sitting here after not working the last 2 days due to back pain.
then read another thread where a coupla guys are talking about their back pain …
so here goes the back pain cocktail.
homeopathic stuff … far as I know can’t hurt ya … and might even help.
2 sumemrs ago I got the first real case of sciatica. Had just regular old back pain before than. Prescription pills didn’t do anything aside from make me loopy and sick all day. So I asked my chiro and googled .. the cocktail did the trick then …
think it’s starting to work again. Last 2 days I’ve been double dosing to get the system loaded up. Not dead yet … so can’t be too bad for ya.
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Replies
sciatica
If all your nerves were a network of roads, the sciatic nerve would be a busy interstate highway. All of the nerve impulses transmitted to and from the lower half of your body must pass through the sciatic nerve, the largest and longest in the body. From its roots in the spinal cord, the thick conduit branches through the buttocks and down the back of each leg to the foot. Pain that follows this route is called sciatica.
Pressure on the nerve in the spinal area is normally the cause of sciatica. The sensation can vary from mild tingling in your foot to searing pains that shoot down your leg.
Sciatica often begins after you’ve done some customary movement that never caused pain previously. Smokers, people who do a lot of heavy lifting, and people with osteoporosis or arthritis are at highest risk for developing sciatica.
To discover what’s causing your pain, you’d have to look closely at an x-ray of your spinal column, particularly the circular sections of cartilage called disks that are assigned the job of cushioning the bones and sheltering the nerve that runs alongside your spine. If you’re under age 40 and you get sciatica, it’s likely that one of those disks has slipped and is bulging between the vertebrae in your spine. Since the nerve runs alongside the spine, the off-kilter disk puts pressure on it.
If you’re hit with sciatica when you’re over 40, the cause is also disk-related, but in a somewhat different way. At that age, your disks are starting to become dehydrated. The shrinking disks can cause the spine to compress, increasing pressure on the nerve.
Do you get the pain most when you cough or sneeze? That’s just one sign that your sciatic nerve is probably pinched. You really can’t diagnose yourself from that clue alone, however, so you should see a doctor to be sure of the origin of the pain, says Barbara Silbert, D.C., N.D., a chiropractor and naturopathic doctor in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Low back pain and intermittent claudication—pain in the legs caused by poor arterial blood flow—are often mistaken for sciatic pain, notes Dr. Silbert.
Because sciatica almost always involves a mechanical problem with your back, you may need massage or chiropractic adjustment. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to free the nerve. More often, your doctor will simply prescribe some bed rest. You might also want to try some natural supplements that can help relieve inflammation and relax spastic muscles, says Dr. Silbert.
Helping Your Body Douse Inflammation
The key to drug-free relief is to turn on your body’s natural inflammation-fighting powers, says David Perlmutter, M.D., a neurologist in Naples, Florida, and author of Lifeguide. While drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen work by reducing inflammation and thus reducing the sensation of pain, nutritional supplements can reprogram the chemical process that produces pain signals. Moreover, nutrients influence the complicated inflammation process.
"Obviously, the body must have its own ways of reducing inflammation," says Dr. Perlmutter. "The entire process of turning inflammation on and off is controlled by a group of hormone-like molecules called prostaglandins."
According to Dr. Perlmutter, there are basically two groups of prostaglandins. One group is the starter kit that initiates inflammation. The other is a "tone group" that reduces the flare-up.
Dr. Silbert explains that there are four key supplements in nature’s arsenal of inflammation fighters that may help sciatica—bromelain, the bioflavonoid quercetin, essential fatty acids, and the herb turmeric. They inhibit the production of bad prostaglandins that start inflammation, and they promote the production of good prostaglandins that fight it. In other words, they stop the bad guys and help the good guys.
Fight the Flames
Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple, is the jack-of-all-trades when it comes to fighting inflammation.
