What do I need to do?

[Kelly540]

I am an 18 year old athlete who is having a lot of problems with my lower back.  I started having pain in December of 2008, and it gradually got worse.  I wanted to finish my senior year of basketball because I had signed a letter to play at the collegiate level.  Doctors sent me to chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapy, and I even had an epidural injection.  After the season was over and I had gone through a series of therapy, injections, and all the things they thought would make me better, they decided to do surgery.  I had a herniated disc in my L4-L5 region of my lower back.  The one below it was slightly herniated, and they ended up leaving it like it was, and the ligament that goes down the back was tore because of my disc.  They told me that it would be 4-5 weeks and I would be back to doing all activities.  Since surgery, I still haven't been able to play, and I am in pain everyday.  My walk is not even close to where it should be.  I have tingling down my left leg and pain in my back.  I have been through therapy, an injection, and doctors can't pinpoint what is going on.  The last doctor I saw said that the discs were slightly herniated but others say differently.  As an 18 year old, I am very frustrated.  I feel like I am being put in circles of things that haven't worked, but doctors keep trying them.  The pain has wore me out.  I feel a right as a young person to be able to live pain free and pursuing the activities that I love to do.  Do you have any suggestions on what I should do next?  They have talked about fusion but have never pursued it.  I am desperate to be out of pain, and any measure that needs to be taken I am willing to do.  If you have any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate anything that you could give me!  Thank you!

[Kelly540]

Thank you for your feedback as well.  I really appreciate it!
God bless!

[Kelly540]

I appreciate your prayers.  They did a discectomy on my L4-L5.  Thank you so much for your response!  I have an appointment with a guy in St. Louis in a couple weeks, and I have never been so excited to got to a doctor!  I really appreciate your feedback!
God bless

[Peterbndrs]

I feel yoga can solve your problem. Also do not discontinue yoga after this problem is solved. I have got very gud results from yoga and hope you will also find it useful

[m300]

I would get 3rd or even 4th opinions and spread those visits across several specialty doctors:  an Orthopedic spine surgeon, Neurosurgeon, and maybe even a Neurologist or Physical medicine dr to see if they can shed further light on the pain.  I would also look into yoga, acupuncture, and a different chiropractor as chiropractor and acupuncture really depend on the person who does it.  Time usually heals, 4-5 weeks doesn't seem even close to long enough recovery period for a disc surgery.  What kind of surgery did they do?  Good luck, I pray you get better.