[ryan42]

I can speak from expereinse sorry for the spelling,I have rods and screws in my back.Do everything you can to avoid surgery Do Not let them cut on you.I picked up a small engine 6 years ago and hurt my back.Now im permanently and totally disabled,I first went to the chiropractor and he said oh my were going to have to do 10 days of traction or your going to end up under the knife.So I paid the $400 and went religously and I hurt worse than before,and he said thats normal it will hurt worse before it feels better.Started hurting so bad couldnt take it.I went to my family doctore and immediately was put on heavy pain killers and sent to the surgeon.after two surgeries and a spinal fusion with instrumentation I still hurt every hour of the day.I will be on painkillers the rest of my life they ruined me.I was told I could go back to work in 3 months and when I was in the recovery room they told my wife and father that I would never work again and the were right.What ever the reason for it is inflamed use ice heat and ice heat until you get to feel better then you can use the tens unit,it wont fix it but it will help with the pain it works by putting the electrods above and below the pain never put them exactly where it hurts you can run it for hours and even sleep with it.It works by sending electric impulses into your body wich in turn releases a natural pain killer in your body called endorphins wich help with the pain.It will make it feel num.I use it to manage pain and I dont sleep in the bed I sleep in the recliner thats the only way I can sleep.You need to get your core muscles built up to take the pressure off you back believe me it will help.I hate to hear that someones hurting I feel for you.Ive read all these posts and they all give good advise.Even if you try a couple of different suggestions from each post you will find something that works.Take care and let us know how you are doingl