Thank you for the encouraging words. It helped eliveate some of the fear. I would like to keep in touch with you and let you know how things go.
I don't see the chiropractor anymore but my PCP and my Advanced Pain Management doctor and my Psych Dr all agree that this will help me in the long run.
If you've try all those treatments and you aren't any better, then you've done about all you can do. Can you see yourself living the rest of your life the way you are now?
I had fusion done at L4/5 about 12 years ago, so I know what you're going through. It is scary, and I'm not going to lie to you, the recovery is rough and you're going to have to spend a lot of time in rehab. But I don't regret it, now my neck, that's a different story. I could hardly walk before surgery, and I had almost 10 - 11 years before I had problems again. And I didn't have to have another surgery, my Chiropractor was able to help me.
There are some people that are worse afterwards, and you tend to hear more about them than the ones that are successful. I know several people that have had successful back surgery.
Are your various Doctors recommending surgery, what about your Chiro? There usually very anti-surgery?