In a study of 146 boxers, researchers showed that bromelain significantly speeded up the healing process when the boxers were injured. Bromelain was given to 74 of the boxers four times a day, while the remaining 72 took an inactive substance (placebo). In 58 of the boxers taking bromelain, all signs of bruising disappeared in four days. In the group taking the placebos, only 10 healed completely in four days.
Quercetin, just one of more than 800 bioflavonoids that have been identified, works best with bromelain to block the inflammation process. Naturopathic doctors believe that bromelain helps your body absorb the quercetin, so they often prescribe the two together, says Dr. Silbert. Quercetin is rich in powerful antioxidants that stop the damaging effects of free radicals, the unstable molecules that damage cells.
When the pain of sciatica strikes, take up to 1,000 milligrams of bromelain and 500 milligrams of quercetin four times a day between meals, says Dr. Silbert. The strength of a particular batch of bromelain is measured in milk clotting units (mcu) or gelatin-dissolving units (gdu). The higher the mcu number, the greater its strength. Look for a supplement with a strength between 1,800 and 2,400 mcu or 1,080 and 1,440 gdu.
Beware of bromelain supplements that merely list weight in milligrams; if the measurement isn’t listed on the label, you can assume that you are getting a cheap, ineffective preparation, cautions Jacob Schor, N.D., a naturopathic doctor in Denver and president of the Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors.
Any type of inflammation responds well to the essential fatty acids found in fish oil, flaxseed oil, and evening primrose oil.
To reprogram your pain process, take one tablespoon of flaxseed oil and 500 milligrams of black currant oil (or three capsules of evening primrose oil) every day, says Dr. Perlmutter. These two supplements are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids that your body needs but cannot make. By adding them to your diet, you can stimulate your body to produce increased levels of good prostaglandins and reduce inflammation.
If you want to use fish oil instead of flaxseed oil, take 1,000 milligrams two to four times a day, says Priscilla Evans, N.D., a naturopathic doctor at the Community Wholistic Health Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Turmeric Time?
During intense flare-ups, add some turmeric. This yellow spice contains one of nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatory drugs, a chemical called curcumin. The herb has been used for thousands of years in India’s traditional Ayurvedic medicine to treat pain and inflammation.
Several clinical studies show that curcumin has an anti-inflammatory action. Don’t reach into your spice cupboard for relief, however. Instead, opt for capsules of standardized extract that contain 97 percent pure curcumin.
When pain is acute, Dr. Evans advises people to take 250 to 500 milligrams three times a day. But you shouldn’t take turmeric as a remedy if you are pregnant or have severe stomach acid, ulcers, gallstones, or a bile duct obstruction.
If you’re taking natural supplements, you should start to see some improvement in about two weeks. Stick with the dosages to get the desired effect, says Dr. Evans.
"We lose sight of the fact that many nutritional and herbal supplements are more like foods than drugs. Dosages are important because taking just one capsule a day is not going to do much for your symptoms," she says. "In many cases, you have to take a pretty large dose of fish oil or curcumin to get an effect. Our culture, though, has conditioned us to taking just a pill or two for relief."
A Recipe for Relaxation
Sometimes, pain and tingling can be due to muscle spasms in the piriformis muscle, a pear-shaped muscle in the buttocks that surrounds the sciatic nerve. Relaxing this muscle can help relieve pain, says Dr. Evans.
Naturopaths often use a mixture of soothing herbs such as valerian, passionflower, and kava kava to promote muscle relaxation. Although valerian has become a staple on drugstore shelves, where it is sold as a sleep aid, its powers of reprieve go beyond sleep.
"Valerian is also great for easing tension and for general pain relief," says Dr. Evans. It contains substances known as volatile oils that work together to make you sleepy and relax your muscles.
Sometimes, your sciatic nerve is in the grip of a spastic muscle, and that no-win tug-of-war is at the root of the pain. Your doctor will need to confirm if a spastic muscle is the source of your pain. If it is, taking 150 milligrams of valerian three times a day may help, says Dr. Evans.
