Maureen
After several years of chronic pain in my back and neck (particularly neck and shoulders) I have been told that I have degenerative disc diseaase. The pain was so acute that I went to a sports clinic last week; they ordered x-rays, and the way that this doctor has responded to the results has really concerned me. He sounded very alarmed by the results, and advised that I must see him within 2 weeks, start physio immediately, don't do anything around the house or work, don't do stretching exercises like I was used to doing, do not (certainly not!) see a chiropractor. Apparently all discs in the neck are in complete straight line, no curve whatsoever, and yet I have a mild scoliosis. Today I couldn't get out of bed for an hour. Can anyone give me more information on this, how they dealt with it, was any operation necessary (I've heard from others that never have a back oper. unless you are near paralysis!) - that the side effects are worse than the cure. Anyway, I am getting a bit frightened by the intensity of the pain, physical limitations, and some irrational fear of paralysis. Anybody been there that can offer me advice? I don't even know how I'll physically manage to even get to a doctor in a week! Thank you to anyone who will respond. (I'm 46, female, on hormone supplements for other junk happening, and have to be extremely careful with pain killers as I'm prone to addiction). All my best to all Maureen