OUCH! My herniated discs! Any advice?

[Tenika1968]

Hello, I have been having back problems for several years now. And in just the last few months have gotten much worse. I had an MRI on Dec. 8th 2010, and my primary Care Dr. takes one look and say I need surgery, and pretty soon. So, as he tries to get me in with an orthopedic surgeon, I am in PAIN! He has been on pain meds, anti inflamitory ect. My mri reads this, the main hightlights:

"There is protrusion of the posterolateral disc at the L3-L4 level which is encroaching into the anterior aspect of the neural foramina bilaterally, encroachment is moderate. Disc protrusion posterior central at the L4-L5 level, eccentric to the left, this is flattening the anterior thecal sac. Canal diameter is narrowed to 1.2cm, moderate encroachment left neural foraminal. Disc extrusion at the L5-S1 level, this is encroaching into the anterior epidural fat planes with flattening of the the cal sac."

So, I am pretty much in constant pain. Now my question is, I am now experiancing pain in my right shoulder blade bone, in my neck, all in the shoulder, radiating down my arm. Today, I have noticed some light numbness on top of the hand and on top of the arm. to the point its hard to move, and its weak. Could this be just coming from the problems in my back? And if so, does this mean its getting worse? Thanks so much for any advice.

[squirtatious]

Id recommend seeing a chiropractor to address ur issues. Conservative methods should always be tried before any invasive surgeries are performed unless its an emergent situation. Id also get 2-3 different opinions. I'm personally leery of any dr not willing to try conservative methods first in a non emergent situation.

[Tenika1968]

Hi, and thank you for your advice. First: Pain meds to the letter A to the letter Z, Steroid inj. numerous times without relief, physical therepy to the point I thought I was gonna take my bed & live there, plus doing it at home, heating pads, hot water bottles, rubs, patches, sleeping on pillows, sleeping in the floor, other Dr.`s for 2nd, 3rd, 4th,.......... opinions, shall I go on? So, yeah we have tried conservative methods. Even having other Dr.`s in the past (before it got worse) to have something done, but then I was waiting for that 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinions. Well, here I am and the MRI is worser that in the past.Dont get me wrong, I am difinately not fond of surgery, as I had 2 just this past year for GYN issues. People say "Oh its the best sleep ever", I think my own bed & pillow are just fine. Dont know how many more Dr.`s whose office I have to walk into, but if I dont get something done soon, I may be wheeling into a Dr`s office.  Thanks again : )