Question:
Anyone with longterm backpain?
I had rny 3yrs ago and have had chronic backpain for about seven year. I worked in a nursing home as an aide and lifted and stood on my feet long hours at 300lbs. A few months before having rny surgery I was desperate for pain relief and went to see a chiroprator this has not resoved my back pain issues and the adjustments are extremely painful. I have been getting these adjustments regurlarly for about 3yrs now using thereapy and a tens unit, you name they've tried it. I was told for years that if I would get some of that weight off I wouln't have all these problems 90% of them were just weight related well now I have lost around 160lbs. and my back pain is worse. It is not just a pullled muscle or strain as I stated this is chronic 7yrs, chiropratic 3yrs I think sometimes being overweight for so long just does longterm damage to our bodies that can not be reversed. On the ending I am scheduled to have physical therapy and see my primary care physician on Monday, I am finished with chiropractic care beings I was only getting worse and 3 co-pays a week were getting very expensive. I would love to hear from someone with this similiar situation.Big Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! — Kissie (posted on February 25, 2007)
February 25, 2007
I have severe back problems too, BUT I will not be going to no one to have
them adjust my back unless I knew what was wrong with it. Sounds to me
that you need to get to an orthopedic surgeon and see exactly what is wrong
with it before I would allow anyone to touch me again. Adjustments should
not hurt, sounds like you are wasting your money. Spend it on a good doc
and have him give you some test to see what is wrong. My back problem WILL
NOT go away until I have a minor surgery and I already know that. Just
waiting to lose more weight so recovery is easier!
— Diane C.
February 25, 2007
I agree with Diane --ortho surgeon -- one that specializes in back pain.
Also, if no one has ever done an MRI -- this might be a good time to
request one. There maybe more going on with your back then the chiro
x-rays can tell. Your problem may not be bone related; however your pain
could be more muscular and an MRI would be good to have.
— the7thdean
February 25, 2007
I am 34 years old and it's only been six days since my laparoscopic RNY.
However, I have had chronic back pain for more than a decade, and a couple
of years ago I asked my primary care physician what could be done about it.
(I had also seen a chiropractor for a couple of years and it didn't help
my pain a bit, as well as physical therapy.)
My doc sent me to a spine specialist, who in turn sent me for a cat scan.
That scan revealed that I had osteoarthritis, aggravated by obesity.
Osteoarthritis runs in my family, and if someone would have said to me
prior to that diagnosis that the pain was all my own doing due to my
weight, I probably would have believed them.
Anyway, perhaps you should ask for a referral to a spine specialist to have
your back checked out? It couldn't hurt...
— Susan F.
February 25, 2007
First off, congratulations on a fantastic weight loss! Wow, you're not
half the woman you used to be :-) I agree with the other posters, you need
to have the back checked by a specialist. There is a certain amount of
"readjustment" as you lose weight, I got some really interesting
pains when the stress on my skeleton and muscles shifted as the weight
changed. But if the pain is constant, there is something wrong. Maybe you
just need specific exercises to strengthen certain muscle groups. I had a
slipped disk years ago, and after surgery, my doctor recommended The Bad
Back Book by Jerry Wayne. Lots of simple exercises to strengthen the back,
and they did help. But DO NOTHING until you have a definite diagnosis, you
can really damage the back with the wrong moves. Good luck, and I wish you
a pain free future as a skinny minnie! -- Mary
— mwilson523
February 25, 2007
i too have back problems.i have djd and a herniated disc that is leaking
into my left hip.i have been to chiropractors,and physical therapy,im
seeing pain management.have had shots in the back and nothing works.im on
percocets for pain.i was told last straw is surgery,but dont want that. had
rny in 2002.lost 120 lbs.so weightloss wont help the pain.been there done
that.sorry
— deb44m
February 25, 2007
I had my Lap RNY May 2006. I have lost 100+lbs. I am really experiencing
back pain ever since month 3 after my surgery. I asked around and heard
that when you lose weight your center of gravity changes therefore you get
back pain? Sounds kinda odd to me, but I would love to know more about it.
Anything to get rid of this back pain. I hope you get some answers! Feel
better!
