Re: Newbie looking for TENS advice

[Guest guest]

At 02:56 AM 3/29/2006, you wrote:

>I've had lower back problems most of my life, but I was

>able to lead a (mostly) normal life until about two years ago, when a

>bout with pneumonia laid me flat on my back for about six weeks.

>Since then, I can't walk more than about 150 feet (on a decent day),

>or stand for more than a minute or two. Fortunately, I'm a computer

>programmer, so I sit most of the day.

First of all, , welcome. I'm sorry you had to find us this way, with

a bad back. From your paragraph above, I'd guess you have lumbar stenosis,

and I can say that with some degree of authority because I had exactly the

same symptoms. An MRI verified the diagnosis. Various kinds of epidurals

helped, but because I had a sixth lumbar vertebrae and a synovial cyst

pressing on my L4 nerve (among other things wrong, like DDD,) I wound up

having surgery almost 18 months ago. Take a look at my .sig for a blog

location that tells my story from beginning to end (or at least up to now.)

Don't beat yourself up too much for being overweight. Once, years ago, I

lost 43 pounds and told my ortho doctor I expected my bad back to feel

better because I'd lost the weight. He asked " Did it? " and I said

" No. " He said " I could have told you that. " Still, losing weight is good

for a large number of other reasons, so I'm not discouraging you. It could

be any one of the meds you're on that's helping keep the weight on. If

you're taking a nerve pain med like Lyrica or Neurontin, the weight is

almost impossible to get off and keep off. Doctors either don't know that

or don't bother to tell us that.

Let us know how you do with the TENS unit. A few years ago, before my

surgery, I got a bad burn from a bad TENS pad and have been reluctant to

try it again, even though my poor, tense tight muscles could probably

benefit from it.

http://thebacklog.blogspot.com/

[Guest guest]

I was born with scoliosis, so I have always had some kind of back pain.

<karens@...> wrote: At 02:56 AM 3/29/2006, you wrote:

>I've had lower back problems most of my life, but I was

>able to lead a (mostly) normal life until about two years ago, when a

>bout with pneumonia laid me flat on my back for about six weeks.

>Since then, I can't walk more than about 150 feet (on a decent day),

>or stand for more than a minute or two. Fortunately, I'm a computer

>programmer, so I sit most of the day.

First of all, , welcome. I'm sorry you had to find us this way, with

a bad back. From your paragraph above, I'd guess you have lumbar stenosis,

and I can say that with some degree of authority because I had exactly the

same symptoms. An MRI verified the diagnosis. Various kinds of epidurals

helped, but because I had a sixth lumbar vertebrae and a synovial cyst

pressing on my L4 nerve (among other things wrong, like DDD,) I wound up

having surgery almost 18 months ago. Take a look at my .sig for a blog

location that tells my story from beginning to end (or at least up to now.)

Don't beat yourself up too much for being overweight. Once, years ago, I

lost 43 pounds and told my ortho doctor I expected my bad back to feel

better because I'd lost the weight. He asked " Did it? " and I said

" No. " He said " I could have told you that. " Still, losing weight is good

for a large number of other reasons, so I'm not discouraging you. It could

be any one of the meds you're on that's helping keep the weight on. If

you're taking a nerve pain med like Lyrica or Neurontin, the weight is

almost impossible to get off and keep off. Doctors either don't know that

or don't bother to tell us that.

Let us know how you do with the TENS unit. A few years ago, before my

surgery, I got a bad burn from a bad TENS pad and have been reluctant to

try it again, even though my poor, tense tight muscles could probably

benefit from it.

http://thebacklog.blogspot.com/

[Guest guest]

At 09:20 AM 3/29/2006, you wrote:

>I was born with scoliosis, so I have always had some kind of back pain.

, that's one of my problems, too. I was born with an extra lumbar

vertebrae and, like too many teeth in the mouth, it crowded and cramped the

ones that were there, making them crooked. My scoliosis wasn't found until

I was an adult, mainly because I had a mother who didn't believe in

doctors. I had to do many things around the house (my dad died when I was

thirteen) in my younger years to cause harm to an already damaged

spine. Since I was 'way past my growth spurt by the time my scoliosis was

discovered, it was too late for bracing.