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I think Blue had a book that he swore by for back pain. Now if you can raise him!
So, about 4 months ago I had back pain that, this time, didn't go away.
My right arm pained and tingled like tennis elbow, and lower back pain - oy! Doc sent me for X-rays, and when he got me back to him, told me I could either take medication, or ......
Jeff (et al), I love working out, but like so many others, I make up excuses not to. Too busy, too tired, raining, tomorrow ... But, if I can't ride my new Harley, when the excuses come into my mind, its Fagetaboudit!
So, I've been going back to the gym.
Step one is get rid of some of the extra blubber around my middle.
Lots and lots of Cardio. Then, weightlifting for endurance, not muscle.
I've had arthritus for years, and so did my Dad. I come by it honestly, and I really don't want to start on the pills. I changed my diet, too.
The results? in 3 months I lost 5 pounds and real tightened my tummy. Not weight loss, but muscle weighs more than fat, so I shake my head, but it's OK. I feel great and I can ride for 3 hours without discomfort (well, I could if I didn't have to hit the rest stops so often LOL!).
I hope some of that works for you, Jeff.
Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada
exercise can't hurt ...
but a beer belly isn't the only factor. One of my best buds will most likely end up on disability after 3 back surgeries ... and he's always been a lean, man working machine. The only guy I knew who made the crew stop to stretch before raising walls too. Lean and strong ... six pack stomach. And back tore all to hell.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Yes...I recommend "Pain Free".
But...you have to do the exercises LOL!
Edited 2/14/2009 12:37 am ET by jimAKAblue
I like my pain pills!>G<
Actually the exercises do work. It's funny, I was in thereapy for over 2 yrs and I watched the people that came in for back problems, most were skinny. Maybe people just need to gain weight.>G<
I think the difference in most people with back problems is the lack of exercise. The exception is fools like us that tried to make a living framing. I know all those wallls and beams that really were just a little tooo heavy that we lifted, probably didn't help.
my first trip to the chiro was like a walk down memory lane ...
he'd treated all the midget league football kids in the area ...
said he didn't recognize my name ... I said I never played.
he said ... Oh, I thought "this" was from a hard tackle.
he'd pressed on one part of the spine ...
so as he pushed his fingers deep into my spine ... he'd feel "something" ... then describe the kinda impact or injurt that may cause it. He's good, btw.
I laid there remembering all sorta times I drove my dirtbike into a tree or hillside, remembered a coupla car wrecks, etc.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
and to anyone that wants to post that it doesn't work ...
save your time.
works great for me.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I'm gonna read over the cocktail later tonight......look forward to your ideas.....I got an inversion table from Kmart for Christmas and haven't had a pain since but I am still having leg cramps every few nights.
I've eaten every pain killer on the prescription market for the last year....kept telling the doc that I needed a 14th century torture rack to stretch me out.......he kept writing prescriptions.....I kept taking them.....
Wife bought the table as a gift......first time on it my lower back popped before I got fully inverted.....absolutely not a single bit of lower back pain since....
Pedro - an old sway backed Mule
Ahhh....the power of suggestion!
Doesn't work
Woops! Times up!!!! Giggle!
Another great tool for back pain relief - SOMATICS.Its a type of very mild 'exercise' that trains your body and back to relax. The exercises are not at all difficult, rather they are quite subtle but take a fair amount of focus and concentration to achieve the necessary affect. It really has helped me out.One resource for information is http://www.somatics.com. I paid $30 to download a .pdf of the book 'Free Yourself From Back Pain' and it was money very well spent.
Mine is th disc at C4 C5 and like sciatica but goes up my shoulder and down my arm.
Ice and biofreeze helps but I can't stand for more than an hour, and driving is almost impossible wit out twisting and holding my arm behind my back. Sitting on the throne is even bad. Don't have and can't do prescription meds.
