<p>My 73 year old mom is suffering a lot with lower back pain. The doctor says an xray indicates arthritis, so far she’s just putting those strap-on heat pads every day but it’s getting worse. </p>
<p>She’s on quite a bit of meds for other issues - anyone have any non-drug suggestions?</p>
<p>If she can reduce her inflammation through diet, it might help. The most effective meds do just that.
There is a lot of info on the web about inflammation and diet. She could start by eliminating some of the worst offenders and see how it goes. My mom has acute arthritis and finds the NSAIDS are the most effective for pain relief, although she has had steriod injections a couple of times which work also, but only for a few months.</p>
<p>Physical therapy or work with a personal trainer. Given your mom’s age, it’s a good idea for at least 2 reasons:</p>
<ol>
<li>She’ll lose mobility if she doesn’t work at it, given the pain.</li>
<li>She’ll be stronger in the lower back and there is some evidence that in some people more strength equals less pain.</li>
</ol>
<p>That said, assuming she has osteoarthritis, like I have, meaning it’s in a specific joint or joints, then it will be active for a while, will go away, will come back, etc. It can hurt like a bleep when it’s active but you work out - or go to therapy - and that helps you get through the lousy stretches. You are stronger in mind and body. My experience is that exercise is the best medicine, that keeping moving keeps you moving. </p>
<p>I don’t know your mom’s physical condition or finances, but working with a trainer at a gym could be very helpful. The trainers at my gym often work with older clients, including a number with significant physical problems.</p>
<p>If she needs a medication, I take piroxicam. The same med is also meloxicam, which has fewer stomach effects, according to the studies but not my experience. I can’t tolerate it daily. I take a few days in a row and back off. It has a noticeable impact on inflammation, but it isn’t a cure. That is a big reason why I say exercise: there is no cure.</p>
<p>“Seven Minute Back Pain Solution” by Dr. Girasole This is more for a different kind of back pain than OA, but it has good exercises and diagrams to explain what is happening in the back in pain.</p>
<p>“Tai Chi for Arthritis” Dr. Lam - multiple videos and books - He has multiple resources for arthritis and includes a diet, complete lifestyle, and alternative methods, as well as Tai Chi.</p>
<p>Your mom’s Dr. should make a referral to a physical therapist. My experience is that most of them aren’t very good because they focus on the injured area of the body instead of the whole body. As a result, your body can easily get worse because it becomes unbalanced, and other areas become painful. </p>
<p>However, it is a good place to start if your mom isn’t a regular exerciser and unfamiliar with her body. I wouldn’t use a personal trainer with an older person, or with a young one who is in pain and unexercised.</p>
<p>I meet many elderly women where I swim who have back problems and who can swim, or just use a hot tub. They also attend water classes that are available for two levels of mobility. These are available at most places like a YMCA, City Rec Center, Rehab Centers at hospitals with a pool, and private facilities.</p>
<p>If your mom is in an acute stage or flare up it is most likely she will be reluctant to do much more than take nsaids or injections and apply heat and/or cold.</p>
<p>Heat or cold or both are preferred by different people.</p>
<p>I agree that Tai Chi is a great idea. It’s also good for balance.
I have fibromyalgia, arthritis & neuropathy and am in constant pain. I try and exercise as much as possible. Which often isnt very much.
Lower back pain to be indicates something is also going on with her hips. I also agree with going to a good physical or massage therapist that could help her pinpoint what stretches might help.</p>
<p>For pain I alternate between aspirin & Nasids. I recommend glucosamine if she isn’t already taking it also. I’m only 54 so I’m not ready to slow down much, but pain medicine often has other side effects I can’t tolerate. I use medical marijuana for sleep, since if you don’t sleep well, your body won’t get a chance to repair itself, but it doesn’t last long enough to help much during the day.</p>
<p>Sister in law (also on meds and diabetic) had terrific results from a series of pain management shots directly into the spinal column. She went from being out of work for a month from the pain and bound to her recliner to going back to work and able to move around relatively normal (and pain free).</p>
<p>I realize you are looking for a med free option, but this med procedure was truly life altering for sister in law (bulging disc and arthritis of spine)in a positive way.</p>
<p>I am going to the Dr today to hear what my knee MRI found, and am afraid he is going to want to replace the joint, but H told me about a treatment they have been doing for a while that might be an alternative.
