Stimulation Therapy?

I have a pinched nerve at  L4-5. I just found this out after 7 months of physical therapy. I thought that the PT was making me worse, and I truly believe it did. It consisted of manual therapy, manipulation, ultrasound, stretching, strengthening exercises - I refused the traction because it was just too painful.
Anyway, after the neurologist told me of the pinched nerve, he suggested I have "Stimulation Therapy" for four weeks in his office that he said would be totally different then the PT I had with another office. I told him I did not want anymore therapy because I don't think it's going to work. I think he just wants more money?
My pain has been about 8.5 the last week, I am becoming weaker, can barely stand or walk or sit. I used to be able to get some relief out of this one laying down position, but now even that is gone.
Does anyone have any faith in the Stimulation Therapy?
I made an appointment with a neurosurgeon to discuss something more aggressive because all of my conservative options have been tapped out. I have not had epidural blocks because I am not comfortable with the 50/50 possibility it may work and also when it does work, it is just a temporary fix.
Any thoughts?

[mike1105]

who told you it is due to a pinched nerve, and what is the evidence for this???

[giveitback]

I had an EMG last week that confirmed the pinched nerve at L4-5. The MRI confirmed ruptured discs @ L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1.
Do you know anything about stimulation therapy? My regular MD is sending me to a neurosurgeon.

[mike1105]

its it muecle stimulation therapy-- ie where they put a patch on the muscles involved and electronically stmulate the, If so, in my experience it has been useless.

[giveitback]

Thanks, those are exactly my feelings on it. Like I said, sounds like the neurologist just wants more money from me.
Because I am continually getting worse, I feel my only last option is surgery, wish me luck.

[mike1105]

i would get a few more opinions on the surgery. There are many differnt surgical approaches/techniques/equipment these days..........In the lower back especially.

ALso---Have you had an EMG???  Just becasue discs are herniated on an MRI does not mean they are causing your symptoms.. Most people over 30 years of age have herniations/stenosis/spondylosis--most of the time symtoms (symptoms) are muscular/postural in origin. Did your PT work on your hips?? did he or she evaluate your posture?? are you overweight?? do you sit alot??? If your problem is muscular in origin surgery will probably make you worse

[mike1105]

PS-- the fact that the tracction hurt so much is telling to me....... if the pain was discogenic, the traction (becasue it opens the spaces) should give you relief.... IF you have tight/short muscles in your lower back that are in spasm all the time due to muscle imbalance (look up LOWER CROSSED SYNDROME) the traction will hurt becasue thes spasming muscles (especially the quadratus muscle which is notoriously painful in this syndrome) are being stretched---ouch !!

[giveitback]

You are not reading above that talks about having an EMG, etc.

My LAST resort is surgery, and that is what I am forced to do...not because I want to and not because I think it is the easy way out. I am having surgery because it is a necessity. I am very fit otherwise, very active and healthy. I would NOT opt for surgery if I my problem was all muscular, that would be stupid.

Was hit by a red-light runner and messed up bad. This is not a condition that I have had for years because of bad posture or being inactive or not taking care of myself, etc.

I agree that if the pain was coming right from my discs, that traction would seem to relieve that area. But, traction and manipulation make the pain WORSE because it aggravates the area immensely and makes my pinched nerve SCREAM - not because it makes my muscles spasm.  

[mike1105]

If you are 100% convinced of this, then surgery may be your only option. HAve you had injections into the specific forminal site as a diagnostic tool? Again, there are many surgical apporaches thee days and man are minimally invasive---make sure you do all the research-- surgery is not reversible.