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jdemaris
12-15-2005 05:49:27
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Try to use your own logic in reply to Robert in Md, 12-14-2005 18:34:41
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From what I've experienced, the McKenzie exercises only work in moderate cases. They usually work much better for maintenance than they do for fixing existing severe problems. I don't know anything about your wife's lifestyle or genetics - and they are imporpant when trying to predict what will work, and what will not. I've had back problems for years - and several operations. I've worked as a logger, a heavy-equipment mechanic, etc. I've paid attention to what other people have done with their own problems, and the results - including people who don't do heavy work. So, I take what I actually see along with advice that often differs from various neuro-surgeons, MDs, chiropractors, etc. When you get right down to it, no one will spend as much time figuring out your health, as you. Also keep in mind that some medical people are great, and some functional morons. So - try to evaluate back problems as a mechanical problem - because basically, that's what they usually are. A disc is a shock absorber between the vertebrae. It can only handle a certain amount of weight and shock. Some people naturally have stronger discs than other's - thus the genetics is a big factor. If your wife is NOT involved in heavy lifting and has a somewhat sedentary lifestyle - and has not been in any accidents that caused disc damage - and so it seems her discs got bad from normal everyday activity that is not going to change. Well - then it is logical to assume, that if she gets an operation that removes some of the disc - it will still be prone to cause future problems - i.e. it will not be any stronger when part is removed. It's possible though, that the correct exercises, done on a daily basis will help. If she gets a more intrusive operation - e.g. fusion - the specific area involved will actually be stronger than ever - but adds additional load to the other vertabrae and discs. So, it's kind of a crap-shoot. My reasoning, at one time, was - I'd die before letting anyone cut into me. But, I had some discs collapse so badly that nerve roots from my spinal cord were crushed and dying and I started to loose use of my left arm and leg. The pain was intense and full-time. So at that point, I didn't care if they shot me in the head - I couldn't live like that. When I first had problems, I went through months of McKenzie type exercises. I felt somewhat better. In fact, better enough to work harder and damage myself more. Then a neuro-surgeon suggested a lamenectomy - that is, removal of the ruptured parts of my discs. Being a mechanic, I asked the guy how that was going to work since my back would be no stronger when he got done? He said I'd be fine, I took his word for it. After the operation, I felt great and stronger than ever. So, a few months later - with the advice and approval of my doctor and surgeon, I went back to heavy work - and did myself in worse than ever. The discs that had been "trimmed" burst worse than ever. So, at this point I could hardly stand or walk - and they did a rush job on me involving fusion - cutting off little pieces of my hip bones and splicing them into my vertabrae. Every case is different, but as I said - you and wife are the one's who will spend the most time on figuring it out. If she is not involved in heavy work, and she had bad posture previously, and did not do the proper back exercises - then she might improve well enough with exercicse alone - or perhaps if the disc is already burst, then some surgical "trimming" with a regimen of exercise might work fine. One note about McKenzie type exercises. I do them every day - it keeps me going. A few years ago, I broke both my legs in a tractor accident. For months, I was at-first on a walker and then on crutches. Well, my back was better than ever - I felt like a teenager. Seems using crutches for months took the load off my back and stretched it out. It was a good reminder to me how much exercise and stretching can help. Once I was walking again, and often carrying heavy objects - my back is not so great. So, the exercises off-set some of it and I maintain a sort of a balance. If I could get away from cutting and carrying firewood, and working on tractors and such - I'd probably be a lot better off - but that would make a pretty boring life.
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