Lower & mid back pain every morning, frustrated..

[lovbyts]

Like Lovbyts suggested, it may be time for an MRI. When they first diagnosed my neck issues, they were working off of X-rays and had a general idea of what was going on and I continued in PT.

After I convinced them to get my NCV study done and 2 MRIs, they really started pushing to get me in with the neurosurgeon due to the damage done and the risks I was looking at. After the COVID debacle, I finally was able to get my surgery scheduled.


One other thing they might consider in the meantime is trigger point injections. They do give some relief to inflamed/spasming knotted up tissue.. Personally, I like to get some deep tissue before done a day or so post-injection. However, my trigger points didn't let off after a night's sleep like yours, so no guarantees they would help.

Keep pushing for an answer, this doesn't just sound like a typical muscle strain.

Speaking of neck injuries, did yours get worse, better or stay the same over the whole covid timeline?

If you remember I injured mine Several years ago but it got better on its own, Then a little over 1year ago right after my 2nd full shoulder replacement on the left side April 2021 I was laying on my back trying to fix something under the dash of my car and my neck & upper back cramped BAD. It caused my neck to pop/crack (I use to crack it all the time to relieve pressure but stopped the habit several years ago) and pinched really bad. I actually stayed home from work for a couple days because I couldn't drive.

I had 2 x-rays done and both doctors/chiropractors said it looked like an old injury (it was) but my c6/c7 was pinched, bone on bone. I tried a LOT of ice and it helped. I tried chiropractic and it actually make it worse. Pain meds helped slightly and anti inflammatory a little also. Lots of massage therapy helped a little. I also used neck traction (helped the most) and a brace off and on.

Fast forward 1yr 2 months and its definitely still there but still SLOWLY getting better. I fell like it is slowly self fusing again like it did before but Im not loosing as much of my ROM as I did last time.

Hopefully your surgery fixes you 100%

[almostgone]

Speaking of neck injuries, did yours get worse, better or stay the same over the whole covid timeline?

If you remember I injured mine Several years ago but it got better on its own, Then a little over 1year ago right after my 2nd full shoulder replacement on the left side April 2021 I was laying on my back trying to fix something under the dash of my car and my neck & upper back cramped BAD. It caused my neck to pop/crack (I use to crack it all the time to relieve pressure but stopped the habit several years ago) and pinched really bad. I actually stayed home from work for a couple days because I couldn't drive.

I had 2 x-rays done and both doctors/chiropractors said it looked like an old injury (it was) but my c6/c7 was pinched, bone on bone. I tried a LOT of ice and it helped. I tried chiropractic and it actually make it worse. Pain meds helped slightly and anti inflammatory a little also. Lots of massage therapy helped a little. I also used neck traction (helped the most) and a brace off and on.

Fast forward 1yr 2 months and its definitely still there but still SLOWLY getting better. I fell like it is slowly self fusing again like it did before but Im not loosing as much of my ROM as I did last time.

Hopefully your surgery fixes you 100%

I'm still struggling with the nerve damage done by my neck. They did C2-C7 laminectomies ( where they cut out the spiny part of your backbone out, also facetectomies at those levels, and foraminectomy. Then 2 titanium rods, a cross link and a lot of pedicle screws and mounting hardware. Fusion of C-3, C-4, C-5, and C-6.

The pain has greatly decreased, By late August/September, I threw my percs and methcarbolam into the apocalypse stash for the end of the world party (couldn't let those refills go to waste).

The strength improvements are few and far between, but I'll take it. I had pretty much lost use of the left arm....could barely curl 2 pounds, lol. Very humbling.

I have another NCV study coming up and my neuro is talking about getting Duke U involved. Said they have some radical but effective procedures they can try. Sounds right up my alley, lol.

I had my surgery 1 year and 4 days ago, but have been back at work since September. Just have to make adjustments how I handle things. My cervical collar is long gone. I detonated an old pound or W231 under it, set what was left on fire, and then shot it. 'Twas damn satisfying.

I strongly suspect the root cause happened in my 20s on active duty, but the TMC sent me to the base hospital for imaging and treatment. Oh..... it's fine. Some fat ibuprofen and you'll be G2G.........a-holes.

Edit: I am cleared to squat again now, but the neuro asked that I really pad the bar with a towel and don't squat exclusively. No problem there; my 45° leg press is right next to the squat rack.

[lovbyts]

I'm still struggling with the nerve damage done by my neck. They did C2-C7 laminectomies ( where they cut out the spiny part of your backbone out, also facetectomies at those levels, and foraminectomy. Then 2 titanium rods, a cross link and a lot of pedicle screws and mounting hardware. Fusion of C-3, C-4, C-5, and C-6.

