Degenerative Discs,among other problems

I was wondering how many others here have issues like me.

I just got a new MRI of my lumbar back and have new problems. In '99 I had a herniated disc and couldn't walk so I was forced to have surgery and they did a lamenectomy on the L5-S1 disc.  Over the years I always had pain, and occasional flare ups.  Then a couple yrs ago I was slammed with horrible pain and got a new MRI and discovered my L5-S1 was crumbling and the L4-5 was in trouble too. 

Now with this new MRI I just had last week I read the report today and now my L3-4 is compressed and bulging and my L4-5 is in even more trouble. 

Exercise now is nothing.  I can't do a thing.  I've lost almost 70 lbs and so proud of myself.  But the last couple months have been bad with pain and I haven't lost another pound.  I want to lose 20 more, at least.  Am I being unrealistic now? 

I want to get into a pool and swim.  But I have to wait to get a bathing suit.  I haven't had one in 19 yrs! LOL  How odd is that? hehehe  I think that's the only thing I can do now. this is so depressing.

Just want to know how others with back pain lose weight.  Thank you all so much!

Anyone???  Please????

swimming is great exercise!  :D  go for it!

omg....  omomof funny... I am 37 and had the same surgery when I was 34,  I now have exactly the same further damage as you.  I got goose bumps when I read your post.  I am now sleeping in a recliner in my room.  I to cannot sleep in a bed or exercise sooooooooooo painful.  I have already taken to the water.  Be so careful.  I hurt myself so bad.  I was moving through the water and was kicking my legs swimming and when my leg kicked up this excruciating pain shot through my lower back.  I started screaming so bad under water.  It scared me so bad.  You will still feel pain in the water.  This has affected me mentally so bad lately.  I can't take the pain anymore.  I am so careful because when you move or do something that doesn't agree with you it hurts so bad.  I miss sleeping with no pain.  My email is luvnhawks@hotmail.com or you can respond to me on here.  I am here for you.  omg do I know what you are going through. I have never met anyone with the same exact diagnosis.  This has changed my life.  I have two beautiful boys.  I live in California.  If you ever need to talk I am here.   I have such compassion for people like us.  people do not understand what we go through.

luvnhawks ~ Believe me I'll be careful! This pain is just getting worse day by day and I take meds for the pain but sometimes it just doesn't work too great. It just takes the edge off.  I was 34 also when I had my surgery!  We are so much alike!  We have to keep in touch!

I know ,  I can't tell you how comforting it is to know you are out there.  I wish you didn't have this trust me (back trouble) .  But I do know exactly what you are feeling to a "T".  I am driving 4 hrs from where I live to go see a Dr.  that thinks he can help me.   FINGERS CROSSED.  my appt. is in about three weeks.  they are calling me back to confirm.  My surgeon told me that there is nothing more he can do for me.  That the digeneration going on in my disks are not operative.  He walked out of the office and gave me no alternative.  I sat there and I could not move.  I cried so hard in the office that day.  I was thinking what just happened in here.  What does this mean for me.  What do I do with the pain.  Such a helpless lonely feeling that day.  No one could really understand what I was going through.

I realize I'm totally ignorant of the pain you all are going through but I had an idea. Is there such a thing as physical rehabilitation for your back? Can't someone swim with you? Over here, there's a rehab facility with a pool.

Also, what about a chronic pain center? As I said, I don't know anything about this. I just see them in my city and I thought of them after reading your post.

Good luck ladies. I feel for you

yes,  there is pool rehab.  But when you are having sI pain and disk trouble movement is movement, even in the water.  I havent tried a pain management yet though.  I am checking into that this week. 

I go to Pain Mgt and have for years.  The 1st one wasn't that great.  I didn't know it at the time though.  After I found the 2nd one I go to now, I see that he wasn't much good. 

Be ready for lots of shots though and tests.  He'll make sure your pain is coming from the discs themselves or if it's muscular or something else.  Mine is exactly from my discs.  I had a discogram.....EXTREMELY painful if the pain is from the discs.  He had to knock me out after the worst one was done bc I was screaming in pain.  But it was worth proving that my pain was real. Ya know? 

But I was told the same thing by 2 neurosurgeons.....no surgery can help me.  so I know the helpless feeling and not knowing.  Then I asked how fast are my other discs going to start going (the domino effect) and there's no answer for it really.  Everyone is different. 

But I have my answer now.  Because my L4-5 is now herniated and my L3-4 is now bulging and being smashed.  My spine is curving more now too.  The pain is now worse than ever and the muscle spasms are coming more often and more severe..... 

Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry....How in the heck do you manage day to day activities with that type of pain?

Well, I can't relate to your pain but I will say that it's great that you are so proactive about your health. If you don't get the help you need, move on. Consider clinical trials, look into alternative therapy and participate in workshops. With your pain, everything should be worthy of consideration.

Good luck.