[Cutting</a> Edge Joint Injections Heal Baby Boomer Arthritis](<a href=“http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/cutting-edge-joint-injections-heal-baby-boomer-arthritis/t/story?id=15214643]Cutting”>http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/cutting-edge-joint-injections-heal-baby-boomer-arthritis/t/story?id=15214643)</p>
<p>If you take random people over the age of 35 off the street and x-rayed their back, the majority of them will show arthritis. I daresay everyone over the age of 70 will show arthritis of the back. It’s not a useful diagnostic test because it doesn’t tell you if the pain is coming from arthritic changes seen on x-ray. </p>
<p>She should work with a physical therapist and stay active. The majority of people with “arthritis” or “degenerative joint disease” of the lower back get better by doing exercises good for the back. Parent mentioned some great ones. I am fond of beginning yoga cd’s and a book called “The Core Program” by Peggy Brill.</p>
<p>Back support (brace) prescribed by a physician. </p>
<p>My mom suffers from severe degenerative arthritis in her lower spine. She says she wouldn’t be able to function without a back brace.</p>
<p>I have been suffering with sciatica for about ten years. It has reached the point that I cannot walk around for any length of time without finding a place to sit down and allow the pain to settle. A walk on a treadmill had to be broken up into ten minute segments. Forget tennis or anything really active…I can muddle through the activity but the pain afterward is not worth it.</p>
<p>During the last month I went through the whole diagnostic process. I started with an orthopedist who did an x-ray in his office and then scripted an MRI. After giving me the diagnosis of fairly advanced arthritis plus some disk compression in my back he recommended a consult with a pain management specialist. </p>
<p>The pain management specialist spoke to me about oral pain medications and injections. At this point I have no interest in oral pain meds. We moved on to a more serious discussion of steroid injections as he looked at my scans. He thought I was an excellent candidate because the location of my pain can be directly related to the locations on my spine that were in the worst shape. His said that his best results are with people suffering from arthritis. </p>
<p>Last Friday I went in for my first round of injections. The doctor went after two spots. It was done at a surgical center at the University of Pennsylvania. As they positioned me both he and his medical Fellow said once again that I was a great candidate because they knew exactly where to go with the steriod and weren’t playing hit or miss. It is not a procedure I would want to have every day but I have had dental work that was more painful.</p>
<p>Six days post injections I am walking four miles on the treadmill with. no. pain. There have been a few twinges but they are at the site of one of the injections so it may just be irritation that will go away. Even if those twinges remain I would guess that my discomfort has been reduced by +90%. I haven’t tested my back on the streets of NYC yet but during day to day activities there. is. no. pain. I go back in a month to hit the area again. I have reasonably good core strength but the doctor still may prescribe some PT.</p>
<p>I don’t know how long the relief will last - months is the norm though the best case is years. I would not let your mother continue in pain from an arthritic back without at least exploring this route. Best of luck.</p>
<p>I have a couple of suggestions. Fish oil supplements are great for inflammation. I use the ones from omegabrite.com. They are medical grade, with the right amounts and ratios of the various fatty acids. A doctor should be consulted before taking these, as there can be problems for people who are on blood-thinning medication.</p>
<p>I also find this video to be incredibly good for lower back issues:</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Viniyoga Therapy for the Low Back, Sacrum & Hips with Gary Kraftsow: Gary Kraftsow, Ian Albert and Mark Holmes: Movies & TV](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Viniyoga-Therapy-Back-Sacrum-Kraftsow/dp/B000U0C9UE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341518812&sr=8-1&keywords=viniyoga]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Viniyoga-Therapy-Back-Sacrum-Kraftsow/dp/B000U0C9UE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341518812&sr=8-1&keywords=viniyoga)</p>