The DW has every kind of supplement made, and one that works the best has been willow bark ( asprin comes from that) and Cherry tree parts.
I'll scope out what ya posted, I thinh we have most of that stuff in one form or another. Gotta do something, I'm dieing here.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
it was your post in the other thread that got me to post this.
I take 1,000mg Bromelain (2400gdu)
1,000mg Quercetin+C
500mg Curcumin 95%
and one, two or three 125mg Valerian Root pills
take this handful 3 to 4 times a day.
Tues and Wed I took double the pills each time.
today I started the regular amounts.
have been sitting on ice bags then heat pads ... get slathered in ben #### right out of the shower ... fall asleep on an ice bag wrapped in a towel ... then at some point each nite wake up, put the melted ice into the bath sink and turn the heat pad on low to cook all nite.
Thinking I've turned the corner on this one.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I had fusion surgery on C6-C7.
I now have bad C3-C6, T2-T4 and some L's as well.
All said, I am VERY glad I had the fusion surgery. That arm pain was too much to handle. I have degenerative disc disease and will end up in a chair one of these days.
I take Advil and deal with a lot of pain. I hate narcotics and will only take half a percocet if I happen to injure myself bad enough.
I also go on a quick regiment of steroids maybe once a year if it is bad enough.
I don't give this pain or all of my back problems too much energy (complain about it too much). People say I should go on disability. I will not. I know what I can and can't do. It's that easy for me.
I'd rather wear away than rust away.
Stupid discs!
JedNo Coffee No Workee!
"If you’re taking natural supplements, you should start to see some improvement in about two weeks...."eh - I have always started feeling better before that just using Wild Turkey - "there's enough for everyone"
the wait time is why I double up doses the first 2 or 3 days.
not sure if it works, why it works or how it works ...
but it works for me.
feeling much better today.
hope it's all a distant memory come Monday ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
i had lower back pain that was bad enough that i could not work for several weeks tried chiropractor, physical therapy, drugs to no avail-i bought an inversion table and it provided almost instant relief-i have used it for several years now 2 or 3 times a week -it is the best investment that i have ever made!!!
started look at them in this past Sun paper.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I googled the teeter one, cheapest I saw was like 350 bucks, thats 10 chiro visits for me. I AM thinking about it, but where to put it in this mess is an issue.
I used to work with a roofer that had gravity boots, he'd hang from a cieling joist in upstairs..now THAT I could maybe rig up, if I had better details, and some one to cut me down..LOLSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
I'm seeing alot under $200.
kmart, target, walmart ...
so far nothing on craigslist.
I did see some that fold. That'd be handy in this small house.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Jeff,Saw one at a clients house and came home and made mine, 20 bucks for some 2x4T and some scrounged cypress. It lives outside since it's 8 feet tall.Helps the back but makes my head explode.KK
started look at them in this past Sun paper.
Here's the one I have and love.........
http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_080W857381110001P?vName=Fitness+%26+Sports&cName=Fitness&sName=Inversion+%26+Stretching
Pedro - No longer a sway backed Mule
kmart was the first ad I opened.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
i just looked on ebay and they start at 130 with free shipping-several friends of mine have bought these and they seem to work just fine-i also have seen them at kmart and at dicks sporting goods
Nobody wants to do it but exercise, exercise, exercise.
Basically, you do crunches laying on your back and do crunches laying on your front.
You can vary it up with different things but that is it for the most part.
You can do it on a rug. No special equipment at all.
You need to strengthen your core.
Hey, that's worth a shot. Off to the store today to look for this stuff.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
be careful where you buy. My chior among others said GNC stuff is useless. Damn near impossible to tell what's good. I buy from http://www.iherb.com and amazon.
Only buy from amazon if the chiro recommends a specific brand.
one of those pills has a listed "gdu" ... have no idea what a gdu is ... but do know only buy if it's listed and only buy a high number.
