Degenerative Disc Disease

[TIAMARIA]

I started having back pain as a child, my mother would drag me back and forth to the chiropractor I stopped going when I was 10. I got use to the aches and pains of my hurting back. Then in 2005 I had my first kidney stone, I also had blood poisoning from a infection from the stone, I started having this deep pain in my back and sciatic pains in my legs and butt. I had lipotripsy for the stone, and went home with pain in my back I thought was from the stone. At this point in my life I didn't even take tylenol for headaches. At this point I still had a stent in so I thought it was the cause of my back pain. Once I had the stent removed I just knew the pain would go away. It didn't, I have had a 12x7 kidney stone, 11x5 kidney stone and four surgerys, and three child births last one completely natural because I thought epidural was a waste of time. I can handle pain, but I can't handle the pain from ddd. 3 years ago I was in good physical shape, now I am wasting away from this. I'm 34 years old and ddd has taken over my life. I went to a spinal doc who told me that it would get better over the summer. I have L5-SI anular bulge, Left disc protusion intimately related to the exiting L5 nerve root. Moderate left forminal stenosis, mild difuse annular bulge, right forminal disc protrusion, right forminal stenosis, right disc protusion, L4, L5 , radiculopathy pain. I don't even know what any of this means. I was'nt in a car wreck I didn't fall , I didn't lift anything heavy that day I went into the hospital for a kidney stone, blood poisoning and came out with back and leg pain that I thought was part of a kidney stone pain. They keep telling me surgery is not an option, I dont understand why, they give me lyrica for the nerve pain which does help, they just the other day gave me pain medicine. I'm afraid of physical therapy. I can't stand for an hour in my kitchen without being in horrible pain how will I get through physical therapy

[Annette Bailey]

Hi,
I'm sorry to hear of your DDD condition. I know how it feels, I too have DDD. IT's very painful. I was recently diagnosed. I have it throughout my entire spine.

I had 2 neck fusions and 1 lumbar fusion a few years back. Well, I recently went to a different Dr and I found out I now have DDD and curvature of the spine as well. I am going for an MRI and a nerver test on my left arm soon. He did put me on Celebrex for the DDD, which he explained to me that DDD is the same thing as osteoarthritis. The celebrex along with my pain meds are helping already. But, he is concerned I may now have other ruptured discs above or below my prior fusions. I have been advised to get on disability at this point, he says I will never be able to work again. My pain is severe at times. Especially, now in my thorasic area, where I know I have a bulging disc already.

Like, I said, I know the pain you are dealing with. I'm only 47, way too young too young to be going through this. I was always active also, but now I'm not able to do much at all. I can't even do my housework as good as I wish I use to be able to.

Let me know if you would like to share more with me. I can give you my email.

We're in too much pain.
Sincerely, Annette Bailey

[TIAMARIA]

Thank you for the reply Annette, I am sorry it took me so long to reply. It is great to talk with someone about what I am going through. I think members of my family think I am being just a big baby about this. My father is disabled from back Arthritis and I am trying to come to grips with the fact that I just might end up in the same situation. If you would like to exchange email that would be great. I have not found alot if info on DDD on the internet. I do know that alot of the information I have read says the pain does not get worse. My pain seems to be lasting longer and longer and my stiffness is getting worse. I wonder if they have asked someone with this problem or just came up with that on there own. To date all I have had done is an MRI and blood work, is there any other tests they should be doing?