Degenerative Disc Disease (Lower Back I Hate It)

[krey]

I have been battling Degenerative disc disease in my lower back for quite some time. I am in my late 30s and in good shape

I have done everything to help my back from exercising, Chrio, Physio and so forth but have always had troubles with it.

I have heard good things about Bangkok Doctors and was wondering if perhaps seeing a specialist at one of the clinics was a good idea, my country doesnt really seem to think there is anything I can do.

The problem is I am an active person and if I engage in the things I like to do, golf, tennis, etc my back almost always slips out of alignment which results in pain for 2 or 3 days with constant stretching to get back into place.

I am tired of this and want to seek new alternatives

What is the best hospital in Thailand for Lower Back, Spinal Issues?

Website, contact information, etc, where should I start?

Thanks all

[udonguy]

hi - I have it too - very. very painful - i have tried just about everything I am also looking for 'specialist'

[ricklev]

Forget the idea that your pain is related to your disc and don't trust any doctor that tells you that he knows that it is and that surgery will fix it!

I understand very well where you are coming from. My own diagnoses of "degenerative disc disease" in my thirties and my search for a pain free life ultimately led me to attend Palmer chiropractic college in the USA. I'm not a practicing chiropractor today because I learned for myself exactly what is in this book: Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by John Sarno.

I think both Asia Books and Kinnokoya at Paragon carry it, but you can download it quickly in pdf format on pirate bay.

I've been pain free and fully active for the last twenty years!

I have no stake in offering this book other than sharing my experience. I guess only one in 10 of the people I suggest it to actually read it, but it can change a life. Thousands of people recommend it. Google it on Amazon and read the reviews! Feel your resistance to the whole idea that the answer could be this simple and then just try reading the book!

Edited November 26, 2011 by ricklev

[binjalin]

1322274192[/url]' post='4872358']

Forget the idea that your pain is related to your disc and don't trust any doctor that tells you that he knows that it is and that surgery will fix it!

I understand very well where you are coming from. My own diagnoses of "degenerative disc disease" in my thirties and my search for a pain free life ultimately led me to attend Palmer chiropractic college in the USA. I'm not a practicing chiropractor today because I learned for myself exactly what is in this book: Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by John Sarno.

I think both Asia Books and Kinnokoya at Paragon carry it, but you can download it quickly in pdf format on pirate bay.

I've been pain free and fully active for the last twenty years!

I have no stake in offering this book other than sharing my experience. I guess only one in 10 of the people I suggest it to actually read it, but it can change a life. Thousands of people recommend it. Google it on Amazon and read the reviews! Feel your resistance to the whole idea that the answer could be this simple and then just try reading the book!

I also have this horrible condition i will go buy this book in next few days - only arcoxia helps - it is a life-ruining condition

[Sheryl]

Dr. Wicharn at BNH spine center is very good.

bring any prior Xrays and scans with you as it will save cost of repeat tests

If there is any doubt as to whether the pain being experienced is due to the spinal changes (and sometimes indeed it is not) they can do nerve studies to find out.

From your description I am unsure as to the cause of the pain as onset after exercise and resolution after a few days sounds more muscular than structural. Pain due to degenerative spinal changes is usually constant (although worsened by certain actions/movements). It may be that you have some mild degenration that shows on films but is an incidental finding.

[binjalin]

1322284490[/url]' post='4872678']

Dr. Wicharn at BNH spine center is very good.

bring any prior Xrays and scans with you as it will save cost of repeat tests

If there is any doubt as to whether the pain being experienced is due to the spinal changes (and sometimes indeed it is not) they can do nerve studies to find out.

From your description I am unsure as to the cause of the pain as onset after exercise and resolution after a few days sounds more muscular than structural. Pain due to degenerative spinal changes is usually constant (although worsened by certain actions/movements). It may be that you have some mild degenration that shows on films but is an incidental finding.

Thanks for info but what is BNH? Beside a TLA

[ricklev]

Dr. Wicharn at BNH spine center is very good.

bring any prior Xrays and scans with you as it will save cost of repeat tests

If there is any doubt as to whether the pain being experienced is due to the spinal changes (and sometimes indeed it is not) they can do nerve studies to find out.

From your description I am unsure as to the cause of the pain as onset after exercise and resolution after a few days sounds more muscular than structural. Pain due to degenerative spinal changes is usually constant (although worsened by certain actions/movements). It may be that you have some mild degenration that shows on films but is an incidental finding.

Very reasonable advice, and I always appreciate the well intentioned and kind help you offer people on this forum. However, your confidence in the medical profession when it comes to the cause and treatment of back pain is historically and currently ill advised.

I agree about getting a doctor's diagnoses. Some few people might have a problem that the medical profession is good at repairing or helping with. However, when the doctor offers his assurance that the bulging disc impinging on a nerve or the grade 3 (or whatever grade!) degenerative disc "disease" is the cause of the pain be very, very skeptical. There are thousands of MRI's now available showing the exact same spinal patterns as yours except that those MRI's come from people who are totally free of any kind of back pain.