<p>It is not really yoga-like, but just stretching and strengthening exercise that are very safe and effective.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions! She has had some PT, but she’s also battling dementia and it’s hard for me to tell if she’s doing the exercises. I saw here yesterday and she’s obviously in a lot of pain. She has painkillers but refuses to take them (this woman has a stubborn streak a mile wide).</p>
<p>mapesy, is it a soft brace or hard? That sounds like a good idea.</p>
<p>It’s a soft brace, something like this:</p>
<p>[FLA</a> Lumbosacral Support With Abdominal Belt - The Brace Shop](<a href=“Back Brace, Knee, CPM & Game Ready Ice Machine (212) 888-7372”>Back Brace, Knee, CPM & Game Ready Ice Machine (212) 888-7372)</p>
<p>These braces come in different levels of support, so your mom should ask her doctor to prescribe one that’s best for her condition.</p>
<p>Before my mom’s back arthritis got really bad, she was able to get relief from epidural injections. Unfortunately, they don’t help any longer.</p>
<p>Like yours, my mom also suffers from dementia. :(</p>
<p>My grandmother had back pain & used a TENS unit .
[How</a> To Use A Tens Unit - Care Guide](<a href=“http://www.drugs.com/cg/how-to-use-a-tens-unit.html]How”>How to Use A Tens Unit - What You Need to Know)</p>
<p>I have reactions to a few drugs that manifest as lower back pain (it mimics osteoarthritis). It isn’t a very common reaction, but it is my reaction… 
Has she added any meds recently?</p>
<p>A small but informative link: [Glucosamine</a> - 10 Things You Should Know About Glucosamine](<a href=“http://osteoarthritis.about.com/od/alternativetreatments/a/glucosamine.htm]Glucosamine”>Glucosamine for Knee Osteoarthritis)</p>
<p>You must be careful that any supplement doesn’t impact other ailments or meds or cause new issues. Particularly among the elderly. </p>
<p>Sorry your mom is battling so much. I’d have to add my vote to movement/exercise. I know this can be tough for an older person- and on you to monitor. And, yes, reducing or eliminating foods known to cause inflammation- that one’s easy.</p>
<p>intparent, Interesting theory… Actually her back was hurting initially. She had a seizure (they don’t know why) and a bad bladder infection. The infection has been cleared for months, but the back pain remains.</p>
<p>I was hoping somehow the bladder infection was causing it, but the doctor says an xray confirms the arthritis. </p>
<p>Her diet is not very healthy, but after her seizure she wasn’t eating at all. My poor dad is so thrilled when she eats anything he’s not about to criticize anything she’s inclined to have.</p>
<p>It’s all kind of a mess, but right now the back pain is her leading issue.</p>
<p>There is almost no data supporting the use of glucosamine or chondroitin but some people say it helps, which is important if they believe it helps because pain is subjective. I’m too skeptical, so they did nothing for me. I wish they did. </p>
<p>To the OP, you might want to research treatment of back pain. Movement is perhaps the best solution, as described above, but sometimes manipulation through massage therapy is helpful.</p>
<p>Glucosamine helped my 16yr old labrador. My ortho surgeon said the same thing. Don’t know if it is helping me yet.</p>
<p>I recently injured my lower back. It has always been a vulnerable area for me. When I went to the doctor, he prescribed PT. The PT confirmed what I suspected. I was way out of alignment. I could tell this was the case when I looked in the mirror but had gotten so used to it that it barely registered. This was what caused the injury. Over time, the imbalance in my body caused one side of my sacrum to take too much force when I exercised. It was inevitable.</p>
<p>I went to a chiropractor who, over a period of two months, adjusted me to proper alignment.
While I’m not sure I would send an elderly person for forceful adjustments, the chiropractor also used some forms of gentle manipulation. I wonder if something like that would be helpful. </p>
<p>As of right now, I am “straight” for the first time in decades and am feeling much better.</p>