She had a car wreck about 6 or 7 months ago. She is almost 60 and has a bad back. I just don't want to go through anymore pain. She had surgery about 2 months ago to fuse the discs in her back together. Somehow they go torn from the wreck. Supposedly, they didn't do the job right the first time, so now she has to go in for another surgery. Could that be the reason for her pain?
2006-11-08 06:37:43 · 14 answers · asked by C R 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
yeah probably so its just a herniated/slipped disks i had the same problem when i was in an 18 wheeler accident
2006-11-08 06:41:13 · answer #1 · answered by awesome 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like her hip is out of alignment. (I'm 52) I was in a car wreck too and it messed up my back and hips. Doctors that I've seen have said stuff like 'ho hum, you're getting older, deal with the pain, here's a prescription'. Well, that's nothing but putting a bandaid on it. My suggestion for your mom is what I did. Go to a chiropractor who will actually help in keeping everything aligned. When my right thigh goes numb, and then hurts and throbs, I know that my hip slipped out of alignment again. I see the chiro every week for adjustments of my back, hips and legs, etc. when there is pain and/or numbness etc. Then as the adjustments start holding and there's less pain etc, we go to every other week, then every third week and so on. When I get those adjustments on a consistent basis, there's no pain etc. When I start letting the appts go, the pain returns and we just start over with going every week and gradually needing to go less often as described above.
Going to the chiro has saved me carpal tunnel surgery too. Am not saying no one needs surgery! Am saying to see a chiro for second opinion when one has been told that surgery is needed. Very very very VERY often chiropractic care can indeed eliminate the problems that other doctors see surgery as the only treatment. Ppl can see the chiro for those problems for at least 6 months on a consistent basis, and if the problems still persist, the chiro can tell if surgery is indeed needed as the last resort.
My best to your mom, hope she'll go to the chiropractor and see if that helps.
Myst
2006-11-08 15:00:45 · answer #2 · answered by Myst 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it could be but, look to the simplest things first. Your mother has the classic symptom of sciatica.
You didn't say if this was a sudden onset (over a couple of days).
If that's true then it's probably sciatica an inflammation of the sciatic nerve which runs from the buttocks to the foot. It's quite painful and takes a while to heal.
Tell her to roll on and off a bed or chair when getting up or down as she can be knocked down by a sudden spasm.
Some pain relief can be gotten without narcotics by taking mega doses of B-complex and magnesium and calcium. All readily available.
She needs to report this to her surgeon, too.
Best wishes
2006-11-08 15:56:03 · answer #3 · answered by Medidata 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it would be. Although its too late to do anything about it now, she should not have had her vertebrae fused to begin with. There should have been other options.
And if they are going to fuse her back again - she needs a back-brace to prevent possible re-injury.
She needs to find out from a doctor if she can take "Glucosamine Chondroitin" complex (over the counter) which helps with bones and joint tissues. Some doctors don't like that idea - but thats not the question - the question is, will it have harmful effects with other medications she is using. If not, then she should take it.
Warning! If she is allergic to shell-fish, she should not take Glucosamine Chondroitin complex. It thats not a problem, she needs double strength bottles.
2006-11-08 14:55:57 · answer #4 · answered by Victor ious 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes...back surgeries dont always take the first time. My husband had surgery for a herniated disk that had pinched off a nerve leading down his left leg. He was fine for about 2 months..and now its just as bad as it was before the surgery. He has a cousin that has just had her 4th surgery for the same thing. Has she tried physical therapy?.....I'm sorry she is going through this..I know its very painful.....
Good Luck !!!!
2006-11-08 14:49:35 · answer #5 · answered by lisa46151 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be her sciatic nerve. My husband had pain like that. His disc had chipped off and was pushing on the nerve. This can cause other problems such as permanent damage. She needs to see the doctor as soon as she can just in case that is what it is.
2006-11-08 14:46:35 · answer #6 · answered by Kim 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have that and it was from a back injury. Sometimes back surgery is an option but if she can walk and isn't dragging her leg I wouldn't do it. Mine only flares now when I strain myself and I didn't have surgery. My doctor recommended NSAIDS like Motrin and it did help but as your mom's injury is so new maybe her doctor could give her muscle relaxers as well.
2006-11-08 15:46:37 · answer #7 · answered by bess 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a sciatic injury. It's either the sciatic nerve or the sacroiliac joint. Same area. Middle of the butt check. She needs to see an orthopedic doctor. There are lots of things they can do for her, anti-inflammatories, trigger point injections, physical therapy, etc.
2006-11-08 14:46:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be a vertabrae in her back that is out. I have my L5 out (lumbar 5 is located just above the pelvis) and I frequently get pains from my hip to my ankle. Check with a doc or a chiropractor.
2006-11-08 14:46:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i used to have sciatica after the birth of my first child. The same symptoms you describe, but i started doing yoga regularly and haven't had the problem for a few years now.
2006-11-08 16:10:14 · answer #10 · answered by Kria 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