rumak

i do not have any tingling . I occasionally feel a very small degree of numbness in a few toes. usually on the opposite side of the surgery . Before i started taking 25 mg (smallest dose) of diclofenac in the morning , and one after dinner ...... and started this post .... my legs were feeling weak , and once or twice my knees hurt . I have now improved ( it has been about 5 days) ... no more weakness in legs or hips today . I am walking , light stretches (2 very basic ones) , and getting some relief . BUT......... how much is do to the meds ? ( they definitely help) I never was in sharp pain, but the weakness and tiredness at times in the legs is what had me most concerned. Also dull ache in lower back . I plan to keep this up (taking the anti-inflamatories and current protocol ) for at least a few more days before stopping the pills and seeing how much improvement i have made. So basically i am following many suggestions here... also hope to start the stretches for the quadratus lomborum ...maybe see how that feels. My MRI I see was 6 years ago ! quite a while but Dr Chanagan said it was not bad for someone my age. Of course i will do another if this persists. NOTE : i went last week to the surgeon/hospital where i had the surgery and took xrays of that area and he examined me . All showed up extremely well. It was my initial concern..... but really i do not seem to have any worries from that . ( it was a REAL RELIEF , as if there was a problem with the pin moving or something..... it would have meant an operation to remove ! )

Yep... you are not alone . Good to hear from the members here who are dealing with back pain (and nerve related) . My main take-away is the fact that everyone's issue is unique (and, yes, has to be diagnosed properly , I am pretty sure you have done research as well. There of course are ways to deal with bulging discs... some less invasive ones but i am not up to date on that. Hang in there. Stay active and careful ..

Actually, i am someone ( not that many of us) who does not run to "go see a doctor, you idiot" . As you have found out , many times they do NOT offer the cure . I won't get into a long rant, but will just say I have done well and corrected many issues by research, and mostly by following "natural remedies" . nuff said I looked, and my previous MRI was 6 years ago ! Only an occasional anti-inflamatory at times since then. Now, as we know, age brings another episode .... to the back . I am going to give it some time to heal. But....... about an ESI ? hmmm we'll see , First an MRI , if no improvement .

What did she do when you screamed ?? lol seriously, thanks for taking the time to tell me your experience . In my many years I have been to Ram , Ram 2, Bangkok hospital, Rajawet (hip surgery) , Sripat, McCormack (mri ) , and of course a few clinics. No, i hardly ever get sick ! This is over an almost 30 year period. I have had good and not so good experiences... nothing horrible . But the 2 procedures i had were with very good doctors . Dr. Suthee fixed my frozen shoulder without surgery ( called manipulation) ... something very few surgeons can do . Broken hip also done very well . ( no pain like when one breaks their hip in a fall ! still, i kinda dread that big needle used for ESI ... and the area involved )

good info in your post. thanks. (before others comment I KNOW that different people have different results...etc etc) . I am doing due diligence, and research . I personally find anecdotal experiences very helpful . SO thanks again to those contributing theirs .

thanks for that info ....... cost ? and recommendation for doctor if possible

Your comments are well taken . If i may opine : the one variable ( and its a biggie ! ) is how each person manages and diagnoses health matters for their bodies , and minds. Not much different than all things in life .... as i am sure you would not think that all contracters have the same capabilities or work ethics . I won't go into my life story ( thank god) ...... but in the matter of health, i have had ups and downs, and yet have continued to stay active and improve my already good diet . My recent development may actually be from trying to even further my activities by frequent swimming , gently and for fairly short periods of time. I felt great . Till, i didn't . Those much heralded benefits often recommended for elders probably aggravated something in my spinal condition . ( and yes, i did try to follow the "how to swim" protocols . Sometimes, sh** just happens . As stated, i am FIRST going to give it some time. I am right now going for an easy stroll around a lake here in Doi Saket . And , doing one or two exercises . (soon to start the one you sent me) Thanks for your help .... i will post from time to time ...... Note: i am not giving up the idea of ESI ....... but that is just one idea i am checking out

If i knew my pain was going to be gone for even 3 years i would be in the hospital tomorrow ! btw : Nobody has said whether the actual shot was VERY painful or not too bad . Good luck going forward ..... maybe surgery time . but gotta see a specialist

you're right. just occurred to me to bring it up . important thanks Sheryl ... ( i will still wait a bit to see how the rest and some light walking and stretching do )

