Quote from musicmaker650:

Hey BigDog,
do you think a 60 year old AB is in any better shape than you are? CP certainly is tough, but should we really blame it for all of our ageing ills? Talk to a few older AB's without CP. You'll find that they are suffering too. If you've been able to stay out of a wheelchair till now, you're doing damn good! I don't like the streroidal injections... they will aid the bones of the spine to disintegrate at a faster rate if given too often. I use the injections in the first joint of my right thumb for an osteo-arthritis treatment. I get one a year. Have you considered surgery for your back. With the disc compression, I would think surgical intervention now before it gets any worse, would be a better course of action. Activity is the best remedy for the Arthritis pain. A little activity is better than no activity. I take 100Mg's of Diclofenac daily for my Arthritis pain. I use a UBE (Upper Body Exerciser) for my daily workout. You can see one at [url]www.scifit.com[/url]. Please watch the use of prescription pain killers including Lortab. It's been good for 2 years... This will change, and then you'll go to something stronger, then... Believe me I know!

Good luck to you! Us old gimps must stick together... :)

Musicmaker 650 - thanks for your reply.

Sorry, but I don't know what an 'AB' is? And I don't blame CP for all of my aging ills either. As a matter of fact, I really don't complain about ANYTHING in life. I learned as a child that it really changes nothing, so why bother. You know the old cliches - play the hand you're dealt, etc. Well, I guess I just practice it.

If the Lortab becomes something that stops giving relief or requires a higher daily dose, you can bet I'd do something else. But so far I am sustaining a minimum level (3 a day) in combination with exercise and Arthrotec 75 mg for my arthritis. Using a treadmill daily, watching my diet, and adequate rest seem to work for me. I won't consider surgery for the compressed disc - my doc advises against it, as by the gait I have - it may increase the pain, etc. or decrease my mobility.
And I gave up after two steroidal injections - not enough relief. Same for accupuncture. No long-term benefits

Thanks....and have a good day!
BigDog

Quote from BigDog:

Musicmaker 650 - thanks for your reply.

Sorry, but I don't know what an 'AB' is? And I don't blame CP for all of my aging ills either. As a matter of fact, I really don't complain about ANYTHING in life. I learned as a child that it really changes nothing, so why bother. You know the old cliches - play the hand you're dealt, etc. Well, I guess I just practice it.

If the Lortab becomes something that stops giving relief or requires a higher daily dose, you can bet I'd do something else. But so far I am sustaining a minimum level (3 a day) in combination with exercise and Arthrotec 75 mg for my arthritis. Using a treadmill daily, watching my diet, and adequate rest seem to work for me. I won't consider surgery for the compressed disc - my doc advises against it, as by the gait I have - it may increase the pain, etc. or decrease my mobility.
And I gave up after two steroidal injections - not enough relief. Same for accupuncture. No long-term benefits

Thanks....and have a good day!
BigDog

Hey BigDog,
it does sound like you know what you're doing. An "AB" (Able Body) is one of the "other people" that don't know what its like to walk with a cane or use a wheelchair... Does your doctor expect your compressed disc to heal itself? I had serious painful back pain at 30, that did heal with exercise and thearpy, but 30 is 30 and 60...

Have a great day!