Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. In fact, about 3 in 4 adults will experience back pain during their lifetime! The term back pain...
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degenerative disc disease/lots of pain
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Hi all! I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease about 2 1/2-3 years ago. I have been in alot of pain the last few months. I have constant pain on the right side of my lower back, and then it sometimes moves to the left side of my back. I also have shooting pain every once in awhile, and it goes just to my thigh. I have gone to a chiropactor, which seemed to make me feel worse. I do back stretches when I can, but sometimes this does not help. I have been on vicodin, which seems to be the only relief for me, because ibuprofen does nothing for me. I am going to the dr. tomorrow, but I only get to go to my campus health center, because that is where my only health insurance is. they really don't know much about my problem, and I am affraid they will not give me the pain meds, because at a college health center, they will obviously be concerned about addiction and abuse. I do not abuse the meds, they are the only thing that has helped me. Does anyone have any suggestions, tips, or advice? anything will help.
Posted on 07/29/07, 11:07 am |
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I am also a college student that has to use the campus health center, I found a good doctor there that I request to see for every visit. My back injury is covered by workers comp but I have severe asthma which is difficult to control. She is very good at calling and asking specialist for advice. Sometimes the campus health insurance will let you see a specialist with a co-pay if one of the doctors in the center refers you there that is how mine works. I know they worry about addiction there but they also are pretty well informed and know that when some one is truly in pain they are not as likely to become addicted in the fullest sense of the word. They are more than likely to get physically addicted but not have the stronger psycological part of addiction. I hope this helps 
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It's very posible that because you have DDD and it got worse that you may have actually herniated a disk. I would ask them to run a test or something to check on it. Make your concern more of "why" it got worse... maybe then they won't focus on just the pain relief aspect. Of course you do also want relief :)
When my hubby's back got worse this last time we went to the ER and they wanted to just give him a pain pill and send him on his way without even seeing a doctor. Obviously they thought he was just after meds (which was rediculous because I brought all his regular meds with me so they know what he takes and one was a full bottle of pain meds). Anyway I insisted that they couldn't turn him away with out at least an x-ray because he couldn't even stand! They finally took him in to see a doc 4 hours later and he immediately noticed that it was a serious back injury not just a pill seeker. Now my hubby finally got the surgery he needed. Good Luck with your appointment!
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I also have degenerative disc disease, my lower back pain is on my left side, wearing shoes that support my feet has helped as well as wearing Z-coil shoes, when I am going to walk any distance, such as shopping. My pain is veriable, stiffness in the morning, the shower helps with that. Too long of sitting also brings stiffness. The degrees of pain, I treat differently, if it is bearable pain I take ibuprofen, if I am having spastic muscles I take flexeril if I am in unbearable pain I take Vicodin, and also ice packs help. If I am having chronic pain in one location, the Electronic Stim helps with that. Changing positions in bed and a pillow between the knees help for proper allignment. Everything is about pain management. What a life LOL!
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I have a degenerating disc and they say that it will herniate again it has one time and I had to have surgery on it. if the pain is going down your leg it is very possible that you have something pressing on your nerve. My pain was just above the ankle I was refered to a foot doctor and it took him about 30 seconds to tell me what was wrong and refered me to the back dr. They did an MRI and said that I would have to have surgery to releive the pain. They showed me the picture of the mri on my back and showed me just what was pressing on my nerve. The day after the surgery the pain was eased and I had to take six weeks to let the nerve heal. It feels so much better at the present but they say it will herniate again but then I will have to have a cage.
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