<p>I was having a very bad back pain 2 months ago, to a point that I couldn’t sleep and having a hard time standing up and walking. I went to acupunturist(s) for a month, 2-3 times a week, and a chiropractor. I also started few stretching exercises. The pain is almost gone and I can wear heels again.</p>
<p>One acupunturist I went to was an 80 year old Chinese guy. In the beginning he would say, “Ok, this is an emergency, we need to fix this fast, so I am going to use a big needle.” Even before I could say a word, I would feel the needle and lighting bolt down my back and all the way to my toes. I would feel good right after and for few days at first, but after few weeks, I started able to hold on to it longer and longer. The chiropractor also then helped to align my spine and muscles. I did all that without any medication.</p>
<p>H also had chronic back pain for years. He also got it fixed by going to acupunturist/chiropractor. I don’t remember last time has had any back problem. When he was younger, in his 30s, his back used to go out every few months.</p>
<p>Just because the x-ray show arthritis (again, I would be surprised if it didn’t) that doesn’t mean it’s causing the pain. It is the rare person who’s x-rays at your mom’s age doesn’t show arthritis but most of us, no matter what the x-rays show, don’t have disabling back pain.</p>
<p>Another cause of low back pain is a bad mattress. If your mom sleeps on her side or stomach and her mattress is sagging, it is a recipe for disaster. Either position forces all of her weight toward her lower back while she is sleeping.</p>
<p>A few years ago, I replaced my mattress with a much firmer one and was able to wake without low back pain for the first time in years.</p>
<p>Presumably the rheumatologist would have looked into the possibility of spinal stenosis as a diagnosis. This is diagnosed by X-rays. People who develop it can find significant relief through surgery.</p>
<p>Sometimes, before buying a new mattress, you try sleeping on the sofa- they are usually firmer and the back suppports your back.</p>
<p>You want to be absolutely certain the bladder infection is gone. Believe you need to request a culture, not simply the urinalysis. UTIs are a common cause of what seems to mimic some dementia. They can frequently recur, so for those prone, it helps to be fully tested regularly. In the elderly, the common symptons are often not there, because their bodies don’t have the immune fighting capabilities younger folks have. </p>
<p>I also agree having arthritis does not necessarily mean that is the cause- and that those meds are the solution. How much do you trust this doc?</p>
<p>I know of two who got some relief from the stenosis surgery.</p>
<p>However, I am generally skeptical of surgery, and would not be surprised to learn that overall results for various back surgeries are not clearcut. I think there are very few reliable statistics on surgery.</p>