Coupla years ago I spent about a week on the internet reading everything I could get my handson ... compiled my list then ... have stuck with it, brands and doses. Double checked what I found with my chiro and a buddy with a background in homeopathic meds.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Thanks -- I'll check it out. BTW, "gdu" is "gelatin disolving unit". How do I know that?
Cause I actually read the article you passed along in the beginning of this thread!
But that was a test, right? ;-)
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
PS: I can't feature you singin' in the chior. ;-)
Edited 2/12/2009 5:31 pm ET by MikeHennessy
Edited 2/12/2009 5:32 pm ET by MikeHennessy
You say 'homeopathic' as if it is the same thing as 'naturopathic'. Similar medicinal sources, but very different applications. A homeopathic approach requires intense investigation into all of the patient's symptoms, even quite obscure ones. A different remedy would be given say, if the patient was better with heat or better with cold. You can use the generalized compounds manufactured by a company like Hyland's for help with generalized problems, but homeopathic solutions concern the whole person- mental, emotional, and physical. Dosages are the other main difference. Many people could take a naturopathic herb and be helped by it. Others might gain nothing or even have adverse reactions to it. Homeopathic remedies are broken down in a process called trituration and result in a very small amount of the original substance being given in a dose. The 'idea' is to use the very least of a specific substance to activate the body's own defenses. You would never need to 'double up' if taking a homeopathic remedy. Just for anyone's information....
You say 'homeopathic' as if it is the same thing as 'naturopathic'.
yes ... yes I do.
and probably be wrong too.
how about ... "not Dr prescribed and picked up at the local pharmacy".
I liken the handful of pills to lunch at a petting zoo ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Yeah, youe wording is wrong, but the cure is what matters. BTW, my Doc says NO HEAT...it adds to the inflammation, ICE only ON BARE skin, 15 mins or until numb, 2, 3 times an hour.
I was using a bag of frozen peas..and used to use a 3lb bag of sugar..now its freezer gel packs..no towel, bare skin..yeeeowwww.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
I use low heat ... just enough to keep it from locking in place.
... knew too much heat would inflame ya worse.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Get a copy of the book "Pain Free"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553379887/bookstorenow57-20
& follow the exercises in there. It's helped me a lot. Would probably help more if I did the exercises regularly instead of just when in pain.
http://www.rockwellnutrition.com/Inflammatone-by-Designs-For-Health-40DFH41_p_983.html#stuff's been around for a while... but then, so have Ihttp://www.tvwsolar.com
I went down to the lobby
To make a small call out.
A pretty dancing girl was there,
And she began to shout,
"Go on back to see the gypsy.
He can move you from the rear,
Drive you from your fear,
Bring you through the mirror.
He did it in Las Vegas,
And he can do it here."
have you test driven it?
I'd love to take one pill than have lunch each time.
I'm pretty sure I'm eating what they feed petting zoo animals ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I use it when I do something heroic... or stoopidhttp://www.tvwsolar.com
I went down to the lobby
To make a small call out.
A pretty dancing girl was there,
And she began to shout,
"Go on back to see the gypsy.
He can move you from the rear,
Drive you from your fear,
Bring you through the mirror.
He did it in Las Vegas,
And he can do it here."
"I use it when I do something heroic... or stoopid"
story of my life ...
how come there's never anything in between?
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I'd say get a helper, but often the pain just moves to your head.
Exercise, stretch, calcium, diet all good. Get a bone density scan. I'm 52 and after a few unexplained broken ribs, got the scan and found I have osteo. Talked with some friends, surprised how many do. Much more common in men than widely believed.
"Get a bone density scan"
ha ... U crack me up!
about 2 years ago I went into the Dr's to see if she could explain why my shoulder "still hurt" after weeks and weeks. Fully explained that I kinda need it to make money so the kids she seems to like can eat.
