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...
Ok, I have a dr apt with the work comp dr on tues day.I have a hernated disk in my lower back and so far his approch has been pain contorll.Im running out of light duty time at work and fear loosing my career!I want to get back to work and feel pain controll is a wasting time kinda thing.I feel we have addressed what the health issue is and he shuld be trying to fix it insted of just contorlling pain.Iv gone threw 2 esi that made me sick but after a painful recovery peroud that included two er visit to sedate me after words for pain they induced it did give some relife but no more than my tens un it does.Shuld I be requesting my Dr to the surgry to repair the disk?What would be the next step and how would a dr go abought repairing a hernated dis and how long would the recovery time be?Any help would be appreshated.
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
2nd doctor, after having a discogram, pushed to have fusion done. This was about 6 years ago and at the time, didn't have internet access, where I can gain knowledge with all the pro's and con's. My PC doctor did try to get me into other doctors, for a 2nd opinion and she could not find a doctor within an hour's distance from where I live, that would consider even looking at me. So I was pretty much left with what doctor said and did think, he knew what he was talking about-wrong thought, so I found out.
If I was to do over again-I wouldn't consider any surgery, or at least without doing alot of checking out other options first. 2nd surgery was a fusion from L4 to S1 and haven't been out of pain since!!!! this was when they found the cut in spinal cord and had to be stitched, having my following hospital stay unbearable-flat on my back for near 4 days, not even allowed a pillow, for this to heal. I was sent home on the 5th day, and could barely walk. I would never wish this on anyone-even my worst enemy. My biggest suggestion to you-don't push surgery till all options have been exhausted.
2nd thoughts with you-is dealing with comp! My sister in law is dealing with alot of what I started with. She is going through comp. Everything they go to do, first has to be approved by comp. doctor and as Tonya said-comp. is looking out for employer. She has to wait near 2 months for most anything they suggest for her to do or try. Getting pain medications, with the policies Comp has, she often has trouble receiving her medication, before running out and suffers a few days with no medication. I can't really say all that she's gone through dealing with Comp but far more than I have. If comp feels it unneccessary, they won't do. Most times they have denied different treatments for her, a year later they then approve-why put her through a year of not even trying? But I see her go through alot of bullcrap, I think anyways, because she is dealing with Comp.
3rd thoughts to this. I have seen alot of people have laminectomy's done and have returned to work and able to return to do alot of their daily activities. So am not against this but do suggest other conventional treatments have been tried first. I personally feel my own experience with this, was my doctor. But if a fusion was ever suggested, I would hold off till you are extremely in pain and all other treatments available have been tried with no success and even then, be sure this is what is needed and what "you" want. I felt pressured into doing (now)and led to believe, I would only get worse with time and would eventually beg to have done. I wish now-I did just that. Many newer treatments they can offer now-I can't-because I have the fusion. I lost alot of flexibility with doing anything and my quality of life is about a quarter of what I once had. I live in chronic pain everyday. Pain meds give me little relief, may help with intensity for a short while. I've been through the series of injections several times, with no relief at all. I've tried massage therapy, limited chiropractic treatment (because of fusion), physical therapy, aquatic therapy. I can't tell you all I've been through and still finding no relief.
I now have a nerve stimulator installed ( last Nov.) and as yet haven't found a program that helps. They keep telling me not to give up with this, its just finding what program works for me. Has anyone out there have any luck wih this? I know I'm getting quite discouraged and to the point of saying the h--- with it and do as I want despite the pain. all that I've been through has put a strain on my marriage. It has affected much of every aspect of my life and quite simply feel like giving up on trying anymore.
Don't know if I helped you any but do think very carefully with any thoughts of surgery. Be as absolutely sure as you can be, that this is what "you" want. I just discovered this site 2 weeks ago and wished I had 7 years ago, when it all started with me. I feel I would have made better informed decisons, if I had of. Good luck with whatever decisions you make.
I also hired an attorney when I got the results of my MRI.
My most sincere advice would be to do what we all do: use to the internet and research your disc problem and the latest ways of correcting or improving it, then combine that with your doctors advice.
Research and learn about your back.
Research all you can about alternatives to surgery then move on and learn about the corrective surgical procedures that address your particular condition.
So many patients just hand their back pain over to a doctor to do as they please only to end up with the same pain or more pain after surgery - then they, like clockwork, blame the doctor for his poor discretion.
Don't fall into that. Do as much research as you can *before* you commit to any treatment or surgery. The best thing you'll ever do for your back is learning about it! Good luck, Davidsgirl!