L5/S1 Herniated Disc, L4 Bulging, Bilateral Sciatica all at

[tarareakes]

\r\n \r\n I can\'t say that I have the same problem that you do other than suffering with pain and having a naturally high tolerance to any med\'s (as does my father). I really understand where you are coming from. As I said I don\'t have problems with my spine persay, but I do have all over, unexplained pain. The first problem I had was no doctors wanted to listen and when they did they didn\'t believe me when I told them I had a very high tolerance to pain meds. They basically laughed at me. An example of my tolerance is on a couple of occasions I have had blood clots in my legs and in my case it was extremely painful. After trying several other things with no avail the doctor gave me Oxycontinin (not sure of spelling). While on the oxy I got no relief, I actually couldn\'t even tell I had taken ANYTHING. I probably affected me like acetominophin affects others.
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\r\nRight now the strongest thing the doctor will give me is vicodin es. I rarely take them because I as well am afraid of becoming addicted and when I do take them it barely takes the edge off so what is the point.
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\r\nAs far as your pain problem goes, I am sorry to say, I have no answers. I am writing more about your living situation. I live in PA and don\'t know what NY offers. PA offers housing to low income families and people according to income. In our area they are apartment complexes and some are very nice. Years back when I left my ex-husband and had 2 and 4 year old daughters I was in the position that I needed the assistance. I got a nice 3 bedroom, 1 and 1/2 bath, 2 floor house/apartment. Because they went by my income at the time I paid NO rent, I only had to pay my utilities. A good place to start for information on these programs in your area would be the financial aid (welfare) office. I found while going through the rough time in my life, this type of information is not freely given, you have to dig. It is always nice if you know someone who knows the system. PA also has low income energy assistance programs that could possibly help heat your room/apartment. As I said there are resources out there you just have to do the foot (phone) work and find it.
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\r\nMy heart does go out to you!!!! I know from present experrience, there is nothing worse than living with untreatable pain. Your world ends up revolving around it.
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\r\nI hope I was of help to you and your living situation. As far as your pain I am very sorry I couldn\'t help. I just thought of something. I know I have heard of some type of pump that is implanted surgically. If I remember correctly its\' purpose is for pain meds or some type of treatment of severe pain. If I happen to find any information about that I will forward it t you.
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\r\nAs I said, I do really hope things will fall into place for you. As far as your charity goes, hang in there I am a firm believer in "what comes around goes around" and charma. It may take some time but someday you will be repayed for your geneousity.
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\r\nMy thought and prayers,
\r\nTara\r\n

[Marcus]

\r\n \r\n Hello James,
\r\n
\r\nMy name is Arrow and I post on the forum all the time. I am also a forum monitor.
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\r\nI will be out of the country for a couple of weeks but when I get back I would like to send you two bottles of serrapeptase. It will help with your heart condition and it may also, hopefully, help with your pain. go to www.serrapeptase.info to learn about it.
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\r\nIf you send me a mailing address I should be able to get it to you by the first or sencond week in February.
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\r\nBy the way your email address goes nowhere.
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\r\nBest
\r\nArrow\r\n

[bifrost99]

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Quote:

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\r\n Originally Posted by Anonymous\r\n \r\n

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Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated. Other than Medicaid & Food Stamps I\'m getting no help at all. I\'m now living in an unheated small basement room (better than the car at least). I even wrote Mayor Bloomberg & one of his pee-ons sent a list of all the places I already tried to get help from over a year ago.

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James,
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\r\nHave you tried dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)? It could be something that will help your condition a lot. And you can get it cheaply.
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\r\nI was able to get one through Amazon. You have a lot of choices and you can get a 4 oz jar for less than $5, with some going as high as $15. This one looks good: https://tinyurl.com/ytccus
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\r\nIf you try it, remember two important things:
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\r\n1. Do NOT rub. It\'s not for massage. Just apply it over the approximate area of the trouble. DMSO goes through the skin in a few seconds.
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\r\n2. Do NOT cover. DMSO binds strongly with water and covering the area can quickly dehydrate the cells. Not really a problem, because cells will rehydrate eventually. But it may be irritating.
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\r\n(I\'m a veterinarian who has used DMSO on numerous cases of dogs with complete hindlimb paralysis caused by herniated disks. They all recovered within a few days, one even after about 6 months of paralysis. I hope it helps you, too.)
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\r\nGerry\r\n

[Xania]

