DEAR DR. GOTT:
My son will be 35 soon. He has been suffering from low back pain for about four years. He has a small remodeling business, so does hard labor. He has had to make adjustments so as not to lift anything too heavy. He is very industrious and not working is not an option for him.
My son has incurred a large amount of debt from doctor visits, testing and treatment. He has seen neurologists, orthopedic specialists, pain specialists and chiropractors. He has tried acupuncture, exercise, prednisone, Oxycontin, Percocet, injections into his spine, and others. The narcotics helped the most but he does not want to be on them again because they caused severe withdrawal symptoms which he does not want to go through again.
None of his physicians have given him any hope. He has spinal stenosis, calcification of the thoracic region and bulging discs at L4 and L5. He has numbness in parts of the legs and the soles of his feet. He cannot sit for more than 20 minutes without pain. Even the slight bending caused by shaving or brushing his teeth is agony for him. Oddly, however, bending so far as to touch his toes is not painful. He doctors say he is not a candidate for surgery but don’t give him any reason or alternative options.
I have heard about a new procedure that involves injecting pig fat into the areas, but don’t know much about it. It breaks my heart to see my son in so much pain all the time. I hope you can help him or point us in the right direction.
DEAR READER:
Your son appears to have run the gamut on non-surgical treatment for his pain. Based on your note, he obviously has nerve involvement, likely caused by the bulging discs. This is what is causing the numbness of his legs and feet. Slight bending such as that you mentioned is probably causing the discs to move further out of place causing worsened pain. He may be experiencing relief by touching his toes but the vertebrae are being pulled apart allowing the discs to then slip back into their proper place.
You say your son is not a surgical candidate but has been given no reason why. I urge him to speak to his physician about this or to seek out an orthopedic or spinal surgeon who can review his chart and tests. This is your son’s best bet as to a definitive answer about surgical repair. The surgeon may even be able to offer suggests for minimally invasive surgical procedures or non-surgical treatment options that may benefit your son.
As for the pig fat injections, I am unaware of any new procedure but cannot imagine how this would help him.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Managing Chronic Pain”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.
About Dr. Gott