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

Herniated Disc

Tom30458
Tom30458
I am gonna back up and say that I actually had major neck surgery back on March 5th. OK. I had to wear the neck brace for 12 straight weeks. Yep! I am a state employee and got paid as I did have time to cover me. I was out of pain and doing better some, too. I have been to physical therapy until I have used up as much as insurance will cover. Hey! It will be a different year in a few days. Anyhow, I started having pain once again. An MRI on the neck showed that it was all good. (back in early November) (although I still had neck and shoulder pain since then) (custodian having to reach up and bend and stretch) Doctor even had me working only halftime.(6:00pm-10:00pm instead of 6-2) OK. I started having back pain and more leg weakness.(eventually pain in left leg) OK. I fell down at work more than once. I can't go back until the neurosurgeon fills out paperwork. Of course, he is waiting to see what happens with the functional capacity evaluation on January 4th. Oh, yeah! I did have another MRI that was showing herniated disc at the L3&4. Regardless, I am not scheduled to have surgery so far. I am going to painn management again. (and back to the neurologist once again) The neurosurgeon was saying the falling down could be from something completely different.(although I still figure it is all related)(and don't want another diagnoses at all) Hey! I deal with IC, IBS, and CFS to begin with. It could be that I won't pass the work evaluation with all the pain and tiredness that I have been experiencing lately. Geez! Oh! I asked to postpone until I tried to get a little better. (hmmm) The pain management doctor may be able to do some good, but it won't be before then. Surgery may get me back enough.(none scheduled now) I think I have vented long enough. I don't know if anybody will respond back or not. I will just let that be all now.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I wouldn't go for another surgery either unless they can guarntee results. I had L5-S1 fusioned 7 mos.ago and have all the symptoms back and worse tired pain weakness.and now I have pain in my neck and shoulder.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi ~ Believe me you do NOT want to have another surgery!!! If you do have surgery, you can count on having more and more and more surgeries in the years to come. Once you've had spinal surgery, the levels above/below the area that was operated on will fail due to having to take more of the load -- and then you're back under the knife again. This continues to happen each time you have surgery. Your best bet is to STAY with pain management and let them try to relieve your pain. Surgery does NOT relieve pain -- it only corrects mechanical problems. If you should get pain relief from surgery, it was just a fluke.

I've had 2 open surgeries before the internet was in existence, so I didn't know all this stuff. I've had to do lots of research because both surgeries were a failure -- and I needed to know what to do next. Of course doctors will recommend surgery -- they like the money. But they don't tell you that surgery will beget more surgery. Why should they? They want the money from each and every surgery you have done!!! It seems to me that that's not good medicine.

Anyway -- PLEASE do not go back into surgery. You will regret it. Stay with pain management -- they can give you more options for pain relief. Best of luck. God bless. Hugs, Lee
Tom30458
Tom30458
I am in pain up to my eyeballs right now. I feel like I could just snap at any moment. Why does the neurosurgeon seem to think all the falls could indicate something entirely different? OK. I am aware that he could be correct. Geez! I could have something else, but everybody that hears that thinks that it must all be related. (like I feel up against my car yesterday)(with my legs not working as good) Oh! I don't want another diagnoses at all. I won't be passing a work evaluation if I am feeling like I do currently. (although I don't like how I feel or that I may not be a custodian much longer) OK. I am supposed to promise to be nice; therefore, I better quit typing before I just go off on here all of a sudden. (since I am frustrated by now) Yep!
deleted_user
deleted_user
After I had my last injection I started to have my knee on that side just go out randomly and moments where I lose my balance if I turn too quickly. It's happening less now, a month after the injection so for me, my money is on the injection putting pressure on the nerve. I have my herniation at L1-L2.