Suggestions for Back Problems

[RonGillman3]

So my dad most likely blew his disc last week and after being put on a lot of Pain Killers, Steroids, and Muscle Relaxants he learned that he will have to go through Physical Therapy and may never be able to do some of the stuff he was able to do before. So my question to you people who might have had the same problem is, What did you do to get better/recover? Are you able to do the things you used to do before your back problem. My dad is very depressed and in a lot of pain about this and I'm urging him to start his path to recovery and any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Mike M.]

The sooner your dad gets help the better off he'll be. Physical therapy did wonders for me when I injured my back in 1996. (I was 43 at the time. I'm now 58). Took about 6 months but it worked. Believe me when I tell you I was in bad shape and I could barely walk. When I was finished with therapy they told me "consider yourelf to be a car that got in a wreck. We can fix you up, but you'll never be the same."

For the most part I'm okay, but no more activities where I might take a fall, like water or snow ski-ing. I also can't stand or sit down for too long at a time either. But then a lifetime of physical jobs like I've had doesn't help the situation either.

I'm fine...just got to be careful.

[Philonius]

Well, everyone is different, but as a 57 y.o. guy with a history of back problems, and as a practicing Acupuncturist (lordie knows I'd never make it on my musical abilities) I can say with certainty that a lot of people recover from injuries like this. Most of them do, actually. Disks heal, though slowly. You can throw all sorts of therapies at the problem, and any of them may help. I'd say he should avoid getting suckered into spending excess amounts of time and money on any one program. At the risk of offending anyone here, Chiropractors seem to have a knack for subjecting patients to more treatment than is really necessary, though they can and do really help in many cases. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that acupuncture can help a lot, especially in the acute phase of the condition. Physical Therapy is great for helping to figure out what one's weaknesses and predispositions are, but it takes the effort to actually do one's exercises to get maximum benefit.

And lastly, avoid making any hasty decision to go the surgical route, though some badly blown disks are going to need it eventually. It doesn't sound like that's being considered at this time. . It's wonderful when it is truly called for, but people are generally better working through the process of giving themselves time to heal before taking that step.

Not very definite, I know,but hey, that's how I roll. Hope it helps.