I agree with much of what you say .... and it has been my belief ( and i have read professional statements as well) that the number of conditions affecting the back and lower extremities is tremendous. As are the number of "do this stretch.... do that stretch..... don't do this stretch etc etc) . Having said that .... i think there are a very few skilled doctors/ surgeons available . ( remember, even in US or elsewhere the quality of diagnosing and surgery varies greatly) . I had a successful "manipulation" for a frozen shoulder here in Chiangmai by a renowned ( now retired) surgeon . Impressive . Also had a broken hip surgery , titanium rod , which has turned out well. I was walking distance in about 6 months.... A recent xray shows that all is excellent , now 3 years later. BUT.... I did pray a bit haha . And i am not religious. This back thing is not simple, though many have the usual go see a doctor answer. I believe as you do that just any doctor will not help, and could in fact make mistakes . I have past experience with seeing 3 orthopedic doctors with only the last one making a correct diagnosis. (not the back issue) Even the MRI i had done , which is not cheap, was not interpreted well by 2 doctors.... but the 3rd one showed his expertise by comparison. to be continued............

but......... before, for many years now, when my back hurt I did not have pain or weakness in my legs , hips, knees ( varies in location , and symptom) Also slight numbness in toes at times. Seems like sciatica (which i did not have before) . I know i say this often ( and you have too) ....... its finding a GOOD one that is the secret. I am starting some stretching and will give it a week to see what happens . Dr, Chanagan about 3 years ago looked at my MRI and Xray and did not find anything drastic , just some age related narrowing. Yes, a new MRI might be in order. Pretty sure it is nerve related from lower back . I also agree that tight muscles are a problem ..... very difficult for me to loosen those hamstrings. and bending over is also very limited. I'll let y'all know what happens. First a bit of rest and stretching

thank you . literally hundreds of videos on youtube ( many contradicting what others say) ... I have looked at the one you sent and will give it a try . My one concern with the QL demonstrations are they do not take into account the flexibility of individuals. I will let you know how i do ???? I have always been fit and fairly strong...... but NOT flexible . extremely tight hamstrings . Also, the problem with videos is again: there are such an immense amount of variables/degrees/ causes/ and ages involved. ( yes, that is why an "expert" is needed ) But,,,,,, there are a lot of problems when someone , like millions do, gets the wrong diagnosis. Ultimately < IMO , the patient must be capable of making the right "educated" decisions .

I have had an MRI .... but a couple of years ago . At that time my pain (lower back) would come and go , and I did see a specialist here in CM . He suggested to live with it ( being that it was not at a serious stage) , with occasional use of anti-inflamatories. As time passes, and maybe you also know from personal experience, there can come a time when the pain or discomfort becomes a problem that needs addressing. Probably soon . Of course if i were to get the ESI it would be with a specialist , and I am seeking some personal cases such as yours to inform myself first . The fact that you needed surgery on the lower back, but also injections in the cervical spine is informative . My pain is mostly lower back, but i am now getting more pain in upper regions at times ( and my neck ). Reading about the facet joints also aroused my suspicions that I could be having problems associated with that . Surgery is something many people want to avoid (myself included) ..... as a surgery gone wrong is not unheard of . That is why my first choice would be to try ESI (as you did) . The second area you did which has worked sounds encouraging, and thanks for the info about the facet joints . Gives me some good info for when i go to the specialist . Out of curiosity , which hospital did you use in BKK . Also, doesn't that doctor , or you, have a recommendation for CM ? Thank you for your posting ... rumak

Has anyone had one of these injections to ease lower back pain ? If someone in Chiangmai or Lamphun had one , please tell me where. I will not be going to BKK to do one ...... but still if someone has experience with the ESI injection I would be interested to hear. I have had lower back problem on and off for ten years....not that bad . and have been to doctors and mri, etc. now looking into this option as things are getting a bit worse with age

not worth my time ...........

generally, the naysayers have to look up the word "verbage" . but, cmon, they're too lazy to do that .

be careful . the boogeyman might come get you .

You certainly a not a master of the English language , if that sentence is any indication. Also, a native speaker would (hopefully) understand that my short post was a lighthearted tongue-in-cheek post, and certainly NOT a dig at you . Sorry, i do not have any more time to explain that..... so try to get it. And, have a great day !

Thank you young man . Often times there are good reasons we are grumpy and bitter . But ......... like any age, some are just &&&&&&&&S !

i had to get my glasses ....... to see which finger that was pointing upwards ????

if we had some nice quiet time.... with some johnny walker..... i would tell you some conspiracy theories ( that maybe you haven't heard) . one being why anyone in power , around the world, is NOT chosen by "the people" . it is quite a sad story , though, and of course .... complete nonsense backed only by sources that are fact checked and found spreading misinformation. Just like ............. oops, can't say that either.

my spelllllling has gotttten betttter . but i sttttuttter more.

buy the best tape ( instead of save 20 baht) ......... don't overtighten if pvc connecting to metal pipe...... use the pvc with copper inside

not a subject they want brought up here ..... you will have to ask him ahhhh the good ole days ........

It'll still be the same when you return. Used to be exciting when my friend Yinn was around .