 3-6 miles a day. I am off all pain medications except 2 Aleve a day...1 in the morning and 1 in the evening. Up to meeting with the 2nd neurosurgeon, I was pretty drugged up and useless. This is the best I have felt in a year. |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| I have DD too, can't bend in that part of my back, makes riding with a soft pelvis hard. Lots of back pain but I've learned to just take Aleve and deal with it. Its frustrating though because I've never liked to take medicine on a daily basis. |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | My mom was diagnosed with degenerative bone disease in her neck and back a few years ago. She also suffers from arthritis in her hands, wrists, elbows, knees and hips, as well and tendonitis. She has lived in pain for quite a while. She has tried different perscription pain killers, injections, chiropractic work. Went to many doctors, had countless scans, x-rays, you name it. Different things helped but didn't really make a difference.
She cleans houses for a living, so is constantly on her knees cleaning baseboards, and up on ladders cleaning windows and fans. She could hardly get up from a kneeling position or climb stairs. She had to quit hikin and biking because it was just too painful. A few months back, one of her clients was telling her about this supplement that he took, and it wiped out his arthritis. It's an all natural supplement called CMO. From what my mom told me, it's a supplement program that you are on for 2 weeks. You cannot consume and alcohol and there are diet restrictions during those 2 weeks and 2 weeks after, I believe. My mom has had amazing results. She has little to no pain at all in every arthritic area aside from her hip, which she will be doing another 2 week program for. Her husband will also be doing the program since seeing her results, firsthand.
I'm not sure if that would be something you're interested in, but I know it comes highly recomended. I'm unsure of their website, but I'm sure a google search will find it for you. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
| ~BINGO~ - 2014-06-07 1:54 PM
My mom was diagnosed with degenerative bone disease in her neck and back a few years ago. She also suffers from arthritis in her hands, wrists, elbows, knees and hips, as well and tendonitis. She has lived in pain for quite a while. She has tried different perscription pain killers, injections, chiropractic work. Went to many doctors, had countless scans, x-rays, you name it. Different things helped but didn't really make a difference.Â
She cleans houses for a living, so is constantly on her knees cleaning baseboards, and up on ladders cleaning windows and fans. She could hardly get up from a kneeling position or climb stairs. She had to quit hikin and biking because it was just too painful. A few months back, one of her clients was telling her about this supplement that he took, and it wiped out his arthritis. It's an all natural supplement called CMO. From what my mom told me, it's a supplement program that you are on for 2 weeks. You cannot consume and alcohol and there are diet restrictions during those 2 weeks and 2 weeks after, I believe. My mom has had amazing results. She has little to no pain at all in every arthritic area aside from her hip, which she will be doing another 2 week program for. Her husband will also be doing the program since seeing her results, firsthand.
I'm not sure if that would be something you're interested in, but I know it comes highly recomended. I'm unsure of their website, but I'm sure a google search will find it for you.Â
Thank you so much for that. I am going to research it. I have 3 bulging disc as well.. from which I understand is fixable with therapy.. but I called for a price on physical therapy and they want $240.00/week for 6 weeks worth of therapy. OUCH! and that is with my insurance. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| TNcowgirl88 - 2014-06-10 10:18 AM
~BINGO~ - 2014-06-07 1:54 PM
My mom was diagnosed with degenerative bone disease in her neck and back a few years ago. She also suffers from arthritis in her hands, wrists, elbows, knees and hips, as well and tendonitis. She has lived in pain for quite a while. She has tried different perscription pain killers, injections, chiropractic work. Went to many doctors, had countless scans, x-rays, you name it. Different things helped but didn't really make a difference.Â
She cleans houses for a living, so is constantly on her knees cleaning baseboards, and up on ladders cleaning windows and fans. She could hardly get up from a kneeling position or climb stairs. She had to quit hikin and biking because it was just too painful. A few months back, one of her clients was telling her about this supplement that he took, and it wiped out his arthritis. It's an all natural supplement called CMO. From what my mom told me, it's a supplement program that you are on for 2 weeks. You cannot consume and alcohol and there are diet restrictions during those 2 weeks and 2 weeks after, I believe. My mom has had amazing results. She has little to no pain at all in every arthritic area aside from her hip, which she will be doing another 2 week program for. Her husband will also be doing the program since seeing her results, firsthand.
I'm not sure if that would be something you're interested in, but I know it comes highly recomended. I'm unsure of their website, but I'm sure a google search will find it for you.Â
Thank you so much for that. I am going to research it. I have 3 bulging disc as well.. from which I understand is fixable with therapy.. but I called for a price on physical therapy and they want $240.00/week for 6 weeks worth of therapy. OUCH! and that is with my insurance.
My hub had a bulging disc. The dr explained it to him as a grape that has been squished - you're not going to get the grape guts put back in there. He bulging disc eventually herniated and put pressure on his nerve, stopping circulation to his leg. He had to have emergency surgery to fix it.