\r\n \r\n As James made that post back in May, \'05, we can only hope that he visits us from time to time, because he has had some helpful responses recently.\r\n

[bifrost99]

\r\n \r\n Oops. I didn\'t notice the date of the original post.
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\r\nI sent a note to the email address he gave, adding the "@" before the "yahoo." I hope he gets to read it.
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\r\nMaybe Arrow and Tara should try to sent their recommendations to his email address as well.
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\r\nGerry\r\n

[Xania]

\r\n \r\n But Gerry - it was good to read your DMSO information again. Thanks!\r\n

[EarlyBird]

\r\n \r\n I\'m glad you all finally figured out this post was from Mar
\r\nof \'05
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\r\nHopefully, if he has gotten your personal emails, he\'ll
\r\ncome back. Poor fella \r\n

[bifrost99]

\r\n \r\n James replied to my email!
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\r\nSo at least he heard of my idea. I sent another email to him telling him that there are other replies to his post and that he should visit the thread again.
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\r\nGerry\r\n

[Xania]

\r\n \r\n That is great news Gerry, after all this time! Thanks for letting us know.\r\n

[DAVIDE]

\r\n \r\n just joined but maybe this will help others...
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\nI too have a herniated L-4 and was on oxycodone 10 mg 5Xday and oral morphine extended release 2X day. I had a cortisone injection last month. It did not work.
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\nSince I moved to Mexico I cannot get nor do I want to continue the oxycodone or morphine. So I stopped cold turkey. Started using over the counter TRAMADOL 100 mg. twice a day. Danged near as good as narcotics. I also take an anti inflammatory, and tylenol.
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\nDMSO WORKS FOR ME!!! It isn\'t a miracle and it only lasts for a couple of hours but IT DOES WORK. I seem to have back muscles near the herniation that spasm and bind up and the DMSO works on that.
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\nFor some stupid reason my bowel or colon really antagonizes the disc when it fills up even moderately. I use Polyethylene Glycol crystals plus another mild laxative to prevent my bowel or colon from swelling and causing agonizing pain. Magnesium Citrate drink works fast and well too.
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\nWell I hope this helps someone else.\r\n

[Goldastarr]

\r\n \r\n Try MSM.
\n
\nI\'ve got a 2nd degree spondy at L5-S1 that was greatly worsened two years by an auto accident. In addition, I ended up with a herniated disc pressing on the ventral cord at T9-T10. Before the accident I was pretty functional, able to do moderate gardening, backpacking, housecleaning, and most important of all - I was usually able to sit without pain.
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\nBut now, after the auto accident, it\'s different. The mid back drives me nuts with cramping / spasming / crawling / tingling LOTS of the time but worsening a LOT when I use my arms for anything - like typing, food prep, showering, driving, etc. And the lower back has become a MAJOR issue with any bending movement, sitting, walking on uneven surfaces, standing still, any slight twisting movement, etc., etc.
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\nWithout taking MSM I\'m a basket case. Pure and simple. I prefer taking the powder in water although whether in capsule or powder form, I take 5-9 grams daily. When I don\'t take it for days or weeks, when I walk it feels like I have bruises between each vertebrae.
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\nFor me, MSM is like pure gold. I rarely take pain meds for fear of becoming addicted. Also, I always find a brand that uses "OptiMSM". That way I can be sure it hasn\'t been imported from China.\r\n

[Goldastarr]

Try MSM.

I've got a 2nd degree spondy at L5-S1 that was greatly worsened two years by an auto accident. In addition, I ended up with a herniated disc pressing on the ventral cord at T9-T10. Before the accident I was pretty functional, able to do moderate gardening, backpacking, housecleaning, and most important of all - I was usually able to sit without pain.

But now, after the auto accident, it's different. The mid back drives me nuts with cramping / spasming / crawling / tingling LOTS of the time but worsening a LOT when I use my arms for anything - like typing, food prep, showering, driving, etc. And the lower back has become a MAJOR issue with any bending movement, sitting, walking on uneven surfaces, standing still, any slight twisting movement, etc., etc.

Without taking MSM I'm a basket case. Pure and simple. I prefer taking the powder in water although whether in capsule or powder form, I take 5-9 grams daily. When I don't take it for days or weeks, when I walk it feels like I have bruises between each vertebrae.

For me, MSM is like pure gold. I rarely take pain meds for fear of becoming addicted. Also, I always find a brand that uses "OptiMSM". That way I can be sure it hasn't been imported from China.