I once injured myself on my left shoulder and neck area with pain and numbness shooting down my entire left arm when I turned my head to the left or when I moved my left arm to a certain position. I took one or two 325mg aspirin tablets a day for the pain. Once a week massage therapy gave me temporary relief of up to two days almost pain-free, and much reduced pain for the rest of the week. I do 40 minute aerobic on my exercies bike 5 times a week to increase my endorphin level, and managed to turn my pain to just an annoying ache. I would imagine a chiropractor might be useful if you have insurance or if you can afford to see one.

Yes. Not only have I had several surgeries in my life, but I too have degenerative disc disease, stenosis, four bulging discs pressing onto my spinal column, 'systemic' athritis and the accompanying clinical depression that occurs with this unfortunate status. The best suggestions I can offer which have held true for me over the years are these: • Attitude is everything! I am much, much more than my physical illness. • Only you can determine wellness as you know it. Do not let others take you off of any goal to achieve that which you believe you can. • Create a medical team! Do not blindly accept those who do not think like you do, who 'offer' a immovable stance in regard to diagnosis, treatement modalities or pain management. This is YOUR life. These professionals will always be your employees, not the other way around: you do not 'work' for them. • Since unwellness is a full-time job, take this effort toward wellness seriously. The time you spend now will bring not only rewards on relief but indeed, enlightenment. • Since this is your body, you must be fully read on those elements which you have been diagnosed (or over ... or under diagnosed). You then become your own expect and although not a medical professional are more able to guide questions to these with cognitive logic and reasoning. (We live in a time where access to any and all information about maladies are readily available.) Further, you will want to write down what you have learned and/or question to offer to your team. They will see you as a proactive patient vs. a patient who requires them to 'cure' you. • You will want a phramacuteical psychiatrist to prescribe appropriate psychotropic medicines which will allow not only that physical organ to correct the brain chemicals that chronic pain induces, but there are some that lower the perception of actual pain as well. • You will want to 'marry' many different kinds of techniques, methods and modalities into your lifestyle: For bone pain, the best place to get assistance is at any professional Aqua-Therapy Pool and its corresponding professional physical therapists. Most state of the art places of this sort also incoporate water first, then encourage 'land-based' exercises for strength: your WHOLE body must be 'in shape' which in of itself allows carriage, posture, walking and pain management to be pulled off in a better way. Also this kind of work affords your entire immune system a boost. This is necessary as your malady and the pain introduced, lowers the immune system overall. • You will want a systematic relaxation technique that you use every day. This will include not only breathing techniques, but may also include physical techniques ... like Tai Chi. • You will want to look at your diet seriously. Not because you need to gain or lose weight (although that is a consideration), but because there are foods that 'encourage' pain and others that relieve it. • You will want to create what is called 'diversion' therapy. You choose something that 'takes your mind off it,' knowing that you are attaining to it at other times. This includes anything that requires intense thought or focused creativity. • You will want to keep a daily, hourly calendar, logging in what your pain level is at from 1 - 10 (ten being your head just got cut off!!). This will allow you to witness what actions you actually do harms you and what benefits you. • You will want the best mattress and pillows you can afford. Sleep is vital. • You will want to drink more water than the aveage Jill or Joe. This allows your body to move toxins more effeciently out of your body. This does NOT include soda, coffee or teas. • You will want to kindly delegate tasks that you are no longer able to do. If that's to other family members, you will have to put your pride and sorrow aside so you can attain to being the healthiest you are able. • You will want to join or start a wellness group of people who suffer from the same physcial and emotional dilemma. This is an excellent way to 'measure' either how well you are, compared to others, or what elements you haven't tried that gave others successful outcomes. • If you live in a cold climent? All I can say is MOVE. I/we finally did this, moving to the Hawaiian Islands: the warmth has helped me enormously. The more you become proactive, not taking a backseat to your illness, not allowing nay-sayers to tell you 'Sorry, this is just the way it is ...' the more you will gain not only in health but mind and heart: pain will be always in some ways an unwelcomed friend, but at least you will know HOW to deal with it when it is misbehaving! Best to you ...

