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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lostlife65 12/20/2011

Has anyone ever had minimally invasive surgery?

I am going to a neurosurgeon next month to get his opinion. I have herniated L4 and L5 discs and they flare up like every 3-4 months. I am in pain afterwards for about a month. I go to chiropractor twice a week and I was exercising and dieting, but with the holidays and other things have stopped for the last 2 months. I hope to start again after new years but it wasn't helping my back as I hurt it during the time I was working out. It wasn't from working out that I hurt it, though. I have done injections years ago and although it helped it wasn't a permanent fix, of course. I've done PT as well.

emf6874 12/20/2011

I had a microdiscectomy , I don't know if that's what you mean.
I also have disc herniation at L4, L5, & S1.

lostlife65 12/21/2011

I believe it is or at least very similar. It is where they go in with a nickel size opening and work with robotic tools to repair the damage discs.

Is that what they did with you?

deleted_user 12/21/2011

A chiropractor has given me the only relief I ever received. He is also a licensed masage therapist. He has never done any "violent" adjustments to me. Only gentle massages and movements of my vertebrrae and tail bone. I go there with sharp shooting pains and he works them out for me. I still suffer from much pain and he can't stoop all of it but it does help to get rid of some of it. I have a cyst on my sciatic nerve, 3 herniated discs including L4/L5, DDD, sacroiliitis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, etc. I don't care to remember everything cause I try not to focus on the diagnoses..too depressing. Maybe you could try a licensed massage therapist or a different chiropractor (All are not good).

lostlife65 12/21/2011

My chiro is very good as well. She doesn't over adjust or cause more pain. She does basically the same thing you get from yours. I just can't stand going constantly and then still having the discs get herniated every 3-4 months.

deleted_user 12/21/2011

Check out non-surgical decompression therapy before you even consider any types of surgery.

Doctors all over the world use this therapy program for disc related back issues and stenosis.

Google "Non-surgical decompression therapy" and you will see a bunch of doctors near your home.

My best thoughts and prayers for your pain relief.

Thomas M. Murray, D.C.

deleted_user 12/21/2011

Definitely exhaust every avenue you can before opting for surgery. I've heard one back surgery leads to another and people still suffer.

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