Back Pain Support Group

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 includes pain affecting the neck, midback and low back. Acute back pain may begin suddenly with intense pain but typically lasts fewer than three months. Usually, chronic back pain is persistent, steady, and...

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Brain & Nervous System
/ Back Pain Support Group

Back Pain

iSurvior911
iSurvior911
I have been suffering from severe back pain and my doctor wants me to have an operation. I have talked to a few people who have had this type of operation and no one, can say it has helped.

I'm looking for some feed back
If anyone has had back surgery, please share your experience.

How long was the recovery?
Was is it very painful?
Has it helped?

I do not want to have the surgery and a year later, have it again.

Still indecisive
deleted_user
deleted_user
What kind of condition do you have? What kind of surgery are they propossing to do ? Have you had a MRI done lately?
Back surgery has worked in some cases, Not for me but for some it has worked. The surgery isn't very painfull, nothing compairs to the crushing of vertibrea which I have crushed twothat pain was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life passing out pain. .
Recovery wasn;t that long time it was normal. the pain after surgery wans't worse than before nor better. I always say to get as many opinions and talk to the best Neurosurgeon you can before any spine surgery . Take care .
iSurvior911
iSurvior911
The surgery 5 hrs...fusion & carving away some of the bone to make more space so the nerve isnt pinched. I've had a MRI, just a few months ago. I'm dealing with depression & PTSD right now and I dont think I can go thur with surgery.

Crushing vertibrea ...sounds very painful. Hope you are feeling better.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I don't think that there is any back surgery which is the same, I had it in 1983, it was quite complicated, but I came through with flying colours. It was heaven to be free from pain, it was a ten week recovery and I was very glad that I had it done.

My problem was, three years later, I had another accident at work, which put me further back, than before I had the surgery. The surgeon was angry with me (in a nice way), he couldn't operate again, because it was too dangerous, I would have risked it, but it was too delicate.

I do not regret the first surgery.

Good luck............
deleted_user
deleted_user
Well they told me my back surgery would be 3 hour it ended up being 7 hours. Recovery from the anethetic was difficult and recovery from the surgery was about 8 weeks I had a Laminectomy, semiLaminotomy for nerve compression L4,L5,S1 After all the surgery I was worse off than before, surgery was the last resort for treatment, as it should be for anyone. Always exhaust everyother option for treatment before going the surgery route the saying is one surgery will leed to more surgeries within 5. I have gone 7 years without a second surgery although my condition has not improved.
iSurvior911
iSurvior911
Thank you all...for replying. I have good days & bad, yesterestday wasnt a good day for me. I was in bed most of the day today.
For the past 2-3 years I have not been able to find any relief for my back pain. I was wondering if I had the surgery would the pain go away. The neurosurgeon talks about the surgery as if its a piece of cake. [No Big Deal] basic! I wanted to hear from people who have had the surgery from a 1st hand experience. I'm finding that women are more likely to have the surgery and most men say they wouldnt have it. Thanks again for replying
Imaginos - hope you feel better & thanks.
Cutanea - thank you for sharing your experience with me, good health.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Back surgery is always a last resort. Everything possible to alleviate pain must be tried first. That is what I did before surgery and with me however, I waited too long for the surgery as it caused atrophy that ever came back. For me surgery gave me my life back. I went form days in bed like you to on a bike and doing 160 mile one day marathons after the surgery. Only you and your doctor can determine if surgery is for you, but if you have tried everything and your quality of life is severely effected by the pain, surgery is something to consider.