Re: Tennis Balls?

[Guest guest]

Yes. First of all, I would recommend doing what I did. I called around to all

the Drs. offices and clinics until I found someone who was familiar in pain

control for people with back issues. I'd had some bad experiences such as giving

me way too much morphine, or others who just thought ibuprophen was sufficient.

The man I see now put me on a " cocktail " so I don't take too much of any one

thing. To be honest, I never took the NSAID much because I was afraid of it

damaging my stomach, but I took it on really bad days. I'm also on an

antidepressent that's used for pain control as well. Now that my pain is getting

better--I had a screw in my joint for 18 mths and had it removed in October--I'm

weaning myself off a couple of things.

I'm 52. The pain started when I was 35 and just got worse. My curves didn't

progress anymore after the one big 10 degree increase, but the pain got worse

over the years until I couldn't stand it anymore. The tennis balls would push

against the tightened muscles and keep me from losing my mind. I drank a lot

back then too. The surgery was no fun, and the recovery for me was the worst. I

don't like to be taken care of and I don't like being inactive, so it was very

challenging. But you get through it. I don't like having a fused spine, but it's

better than what I had before.

Anything you want to know, ask away. Oh, also, my TENS unit was a life saver.

Still is. I even used it in the hospital.

________________________________

From: RaeRae <medicraerae@...>

Scoliosis Treatment

Sent: Sat, March 20, 2010 10:23:05 AM

Subject: Tennis Balls?

 

I was just wondering what you mean when you say that you went home and laid on

tennis balls? Are you serious about that? And how old were you when you had

surgery? I am 36 and terrified to have surgery done. But it is getting bad.

Going to an Internal Medicine Doctor on weds for some kind of pain control don't

really know what he will do because I have never seen him before. I have been

taking Lortabs but my family doctor said I was taking to many and that I needed

some other kind of pain control so I guess I will find out weds. Any

suggestions?

RaeNell

I still get plenty of muscular pain, but not like that. Do you still have big

curves? Mine are pretty low now, something like 20 thoracic and maybe a little

higher lumbar, down from 55 T and 45 L. I think it was the constant pulling in

different directions that caused that feeling. I tried so many alternatives and

I had strong muscles from exercise and walking, but even morphine, muscle

relaxers, nothing helped. I'd do what I had to do and then go home and lie on

tennis balls and use my TENS unit. It did help a little. It kept me from killing

myself. But after 13 years I had the surgery and that did the trick.