Crazy New treatment?

[jrnyc]

nothing has worked for the lumbar pain...tried botox, but it didn't help, and the lumbar region has so many problems...muscle spasms are not involved there...

i don't know that thoracic or lumbar curves progress faster...to me, lumbar area gets more abuse...so it is my personal opinion that lumbar may progress faster, but that is just a personal guess...

jess

[djean1]

I love the heat - so I run toward the equator

I believe there is a lot validity to muscular causes and hypermobility - because I've seen it myself. However, Scoliosis is probably caused by many factors - not the same cause in everyone's case - so there will be lots of snide comments about the equator. Some experts do agree - Dr. Lau's book - and have you seen the yoga for Scoliosis book and dvd - the author has severe scoliosis (since teenager) but looks great. There is also a theory about a syndrom - based on a lot of common traits with scoliosis - hypermobility, mitro valve prolapse, ibs, etc..

Be like Thomas Edison and keep experimenting!! Do not be daunted by the critics - because even if only a few are helped by this forum - the sharing of ideas and what is working for us - it is worth it.

[jrnyc]

well, it wasn't meant to be snide...maybe if i spoke Spanish i'd head down there...
we have had days and days of mountains of snow...and now ice..anything warm is starting to sound good...

also, it helps to have a sense of HUMOR about all this...
at least, i sure think so!
but then, i've been dealing with a lot of spinal problems for a lot of years!

Dr Lau is a chiro...i prefer medical doctors...but that is just me...

i sent you a private message, Bish
i believe in trying anything, new and different or tried and true!
i also believe in a smile!

jess

[jrnyc]

hey rohrer
i believe botox is safe for thoracic region..at least, that is what the pain doc and surgeons told me...
i think it could be problematic for lumbar...but the botox i was given in lumbar to try it was really for sciatica...and it didn't help at all...in any way
the disc problems, stenosis, etc, that is in lumbar region in my case is aggravating the scoli

i am so glad that something is helping you!
i remember how bad things had gotten...so i am happy that you are sounding better!
i feel badly that the chiro made things worse for you...and glad someone can help reverse that!

jess

[djean1]

That's good to know. I want others to be encouraged to try new ideas that may help them. I was in pain for so long and now I'm not. Of course, they should consult a doctor also. I have never been to a chiropractor either - however, the wait and see attitude (to see if the curvature starts interferring with my breathing) from my MD specialist was very disheartening - sorta terrifying. I will admit that I'm probably a little more daring than most though.. (which is good and bad).

well, it wasn't meant to be snide...maybe if i spoke Spanish i'd head down there...
we have had days and days of mountains of snow...and now ice..anything warm is starting to sound good...

also, it helps to have a sense of HUMOR about all this...
at least, i sure think so!
but then, i've been dealing with a lot of spinal problems for a lot of years!

Dr Lau is a chiro...i prefer medical doctors...but that is just me...

i sent you a private message, Bish
i believe in trying anything, new and different or tried and true!
i also believe in a smile!

jess

[jrnyc]

i truly understand any patient who does whatever they can do, in search of relief!
anyone who has lived thru severe pain can understand!

jess...and Sparky

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...c/Img_0083.jpg

[rohrer01]

Well, so far the only thing that I know "helps" long term is the epidural injection. That only helps nerve pain from DDD. I wish they could undo the damage caused by the chiro treatments, but unfortunately they can't. I'm just trying a bunch of new stuff to see if it helps the pain.

[jrnyc]

i definitely can understand the "good and bad" aspects of being daring...for any treatment!

i went to Mexico to get malaria...by way of an injection (to create a high fever)...for Lyme disease (long story)...believe it or not, at the time (i think around 1994) at least 2 of the top Lyme doctors in the country advised us to go and do it, off the record, of course...
(P.S. it didn't help!)

suffice it to say, i understand seeking relief any where, any way...as long as it isn't dangerous...and in the case i just mentioned, it was a little dangerous!

and rohrer...thank goodness the epidural is helping you...because they do not always help...
didn't help my DDD pain the 3 times i tried it...actually, sacroiliac joint injection worked better for that particular pain, for me...
so i am really glad the epidural is helping you!

jess

[Pooka1]

i truly understand any patient who does whatever they can do, in search of relief!
anyone who has lived thru severe pain can understand!

jess...and Sparky

I don't think anyone can second guess what pain patients do or don't do.

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...c/Img_0083.jpg

Who is growing up and getting so big in his pretty sweater?!?!?!?! SPARKY!!!!!!

[jrnyc]

oh, thank you...
Sparky is my secret weapon against pain!
i waited all my life for a dog of my own, til i retired from working 2 jobs and never being home!
after waiting so long, i got a little angel!

woof
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...tial_XSjpg.jpg

[rohrer01]

He's really cute! Puts a smile on my face.

