Have you tried cymbalta??? It's recently been approved for chronic low back (lumbar) pain,,,,,

I have had INCREDIBLE luck with it,,,,,I am barely in any pain at all, most days I am in zero pain,,,,,and i have the very same issue,,,,,

it might be worth a try,,,,,,,,within a week of beginning cymbalta, I was walking around Disney world for 4 hours,,,,,,

and it's only gotten better and better every week thereafter,,,,,,,,I do have the occasional mild pain,,,,,,,I still have to be careful,,,,,I will never be completely pain free,,,,,,,,,but it's definitely a HUGE imiprovement, I have my life back again, and it's MUCH better than surgery!

I suggest getting multiple opinions from neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons. I had the first 2 surgeries from a neuro and I am convinced he did something wrong. What should have been a fairly routine surgery is now a nightmare. So after those failed, I received a recommendation from an ortho in San Fran (about 3 hours from where we live) and he is known for fixing surgeries that have gone wrong. To make a long story short, the cage the neuro put in was 2 far to one side so my spine was unstable and would never fuse. If anything, the pain in my back and going down my right leg was worse. And now I have another disk that needed to come out.

So the ortho explained he had to do a back/front/back surgery or a 360. 1st surgery he opens my back, removes the rods and adds more screw. You would think that would be simple but they put in an epidural and a morphine pump. 2 days later he opened my stomach (both incisions were about 5-6 inches), took out the cage from the neuro, took out the new bulging disk, and put in new cages between L4-L5 and L5-S1. Then I was rolled over, my back was opened again and he put in the rods and tightened everything down. I cannot begin to tell you how much pain I was in. My total hospital stay was 8 days. That was in February. He still has me walking and resting. The nerve pain is back, which discouraged the doctor. He had hoped the surgery would have taken care of more of the nerve problem. So now it heals for the next year or so and if the nerves to not heal and the pain does not go away, he is going to try a spinal cord stimulator to block the pain. I am not sure I will ever work again. All of this has taken place in 14 months.

So please, take this very seriously. Get multiple referrals, ask questions, take your time and make the right decision. I made the mistake and I can't take it back.

I agree that you need more opinions ~ do NOT agree to surgery without asking other surgeons what they think. Surgery should be a LAST RESORT after all other options have failed. Pain is NEVER a reason for surgery. Surgery only corrects mechanical problems -- it does NOT correct pain. Chances are good that you will have the same pain or worse after surgery. Also, there is the problem of the domino effect -- the areas above/below the surgery site will fail because they have to take on more of the load ~ then you will need more surgery. Surgery just begets more surgery. The doctors normally do NOT tell the patients this.

If I were you I would try physical therapy first. The American Medical Assoc. said that last year, the people who had physical therapy had the SAME results as the people who had surgery!!! so in other words, there was a lot of unneeded surgeries. That's scary. Most surgical patients would have done just as good if they'd had therapy. So why not try that?? Chances are you'll do fine.

Best of luck and let us know how you come out. God bless. Hugs, Lee

my question is do you have herniated disk ? with nerves compression or ? just bulging disk, and sciatica ? thanks to update your condition

I had my l-4 replaced with a cage, and then got into a wreck in my volvo, I would say go for the surgery because mine was working, now I am on pain management, so you can always use that as a back up if you have too. I had a very good neurosugeron tho, I would say investigate them and see what some of his patients say about him, and what his rating at the hospital would be. Mine did not have a good bedside manner but he was one hell of a surgeon. I wish they had more like him. He was top of his class. I hope thie helps you in a good way. Now I am on pain management but again that is from a car wreck. Best of luck to you.
Kase

NOt sure my problems are the same as yours, but the debate I have with myself is the same: ie, surgery vs: no surgery. I've been treated with pain specialists for low back pain for about 4 years. It is always important to choose a competent person to guide you through this because you may need to be on Opioids.. if necesary. They are not the scary monstoers some make them out to be, provided you do not have a tendency to abuse drugs. They are a godsend to those of us in pain and makes us functional. And of course there are many other drugs to try, including Cymbalt, which the FDA recently approved for back and musculoskeletal pain. Thje epderals did help me so I plan on doing that agian soon. Ad I feel physical therapy will help too, but I live in a rurual area with limited medical care so have to find someone out of the area who I could work with. Anyway, surgery is not the only answer, but it can help in some people. I have three friends who have all beenfitted from the surgury of the low back. You are wise to make it your choice and as a result of your investigations. Good luck to you and let us know how you are getting along. Peace to you!

Great suggestions here. ALl I can add is second and third opinions. I had spine surgery and now have chronic pain from the surgery. But some people are relieved of pain with surgery. I had no choice as my surgery was to save my life, I had to have it. If it weren't for that and just for pain, I'd get 3 opinions, and at least one from johns hopkins, mayo or cleveland clinic or a famous place as they have more experience with surgery that is rare or involves nerves. Not that they are able to avoid nerve damage/pain more but maybe. The only thing with getting surgery that isn't local is that if you suffer nerve damage from surgery, local doctors may not want to help you. I was told to go to the hospital that did my surgery!!! I think that was because of sheer 'professional jealousy'!! And it's best to heal wherever you go for surgery (if you do) because they can take care of any post op infections or complications. Again local doctors don't want to help sometimes.
Just some things to think about.
My best to you!

I'd try pain management first, but it depends on your case. I've had some success w acupuncture and light exercise, meds. God bless u.

I agree with all of the ones that said to get at least 3 opinions before jumping on the surgery van wagon. Surgery does not take care of pain, surgery just repairs the structure of your spine, even after surgery the pain remains, and in my case is worst than before. Listen to us that went through the dissapointment of surgery, and you will be OK.

Take care,