Back pain is the second most common disability in US adults and a common cause of lost work days. An estimated 149 million days of work are lost per year because of it. But 95% of sufferers will recover within a few months. Although 20% to 40% will have a recurrence within a year.
A variety of treatments are tried. Spinal injections are tried for 9% to 11%. Surgery is done on 12% to 16%. and opioid medications for about 17%. Many see a physical therapist or chiropractor. Personally, I have tired all of these over the years. However, I haven't yet tried acupuncture, another common treatment.
Now I am part of the 80% who have suffered most of my life with back pain. But I am not complaining. The Lord has been so good to me and I have enjoyed 77 years of good life, unlike my brother who died of prostate cancer and my very close friends who died of an embolism, lung cancer and a brain tumor. Over the years I have experienced numerous surgeries - gall bladder, cataracts, torn patella, plate and screws in my thumb, five by-passes, lithotripsy and cervical and lumbar spinal surgeries. But, PTL, the Lord brought me through all of these. I sometimes think my many battles with kidney stones have been worse.
I probably have had back problems all of my life but didn't really know it until my mid 20's. In high school, while I was involved in all sorts of athletics, I was unable to do tumbling. This was embarrassing and became an emotional issue for me. I loved school but used all sorts of excuses to get out of gym class when tumbling was the activity. I thought there was something very wrong with me mentally and it was hard to endure these times.
But then in my mid 20's I began to have serious hip and back pain. Some days I had real difficulty getting out of bed and walking. But I forced myself to keep going, enduring the pain. I saw several different doctors, had numerous tests. and tried various medicines, some of which were very strong and dangerous. Then one day a new doctor said that he knew what my problem was. He put a tape measure around my chest and measured my expansion when breathing. I had little expansion and he said that I had ankylosing spondilitis. He confirmed it with special blood tests. And he began to treat me for this condition.
Now this condition causes a fusing of the spine. I still have some difficulty doing some things like bending to get into a car. And I am limited in lifting some items. But thankfully that has gone into remission and I have learned to live with the results. And I am now convinced that this is what prevented me from doing tumbling and it is a relief to know that I wasn't crazy.
Years later I was again having back pain so I saw a neurosurgeon. He ordered some tests and then called me back and said that he could not do anything for me - it wasn't serious enough.
Then about four years ago I went to the ER with heart symptoms. They kept me overnight and did numerous tests, including an MRI. The next morning that told me that it wasn't heart but that it was a problem with the discs in my neck and I needed to see a neurosurgeon. I knew that it often took months to get an appointment with a good one but I called anyway. They said that they would check my films and get back to me. A few hours later they called back and said that it was serious and that they would do surgery in a couple of weeks. And so my first back surgery was completed.
Months later my back pain was worse again so I went back to the specialist and he ordered more tests. Once again he ordered various tests and then recommended lumbar spine surgery. I agreed and it was done. But I continued to have pain and trouble walking and lifting. They suggested shots, which I tried with no relief. Then my surprise heart surgery interrupted that treatment.
I have also had a recent history of bad headaches and my walking and balance became worse. I saw the specialist again and he ordered more tests. He then recommended another lumbar spine surgery. When I asked if this would help my headaches, he sent me for tests of my neck. The result was a recommendation for a second cervical spine surgery. He recommended having that done first since the pressure on my spinal cord is so severe that I could be paralyzed if I should fall.
So on Tuesday, October 2 ,I will reluctantly try my third spine operation. If that goes well, after a recovery time of three to four months, I guess we will try my fourth spine operation. (Please note - Since my wife has unexpectedly been in the hospital for surgery five days this week, I may need to postpone the planned surgery) Hopefully one of these will give me some relief to my bad headaches, my worsening balance and my walking issues. Life can be so much fun! But God is good, all the time. And I know that somehow He will take care of me and all the external concerns like collecting our many leaves this Fall and removing our snow this winter.
So, if you think about it, please pray for me on Tuesday. Pray that my surgery is successful and that I come through it well and heal quickly. Also pray for my wife's recovery.
God is so good,
God is so good,
God is so good,
He's so good to me!
God answers prayer,
God answers prayer,
God answers prayer,
He's so good to me!
He cares for me,
He cares for me,
He cares for me,
He's so good to me!
I love Him so,
I love Him so,
I love Him so,
He's so good to me!
I'll do His will,
I'll do His will,
I'll do His will,
He's so good to me!
I praise His name,
I praise His name,
I praise His name,
He's so good to me!
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