The pain has greatly decreased, I threw my percs and methcarbolam into the apocalypse stash for the end of the world party.

The strength improvements are few and far between, but I'll take it. I had pretty much lost use of the left arm....could barely curl 2 pounds, lol. Very humbling.

I have another NCV study coming up and my neuro is talking about getting Duke U involved. Said they have some radical but effective procedures they can try. Sounds right up my alley, lol.

I had my surgery 1 year and 4 days ago, but have been back at work since September. Just have to make adjustments how I handle things. My cervical collar is long gone. I detonated an old pound or W231 under it, set what was left on fire, and then shot it. 'Twas damn satisfying.

I strongly suspect the root cause happened in my 20s on active duty, but the TMC sent me to the base hospital for imaging and treatment. Oh..... it's fine. Some fat ibuprofen and you'll be G2G.........a-holes.

Edit: I am cleared to squat again now, but the neuro asked that I really pad the bar with a towel and don't squat exclusively. No problem there; my 45° leg press is right next to the squat rack.

Its funny how C6/C7 effect the left arm so much. When my neck re tweaked a little over a year ago that is the first thing I noticed. My left arm would instantly go 100% numb from the shoulder down to my fingers and I couldn't hardly lift it.

Yeah again, I haven't heard many good things about getting it fused.

Best of luck at Duke U. Hate to be a guinea pig but at the same time it may help. Ive actually been a guinea pig several time with my eye surgeries.

[almostgone]

Its funny how C6/C7 effect the left arm so much. When my neck re tweaked a little over a year ago that is the first thing I noticed. My left arm would instantly go 100% numb from the shoulder down to my fingers and I couldn't hardly lift it.

Yeah again, I haven't heard many good things about getting it fused.

Best of luck at Duke U. Hate to be a guinea pig but at the same time it may help. Ive actually been a guinea pig several time with my eye surgeries.

Yep, C-5 and C-6 seemed to be the information highway for the left arm in regards to anything in regards to curling motions, forearms, even my left grip is weaker ( some of that is probably carpal tunnel). Triceps pressdowns are coming back decently...so far.
They picked up on that during the nerve conduction studies. Putting that off for now until I build up medical leave time used last year. The the wife needs a hip replacement....... we're pretty decrepit at this point. The last day I worked my arm did the whole deal where it doesn't respond. First think I thought was "I'm having an f-in stroke". It's weird though, pre-surgery, I would get lots of tingling, pinprick sensations, and a feeling of water running down the arm.

But yeah man, I'm hanging in there. At least the arm responds a little so we'll see. I'm throwing everything at it including 1.8-2.7 iu of Serostim 5 on/2 off.

So, in the meantime, keep grinding or lay down and give up, lol. For me, fusion has done me well. At least the incessant pain is very minimal and the curve formed by the titanium rods holds the bend in my neck so my spinal cord isn't compressed. I've lost a little range of motion side to side and looking upwards, but one the other hand, my neck doesn't pop at every move.

It sounds like you really dodged the bullet with your neck...which is awesome!

My recovery might have gone smoother if the whole country being shutdown hadn't happened.

[lovbyts]

Yep, C-5 and C-6 seemed to be the information highway for the left arm in regards to anything in regards to curling motions, forearms, even my left grip is weaker ( some of that is probably carpal tunnel). Triceps pressdowns are coming back decently...so far.
They picked up on that during the nerve conduction studies. Putting that off for now until I build up medical leave time used last year. The the wife needs a hip replacement....... we're pretty decrepit at this point. The last day I worked my arm did the whole deal where it doesn't respond. First think I thought was "I'm having an f-in stroke". It's weird though, pre-surgery, I would get lots of tingling, pinprick sensations, and a feeling of water running down the arm.

But yeah man, I'm hanging in there. At least the arm responds a little so we'll see. I'm throwing everything at it including 1.8-2.7 iu of Serostim 5 on/2 off.

So, in the meantime, keep grinding or lay down and give up, lol. For me, fusion has done me well. At least the incessant pain is very minimal and the curve formed by the titanium rods holds the bend in my neck so my spinal cord isn't compressed. I've lost a little range of motion side to side and looking upwards, but one the other hand, my neck doesn't pop at every move.

It sounds like you really dodged the bullet with your neck...which is awesome!

My recovery might have gone smoother if the whole country being shutdown hadn't happened.

Luckily hip replacments not days are almost like changing tires and she should be 100% in a couple months.

Good that it helped you. Mine still pops quite a bit but it gets less month to month and feels a little each month but SLOWLY. Luckily I still have pain meds that make it manageable while it slowly heals or self fuses. Im still hopeful I wont need surgical intervention in the near future.

Now I just need the shoulders to finish healing so I can lift again. Im trying not to rush it this time.