Terrible back pain

I am pre-op.. and stand 5 ft at 264 lbs. Approx. 5 yrs ago I was diagnosised with Degenitive disc disease in my lower back.. which makes for terrible pain

Well.. now I've started walking , everything feels great but my back. Yes I know.. as I lose, the pain will fade but until them, this pain stops me dead in my tracks when the rest of my body wants to go farther down the track! UGH..

Using bengay, heat/cold, and 800mg od ibuprofen which I can't use anymore starting next week. Any suggestions?

My chiropractor put me on a core strengthening routine that really helped me.  I herniated two discs when I was 20 and have had issues ever since.  For me the biggest thing is keeping all the core muscles strong.  That helps with the pain.  It isn;t a cure but helps a lot.

I agree with the suggestion about doing some core work, and would encourage you to find a personal trainer or exercise specialist to help you figure out a routine that's safe for you.  You may also get some relief through yoga, but again, you'd want to find an instructor that understands the issues with your back and can help you work up a routine that's safe for you.   Good luck finding some relief -  Kellie

I definitely agree with strengthening your core muscles.  I just finished 4 weeks of physical therapy for a bulging disc and will have a second MRI done tomorrow on my lower back for probably the same thing....long story short, I have terrible lower back pain...and all of mine started AFTER losing over 100lbs.  Anyway, my physical therapist had me doing exercises to strenthen my core muscles.  I discovered that I have a very weak back, compared to my abdominals.  He said a strong core is the key to a strong back, therefore less back pain.   Hope this helps you some!