No, I did not avoided surgery, I had the surgery, but mine was on 3 levels..... Hun, if this Doctor of yours refuses to give you anything but Norco, I would fired him! If he is a true pain management Doctor, he needs to understand that the pain that you are in is not for Lortab, and that you should be taking an extended release medication and not one that just gives relieve for a few hours.
You need to ask him for an extended release medication, there are many in the market; Oxy CR, Avinza, etc.... then he can prescribe the Percocet 7.5 for break through pain, so that way you can take it when the pain gets to be too much for you.

I was taking Avinza and that medication you only take one every 12 hours, and it works beautifully! Right now I am on Methadone, that is another medication that is extended release and that works great for pain. You need to have better pain management if you are going to be able to avoid the ER.

As far as getting your issues fix without surgery, honestly that is not going to be possible. Disc's do not regenerate like bones or nerves do, when they are gone, they are gone! Multi-level fusions usually do not work, but one level fusions do. Also you can look into getting a disc replacement sugery (ADR) Artificial disk replacement would be a good option for you, but you need to go see a Neurosurgeon that specializes in ADR in order to get a good opinion on that type of surgery.

I know that a lot of people are completely against spinal surgeries, I am not. Even though might multi-level fusion did not work, I have about 5 friends and acquaintances that had one level fusions, and are now pain free and living great lives, so don't listen to the negative surgery talk, go with what your head and heart tells you to do.
You are the ones living with this pain, WE are NOT, so if surgery or ADR is your only solution, go for it, is your body and you are the one suffering...

To learn more about ADR (artificial disc replacement), go to www.adrsupport.org and ask people there about how the procedure went for them and if they know of any Doc's in your area, etc. Hun, I don't know if you want to live in this much pain, this is your decision, but make sure to look at all of your options and to make the best decision for YOU, not because of what anyone else says... OK?

Hugs,
Tipper

Thank you. I am starting my research now. I see my surgeon Monday and Pain Dr. Tuesday. The percoset is already helping the pain or it may still be from demoral don't think so. Why did yours not work? Too many levels? Dr. told me last year I needed PLIF with decompression. But now something is on nerves. Avinza is on my insurance and methadone also oxy listed 4 times does not say oxy cr so I will have to call ins unless you know which one is oxy cr. You are right in what I need. I was waiting to hear from you. Is Percoset oxycodone? zi believe I have 2 herniated discs or collapsed discs so does that mean 2 levels.
Thanks
s

Yes, you really need to weight in your options because it really sucks to be in that much pain! Percocet is Oxycodone with Tylenol, too much Tylenol has been proven to cause liver damage, so if I was you, I will like Oxycodone without the Tylenol, whic is Oxy IR, and then since the Oxycodone is working for you ask the Doctor to give you Oxydone ER (extended release), to take regularly. Then the IR will be for the break through pain.

My fusion did not work due to surgeon error. The surgeon introduced this type of cadaver bone on my 3 levels thru the back instead of the front like the manufacturer requires, and it is started to break off, so my fusion failure has everything to do with the moron surgeon and not with the surgery itself, but multi-level fusions have a lower success rate than single level ones.

Yes, if you have 2 collapse discs, that will mean a 2 level fusion, if you go with that.... or you can have one with the artificial disc and then one fuse, that can be done also. You have several choices, so keep your mind open and allow the Doctor's to give you their best advice. Take care and if I can be of help, let me know.

Tipper

Well I felt good for a while today and I decided to take my little dog and go to pet store and get some food and I had to get home could hardly stand up. Guess that is why I need Ex Release. Did you have these feelings before surgery or now?

the extended release oxy is often listed as Oxycontin rather than Oxycodone. I used to be on both.

Well.... Mine were all before surgery, now I am just in pain because I have a bunch of pieces of bone in my spinal canal pressing against my nerves from the cadaver bones breaking off, but that is the way it goes.....

Brendaa,
What do you want to do long term? I would hate for you to be in pain for ever, now i am not saying surgery is a fix all but it might help some of the pain, I had back and neck surgery and the neck worked and the back like 50%.As far a pain, Have the doctor give you something that makes you comfortable, long term meds in my opinion are better then the short acting ones especially if you have been a long term pain patient.
Even with surgery you are never out of the woods, alot of us who had surgery will have flare ups every once in awhile, but at least we get some relief part of the time.
avoiding surgery in my opinion is like filling up a tire with a hole in it, it will work for awhile before it goes flat again.
Good luck