Getting Desperate, Is Surgery An Option?

[PaulCalifornia]

I'm a 28 year old male and I've had chronic back pain going on 6 years now. X-rays and MRI's have shown that I have Degenerative Disc Disease, spinal stenosis, kyphosis (mild) and scoliosis (also mild) and obviously some partial nerve pinching due to the combination of these things. I did a lot of heavy lifting when I was younger (worked in nursing home lifting patients and for an armored car company lifting heavy coin) which I'm sure aggravated my poorly formed back.

I have been on Norco 10/325 which is a pretty heavy vicodin, for the past 4 years, 4 times a day. I use a TENS unit off an on to help strengthen my back, I have done physical therapy and excercise, I have watched my posture and used a back support brace and NONE of this is helping. Now I've gotten back into horseback riding and I could barely ride today because every bump in that saddle was sending shooting pains up my back. (I rode the day before with no problem)

My question is, do you think back surgery is an option for me and if it is, do you think it would even be worth it? I am SICK OF THIS pain controlling my life. I think my doctor just thinks I want the vicodin since I take it so often but I would stop taking it in a second if there was SOMETHING that would help me. I am way too young for this and I really do not want to give up riding my horses. Any suggestions from you guys would be amazing. I've gotten to the point now where I've had enough of this.  Thank you!

[Wr1te1]

Squirtatious is right also. It is a huge decision, especially thoracic spine surgery. Some people have gotten worse after surgery. Some people has needed 2 surgeries to fix their thoracic spine problems. And of course some has gotten better.

Yes we are in the same boat that is why I responded to your post. I know exactly what you are going through. We each know our bodies & our limitations. And from there do as much research as possible so that we can make the best informed decision. Since we're both on this forum we're both obviously searching out answers & help so we're on the right track.

My thoracic pain began a year ago & that's when I began aggressive conservative treatments. I did physical therapy, chiro, injections, I own a TENS unit & inversion table etc etc. But I didn't get a mri & know the extent of the damage till this past October.  That is when I saw 2 local neurosurgeons. One told me that the herniations would not get any worse & to do physical therapy. I had already tried physical therapy to no avail. And he  ended up being wrong, they have gotten worse. The other neurosurgeon was very concerned about my back but told me it would just be a waste of money for me to do more physical therapy since I already perform most of the exercises in my Pilates class that I teach. And to hold off on surgery till as long as possible. A physical therapist & physio in my spin & zumba classes said the same thing about therapy for my back. Actually my back muscles are pretty strong which is in my favor. I'm also a personal trainer so I work out regularly with weights. And like you, I too am tired of taking medicines... I hate to take medicine, it's awful to be a slave to it in order to function!

I can no longer stand the pain - I can't sleep at night, often to the point of crying. Me personally I'm ready to take a chance with surgery especially since I'm having myelopathy symptoms which worry me. I'm trying to get as many different opinions as possible though. And boy am I getting mixed feedback. So ultimately it's up to you to decide... you'll know. I'm getting another opinion with Laser Spine Inst. They told me that they have 1 surgeon qualified to perform thoracic spine surgery & he is in the Tampa FL location. I'm in VA but I don't care if I can get a minimally invasive procedure performed to help me. Then my appointment with Vanderbilt is next Wednesday so surely between the two, one of them can surely help me. OH PLEASE!!!

I hope you can find the help you need with your back problems too regardless of your decision. Good luck to you & know that you are not alone. Please keep us posted!

[squirtatious]

Becareful of one devil u trade in for another concerning back surgery. Back surgery is more successful in stabilizing a back than it is to relieve pain. Once u have surgery, ur back is altered for life. Tread carefully and utilize every conservative resource available first. Such as chiropractic care, acupuncture, spinal injections etc and make sure ur drinking enough water to properly maintain as much hydration in ur remaining disc cells. I wish u the best on your journey, take care and greatest blessings to you!!

[PaulCalifornia]

Thanks Richmill, I'm going to look into surgery as an option. Everything else has been pretty much worthless.

[PaulCalifornia]

Thanks for sharing your story, sounds like you're in the same boat as me. I also have a Schmorl's node but I'm not sure if it's part of what's causing my pain or not. I guess I'm going to start looking into surgery as an option. I really want to get off these pain meds and get back to some sort of normalcy, even if there is only a chance of that happening. I don't think it can get much worse than this. Good luck in your search for a neurosurgeon, I will begin mine soon. From the doctors I've talked to already, it is VERY hard to find a surgeon who will touch any thoracic problems but we'll see.

[richmill1]

hell yes surgery is an option, don't let fear keep you from getting your life back..I had acdf 3 cervical levels..life is good again

[Wr1te1]

Amen, I hear ya! I feel the exact same as you. I can't take it anymore either. I too am to the point to whatever it takes to get rid of the unrelenting back pain, I'm ready to do it. And I have tried nearly every conservative treatment there is. It's easy for people who aren't in chronic pain to say oh don't have surgery - they aren't the ones having to deal with it day AND night. A person can only handle so much pain before something gives. But remember not everybody gets relief from surgery & in some cases has gotten worse. Its your body, you know your limits. Check out all the information you can on your condition so you can make the best decision. Where is your pain primarily - cervical, thoracic, or lumbar?

I suffer with DDD, compressions throughout most of thoracic, compression fractures from t7-t12, 4 herniations in thoracic (2 against spinal cord), schmorls node t10, 2 herniations in lumbar, & 1 in cervical. I can deal with all of that but the pain from the 2 bad herniations in thoracic - they are killing me!! Can't take it anymore! But unfortunately for me nobody wants to touch the thoracic. Have another neurosurgeon appt next week... Fingers crossed...

Our trip to ride roller coasters this summer is put off till my back is better. Was also going to go horseback riding - but guess what? That's out too! Too much jarring. What kind of life is that when you can't do the things you enjoy? I'm to the point of giving up part of my job teaching fitness & dance classes because they are literally making me sick & dizzy with pain now. And I love my job!!

I refuse to think things won't eventually get better. You hang in there too. Maybe get a second or even third opinion if necessary. Good luck!

[PaulCalifornia]

I should also mention, my pain is in 2 areas: my middle back (thoracic I believe) and lower back, sometimes as low as my tailbone. My mid to upper back pain is the worse and it's the location where the mild scoliosis and kyphosis are the most severe.