— Jenn aka 2n
February 25, 2007
Gloria, if you are not getting better with the therapies you are receiving,
go back to your pcm and get a real diagnosis. Insist that you are not
being helped. Maybe you need an mri on your back. Maybe it is your
kidneys and not just your back. Maybe there are other issues. If they
have not done tests to check on other stuff, maybe you need a new pcm or a
2nd opinion on your issues. Don't keep going to doctors who take your
money but don't help you. Find a doctor for a 2nd opinion and get some
tests done. If pt doesn't help, then it is hurting you. It sounds like
you don't have an accurate diagnosis. Find a doctor who will work with you
to find an answer. Take care, Patricia P.
— Patricia P
February 26, 2007
When you lose weight, the place where your muscles have tension shifts, and
your back aches till your muscles adjust. Do stomach exercises to help
your muscles adapt. The same happened to me.
I would stop going to the chiropracter if you have been going for so long
without relief.
— Novashannon
February 26, 2007
Well, I'm 26 y/o & was dx with DDD (Degenerative Disk Disease) about 5
1/2 yrs ago at the age of 21. I was told by an Orthopedic Surgeon that I
have about 5 degenerating disk & that I have the back of a...get
this...75 YEAR OLD!!! I have hurt so bad before that I almost passed out
from the pain!! I won't go to a chiropracter b/c I've had bad experiences
in the past. I've had PT, but it didn't help much. I've also had an
injection in my back, and that didn't help a bit! I was hoping my back
would feel better after WLS, but I've lost 92 lbs so far, my pain is still
as strong as ever. I will continue to search for some type of relief, and I
wish you the best of luck!!
— byHizgrc
February 26, 2007
If I had a quarter for everytime a health problem was blamed on my weight,
I'd not only be rich but also pain free. I haven't had WLS yet but have
lost close to 100lbs due to illness. I'm still overweight and my pain has
not gone away at all.
You are absolutely right that being obese does do some irreversible damage
over the long term. Arthritis is a good example... losing a lot of weight
may keep it from getting worse, but it will never "heal" the
arthritis--you've got it for life.
Have you ever been to a pain clinic? If not, that might be something to
ask your doctor about. They can do nerve blocks, PT/spine school at some,
medication management, and various other things.
Best wishes,
Sid
— mrsidknee
February 26, 2007
Chriroprater (sp?) did not help me either I did however go to Physical
Therapy for 1 1/2 months and have been virtually pain free. Rarely do I
hurt now. Hope this helps....
— mystic0619
February 27, 2007
I havent had the wls yet, but i have cronic back pain and problems, i do
not go to the chiropractor anymore, i havent been there in more than 6
years because my problem was getting worse from the treatments, this does
not happen to a lot of people so please don't take it that im telling you
to stop the only one who can say that would be your dr or yourself.. but
right now im taking a very strong pain med just to walk and i do need a
back surgery but my surgeon will not oppurate until i am 100 lbs lighter,
because he will be putting rods and plates and even replacing 2 disks but
with the weight on the repair work will not last in fact it could be my
death because having the weight on the front of me will make the stuff pop
out the back, im sorry for being to open, but back problems i know about..
:(( when the weather gets colder of warmer i feel it first, when i gain a
pound i can feel it in my back. the thing that helped me was stretching,
not much but if i could bend forward only a little bit and bend backwards
also only a little bit it seemed to stretch the muscles and i don't feel so
"scruntched" and it helped. the only thing that i have been able
to do like i said was pain meds, i would advice you to see if you can get
your dr to send you to a pain clinic they specialize in pain and trama and
most insurance would pay for that first than chiro anyhow (i know kind of
weird but thats the way it is at times) but i love my pain dr.. the one
thing that i would not do ever ever again.. and that is the shots in my
spine... they are a lot worse than an epidural. I had 4 sets of 3 shots in
less than 2 years. and my vetebraes deteriorate so bad that that is the
reason my back surgeon said he has to replace them, the cortisone is
something that has been ruled as a bad thing, in the Arkansas medical
journal (you can find it online) for January this year has stated.. beware
of the cortisone/steroid injections they are capable to deteriorate bone
so be careful. I am saying listen to your inner self and your dr.
[email protected] is my email address and you or anyone wanting to hear
more may write at anytime.
thank you and you will be in my prayers
God bless you
Paula
— japaad
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