[Bish]

Hey djean1

Djean 1, what was this band stretch thing you could not spell? For your hip? Also what does your strehgthening stretching regime consist of? So you had nasty pain and were able to get out of it? Thats a rare story. Sorry what are your degrees/issues? Keep it up and please enlighten us. That is not sarcasm by the way. I would truly love to be enlightened with significant pain relief. My little treatment protocols only occassionaly and intermittently bring it from, evil pain that is all I can think about, to moderate nasty pain that still sucks. I would love to do better. Bish

[djean1]

I was wrong, the hip stretch starts with an L - Here are a couple videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aBc95I32fQ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvVrsIY4qAk. I think I originally found a diagram on webmd (which I love). A Godsend!! and so simple... My band was so tight it hurt to walk.

Back to the back.. Here is a cut and paste from an old post about the strengthening while stretching (emphasis on strengthening):

Then, I figured I would buy a Gold's Gym bar that fits on a standard door frame with no tools (on sale at family dollar for $12.00) and let gravity help out. I use it everyday (sometimes twice) faithfully. I hang from it and swing laterally side to side (gently) 30 times - letting my feet brush against the door frame with each swing (at first I could only hold on long enough for about 5 times). Then, I bring my knees 1/2 way to my chest and hold for a few seconds 5 times. This feels great and is an incredible stretch! Also, I have purchased Weider's version of the Total Gym (for ab. 1/4 of the price from Amazon) and lay on my back and pull myself up to the top 30 times - with the bed slanted as high as it goes (also at least 1-2 times a day). This also is an incredible stretch and makes your upper body look great (just a side benefit). Once I've dragged myself to the top, I lift my head off the board just slightly so the stretch is in the upper back. Machine I bought - http://www.amazon.com/Weider-Total-B...6917444&sr=8-1

Just a note - start very very slow. I have actually overdone it twice and had to lay off for a few days. But, I sorta overdo everything.

I am in deep south texas (options are limited). I have no degree specs (I just double checked the report). But here is a quote from my xray report:

Lumbar Spine - moderate scoliosis with the convexity to the left.
Impression - moderate levoscoliosis

Thoracic Spine AP & Lateral Views - moderate scoliosis of the mid thoracic spine with the convexity to the right.
Impression - moderate dextroscoliosis

Also, "no evidence of compression fracture, vertebral collapse, bone destruction or paravertebral mass. There is moderate arthritis present at L4-L5 and L5-S1."

They also did every blood test imaginable - a test to look for internal inflamation and any other deficiency and there were none. The xray was terrifying to look at. I have no plans to go back to the doctor since it did nothing for me (there was no detected cause). I know how that sounds... I should have taken a pic of my before torso - with the flat left side at the waist and the one rib sticking out but I didn't. My research is completely not scientific but it helps me and if it can help a few others all the more.

Djean 1, what was this band stretch thing you could not spell? For your hip? Also what does your strehgthening stretching regime consist of? So you had nasty pain and were able to get out of it? Thats a rare story. Sorry what are your degrees/issues? Keep it up and please enlighten us. That is not sarcasm by the way. I would truly love to be enlightened with significant pain relief. My little treatment protocols only occassionaly and intermittently bring it from, evil pain that is all I can think about, to moderate nasty pain that still sucks. I would love to do better. Bish

[jrnyc]

hi jean
do you not want to find out the size of your curves..?
it might be good to have your scoliosis followed by a top surgeon, to know if/how much progression is happening...
are you interested in a good pain management doctor to help you, as well..?

i have had a top surgeon following my scoliosis and other spinal problems for 6+ years now...
if/when i do the surgery, he will be the guy to do it...

best of luck..
jess

[Sherie]

Hey Bish!

Just wanted to say HI! Haven't seen you around in a while. Funny thing, I was going through my email outbox today and found an old email I sent to you back in '06, I can't believe it's been so long ago.

Sorry to hear you're still having pain issues, though I'm not surprised. You're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Sounds exactly the same type of pain Sheena had prior to surgery, seems like the lumbar region causes that achy muscle fatigue. I'm so glad she was able to get relief after surgery. I wish I had some advice for you, but nothing we tried helped or it was only temporary. If you keep progressing at the same rate you have, you may be in surgery territory in a few years anyways.

One thing that's helped her alot are some prescription pain patches that my aunt in Japan sends her. I have not seen a patch here with exactly the same medication but I believe there are prescription pain patches available in the States such as Flector. Anyways, it's another way to tackle the pain without taking a pill and having the accompanying side effects.

Hope you figure out something. Take care.