It's never good...

[DailyDi]

Its never good when a doctor calls you at seven at night, on a Sunday.

So my MRI came back and it's not cancer or anything like that, but my bottom two spinal discs are drying out and degenerating. No real treatment. I don't know what to say right now: Being told that walking more than a few feet just means terrible agony for the rest of your life isn't really a hopeful situation to be in.

[Little Cub Pants]

I agree Mikey! Just know that we are here for you in your time of need buddy! prayers friend!?❤️?❤️? Hang in there!

[kasarberang]

I feel you, a while ago I had an infection that started eating away at my spine, they caught it too late and the damage had already been done. I'm a little better now, but still can't handle walking long distances. I hope you find something that will make your life a little easier. Just because there's no “treatment” doesn't mean there aren't things that will improve it. I'd ask your doctor if there's anything you can do to minimize the pain or minimize damage overtime. You may have already done this, but I figure it was worth mentioning, just in case.

[warpiper]

48 minutes ago, DailyDi said:

No real treatment. I don't know what to say right now: Being told that walking more than a few feet just means terrible agony for the rest of your life isn't really a hopeful situation to be in.

That doesn't sound like an ideal situation. However,  it sounds like degenerative disc disease, and there are treatments for it. Are you being evaluated by a spine specialist and not just a generalist? If not, find a doctor associated with an academic teaching hospital associated with a university and get a second opinion. There's no reason to go through life immobile and in pain with nothing to treat it if you've not done something like already sliced your spinal cord. 

[AwakenEvil]

1 hour ago, DailyDi said:

Its never good when a doctor calls you at seven at night, on a Sunday.

So my MRI came back and it's not cancer or anything like that, but my bottom two spinal discs are drying out and degenerating. No real treatment. I don't know what to say right now: Being told that walking more than a few feet just means terrible agony for the rest of your life isn't really a hopeful situation to be in.

I would agree with Warpiper here. This is something you likely need to see a specialist about and see what else can be done for you. The idea of walking being harmful doesnt sound pleasant at all.

[AbabeBill]

I don’t know what to say? I wish there was something helpful to say. Something to make you feel better. Just know you have friends here, that care. 

[Little Cub Pants]

1 hour ago, warpiper said:

That doesn't sound like an ideal situation. However,  it sounds like degenerative disc disease, and there are treatments for it. Are you being evaluated by a spine specialist and not just a generalist? If not, find a doctor associated with an academic teaching hospital associated with a university and get a second opinion. There's no reason to go through life immobile and in pain with nothing to treat it if you've not done something like already sliced your spinal cord. 

I agree buddy! A second opinion is always useful, especially when it involves medical issues. I couldn't imagine going through that much back pain. I really feel for Mikey. Hopefully he can find an specialist and get some treatment. If it was a nerve issue, then I would say all the doctors need to do is numb the nerves to kill the back pain. But this isn't that situation unfortunately.?

[Dubious]

On the positive side, you can now get a blue placard and park for free, and near the entrances. 

[feralfreak]

sounds like a situation my mom is now dealing with, to some extent, chest pain after eating

[Apache Raccoon]

9 hours ago, DailyDi said:

Its never good when a doctor calls you at seven at night, on a Sunday.

So my MRI came back and it's not cancer or anything like that, but my bottom two spinal discs are drying out and degenerating. No real treatment. I don't know what to say right now: Being told that walking more than a few feet just means terrible agony for the rest of your life isn't really a hopeful situation to be in.

Sorry to hear that Mikey

 

[rusty pins]

I look at people in situations like this, even those paralyzed in a wheelchair.  Look at the advancements made in medicine and surgery in just the past 20 years.  Maybe a person 25 years old might be in a wheelchair now, but maybe in 10 or 15 years science will have advanced to the point they can cure or reverse paralysis and other issues.  You always have to keep hope that in the future new treatments and cures will be found.

[littlecait]

11 hours ago, DailyDi said:

Its never good when a doctor calls you at seven at night, on a Sunday.

So my MRI came back and it's not cancer or anything like that, but my bottom two spinal discs are drying out and degenerating. No real treatment. I don't know what to say right now: Being told that walking more than a few feet just means terrible agony for the rest of your life isn't really a hopeful situation to be in.

