Hi Sammy ~ Why can't you continue the stretching exercises?? Perhaps increase the number of stretches you do? I say this because surgery probably will make you worse. I'm not making this up - it happens all too often.

The American Medical Association said that last year, people who had spinal surgeries had the SAME result as people who had physical therapy. In other words, there were alot of needless surgeries. In the U.S. there has been an ALARMING increase in spinal surgeries --- when physical therapy could help just as much.

The problem with surgery is that after you've had it, the level below the surgical site FAILS -- then you need another surgery. This is called the domino effect. It goes on and on -- it's a vicious cycle. I had 2 open surgeries -- the first one was for a herniated disc, and after that was done, the level below failed -- so I needed another surgery. After THAT surgery was done, the level below THAT failed. I refused any more surgery. This was before the internet so i couldn;t research anything very well -- but I have since then and the statistics are amazing.

Also PAIN is NEVER a reason for surgery. Surgery does NOT fix pain. It only corrects mechanical problems but not pain. Chances are good that you will have the same pain if not worse after surgery. This is almost ALWAYS true. If people get pain relief, it's just a fluke. Read medical journals on this, and you'll find out.

If I were you I would stick with physical therapy. Keep doing stretches & perhaps do pool therapy. You'll be much better off. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

I was just evaluated for physical therapy,and I start Wednesday.I know at first it will be worse as far as pain goes,but I'm praying that it will help in the long run.I know the stigma we all face when anyone mentions pain meds,but you might want to try that along with the therapy before surgery.And the therapist I saw said that to try to escape the pain,we adjust our bodies to sit or stand at a certain angle....which puts us out of whack even more.Try walking.Five minutes the first day.Ten the next.Tell you what: I'll start with you!I'll do it,too.I understand how depressing it gets-I cried all night tonight.But we have to be tough and keep going.What other choice do we have? By the way,if it rains tomorrow,I'm not walking! lol

Thank you Leeall and Shellkay for your respones, it means so much. Yes, I will do more stretching exercises, and yes I will pursue more physical therapy. Last year I had weeks of physical theraphy, however I was in worse shape then so they basically used heat and electical stimulus since I could barely walk. Maybe now they can give me more exercises. I just panicked because I have not felt this kind of compression before now. I even feel it in my ribs. No, I am not running for surgery, I will try all other alternatives. I will also try to walk more, since I did get discouraged and stopped trying to take daily walks. Thank you again for your support. Sammycat2

One exercise that you can do to see if your hips are in alignment is lay down on flat surface (make sure there is something solid to help you get up), lift up your behind and hold for five seconds then lay back down. Keep your arms to your sides.
I kept popping my hip out just enough to create the pain, and doing this helped me to be able to get back to walking again.
Hope you feel better soon!

I can't stand some of the stuff they do to me to help me but it "hurts" so I use the swimming pool they have for my PT. I found the swimming pool does help take the weight off and I can do this walking in the water.
They have some type of streeching that they put weights on my ankles, But that hurts, but I grind and bear it. But today I am not at the pool.
I have medicade and it only pays for 15 times.
So we went out and purchase above ground swimming pool to keep up with my PT.
They told me that would be something I could do is find a pool when my time ran out.

Have you try the water/pool?

it helps me.

Best wishes

Thanks again for the responses - I will try that excercise Mideyebrow. Ironically, my left hip has been hurting. I thought that I was putting too much weight on the hip while using my cane. Desertbee, I wish the PT here had a pool, but they do not. Cannot wait till the summer and I can use the community outdoor pool, since I know water excersises and swimming are great! Wish I had an indoor pool close to me, but do not - live in a very rural area. Thanks again for your suggestions, I really appreciate it.