She said "soft tissue injury" ... and sent me for an xray.
before I went ... I made her admit that an xray wouldn't show any "soft tissue damage" ... and I needed an mri. She agreed ... said the insurance needed an xray first.
so ... I went and got the useless xray. I was then told the xray didn't show anything and therefore the insurance wouldn't pay for an mri?
so ... if I can't get an mri ... pretty sure "bone scan" is outta the question.
and we have good insurance!
might have success in the new year. Going in next Monday for a "20 minute" appointment ... what ever that means ... to get the blood pressure pills checked out so I can get more refills. Then going to find a new doctor.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
"good insurance"THERE'S an oxymoron if there ever was one!!OK...I have Scoliosis so my back gets stiff when the wind blows...stretchies is what my Doc (Osteopath) keeps hounding me about.when I do them it gets better...ya think I would learn.But some times just the normal ups and downs do me in.as far as cocktails ... someone here recommended 1 aspirin 1 tylenol + 1 ibuprofen.works on mild to medium pain.but mild to medium brings me to....CHICKEN WINGS!!!!The "heat in CWs is capsaican which is in a lot of back pain remedies...Because it works!!had a bad spell one day and ended up at the Elbow room for lunch, forgot to say "medium" when I ordered...well after the smoke stopped coming out my ears, my back was feeling loose as a goose!!Hope you feel better.I would suggest letting Corey doe some laps on your back, but he may give you back some of that "don't trust anyone" lesson.....
.
"After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
.
.
.
If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
.
.
.
according to statistical analysis, "for some time now, bears apparently have been going to the bathroom in the woods."
yeah ... hot and spicy is good for lotsa stuff.
beats the heat and keeps ya limber.
one of the things in my concoction is a spice ... the curcumin, I think.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
"Soft tissue injury" is not a diagnosis, and is only an adequate description when said injury is minor and self-limited (gets better by itself) and the exact diagnosis therefore doesn't matter.But you said this was 2 years ago. Shoulder still hurting? See an orthopod. By far, the most common causes of shoulder pain are related to the rotator cuff - either due to muscle imbalance ("impingement syndrome") or to a tear in one or more of the rotator cuff muscles or tendons.Being in a profession that is prone to both acute and chronic (overuse) injuries, you deserve a primary care doc who actually knows something about the musculoskeletal system or is willing to refer to someone who does.BTW, there are scans, and there are scans. A "bone scan" is a nuclear medicine study - they inject you with a radioactive chemical (with a short half-life) that has an affinity for bone, and then put you in a scanner that records where the radioactivity is. The scan will show "hot spots" in areas where the bone is undergoing increased turnover, such as fractures, arthritis, bone infection, certain kinds of metabolic bone disease, and tumors. This type of scan is used when bony pathology is suspected but nothing shows up on X-rays, or when there is a desire to check the whole skeleton at once (for example, for metastatic cancer), since there is less radiation exposure with a bone scan than with taking X-rays of all of the bones in your body.A "bone density scan" is one of several different types of scan, similar to CT scan, where they shoot a measured dose of radiation at a specific part of your body (such as your hip, wrist, or hand), and then quantitatively measure how much of the radiation was absorbed. This is used to check for osteoporosis.In a "CT scan," or computed tomography scan, they shoot you with X-rays from many different angles and detect the rays that get all the way through without being absorbed using sensors on the opposide side of your body from where the rays were shot. Then the computer takes all of the data from all of those sensors and reconstructs images in different planes. This type of scan typically shows the outer shell of bone very well, as well as many internal organs.In an "MRI scan," or magnetic resonance imaging scan, you are placed in a rapidly varying magnetic field. The oscillations of the magnetic field cause the molecules in your body to rapidly change their magnetic orientation and emit radio waves. Sensors surrounding your body detect the radio waves and a computer reconstructs images from the sensor data, similar to the way the CT scanner software does. The scanner operator can program in different series of patterns of variations in the magnetic field. Each pattern of magnetic field variation causes the different tissues (e.g. water-based, fat-based) to behave differently with regard to how much radio wave energy they emit, so typically an MRI scan contains several sets of images, each set displaying different kinds of soft tissue characteristics to their best advantage.The MRI is far and away the best scan for displaying muscle and tendon injuries. An orthopaedic surgeon will know what to say to an insurance company to get one approved if it is indeed indicated.Now, if your insurance won't let you see an orthopaedic surgeon without an X-ray, then you have a different problem! :-)Rebeccah
"Now, if your insurance won't let you see an orthopaedic surgeon without an X-ray, then you have a different problem! :-)"
Luckily I can see a specialist w/o referal.