By the way, I'm not arguing that any of the alternative physical therapies like chiropractic have got it right either.

Edited November 26, 2011 by ricklev

[ricklev]

John Sarno, whose book I suggest to everybody suffering back pain is a medical doctor. He is a Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine, and Attending Physician at the Howard A. Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University.

[Captain Chaos]

See my answer in the other thread you started re. lower back pain. Completely agree that there is no "one size fits all" answer to this painful problem. Try the approaches that others have described. IF a bulging or degenerative disc is the cause of your persistent pain and surgery seems to be a suitable solution, then the Spine Clinic at Bangkok Nursing Home (BNH) Hospital, Soi Convent, Silom, is worth a look. But, as posted before, always get a second (and third if you want) opinion!

CC

[binjalin]

1322295697[/url]' post='4872933']

See my answer in the other thread you started re. lower back pain. Completely agree that there is no "one size fits all" answer to this painful problem. Try the approaches that others have described. IF a bulging or degenerative disc is the cause of your persistent pain and surgery seems to be a suitable solution, then the Spine Clinic at Bangkok Nursing Home (BNH) Hospital, Soi Convent, Silom, is worth a look. But, as posted before, always get a second (and third if you want) opinion!

CC

That BNH seems to be the place! I have seen doctors here (in Chiang Mai) but nothing - just 'put up with it' and take Arcoxia they don't even exam properly

It is quite debilitating

[Sheryl]

Thanks for info but what is BNH? Beside a TLA

BNH Hospital, on Convent rd between Silom aqnd Sathorn (Bangkok). Google their website.

[wpcoe]

From your description I am unsure as to the cause of the pain as onset after exercise and resolution after a few days sounds more muscular than structural. Pain due to degenerative spinal changes is usually constant (although worsened by certain actions/movements). It may be that you have some mild degenration that shows on films but is an incidental finding.

As an example of what Sheryl said in that last sentence:

I injured my back enroute to Taipei. Minor unpleasantness until later that night when I was in extreme pain.

First thing in the morning, the hotel escorted me to the nearest hospital and the back doctor (I assume he was an orthopedist) scared the crap out of me by saying I had lumbar spondylosis and my current pain was minor compared to how it was going to (absolutely) degenerate as time went by. He basically medicated me enough for me to get on a plane home to Thailand.

My doctor at BNH immediately recognized that my predicament was NOT due to spondylosis, although X-rays indicated I do have early stages of it which are considered normal for a man my age, but due to a ruptured disc!

I went from being scared sh*tless that I had a severe degenerative spine condition to being relieved it was a "mere" ruptured disk. So, as Sheryl said, "mild degeneration" can be "an incidental finding."

[ricklev]

From your description I am unsure as to the cause of the pain as onset after exercise and resolution after a few days sounds more muscular than structural. Pain due to degenerative spinal changes is usually constant (although worsened by certain actions/movements). It may be that you have some mild degenration that shows on films but is an incidental finding.

As an example of what Sheryl said in that last sentence:

I injured my back enroute to Taipei. Minor unpleasantness until later that night when I was in extreme pain.

First thing in the morning, the hotel escorted me to the nearest hospital and the back doctor (I assume he was an orthopedist) scared the crap out of me by saying I had lumbar spondylosis and my current pain was minor compared to how it was going to (absolutely) degenerate as time went by. He basically medicated me enough for me to get on a plane home to Thailand.

My doctor at BNH immediately recognized that my predicament was NOT due to spondylosis, although X-rays indicated I do have early stages of it which are considered normal for a man my age, but due to a ruptured disc!

I went from being scared sh*tless that I had a severe degenerative spine condition to being relieved it was a "mere" ruptured disk. So, as Sheryl said, "mild degeneration" can be "an incidental finding."

It might be useful to just consider the possibility that the ruptured disc is not the reason you had or have back pain either. That idea can be explored by reading the book I suggest above. That's if for my postings about this and I wish all the very best possible health and happiness.

Edited November 26, 2011 by ricklev

[ricklev]

Here is an old Barbara Walters video that might help some people.........

[grumpyoldman]

OP, I've been there done that.

Went a year and a half of debilitating back problems, doctors diagnosed everything from disc problems, to surgery needed to clear room for the nerves etc.

Spent 15,000thb on a custom machine where I wrap my knees around a pad, reach forward to some grips in front, then reach to the floor for grips as the machine spins me upside down. I hang upside down, relax and breath.

When I first started, the lower bones in my back would separate with a loud, "boing" and I would almost pass out. Half a bottle of wine and muscle relaxants might have had something to do with that but who knows........

The machine fixed everything. Remaining disc material moved back into place, no more sciatica, back to an active lifestyle. Whenever I feel tightness beginning, I hang.

Have a friend who went surgical route, has metal plates in his back, still is constantly hurt. If you can, solve it holistically.