Ask to see a Neuro-surgeon... there are options. I have DDD and they took out the damaged discs- did a multi-level fusion which is all held together with instrumentation. I walk 5 miles most days- minus any pain now. The first Dr's just gave me Morphine- it wasn't until my spinal cord was seriously compressed and they thought that I had a brain tumor, that they sent me to a Neuro-surgeon... 3 weeks later I had surgery. I don't take pain killers anymore either.

[~Brian~]

9 hours ago, AbabeBill said:

I don’t know what to say? I wish there was something helpful to say. Something to make you feel better. Just know you have friends here, that care. 

I echo  @AbabeBill ‘s sentiments:  Degenerative disc disease is no fun. I have been diagnosed with such a condition. I believe  was diagnosed sometime in 2010 or 2011: in fact I am going today to have my spine and my neck checked again because I had the injection in September. The specialist will see if I am doing OK, and probably will tell me that we’ll have to see how long it goes. Last time I had an injection like this it lasted me about six years. My concern is that I will end up eventually having surgery because I have no way of being able to get rid of the pain unless they go in and physically take out a piece of disk that is bulging and causing issues.

I too wish I had something I could say to you to make you feel better. Mikey, we are all rooting for you, and some of us know exactly what you are going through, even though I am not in the situation you are, because my situation may be different, I do know how it hurts and how it feels not to be able to do the things that you want to be able to do simply because of something so ridiculous. There’s only one thing that bothers me: I don’t know exactly how long this will last, or if it will last, because there’s no guarantee that this will work and continue to give me relief. If this does not work the way they planned it, my future involves having surgery, which is no fun.

Having limited mobility myself, I can understand how that feels: you can’t move very far, and when you do it hurts or you cannot stay standing for long. There are also times when you want to be able to move, and your body decides “no way Mikey I’m not going anywhere”. I think I’ve been doing better myself, except that my left shoulder now sometimes will have this doll ache that doesn’t seem to want to leave and I’m still having problems with my fingers on my left hand being almost unusable sometimes because they go to sleep. My problem is that I’m trying to do more therapy, and use my pro in stander so Thai can get stamina because I need to be able to do this for longer periods so my stander will help me to be able to get the stamina: not being able to do this is a pain in the ass because it is one of the things you have to do in order to get stronger with your legs or your arms. My arms are like bands of steel my legs are like jelly sometimes and it sucks. Anything that has to do with the spine is something that is new to me as far as having an issue with this. I’ve had surgeries on my legs, my feet, my hips, and my appendix. Having CP, my wife has been an up-and-down battle with certain things happening that I have no control over, and that can be something that can be quite nerve-racking, imagine you having to go to an orthopedist every six months and then sit in a waiting room for over an hour: then you walk in and you see your orthopedics specialists at “Handicap children’s clinic“, and then they do all of your checks: if they find something that they feel is detrimental to your health, they will discuss it with your parents and then decide whether it requires surgery, or whether you can take care of it at home or with a long term run with your therapist. This can be an uncertain Journey, but I have been lucky that most of the time when I have to have surgery, I have the best team, so I don’t have to worry about it too much.

we are all rooting for you Mikey:  Stay tune to this thread for more information, I hope that today I will find that the injection is working and I will be able to talk directly to my orthopedic specialist: the specialist I am seeing today as a specialty in Spain medicine. She was the one who first diagnosed me with “degenerative disc disease” and she has been there all through this, so I trust her judgment.

stay tune to this thread for more information, I hope that today I will find that the injection is working and I will be able to talk directly to my orthopedic specialist: the specialist I am seeing today has a specialty in spine medicine. She was the one who first diagnosed me with “degenerative disc disease“ and she has been there all through this, so I trust her judgment.

Will update this thread with more information as I get it!

Brian

[Little Cub Pants]

2 hours ago, rusty pins said:

I look at people in situations like this, even those paralyzed in a wheelchair.  Look at the advancements made in medicine and surgery in just the past 20 years.  Maybe a person 25 years old might be in a wheelchair now, but maybe in 10 or 15 years science will have advanced to the point they can cure or reverse paralysis and other issues.  You always have to keep hope that in the future new treatments and cures will be found.

