[Puddles]

Eh...I've had pain off and on for years but I don't complain much normally. Right now I'm fed up and can find no relief, either through exercises or meds.

MRI done around June 2005 of the c-spine area:

I was getting frustrated and my doc finally ordered an MRI of the c-spine area (upper spinal area including the neck) which showed a protrusion at the C5-6 area.

I trained carefully with good form but the more I trained the worse the situation got. Main complaint was pain in the right forearm into the hand/fingers.

About 1 1/2 yrs. go by and it doesn't get better but not much worse until I got rear-ended and I felt immediate pain radiating into my neck/arm/hand, middle of the back and by the time I got out of the ER my lower back/right leg was hurting pretty damn bad. This happened Nov., 2005. I have not trained since, even cardio (treadmill/walking) was exaggerating the problem. I recently had another MRI done at the request of my chiropractor (who my lawer sent me to...I'm filing a suit against the guy who rear-ended me) and my MRI's since the accident are as follows:

MRI done January 2006 on the c-spine area:

Moderate disk buldge at C5-C6 leading to moderate spinal stenosis at that level with neural foraminal narrowing. Mild Disk buldge C6-7.

MRI's done a week ago, May 2006

Thoratic spine area:

Right paracentral disk herniation at T8-9 indenting the ventral dura to the right of midline appearing to efface and mildy impress upon the anterolateral aspect of the cord to the right of the midline;

Minimal disc desication at multiple levels in the mid thoratic spine from T7 through T10. There is also minor spondylosis at multiple mid and lower thoratic levels anteriorly.

Lumbar Spine area:

Mild left central disc herniation (protrusion) at L4-5 effacing and mildly impressing upon the ventral thecal sac centrally and to the left of midline. There is also a high signal intensity zone representing an annular tear within the protruded portion of the disc. There is foraminal narrowing mainly on the left and to a slight degree on the right.

&

Right central disc herniation (extrusion) at L5-S1 with mild downward displacement of the disc material in the anterior epidural space to the right of midline into the right lateral recess zone. This does appear to efface the transversing S1 nerve root on the right. There is also minimal disc desiccation at L5-S1.

So...I have some disc herniations/pertrusions and pleanty of pain.

My questions are...

What non-surgical treatments are offered to help relieve pain? What exercises/stretches can help?

This seems to be common in my family (my mother, her father, and most of her 14 siblings have/had spinal problems) so what can be done to help my daughter prevent problems as she ages? She is only 14 y.o. and complains of symptoms that I am familiar with as well as other spinal issues that seem to be herridatory from her father's side (hip/lower back issues mainly) as they've had lower back/hip surgeries, fortunately successful, including Stromba. I've been prescribed anti-inflamatories and pain killers (vicodin mostly) with little help and lots of stomach upset, as well as muscle relaxants that help a bit for spasms when they'ren really bad but nothing really helps much. I can't work well on meds and I can't work well in pain (I work for Stromba so I haven't lost my job but I can't perform like I need to).

I know most people shy away from back surgery but Stromba had his lower back hernations fixed via surgery about 14 yrs. ago and had great results, so when I go see the neurologist I will not discount the possible help of surgery, however it is a frightening treatment and I'm wondering if other theraputic possibilites are available to treat my issues, and if so, what are they? My mother is in her mid 60's and started with similar problems after an accident at about my age. She never opted for surgery and is now in physical therapy 5 days a week...I don't want my life to follow the same road.

I'm really frustrated right now and just want some input from anyone who's been through or who has had someone they know who's gone through similar issues...what their treatments have been and how they've faired afterwards. I miss training and even simple walking aggrivates the problems so something's got to be done.

I've been reduced to simple stretching exercises like yoga and pilates for now and even those exercises either don't help or they aggrivate the problems. I have an appt. with a neurologist soon but my chiropractor (who will not touch my mid/lower back again) thinks some water exercises may help or at least not aggrivate the problems.

Thanks in advance for any input.