Cedar

You name back problems, I have them. Untreated scoliosis. Degenerative discs. Sciatica. Trouble with the periformis (sp?) muscle. Radiating pain. Mobility and flexibility problems. I've had this going on for years and have lost at least a year of my life to the pain (meaning I couldn't work or otherwise be a productive member of society).

An MRI last fall after I was again crippled by back pain and sciatica showed a herniated disc. I was in fairly intense physical therapy for three months and have been back at work full time since January. Luckily, I enjoy exercise and that seems to be able to sort of control the pain. However, for six weeks this summer I'm working twelve-hour days and am so exhausted I've been skipping my workouts. Bad, bad Cedar.

Because I'm not working out, the pain is returning. Now, I know the simple solution would be to not skip workouts, but even when I stick to my workout schedule I have pain and flexibility issues. As much as I hate to say it, I don't think the physical therapy was entirely successful, and I'm considering asking my doctor about surgery.

My question is: Has anyone had surgery to correct back problems like mine, including herniated discs? If so, what was your experience like? Has your quality of life improved? How long did it take you to recover?

Thanks for putting up with the long post

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Seaver

Had surgery last October for a herniated dist, was othoscopic Metric (?) surgery. I'm in the military so if they did a fusion I'd be immediately discharged.

Herniated the disk in July that year. Was in the weight room doing squats, and two shitheads were fucking around and one pushed the other right into me. So I collapsed with 380lbs on my back and herniated the disk. They diched of course.

Pain in my left hamstring increased exponentially over the next month, ending up having to use crutches to get around. So for the next 4 months went to doc after doc, each one being retarded. They'd tell me it was a tear/strained hamstring, I'd tell them it was something else, that I've done it before many times and this was a different/constant pain. Finally after 4 months they sent me to a military doc, he got me an MRI and it was a herniation.

The disk completely engulfed the right siatic (sp?) nerve, they couldnt even see it on the image. So I went under the knife. Woke up that day I didnt even need painkillers, gotten so used to constant pain now I felt great. You're restricted on weight carrying (5lbs) afterwards but it's truely night and day. I have been taking my recovery VERY slow (trying to be a pilot so they're very touchy about back probs), a month after the surgery I was running on the oliptical runners, and 4 months after that was running on a treadmill. Still have problems about once every two weeks I get the numbness in the bottom of the foot and about once a month get a small pain back in my hamstring.

yournamehere

My wife was left disabled from cervical fusion surgery in 1989, so my advice can't help but be affected by that, but I can speak from my own experience, also - I've had a bad back for over 20 years now.

The best advice I can give regarding spine surgery is this:

It never comes out a 'wash" - it either improves your health dramatically, or it makes it much, much worse.
If you can still work and do most everyday activites, I would not advise surgery now - it's not worth the risk.

Wait until it gets very, very bad and you're feeling very, very lucky.

In the meantime, have you tried heat, ultrasound, or traction? Do you do exercises to stretch and /or strengthen your back muscles? How about your abs - they support your back a lot.

If you do decide on surgery, shop around and do your research - don't go to a surgeon just because his office is nearest your home, or because your PCP recommends him 'cause he lets him win at golf.

Good luck.

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Cedar

Thank you. I've tried both heat and ultrasound. I had this treatment in chiropractic care and physical therapy. I exercise on a regular basis (although lately I've been bad because I'm working 12-hour days) and usually work my abs 5 days a week. I do Pilates and have a stability ball, plus I do regular crunch work at the end of my aerobic/weight training sessions.

As for a doctor, I actually already have one in mind should I need the surgery. My mother-in-law had back surgery and she had an excellent, competent surgeon who is on my health plan. Finding doctors is such a scary thing. My husband, who is studying neuroscience, also went and talked to some of his professors about what surgery would involve, since my physical therapist remarked that there is most likely some permanent damage to my sciatic nerve. (Years after the fact, I still have numbness in my left heel and foot pain.) Argh.

yournamehere

If you're not against chiropractors (I am, but some people swear by them), you might want to look into a newer treatment called Lordex - I believe it's only offered by chiropractors.
Basically, it combines traction with exercises, typically taking about 20 sessions to complete the treatment. Sorry to hear about the sciatica.

One other thing about spine surgery you should consider - men usually have better results than women - don't know why - but I've been told that by a few doctors.

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If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors:
"If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too."
It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.

highthief

My back problems have not been as severe as yours but I have found the greatest success with yoga, and I think every major study has shown yoga to be number one in treating and preventing moderate back pain (dunno how it plays out for severe back injuries).

As you have indicated that exercise does tend to help, you may wish to consider yoga.

Good luck to you...

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cait987

Lets see: I have sculiosis, sciatica, 1 herniated disc and a few other small back problems. None of them bother me anymore simply because I did one thing: Visited a chiropractor.

Most people say having a herniated disc = auto need surgery, well I can deadlift just fine I can run just fine I can do almost anything just fine and have a very bad disc in my upper back. Chiropractors can help get alot of blood flow etc to the tissue around the disc and releive the pain, originally, I had to go to the chiropractor every 3 days to get my disc fixed this lasted for about a month, now I havn't been there in 6 months.

Disc surgery is terrible as I understand and I woulda hated to have it, and I don't have to because my disc is under complete control. I can do deadlifts (the most streneous thing you can ever put your back under even if its not really dangerous unless done wrong) easily and my disc only bothers me if the form gets off.

So before you go off and get surgery, try going to a chiropractor, they work with bad backs all day and they helped mine and it will be a hell of alot cheaper then all the surgerys you'de need to fix those problems

Quick question: Where is your herniated disc? As I understand its tough for chiropractors to treat lower back disc injurys but upper back they can handle. If you've already visited a chiropractor not really sure what you can do though ;/

Seaver

My disk herniation was on the L-4 vertibrae. Chiropracters couldnt have done anything, and trust me I tried EVERYTHING beforehand. Steroids, exercises, everything.

Cedar

Mine is between L5 and S1.

Chiropractic care did help. When my injuries got bad the second time around, a chiropractor gave me adjustments, etc., but he really only got me to the point where I could walk. I still couldn't work or be a productive member of society, unless you count writing porn productive.

basmoq

Herniated disks can suck, I've watched my father go through 3 major back operations for em. AllI can tell ya is that the surgery is worth it, just hope you don't have problems again in the future, cause the more times you go on the pain meds after surgery, the more likely you are to get addicted to em, very bad thing (dad didn't fare so well after that third operation, he was WAY addicted to the deragesic patches, had to go through rehab to get off of em)

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gonadman

Good suggestions for the most part here. Surgery is always an option of last resort once all other options have been exhausted.

You didn't say anything about epidural steroid injections which are almost always tried prior to surgery unless the impingement is severe.

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