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  • halifax
    Member
    Post count: 1

    I am 54 yr old male,i have had lower sides back pain for the last 6 months.radiology report shows,dorsal and lumber vertebral bodies shows marked degenerative changes with osteophyte formation .And calcification of abdominal aorta.I think i can not take Non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs because i have G6PD deficiency and i am not suppose to take anything in the Aspirin family.I would like to know if their is anything else i can take ,and should i think a bout surgery.please let me know the percentage of success of surgery.Thank you

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    You have had 6 months of lower back pain from what sounds like multilevel lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD). Obviously, i have not reviewed your films so I am speaking generally. Lower back pain from DDD is not generally dangerous. Yes, it is quite painful but will not paralyze you or cause you to be in a wheelchair.

    Rehabilitation is the cornerstone for recovery. The discs will never become normal but there are many individuals (including me) who have DDD and have no symptoms. The question is how do you join that club?

    I am a fan of Pilates rehabilitation for core strength. This will take as much as three months before good symptom relief can occur. Medications are also important. You cannot take NSAIDs (like me). There are other medications such as membrane stabilizers, non-narcotic pain killers and SSRIs which can be helpful.

    I am not pushing my consumer’s book but there are details in that book that can be very helpful to you.

    Surgery for lower back pain is only for those patients who have had this pain for some time, failed conservative measures and are candidates for surgery. A surgical work-up is necessary to determine if you are a candidate. Some patients are candidates and some are not.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
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