My three level fusion in late 2004 only stabilized my back, it could not

straighten it. It was too late for that. In the meantime, other

complications developed (cysts, herniations, nerve compressions,) including

DDD, something that everybody over the age of 50 years gets to some extent.

http://thebacklog.blogspot.com/

[Guest guest]

Hi, , thanks for the welcome!

My MRI showed that stenosis isn't my problem... unfortunately, though, it

didn't really show what *is* the problem. And so far, surgery isn't an

option, they tell me I'm not only too young, but that since the pain

doesn't radiate down my legs, it's not likely the surgery would help... oh,

and of course, they don't want to do it at my current weight. <rolls eyes>

If I came across as " beating myself up " over my weight, I guess I wasn't

very clear... I'm a little frustrated because *every* medical professional

brings it up (what, they think the last ten doctors *missed* that?), and not

a single one believes me when I say that I've tried everything short of

surgery. Some of the other meds I'm on may be contributing to my weight

problem, but I'm not taking Lyrica or Neurontin.

--

On 3/29/06, <karens@...> wrote:

>

> At 02:56 AM 3/29/2006, you wrote:

> >I've had lower back problems most of my life, but I was

> >able to lead a (mostly) normal life until about two years ago, when a

> >bout with pneumonia laid me flat on my back for about six weeks.

> >Since then, I can't walk more than about 150 feet (on a decent day),

> >or stand for more than a minute or two. Fortunately, I'm a computer

> >programmer, so I sit most of the day.

>

> First of all, , welcome. I'm sorry you had to find us this way,

> with

> a bad back. From your paragraph above, I'd guess you have lumbar

> stenosis,

> and I can say that with some degree of authority because I had exactly

> the

> same symptoms. An MRI verified the diagnosis. Various kinds of epidurals

>

> helped, but because I had a sixth lumbar vertebrae and a synovial cyst

> pressing on my L4 nerve (among other things wrong, like DDD,) I wound up

> having surgery almost 18 months ago. Take a look at my .sig for a blog

> location that tells my story from beginning to end (or at least up to

> now.)

>

> Don't beat yourself up too much for being overweight. Once, years ago, I

> lost 43 pounds and told my ortho doctor I expected my bad back to feel

> better because I'd lost the weight. He asked " Did it? " and I said

> " No. " He said " I could have told you that. " Still, losing weight is good

>

> for a large number of other reasons, so I'm not discouraging you. It

> could

> be any one of the meds you're on that's helping keep the weight on. If

> you're taking a nerve pain med like Lyrica or Neurontin, the weight is

> almost impossible to get off and keep off. Doctors either don't know that

>

> or don't bother to tell us that.

>

> Let us know how you do with the TENS unit. A few years ago, before my

> surgery, I got a bad burn from a bad TENS pad and have been reluctant to

> try it again, even though my poor, tense tight muscles could probably

> benefit from it.

>

>

>

> http://thebacklog.blogspot.com/

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Oh, that's interesting, Carlene!

I hadn't thought about leaving the cords attached. I tried the " leave the

patches on overnight " thing, and had quite a comedic scene in the morning,

trying to get the cords plugged in again! (I live alone... short arms...

lower back... LOL!)

Thanks for the tips!

--

On 3/29/06, Carlene Farmer <birddog@...> wrote:

>

> ,

>

> i use a TENS unit and have found that i needed to go to what they call the

> High Humidity electrodes because when i walk and sweat, the others move

> around. the HH ones are a thicker rubber and stronger adhesive and stay

> put.

>

> i also experiment with moving them to different places on my body,

> depending on what hurts the most. you do have to cross them, meaning there

> are 2 electrodes on one cord, at least on my unit and one goes on the left

> side and one on the right side.

>

> i also do not leave them on at night, may leave the electrodes attached to

> my body because constantly removing and replacing them wears out the sticky

> stuff faster. but i disconnect them from the unit, wear a pair of loose

> shorts and kinda roll the dords up and pin them to the inside of my shorts.

> i keep the unit by my bed and if i am in a major pain episode, i plug them

> in before i get out of bed and doze for another hour or so before even

> getting up.

>

> i have found it to be a valuable tool to use instead of narcotics which i

> just cannot tolerate physically and emotionally.

>

> if you have more questions, let me know and i will try to help.

