Degenerative Disc Disease

[MrsReber]

DH was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease recently. I'm sure he's had it for a while, but he recently had a bad episode with his lower back. He was sent for an x-ray in late November and that's when we found out.

He's currently taking glucosamine with msn and chondroiton. Is there anything else that might help? Any suggestions? He's afraid of being back where he was in November. It was awful!

Thanks!

[LA98]

Hi Susan, sorry to hear about DH's back pain. About a month ago I finally had two MRIs done after 20 years of severe back pain. The doctor I saw told me she doesn't like to use the term "degenerative disc disease" anymore but that I basically have it. :rolleyes: I've got one herniated disc and two bulging discs, and some degeneration in one hip. I did a short course (10 days, I think?) of Relafen that helped; she was going to have me do a short course of a steroid if it didn't but luckily I didn't need it. I do stretching and strengthening exercises for my back and abs, and use lots of ice and heat when I have a bad episode. That's it. I'm just used to it after all these years....

Oh, and one thing that *didn't* help was losing weight. I lost 38 pounds last year and it didn't help my back problems one little bit!

[MrsReber]

DH didn't want painkillers or surgery. From what I've read, they can't do a whole heck of a lot for the pain. I think he should do some exercises, though. We found a natural anti-inflammatory. We're not sure if it worked as DH started taking it as the pain was subsiding a bit. Who knows, but it was better than popping all those advil!

Sorry about your aching back! DH luckily doesn't have any bulging or herniated discs. He does have evidence of an old fracture, which he doesn't know a thing about! You think you'd remember if you broke your back! They can see the bone growth around it. Must've been those wild younger years of his- before I met him!

I did some research when he got the diagnosis. I didn't find out a whole lot, only that they said the pain should actually get better since it's the proteins in the discs that cause the inflammation. Once the discs deteriorate, no more protein release. Seems crazy. I would imagine there would be lots of stiffness after that, though.

[LakeMartinGal]

Ask the doc to recommend some physical therapy! The therapist can teach your DH the exercises that will help his back, not hurt it, and the decrease in pain will be significant. That said, however, there will still be times that it hurts. If the doctor says it's ok, sometimes chiropractic and/or accupuncture can help!

My back ailement has a really long name that means that my back slips out of place easily... I haven't tried the accupuncture, yet, but I have a friend who did, and she got great relief! Also, a sleep number bed helped me a LOT!:D I also take MSM and glucosamine/chondroitin every day.

Hope your DH finds some relief!

[VictoriaL]

Has DH been to a physical therapist? A PT will be alble to show him the stretching and strengthening exercises which would be most beneficial to him. Alternatively, looking on the internet and downloading some instructive sheets should help, too.

But, really, I cannot emphasize enough how very much these stretches will help him. Both my DH and I have back problems, mine the result of a curvature, his is also the disintegration issue. It takes discipline and determination, because it's more difficult than it seems, but your DH absolutely must do these stretches every single day. Twenty minutes in the morning is what we do, and both of us can feel it if we skip a day. But we both feel so much better than we did several years ago.

And exercises to strengthen the back and abs is also essential. DH does his every day, I feel that I can get away with three times a week.

Also, I use an inversion table which helps a lot. Alas, DH is too tall for it!

We both still have issues with back pain, but they are much less frequent and seem to clear up quickly (we just have to learn to ask for help when moving heavy furniture, or to take breaks when working outside).

Good luck to the both of you!

[Laura]

Susan, I will echo what everyone else has said. Find a good PT and adhere to the stretching and strengthening exercises that they recommend. They are life-changing. It is not just core exercises either. In my case, strengthening and stretching my hip flexor muscles and hamstrings was also key as my quads were more overdeveloped than my hamstrings.

[MrsReber]

Someone else had recommended PT, too. He's been seeing a chiro, which brings him some relief, but he's just about done with that. I have to look into PT to see if the insurance would cover it or if we need a referral. Oddly enough, they've been covering the chiro treatment. It'll be a challenge to get DH to keep up the exercises!

[LakeMartinGal]

Someone else had recommended PT, too. He's been seeing a chiro, which brings him some relief, but he's just about done with that. I have to look into PT to see if the insurance would cover it or if we need a referral. Oddly enough, they've been covering the chiro treatment. It'll be a challenge to get DH to keep up the exercises!I'm pretty sure you'll need a referral -- our PT guy does. If the doc hasn't recommended PT, ask!:)