my doctor said i have Degenerative Disc Disease?

Question

he said that i am totally and permantly disabled what does this mean that i cant get any better??

do you think i should apply for disabilty im in constant pain

eagle boy is 14 and is too young to know i didnt think your answer was very nice what goes around comes around maybe some day this will happen to you and you can feel the pain isnt it past your bed time??

ive had sergery and a second mri the problem is L3-4 L4-5 L5-S1 im curently on pain medicine and the doctor said i would problably be on it for life ty for all the nice answers and truley caring people

Answer 1

Yes--apply for disability. You will be more than likely denied but that is normal most people are denied the first time they apply anyway. If you are denied do not mess around go right to a social security attorney and they will help you. You really need to do this now because it will take about a year to start getting benefits (although they do go back to the time you were first disabled) The disc disease will not get any better it will only get worse and it is debilitating.---Good luck

Answer 2

I have degenerative disc disease, was diagnosed 7 years ago. At that time, I was 32, told my back was that of a 65 year old truck driver. Mine is in L4-L5, L5-S1. At the time, I had incredible, constant pain. I chose physical therapy as my course of treatment, I've taken nothing stronger than aspirin for the pain. I see a chiropractor, still do my physical therapy exercises at home. I had to change jobs, I went back to school and became a massage therapist. I am not able to sit, stand, or walk for long periods of time, I still have pain but I know how to manage it better. The physical therapy and what I learned in massage school, taught me how to listen to what my body is telling me.
I won't heal, my back will never get better either. But I'm not ready to give up and become "disabled". There are alternatives, for some cases, surgery may be the only option. Hopefully your doctor will be honest with you. Pain management should be chosen very carefully, all too often they resort to painkillers. If you can't feel the pain, you run the risk of injuring yourself further.
All in all, your back may not ever go back to what it was before, but with care, you can slow down the rate at which it gets worse.

Answer 3

I have it too!! There are a few new Disc Replacement Operations out there now, but I am not convinced that I want to have them done. I am working with a Non Narcotic Pain Management Clinic right now to help with all the discomfort. But seems like I am just learning to cope. Try to get as much exercise as possible and look into supplements, I take one called "Limu" it really has helped alot. Also be careful not to let the pain make you get unsettled or depressed, it often does and can make you feel physically worse.
Need to talk... [e-mail]
Good Luck to you
As far a disability goes, I have finally had to file, My pain makes me a very undependable employee.

Answer 4

There are soft, fluid-filled pads between each of your vertebrae. When you have degenerative disc disease, the pads, discs, lose some of that fluid. The padding protects the nerve endings. When the discs lose that fluid, the nerve endings are exposed which results in pain. One of the most common types of surgery to alleviate pain is to have fluid injected back into the pads. Its a quick fix, but is is not permanent and you may need to go back and repeat the procedure after some time.

Answer 5

As everyone gets older, the discs in the back and neck degenerate to some degree, so really everyone in the world who is not still growing has degenerative disc disease to a certain degree. Maybe you have it more than usual. I think I have it but doing a lot of stretching helps.

Answer 6

If your doctor has said that you are totally and premantly disbabled then yes, apply for disability. Please talk to your doctor about surgery options. I know a lot of folks don't want surgery, but they are doing fantastic things in this area and it could really change your life. Imagine--a life without constant pain. Isn't it worth considering?

Answer 7

Yes it means that you will not get any better but there are medications and therapy to help you feel a little better. My mom has suffered with this for years but she doesn't let it get her down. If your doc said permanantly than get it in writing and file for disability. Good Luck to you. Blessed Be.

Answer 8

I have had 5 surgeries thus far.
No I AM NOT GETTING BETTER BUT AT LEAST I AM RECEIVING MEDICAL ATTENTION THAT KEEPS ME WALKING AND USING MY ARMS.
I WENT THRU SOME TOUGH TIMES.
HURT EVERY SECOND OF EVERY MINUTE.
BUT I HOPE TO KEEP OUT OF A WHEELCHAIR OR WORSE.

BE HAPPY THEY KNOW WHAT YOUR PROBLEMS ARE.

WORK??YOU' LL BE LUCKY TO KEEP BRUSHING YOUR TEETH IF THINGS TO FROM BAD TO WORSE.

GIVE UP LIFTING AND SUCH.
ONE STEP FROM THAT LAST STEP.