>

> Carlene in MT

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

My scoliosis comes from birth trauma. My mother went into labor, but since she

had arthritis, she was fused shut. The doctor made her stay in forced labor for

about five days. When he decided at that time that natural delivery was not

going to happen, he did a C-section. We were full term, and we both were born

with scoliosis. My sister is worse than I am. Back then, in the 50's, braces

were not something that were discussed. So, we just lived with it. Mine is at

the middle of my back where it sticks out and at the waist where it C- curves.

We were raised to be able to walk with a book on our head on a piece of wood on

the floor, if you know what I mean, so my back is fairly straight.

<karens@...> wrote:

At 09:20 AM 3/29/2006, you wrote:

>I was born with scoliosis, so I have always had some kind of back pain.

, that's one of my problems, too. I was born with an extra lumbar

vertebrae and, like too many teeth in the mouth, it crowded and cramped the

ones that were there, making them crooked. My scoliosis wasn't found until

I was an adult, mainly because I had a mother who didn't believe in

doctors. I had to do many things around the house (my dad died when I was

thirteen) in my younger years to cause harm to an already damaged

spine. Since I was 'way past my growth spurt by the time my scoliosis was

discovered, it was too late for bracing.

My three level fusion in late 2004 only stabilized my back, it could not

straighten it. It was too late for that. In the meantime, other

complications developed (cysts, herniations, nerve compressions,) including

DDD, something that everybody over the age of 50 years gets to some extent.

http://thebacklog.blogspot.com/

[Guest guest]

I have read that many back problems are muscular in nature. I'm also a

programmer and I know that type of work is horrible for the back. Since

your MRI didn't show much, this might be your case. Maybe loss of

strength due to being idle for those 6 weeks caused some muscle issues.

Of course the usual stuff to watch, especially with desk work, is

posture. There are some good books out there on back strengthening and

stretching that might be worth looking into.

good luck

wrote:

>Hi, , thanks for the welcome!

>

>My MRI showed that stenosis isn't my problem... unfortunately, though, it

>didn't really show what *is* the problem. And so far, surgery isn't an

>option, they tell me I'm not only too young, but that since the pain

>doesn't radiate down my legs, it's not likely the surgery would help... oh,

>and of course, they don't want to do it at my current weight. <rolls eyes>

>

>If I came across as " beating myself up " over my weight, I guess I wasn't

>very clear... I'm a little frustrated because *every* medical professional

>brings it up (what, they think the last ten doctors *missed* that?), and not

>a single one believes me when I say that I've tried everything short of

>surgery. Some of the other meds I'm on may be contributing to my weight

>problem, but I'm not taking Lyrica or Neurontin.

>

>--

>

>On 3/29/06, <karens@...> wrote:

>

>

>> At 02:56 AM 3/29/2006, you wrote:

>>

>>

>>>I've had lower back problems most of my life, but I was

>>>able to lead a (mostly) normal life until about two years ago, when a

>>>bout with pneumonia laid me flat on my back for about six weeks.

>>>Since then, I can't walk more than about 150 feet (on a decent day),

>>>or stand for more than a minute or two. Fortunately, I'm a computer

>>>programmer, so I sit most of the day.

>>>

>>>

>>First of all, , welcome. I'm sorry you had to find us this way,

>>with

>>a bad back. From your paragraph above, I'd guess you have lumbar

>>stenosis,

>>and I can say that with some degree of authority because I had exactly

>>the

>>same symptoms. An MRI verified the diagnosis. Various kinds of epidurals

>>

>>helped, but because I had a sixth lumbar vertebrae and a synovial cyst

>>pressing on my L4 nerve (among other things wrong, like DDD,) I wound up

>>having surgery almost 18 months ago. Take a look at my .sig for a blog

>>location that tells my story from beginning to end (or at least up to

>>now.)

>>

>>Don't beat yourself up too much for being overweight. Once, years ago, I

>>lost 43 pounds and told my ortho doctor I expected my bad back to feel

>>better because I'd lost the weight. He asked " Did it? " and I said

>> " No. " He said " I could have told you that. " Still, losing weight is good

>>

>>for a large number of other reasons, so I'm not discouraging you. It

>>could

>>be any one of the meds you're on that's helping keep the weight on. If

>>you're taking a nerve pain med like Lyrica or Neurontin, the weight is

>>almost impossible to get off and keep off. Doctors either don't know that

>>

>>or don't bother to tell us that.

