Should I Get Surgery?

[Wordmerc]

Hi folks,

OK, here's my situation:

For as long as I can remember I've had some small amount of back pain, a slight limp and foot drop. I always kind of ignored the problem, but friends of mine would look at me funny and say "dude, are you limping?" and I'd just kind of smile and move on.

Then about 7 years ago I moved a thousand miles, got laid off from my job, fell in love, joined a band and started getting in shape.

And all of a sudden the pain was gone. I mean, I still walked a little weird, but I was generally OK.

And then 4 years ago, I got hit by a semi truck.

Which kind of sucked.

After the accident, I felt pretty much OK. I walked into the hospital on my own power. They sort of checked me out and said I was alright.

But over the next couple weeks I felt this weird tightness down my right leg. And when I tried to stretch it I'd feel pain in my back.

And then a few weeks after the accident, I woke up one morning in excruciating pain. My right hip had crawled up under my armpit and I "walked" like some kind of shambling monster.

And I had no idea what to do.

So I went to a chiropractor . . . and then another chiropractor . . . and then a accupuncturist . . . and then a massage therapist and then  . and then and then.

And really, nothing really worked.

And the whole time I just kept my head down and kept going to the gym and working out and gritting my teeth and trying to have a life.

Eventually I got into yoga. And after about a year of going to class almost every day, I finally started feeling some relief. In fact, for most of 2007 I felt pretty much great. A little bit of stress on my back, but I could walk like a human being again. And I could dance. And I could have fun.

2008? Not so good. Ever since I got back from going East for Christmas I've been in pain of varying degrees.
When it started getting bad, I felt like I was being stalked by a shark.

Finally in March or so, my hip went completely antalgic and I was in agony for about 3 weeks. I didn't take a single pain pill during that time. Really not sure how I got by.

Eventually my chiro referred me to a trainer/physical therapist who stretched me in all sorts of nasty ways . . . but who got me standing up again.

And sloooowly we've been working towards healing my body.

And I really thought we were getting somewhere.

But then last week I went to San Diego for a conference.

And I had to sit on the plane, and sit at the restaurant and sit in the conference room for 3 days.

And when I got back. everything went to absolute hell.

Agony.

Couldn't walk. Couldn't think. In fact, today is probably the first day out of the last 8 where I feel even remotely human. I haven't been able to work at all ( I run my own business). I haven't had any fun.

On Monday I went to see an Orthopedic Surgeon. Yesterday I got an MRI. The MRI seems to show that my L5/S1 disc tissue is pushing into my spinal chord.

I have absolutely no reflex action in my right leg.

And I don't know what to do.

At the moment I can stand up straight. I can walk (sort of).  But I can't really lay down or sleep comfortably.

And I'm deathly afraid of getting back in this state again.

I think my doctor is going to recommend surgery.

And I don't know what to do. I've heard too many stories of people who didn't really get relief from surgery. And I know enough to know that even if I get surgery, I'm going to have to do a lot of strengthening and balancing exercises.

I'm at my wit's end.

And just needed to rant.

To people that understand.



my Jetta bounced off a Semi Truck and I slammed into a wall at about 50 miles an hour. I had my foot on the break (duh) at the time of impact and felt a small *pop* in my right hip.

Right after the accident I felt pretty much fine. In fact, I even got on a plane and went to LA to visit friends about a week later.

But then, over time, the pain monster

[Wordmerc]

Hi folks,


Whew. It's been a long couple of days. I've bounced back and forth between feeling like surgery was the right thing to do, to thinking maybe it's a "mind over body" issue and then back again.

Heck, I even set up some time to talk to a hypnotherapist.

But then my doc came in, looked at my MRI, and in 3 seconds flat told me what was wrong.

I've basically got an exploded L5/S1 and about 9mm of disk tissue floating around in my spinal column.

No wonder it hurts =-)

Surgery is scheduled for next friday. I'm scared, but the doc has a really good track record with this kind of procedure.  Fingers crossed.

I'm hoping this is my last week with the horror.

[richmill1]

Lam is right..try a physiatrist (sports/med rehab) they can send you to the proper MD

[lam58]

as soon as I read "shambling monster" I knew you were a partner in pain.  Thank you for your sense of humor...the occasional sarcastic or funny joke about our plight is necessary for survival!

I'm having surgery next Wednesday (diskectomy L5-S1).  I chose a neurosurgeon over an ortho because it just made sense to me; nerve pain and damage being my main concern.  Had two consults; the first left me feeling more confused than ever and the second was wonderful (obviously, I chose the latter).  He fully explained my particular problem and how he could fix it.  There are risks, but I believe the risks and affect on my life both physically and emotionally by NOT having surgery is far greater.

I'm no doctor, but I have learned to trust my instincts regarding my own body.  I regret not seeking answers and solutions years ago when I first began suffering for days and sometimes weeks at a time with my "bad back".  I have been to more Chiropractors than I can remember and have never had any improvement different than treating at home with ice and sleeping on the floor until I began to think I might not need a wheelchair or a walker to re-join the land of the living.

This time was different...my back began to get better after steroids (greatest drug ever) but leg pain began to worsen.  Over a couple of months time I began to realize something was seriously wrong and I wasn't willing to spend another day not knowing how to fix this.

Weeks of P.T. then the MRI.  Finally, I could show my husband a report to prove I wasn't crazy, and yes, every time I have to bend over and pick up your dirty socks on the floor I'm totally justified in wanting to commit murder.

Epidural injections have taken the bulk of the pain away, but I'm left with a numb big toe and heel, throbbing in my foot and butt every time I lay down, and burning/stinging in my butt and hamstring when I try to live my life like a normal person.  I decided that any pain and/or discomfort caused by 8mm of disc material is more than I am willing to live with.  I want my life back and surgery sounds a lot less scary than the potential risks involved with permanent compression on my nerve.  I realized that waiting until I'm dragging a foot or crapping/pissing my pants in public was not necessary for me to make the tough decision and go under the knife.

So here's my advice...get every professional opinion you have access to.  Ask all the questions you can think of regarding your specific issues.  Weigh the pros and cons of surgery and ask yourself if your willing to continue to waste parts of your life shuffling around, praying to god that you don't have to sneeze or move too fast and taking 5 full minutes to gingerly roll over in bed by gripping the headboard and using all your upper body strength to get the job done.  Until you find a doctor you trust...don't stop looking.