Before that, he tried to survive on NSAIDS (killed his stomach like bute does to your horse) and pain meds/muscle relaxers (eased pain but didn't cure and he couldn't drive) physical therapy (strengthened muscles but can't fix the squished grape). Treatments are bandaids really. |
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | Found this old thread after hearing this diagnosis this morning from a spine specialist. Do any of you people still ride and/or compete? My day to day activities are okay, but it kills to ride! I feel like I'm not going to be able to race again.
eta: My disc between L5-S1 is basically gone.
Edited by linds 2015-04-03 11:02 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 705
Location: Weatherford, TX | While you get a diagnosis, you might want to consider Opana as a longer term pain alternative. It is long acting and won't 'throw you for a loop' like Percocet does. It can be expensive. However, if you have insurance, it should be covered, but maybe at the higher end of the scripts. They might even have a generic now as I was on it 3-4 years ago. I had several disc problems in my jaw and neck and several surgeries. It worked well for me as an everyday pain medication.
Edited by Gator Bug 2015-04-03 11:11 AM
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I have a herniated disc in my neck and awaiting surgery
My doc put me on a butrans patch it isn't a narcotic, but works like one. I change the patch once a week and cannot live without it. He Laos has me on low dose lyrica as this antidepressant the off label use is it blocks the pain receptors.
If you have herniated or bludging discs, I would be asking my doc if I was a candidate for synthetic disc replacement. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 381
| A guy at my work just had 2 disc's in his neck replaced last week - he had shoulder pain, numbness down the arm - he had instant relief after the surgery! He said he'd do it again in a heartbeat!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
Location: Oklahoma & Texas | I had my neck fuzed at C5/C6 and C6/C7 just over 2 years ago.. best thing i ever did... they put a bone graft in there in place of the disc and also a titanium plate to hold it all together... no pain since.. but HORRIBLE pain before.. to the point i was losing feeling in my left fingers and would get weird sensations on my arm like water running on it when there wasn't any lol... long story short - i tried the injections - did it twice they helped a lot but didn't last more than 3 weeks.. the ONLY medicine that worked for me before my surgery was Lyrica... life saver let me tell you.. i couldn't function well before that the pain would get so bad.. but on Lyrica it really really helped... i didn't get the side effects like you get from narcotics.. but i will say sometimes i was drowsy but not always.. .it was worth every cent i paid for it lol... after my surgery i found out the discs that had protruded into my spinal column had actually caused a spinal fluid leak and so they patched that while they were in there - but a lot of times when you have bulging or ruptured discs they can cause that - and that in itself causes even more problems than just the disc itself... you can get migraine headaches, dizzines etc... i did get headaches but had no idea that was why.. anyway.. im 100% better now.. i am glad i did the surgery.. i shouldn't have waited as long as i did (6 months) but i wanted to try alternatives before jumping into surgery.. i was only 34 when i did the surgery... good luck - i know the pain you are going through but typical pain meds dont work because its nerve pain which takes a diff class of drugs... you need to get in with pain management dr and possibly neurosurgeon (thats who fixed me). My regular dr referred me over to spine center and they really truly understand nerve type pain and are the specialists in treating it. |
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | I have been dealing with neck / disc issues for nearly 40 years. I have so far avoid surgery, but it has taken lots of work to do to. I am very careful about the pillows / angle that I sleep... I have a neck wrap that I warm in the microwave and use very, very often.... regular massage is a lifesaver... my work desk was ergonomically evaluated and redesigned and it designed so I can raise it and stand as needed.... I try to walk around every hour - just a five minute walk through the building - and I concentrate on standing stall with good posture.... I keep some muscle relaxers on hand and if I hit the wall where I know I am going down a bad road, I'll take one -- but I only have to do that about once or twice every couple of weeks... the discomfort is always there but it is at a bearable level for me. If I fail to do all the things I need to do it can be very, very nasty and just about make me sick to my stomach from the spasms. I sympathize with your situation....
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 Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | I broke my back almost two years ago in two places and have the usual wear-and-tear damage that all we cowgirls get so my back is always hurting. I opted not to get the surgery because I was scared. My father had good results from a back surgery but I know others who wished they didn't get it.
I don't usually take anything but if it's really bothering me, I alternate Tylenol with regular aspirin. I also take calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D along with my other vitamins. Regular back massages and stretching really helps. Moving really helps--walking, bending, exercises. I know I have to exercise harder because you're supposed to strengthen your core muscles so that you are relying on those and not your back. I don't do anything for long periods. If I sit too long, it hurts. If I stand too long, it hurts. So I make sure I mix it up. I could never be a Walmart greeter! I lay flat when I am sleeping. I try to sit and stand straight. I DO NOT lift anything I don't have to. I have started riding again but I don't know if I'll ever be able to run barrels again. We shall see. I'm going to try. |
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