>>

>>Let us know how you do with the TENS unit. A few years ago, before my

>>surgery, I got a bad burn from a bad TENS pad and have been reluctant to

>>try it again, even though my poor, tense tight muscles could probably

>>benefit from it.

>>

>>

>>

>>http://thebacklog.blogspot.com/

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yeah, I'd bet you're right about the muscle issues. But it's *so* hard to

strengthen those muscles when you can't stand for more than a minute or

two! Don't get me wrong, I'm not a couch-potato at heart, I earned my black

belt in taekwondo two weeks before the pneumonia hit. But the brain gets

that pain signal, and I just can't work past it. Hence the TENS, to try and

fool myself , now that we've apparently established that I'm not doing any

damage.

On 3/29/06, dave sailer <d.sailer@...> wrote:

>

> I have read that many back problems are muscular in nature. I'm also a

> programmer and I know that type of work is horrible for the back. Since

> your MRI didn't show much, this might be your case. Maybe loss of

> strength due to being idle for those 6 weeks caused some muscle issues.

> Of course the usual stuff to watch, especially with desk work, is

> posture. There are some good books out there on back strengthening and

> stretching that might be worth looking into.

>

> good luck

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I hear ya. I remember a few months ago trying to do McKenzie excercises

and I was on about 4 vicodin a day. Not fun. They tell you to try to

excercise/therapy whatever and work thru the pain, but I wonder if that

is always the best thing. Certainly if you have certain symptoms it is

not and the docs should know those symptoms. In my case I really think

in the end I just needed to wait for the inflamation in the nerve to go

down. The only thing that helped was the steriod injections which does

reduce inflamation. I have foraminal narrowing so once the nerve becomes

inflamed, it is difficult to get it to settle down. I think the key is a

good diagnosis of what's going on.

wrote:

>Yeah, I'd bet you're right about the muscle issues. But it's *so* hard to

>strengthen those muscles when you can't stand for more than a minute or

>two! Don't get me wrong, I'm not a couch-potato at heart, I earned my black

>belt in taekwondo two weeks before the pneumonia hit. But the brain gets

>that pain signal, and I just can't work past it. Hence the TENS, to try and

>fool myself , now that we've apparently established that I'm not doing any

>damage.

>

>On 3/29/06, dave sailer <d.sailer@...> wrote:

>

>

>> I have read that many back problems are muscular in nature. I'm also a

>>programmer and I know that type of work is horrible for the back. Since

>>your MRI didn't show much, this might be your case. Maybe loss of

>>strength due to being idle for those 6 weeks caused some muscle issues.

>>Of course the usual stuff to watch, especially with desk work, is

>>posture. There are some good books out there on back strengthening and

>>stretching that might be worth looking into.

>>

>>good luck

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

i know it is hard to do alone. fortunately my hubby helps but i tried alone one

day but i cannot see my lumbar spine so could get them placed right, etc. had

to have hubby fix it when he got home.

Carlene

Re: Newbie looking for TENS advice

Oh, that's interesting, Carlene!

I hadn't thought about leaving the cords attached. I tried the " leave the

patches on overnight " thing, and had quite a comedic scene in the morning,

trying to get the cords plugged in again! (I live alone... short arms...

lower back... LOL!)

Thanks for the tips!

--

On 3/29/06, Carlene Farmer <birddog@...> wrote:

>

> ,

>

> i use a TENS unit and have found that i needed to go to what they call the

> High Humidity electrodes because when i walk and sweat, the others move

> around. the HH ones are a thicker rubber and stronger adhesive and stay

> put.

>

> i also experiment with moving them to different places on my body,

> depending on what hurts the most. you do have to cross them, meaning there

> are 2 electrodes on one cord, at least on my unit and one goes on the left

> side and one on the right side.

>

> i also do not leave them on at night, may leave the electrodes attached to

> my body because constantly removing and replacing them wears out the sticky

> stuff faster. but i disconnect them from the unit, wear a pair of loose

> shorts and kinda roll the dords up and pin them to the inside of my shorts.

> i keep the unit by my bed and if i am in a major pain episode, i plug them

> in before i get out of bed and doze for another hour or so before even

> getting up.

>

> i have found it to be a valuable tool to use instead of narcotics which i

> just cannot tolerate physically and emotionally.

>

> if you have more questions, let me know and i will try to help.

>

> Carlene in MT

>

>

>