What is Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. In fact, about 3 in 4 adults will experience back pain during their lifetime! The term back pain...
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I will try to keep this short. I had a major car accident in May 2001. I had PT, Chiropractic care, and massage therapy for 2 years. I felt pretty good but since then I will have a sore back from doing things I thought were not a big deal. (Like picking up boxes less then 50 pounds) Somewhat of a side note... I have had issues with my "female organs" Severe pain and other stuff. They finally gave me a Hysterectomy in Oct. 2008. I thought the pain I felt during those "Issues" would go away after the Hysterectomy, I was wrong.
If I try to sweep and mop the floor I can't stand up straight for hours. I have a hard time picking up the laundry, twisting the wrong way causes my legs to go out from under me, and at times I can not find a way to stand, sit, or lay down that will ease the pain or help me get comfortable. I have nights I can not sleep due to pain. I have tried Flexaril, Vicodin, Naproxen, and now I have started Tramadol. I have tried PT which only made things worse. My Doc sent me to an Ortho. Surgen who said he want's to do a Posterior Lumbar Fusion. I had an MRI, my results: Degenerative Disk Disease, Partial lumbarization of S1, disc desiccation at L5-S1, Hemangioma on right side of L5 measuring 1.5 CM in diameter, mild spinal stenosis secondary to a 5.6mm focal midline disc protrusion. Some of you may be able to understand all of that. I however can't think straight now. I feel like I am to young (34) to need back surgery. I have not gotten a second opinion yet, trying to work that out with Ins. right now. I would really like to hear from people who have had a similar back problem and either did or did not go through with a surgery. I want to hear about outcomes, how you dealt with the pain, anything that helped. I just know trying to have a surgery right now seems impossible. (Hubby in Iraq, no family nearby, and small children) But then again I can't even walk my kids to the park now or do much of anything. Thanks for any insight you can offer. Cristy Posted on 05/03/09, 09:05 pm |
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I had a fusion at L5-S1 in July 2007. The recovery was long and slow, but I am much better. I was in pain for 15 years, sometimes severe, sometimes mild. I feel stronger than before. I do have a new issue as a result of the surgery, but it is slowly improving as well and is tolerable. I now have difficulty sitting for lengths of time, particularly in the car, due to tailbone/muscle pain. This area gets inflamed and then causes burning in my legs and feet when the nerves become irritated.
The most interesting thing here is that even prior to my surgery I had a bulge in the disk at L4-L5 and it has not yet gotten any worse. I do know fusion puts the rest of the spine/disks at risk, but if you strengthen your core and use those muscles for support, it helps. I certainly can not guarantee day to day how it will all shake out, but for now, nearly 2 years later, I am doing ok overall. If I had one recommendation for you, it would be to use a neurosurgeon rather than an ortho. I truly believe they are better prepared to deal with the spinal cord and nerve roots, etc. Most of our pain is caused by the nerves, not the bones. Take your time, get several opinions, and try all other options before surgery. You can even check out the doctors and surgeons by going to http://www.ratemds.com/social/ and checking out ratings on the doctors you are considering. Good luck - I wish you the best! 
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had a migraine from I was 25 for 15 years. Then 45 I got a heart tack and six years later I got a stroke. I have got a lot of help from the patches Lifewave and I would like that others get my experience. I have now diabetes and am in overweight. I have also seen others get totally rid of their problems with LW take a look at:
http://the-problemsolvers.com/10li...
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I had a migraine from I was 25 for 15 years. Then 45 I got a heart tack and six years later I got a stroke. I have got a lot of help from the patches Lifewave and I would like that others get my experience. I have now diabetes and am in overweight. I have also seen others get totally rid of their problems fx. back pain with LW. Take a look at:
http://the-problemsolvers.com/10li...
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First of all I am a veteran of desert storm thank you for supporting your husband and for his service it matters and I appreciate it. You have exactly what I had, you have a bulging L5S1 disk with stenosis ( narrowing ) of the nerve canal, surgery is inevitable and waiting can cause a bigger problem if the disk ruptures the bone fragmentation can go into the S1 nerve bundle causing permanent paralysis ( which I have because I waited). I had a horrible first back surgery I picked the wrong guy to operate on me but you can read about it in my profile info....do some research and find a great surgeon. I am in Louisville Ky where the Leatherman spine center is, however as you are a dependent you may need to use the military hospitals take your time and interview each doctor....how many of these have you done, whats your record, have you ever been sued, ( the first surgeon I picked had nine law suits pending but I never asked and he didn't volunteer it) It is a little overwhelming but before you had your kids you knew nothing about being a mother but I bet your a good one now read books do internet studies and find yourself a great pain management Doctor now and start seeing him/her Now I had an additional problem that complicated my situation, I was born with a congenitally small nerve canal in my spine, about one fifth the size it should be and this has caused many problems but in your case this is fixable gtood luck I hope I helped
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