I hate it when...

[rondog]

I don't know WTH is wrong with my lower back, I've already had three lumbar surgeries and am scheduled for another MRI on the 23rd. Got an impressive scar though, I garontee.....

My money's on a bulged disc, it seems to come and go. Pain and discomfort are constant, but sometimes mild, other times excruciating. Some definite S1 nerve root impingement going on at the L5/S1 disc. Depends on what I'm doing, what I've done, even how I slept.

Point is, sometimes I get around OK, other times not so much. My cane goes with me everywhere though. But I try to use HC spaces accordingly, I don't use 'em if I don't need 'em.

But I worked with a greedy, selfish prick once that was the kind of guy that would be thrilled to death to find a HC placard in a parking lot, so he could get that "parking perk" for free, although he was young and totally healthy. He was useless in so many ways though.....

[BREATHER]

I like watching a parking lot at 24 hr fitness. Assnuggets going to work out but searching for a parking spot near the door.

[Gman]

L3 to S1 fusion for me. Even something like tying my own shoes/boots is a bitch. Nice scar on my back and belly (anterior and posterior fusion). First surgery that went bad with the MRSA infection in the fixation site ended up impacting the nerves to my lower legs/ankles/feet. I don't have full control of my ankles. If I step on an uneven surface to where it rolls my foot to the outside, the ankle rolls all the way over and I go down hard. I've broken both fibulas down toward my ankle in the past 3 years. Having enough room to get in and out of the vehicle is critical. I would give anything to have all of the feeling and control back which would help me be more active and lose weight. My consolation prize is a HC placard.

Yet somebody might think, "Look at that fat bastard. He just needs to park further away and get some exercise and he wouldn't need HC parking."

I hope everything goes well for you rondog.

[rondog]

L3 to S1 fusion for me. Even something like tying my own shoes/boots is a bitch. Nice scar on my back and belly (anterior and posterior fusion). First surgery that went bad with the MRSA infection in the fixation site ended up impacting the nerves to my lower legs/ankles/feet. I don't have full control of my ankles. If I step on an uneven surface to where it rolls my foot to the outside, the ankle rolls all the way over and I go down hard. I've broken both fibulas down toward my ankle in the past 3 years. Having enough room to get in and out of the vehicle is critical. I would give anything to have all of the feeling and control back which would help me be more active and lose weight. My consolation prize is a HC placard.

Yet somebody might think, "Look at that fat bastard. He just needs to park further away and get some exercise and he wouldn't need HC parking."

I hope everything goes well for you rondog.

Jesus, dude! My snivels are minor as hell compared to yours! Can I fetch ya a beer or something? I have bourbon....

[Bailey Guns]

I have bourbon....

Hey, umm.... I have back pain, too.

[Gman]

Hey, umm.... I have back pain, too.

"Warning: Alcohol may intensify the effect."

Awesome! A serving suggestion.

I miss alcohol, particularly bourbon. I've had 1 drink in the past year. I have some really good stuff, too. I avoid it since I take Lyrica to reduce the nerve 'noise' in my lower legs and feet.
...but the prospect is tempting.

[Bailey Guns]

The stenosis in my spine causes weird sciatic issues. It used to be painful. Now it just causes numbness. On occasion I suddenly lose feeling in my legs and it causes me to stumble and/or fall. Sometimes I'll try to lift my leg like to get into a car or step up a stair...leg doesn't lift but body doesn't realize it until it's too late. Makes for excitement...especially when I walk up and down stairs.

I don't take anything other than OTC stuff for pain and inflammation. I hate opiates. In exchange I keep my bottle of Buffalo Trace around the house. That works as good as anything.

I spoke with a neurosurgeon in Spokane last summer. He said the type of surgery I needed (forget the name of it) required opening up the front to get to the bad disk and fusing it, then flipping me over to attempt to fix the stenosis. About 4 to 6 hours. 3 to 4 months of recovery. Odds of improvement he said were 50/50. I didn't think the odds were good enough to go through that. I may change my mind if things get worse, though.

[Gman]

I have a C5-C6 foraminal stenosis that can cause my hands to go numb. It's positional. I also don't lose any strength or control in my hands, so that must totally suck for you. Losing control of your body is incredibly frustrating.

I was taking Aleve (naproxen sodium) for arthritis and inflammation for years. I've since switched over to Celebrex (celecoxib) once in the morning and it has been working well for me.

[MrPrena]

I have a C5-C6 foraminal stenosis that can cause my hands to go numb. It's positional. I also don't lose any strength or control in my hands, so that must totally suck for you. Losing control of your body is incredibly frustrating.

I was taking Aleve (naproxen sodium) for arthritis and inflammation for years. I've since switched over to Celebrex (celecoxib) once in the morning and it has been working well for me.

Your insurance covers cox2 enzyme inhibitors? (Celecoxib)

Mine doesn't and I take selective meloxicam.

[Gman]

Your insurance covers cox2 enzyme inhibitors? (Celecoxib)

Yep. It's also fortunate that there's a generic.