[joyce11111]

I have had three back surgeries for L4, the first time I had tremendous pain in my left knee, so went to the DR, he took x-rays, nothing wrong he says, my knee is just fine...run along home, Joyce

After some time in pain I went to an Orthopedic Surgeon,told about the severe knee pain. on examination he discovered the culprit was a ruptured disc.

So I had my first surgery in 1995, After the MRI confirmed the diagnoses.

After six months I wound up with horrendous sciatic pain in the butt and legs, so went to a nuerologist this time.

Had another diskectomy.

In a very few months I was back in the worst pain ever...had another MRI and had a huge rupture, plus loss of bladder function.

This time I had a new type of surgery, had a titanium ladder installed....bladder function returned, and NO PAIN!

My last surgery was in 1997, and, I am thankful every day to be mobile, with no discomfort, I feel I am very very luckey to have a minimal bit of nerve damage

[A CA Guy]

I was hurt in a car accident as a child and hurt the back, and had my neck broken as well.
Steroids are for anti-inflammation. They can help once in a while but destroy your internal organs after some years.

I remained active since all that and keeping moving was the best thing in my case. A big help is getting a good massage if you can afford it.

Being injured myself and an athlete of sorts, I have experience with this.
Injuries tend to tighten areas all around it to not move the injury. Whether it is a back, knee, neck or arm. So you want to help the main injury get along better in life by relaxing all the non-injured tightening muscles.

Pay close attention to any swelling or puffiness which is a sign of current injury and shouldn't be massaged.
Ice in all cases after activity or if in pain helps. Put NO HEAT ON A SWELLING.

Good luck.

[theflagwaver]

Hi, I am a physical therapist and a freeper. Believe it or not a great deal of back pain is caused by stress. I had it for 2 years and then went to Dr. John Sarno in Manhattan who taught me that stress can cause back pain. The pain is a diversion from the underlying stress. You are distracted by the physical pain and this is more pleasant to deal with then the emotional pain. A study was done of people with healthy backs and thirty three percent of them had herniated disks thus proving that just because you have a herniated disk you don't have to have associated back pain. If you are interested, Dr. Sarno's book is called "Healing back pain: the mind body connection". This might sound crazy but it is true. I have been pain free for years except occassionally right before my in laws come to stay with us. The pain is a diversion from the stress. Accepting that the pain is from stress and not a structural abnormality leads to cessation of the pain. I hope this is helpful.

[LadyDoc]

We used to treat with bedrest for six weeks then operate. Most got better, but some ended up in constant pain>

Now we treat with pain pills for six weeks and keep people on their feet. We use physical therapy. Then if it stays painful, we use cortisone shots. At this point they do an MRI or myelogram. If it can be fixed, they talk to you and then they fix it.

If you can't pee or poop, it needs to be fixed right away

If you can control the pain with physical therapy and pills, and cortisone shots, they usually don't operate.

in five years, the disks get replaced by scar tissue and the pain gets better, unless the next disk up starts to go.

Endoscopic is using a smaller incision. IF the surgeon has done quite a few, it's an option.

Every case is different, so I can't give much more advice.

[galt-jw]

if this, inflammation, is true, us Wobenzyme-N. It is an enteric coated systemic enzyme preperation from W. germany, and has enough clinical evidence to prove efficacy. There also may be benefit through chiropractic treatment. Surgery is a last resort. contact me if you wish for more info.

[nothingnew]

Tony, first how old are you?....next, was this an injury with immediate herniation, or has it been bothering you over a period of time?

I only ask because my first herniated disc was treated when I was about 23, and traction did help for a bit. The pain returned and ortho guys told me I need OP....I decided to go Chiropractic, and that did me well for about 10 years.

Then it came back in a rage, and I had my first surgery.

Years went by and I was fine, but the next disc up blew a big one...(ruptured).

At that time, no chiro or ortho would even touch me. Had to go to a neurosurgeon.

I tell you al this because I believe your age has a lot to do with your choice of treatment.

Mine is a degenerative condition, and I believe from tell-tale signs I'm looking at my third OP.

Oh well....good luck with your problem, and I just said a prayer for you...I know the pain of the back, the sciatica, and loss of nerve feeling all too well.

FReegards,

FMCDH!

[CFW]

My hubby first had the cortisone shots, but then had the Endoscopic Discectomy in 1994 after an automobile accident. It helped him tremondously. Until he hurt his back again in 2001. Now he has a facet rhizotomy(sp) every six months.

Good luck!

[Caipirabob]

I will pray for you.

My wife had five herniated disks resulting from a workplace accident.

Four of them may eventually heal naturally. We are following up on progress in that area.

One was destroyed and she had a spinal fusion in April last year. We got her through the worst three months of her life. It became a workman's comp issue, btw.

We had a WONDERFUL surgeon who spent hours counseling us and then proceeded to perform a surgical miracle on her back with the fusion between c5-c6.

It took a very, very long time for her to get on her feet.

Through the grace of God in his Mercy he has provided for us throughout this time. Comp insurance sure didn't. I was able to help her and comfort her through this period and then God restored her to me.

She has a very good chance of living a normal life within the obvious physical constraints that she cannot risk injury to her spine.

It was a very depressing experience for her even with support. The pain was difficult to manage. Now it is manageable with Tylenol.

I recommend that if you don't have immediate family near you that you get near them before you consider any sort of surgery. It is extremely debilitating. You will not be able to use the bathroom or wash on your own.

My wife felt useless but she has been an angel to me in my darkest hours. I was privileged to be able to help her. She's very happy and getting back to more or less normal activities levels now. Our relationship is a joy that carries me through every day.

I hope you will be able to find the same support during the times ahead. You can tell it was obviously very emotional for me, and I didn't even have the procedure.

Hey Martin, I hadn't really told you about this before. As much as I love Brasil, I adore my wife even more. She's really improved and I will see that she has a full life, God willing.

[Clara Lou]

My pain [I believe it was from an L4 disc which the surgeon said was nanometers from rupturing] was so intense and unremitting, and the pain medication created so many other issues, that I decided to have surgery. Now I have no recurring pain, no disability, no meds, and no remaining side effects. I'm as good as I was before the problem arose. Thank God! [said with profound sincerity]