Shoulder did heal over time ... took about a year before it stopped coming back ... so I figure working with it slowed the healing down a bit.
Since then, my Dad fell and went to an ortho surgeon. Turned out to be a good one as far as I can tell, seemed very honest and straight to the point. I did tell him next time my shoulder flares up ... he's my first stop.
I'm actually going in to the Dr for an apt to check my BP medicine tomorrow. At this practice, Dr I signed on with has left and others have taken his patients. Which we're used to by now ... as he's been overbooked since we signed on. I think he was used to lure new patients in the door then they just put you with who ever has an opening.
Not a big deal for a cold ... but I don't see the Dr for a cold.
So ... going to tomorrow's apt tomorrow to get the prescription renewed with a coupla months refills ... then shopping around for a new Dr. Wife and kid's will stay there ... but I can't take it anymore.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
What hospital does your doc work out of? That is a reliable indicator of his expertise. Pgh has some very good hospitals, do not hook up with the guy from county general when you have world class hospital like Presby and Shadyside. AGH was very good, not sure if it has maintained its standards, but it is much better than the average hospital down the road.
Thanks for that tidbit Jeff.I'm going to see if I can get rid of the remaining remnants of my sciatia attack.
Sciatica--caused by stimulation of sciatic nerve.
Due to either muscle inflammation impinging on the nerve or disc rupture pushing on the nerve. Treatment is different depending on the cause.
If muscle, then heating pad, muscle relaxers to relieve/reduce muscle spasm, ibuprofen, minimize bed rest, return to active lifestyle ASAP.
If disc, (diagnosed by MRI) then steroids, muscle relaxer, time.
Surgery is last resort--laminectomy or fusion.
In a mild case of either, that is, not writhing in pain unable to move off the floor, try ibuprofen, homeopathic (placebo) remedies.
Re: 'good insurance': they are in business to minimize health care and maximize profits. To get an MRI you must have writhing in pain symptoms or exaggerate.
"To get an MRI you must have writhing in pain symptoms or exaggerate."
that is the new plan!
told the wife next time ... swear to god ... I'm gonna yell and force tears when the Dr touches it. People in the waiting room are gonna hear me!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Jeff:
I'm sure the cocktail works for you but also a few days of letting the muscle spazms calm down so that you can get straight and walk around right is having an effect.
There are a lot of great ideas for how to take care of back and body problems.
I have potential neck and back problems. Went to the physical therapist upon recommendation from 2 doctors (mine and my sister who is a dr and also has back issues)
This specific philosophy of physical therapy is called the Mckenzie Method and the PT I went to was trained in it(it is one of the most popular from what I understand)
You can get the book by Robin Mckenzie "Treat your own Back"
and for neck problems "Treat your own Neck"
My hands were going tingly and numb all the time. I thought it was circulation. It was pinched nerves in my neck.
When I throw out my back, I can get down on the ground, do the excercises for an hour or two, and save 2-3 days in bed. I still have to take it easy for a few days as the muscles and nerves are still sensitive but I can keep on working.
There are lots of great ways to do it. A buddy is going to his chiropractor at 8 tomorrow because he threw out his back yesterday and that works for him.
I'll bet PT would work for him and I'll bet his chiropractor would work for me but I like how I was taught.
Stick with what works and maybe try some other stuff if you have the wherewithall.