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Simple: go to a doctor. DO NOT go to a GP, but to an orthopedic specialist. Insist on a thorough diagnosis, not "take this, you'll feel better."
Long Story: I injured my back about 14 years ago, while an Officer in the Army. I got the quick diag, and took the dope (motrin, rufin, aspirin, etc.) for years, believing the simple explanation: "It's just stress-induced spasms, learn to deal with it."
I've been putting up with major pain off and on (3-4 times a year) since.
About four months ago, it flaired up again. This time, it got so bad I could hardly walk, and my wife, who is a technician in a specialist's office, insisted that I get seen again, this time properly. 48 hours, one office visit, X-rays and an MRI later, I had a diagnosis: herniated disk (L3-4). Note for the curious reader: I had never had an MRI or an X-ray of my lower back before.
I had a prescription for the good stuff, which helped immeasurably in the short run, and have had two epidural cortisone injections (so far) which have more or less cleared the problem up.
After the first epidural, I began to taper the dosage on the medication, and was completely off of it before the second injection. Since beginning to take it (oxycontin), there have been no less than three major network news stories on it being the abused prescription drug of choice, highlighting it's highly addictive nature, and I decided I didn't want to be a statistic.
A side effect, either of the chronic pain, or the meds (don't know which): I've lost about 30 pounds. This helps a LOT, although I was not massively overweight to begin with.
I fully expect to have surgery some time in the future, but so far, the epidurals are working, and I can walk, and work.
MORAL: I'll celebrate my 40th birthday this fall, and I have suffered unnecessarily almost half my life because of the poor initial diagnosis and the "tough guy" syndrome. If you're young, and have a problem, get it looked into. Most of us work for companies with good health plans... my out-of-pocket costs so far are less than $100.
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Simple: go to a doctor. DO NOT go to a GP, but to an orthopedic specialist. Insist on a thorough diagnosis, not "take this, you'll feel better."
Long Story: I injured my back about 14 years ago, while an Officer in the Army. I got the quick diag, and took the dope (motrin, rufin, aspirin, etc.) for years, believing the simple explanation: "It's just stress-induced spasms, learn to deal with it."
I've been putting up with major pain off and on (3-4 times a year) since.
About four months ago, it flaired up again. This time, it got so bad I could hardly walk, and my wife, who is a technician in a specialist's office, insisted that I get seen again, this time properly. 48 hours, one office visit, X-rays and an MRI later, I had a diagnosis: herniated disk (L3-4). Note for the curious reader: I had never had an MRI or an X-ray of my lower back before.
I had a prescription for the good stuff, which helped immeasurably in the short run, and have had two epidural cortisone injections (so far) which have more or less cleared the problem up.
After the first epidural, I began to taper the dosage on the medication, and was completely off of it before the second injection. Since beginning to take it (oxycontin), there have been no less than three major network news stories on it being the abused prescription drug of choice, highlighting it's highly addictive nature, and I decided I didn't want to be a statistic.
A side effect, either of the chronic pain, or the meds (don't know which): I've lost about 30 pounds. This helps a LOT, although I was not massively overweight to begin with.
I fully expect to have surgery some time in the future, but so far, the epidurals are working, and I can walk, and work.
MORAL: I'll celebrate my 40th birthday this fall, and I have suffered unnecessarily almost half my life because of the poor initial diagnosis and the "tough guy" syndrome. If you're young, and have a problem, get it looked into. Most of us work for companies with good health plans... my out-of-pocket costs so far are less than $100.
I wish I'd had this treated even a year ago.....
Would that make them Cowbalt products?