I have been diagnosed w/two herniated lumbar discs and I have resisted any surgery. Everyone's discs degenerate over time & most people have stenosis. So far I have dealt with it via nutritional supplements, large doses of chicken collagen (which is the best source for glucosamine), hyaluronic acid and MSM. On bad days I take Motrin, see my chiropractor, try to find a jacuzzi bath.

i was told i had degenerative Disc disease, I AM SUFFERING EVERY DAY, i had a back injury years ago, and had been told i had permanent nerve damage, and one day, the pain just left, never to return not even a twitch.. THEN LAST YEAR, I BECAME A CAREGIVER,AND I WAS LIFTING A WHEELCHAIR IN AND OUT OF MY TRUNK, I WAS PUTTING IN STEPPING STONES IN MY GARDEN, AND ACTING LIKE I WAS 20 YEARS OLD, AND I AM NOT, THEN, IN FEBRUARY, I GOT PAIN, IT NEVER LEAVES, IT IS SO BAD, I SOMETIMES SCREAM GO AWAY, GO AWAY, I HAVE LEFT THE SUPERMARKET BEFORE IN TEARS AND HUMILIATION BECAUSE I CANT STAND ONE MORE MINUTE OF PAIN,, I WENT TO THE DOCTOR SHE X-RAYED ME AND SAID I HAD DEGENERATIVE DISC ETC, AND GIVES ME VICODIN, I HATE IT AND IT DOES NOT HELP. HOW I DEAL WITH THE PAIN.. I WAS DRINKING ABOUT A FITHE OF RUM EVERY DAY. (i was drinking before the injury) BUT AS OF DECEMBER 12, I DO NOT DRINK ANYTHING, AS I FEEL LIKE A LOSER,, BECAUSE I HAVE NO QUALITY OF LIFE, NO LIFE, I AM OVERWEIGHT, BUT I CAN HARDLY WALK AROUND.. SO I CANT EXERCISE, I HAVE AN APPT MONDAY FOR A CONSOLTAION AT A PLACE THAT DOES SPINAL DECOMPRESSION,, I AM DESPERATE, YET I DO NOT HAVE MONEY,, HAVE VERY LIMITED INSURANCE, AND FOR WHAT I DO, SOMETIMES I PUT ICE PACKS ON THEN HEAT, AND IT DOWS STOP THE THROBING PAIN, UNLESS I TRY TO WALK.. I STILL WORK YET BY ABOUT NOON, THE PAIN, IT MAKES ME FEEL AS I AM IN HELL, AND I TRY NOT TO BOTHER PEOPLE WITH WHINNING, YET SOMETIMES, I GO IN ANOTHER ROOM AND CRY FOR A M INUTE,, WELL I AM SORRY FOR YOUR PAIN, AND I DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO TELL YOU, I DO PRAY, FOR A MIRACLE OR A FAVOR FROM GOD, I WOULD TRY ANYTHING, IF IT WERE AVAILABLE, IF I THOUGHT IT WOULD JUST MAKE ME PAIN FREE, GOOD LUCK kelly

I too have D.D.D and Neuropathy my hands go numb even now they are numb and I have only been on the computer for a few minutes I guess I also have carpal tunnel but for the most part it is the neuropathy that kicks my butt my c5-6 is herniated and is pushing against my spinal cord and has caused nerve damage I am taking 30mgs of Morphine daily my Doc wants me to take the pills 2 in the am 1 in the eves but I only take what I need to ease the pain scared of withdrawls and addiction I guess. it is hard for people to understand how you feel I am 37 and feel like I am 80 sometimes feel free to add me as a friend if you ever need to talk ..Hugs

Sorry to hear you are dealing with these I know both can be extremely painful I don't know much about all treatments of DDD, but the new technique with chiropractors of compression therapy has helped my mother. As far as the peripheral neuropathy don't listen to anyone who tells you nerves are unable to heal themselves. If your neuropathy is i both feet ? both arms when it starts hurting try immersing in cool/ cold water it helps the pain by cooling down the area where the myelin sheath was that covers the nerves. Along with cold water, lidocaine pads 5% may help some, medicine wise they usually start with anti-inflammatories Advil to Neurontin, to Anti-Depressents-to Lyrica & others used to treat seizures in past - narcotic pain relief - fentanyl patches.. I am guessing you don't really care to go that route, beyond Lyrica .what I have heard great things about versus pain meds is Japanese Acupuncture over traditional Chinese acupuncture, along with L-Carnitine, as well as the choice of a nerve block which is pretty simple. The healthiest route I think is acupuncture, foot massage, stimulation of the feet using a tens unit type of device, supplements by consulting with a good compound pharmacy, a huge number of people with PN report the acupuncture has helped almost restore them to being well again. The best to you.

I had neck surgery and developed neuropathy also. it is a progressive disease and the pain will get worse as the time goes by. i am taking two 80 mg oxycontin a day and 3 20 mg oxycontin in between the 80's. i can tolerate the pain with this. but it doesnt alleviate all of it. and believe me it is caused by the surgeons screw ups. whatever you do, dont let them put you on pamelor , lyrica or neurontin. the side affects is a lot worse than the neuropathy. whatever you do look it up on the web page before you take anything they prescribe.