That's very true buddy!?☺️❤️??❤️????❤️

[DailyDi]

Thanks all. Feeling a bit more upbeat today, though still pretty frustrated. Don't have time to talk more right now, have a shrink's appointment in 30.

[WetDad]

Mike, you need a second opinion. Go find another spinal specialist and get her/his opinion on the diagnosis and more importantly, the outcome. Not all specialists as up to date on all of the latest techniques and treatments. Each will be better connected to their alma mater and that will always differ.

[Little Cub Pants]

1 hour ago, DailyDi said:

Thanks all. Feeling a bit more upbeat today, though still pretty frustrated. Don't have time to talk more right now, have a shrink's appointment in 30.

Good luck with your appointment buddy!?? Hope all goes well!?☺️❤️?

[BabyChris121675]

I can sympathize with you Mikey, I had a bad fall three years ago that messed up my spine, back and I cannot move as well as I used to- I use a cane when I go places, but strategically placed tubs around my apartment so I would not fall and all and have something to lean on.  The surgery my doc wants me to do is so risky that I am not willing to take the chance until it is better done- because I do not want to be more a burden on those I love- and have a harder time getting to the dugout for my job as a baseball bench coach and scorebook keeper for my friends that still play baseball. 

So I can understand where you are coming from- I can move OK some days, some days are good and some days are bad- and remember we are all here for you.   The reason I have my issues is because I have Cerebral Palsy- diagnosed with that as a child- and that makes things interesting.   I am lucky that I did not end up in a wheelchair- as I could have- and I am grateful I had the chance to play baseball growing up.  However, I am just making the best of it- with limited mobility so I understand what it is like and can understand and can relate on limited mobility issues.     

Again, we all have your back- (pardon the bad pun)

BabyChris

[DailyDi]

Thanks all for the love and support.

I'm still struggling with the diagnosis. Thinking about how I'll have to make decisions for the rest of my life. For example, If I want to go to a concert, will I be able to walk from the parking to my seats - not likely based on the venues around me that were a trek when I was healthy.

I'm going to get a second opinion though I trust my doctor. But a confirmation will help if I have to go the disability route.

[Little Cub Pants]

4 minutes ago, DailyDi said:

Thanks all for the love and support.

I'm still struggling with the diagnosis. Thinking about how I'll have to make decisions for the rest of my life. For example, If I want to go to a concert, will I be able to walk from the parking to my seats - not likely based on the venues around me that were a trek when I was healthy.

I'm going to get a second opinion though I trust my doctor. But a confirmation will help if I have to go the disability route.

Yeah, I hope you don't have to use a wheelchair.???? Good luck Mikey! ❤️??❤️??

[Newbee]

I agree you should see a neuro-surgeon. Nearly 6 years ago I had a spinal fusion done I had two discs that had degenerated and my spinal cord was compromised I was loosing the feeling in my arms and hands but had the surgery and I am now good I made a complete recovery. I had a great surgeon do your homework to find a good one. 
 

[rusty pins]

Time we all take up a collection and buy Mikey one of these.  If every member chipped in $1 we would have pleanty!  Amazon.com : Segway Ninebot S Smart Self-Balancing Electric Scooter with LED light, Portable and Powerful, Black, Large : Sports & Outdoors

[square_duck]

This sucks, BUT, it isn't a death sentence! There are other options. One you might ask about or look into yourself is Stem-cell therapy. Stem cells are non designated cells that are used to rebuild  nerves and structures. They become (adapt) what ever cell is needed into what ever area they are injected into...pretty interesting stuff!! 

https://stemcellinstitute2.com/

You might check this out, as imho, AnYTHING is better than surgery!!!

Good luck??

[DailyDi]

I'm not even considering surgery, the risks far outway the benefit, which the Doctor admitted are low. Not worth it to feel only a little better. My primary gave me a pain/spasm combo today to try when I have to go out and hopefully will buy me enough time to "adult" before the pain gets too bad.

[BabyJilly_S]

Sending best wishes your way