ADVISE ...4 OPTIONS OF WHAT SHOULD I DO?????
AND ONE IS NOT CUTTING OFF MY FEET..I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THE BACK...I HAVE A BULGING DISC AT L3-4 IT IS THE AREA THAT RUNS INTO THE LEGS AND FEET..I HAD NO IDEAL HOW WEAK MY LEGS WERE UNTIL A COUPLE WEEKS AGO...BUT HERE ARE WHAT I THINK ARE MY OPTIONS
1..SEE MY SONS CHOIRPRACTOR WHO PUT HIS BACK IN PLACE.
2...CONTINUE PT WHICH I HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE JAN WITH NO CHANGE.
3. CHECK INTO HAVING THE PAIN PUMP PUT IN(BEEN TRYING TO AVOID THAT FOR 12 YEARS)
4..SURGERY...YES MY NEUROSURGEON WAS A JERK..BUT A GREAT BACK SURGEON SO I WOULD STAY WITH HIM FOR THE SUGERY.
IF THE CHOIRPRACTOR WORKS IT WOULD BE ALMOST FAST RELIEF...
IF I DO SURGERY...IT WILL BE INSTANT RELIEF WITH RECOVERY TIME.
IF I CONTINUE WITH PT AND HAVE STILL HAD NO HELP WELL IT WILL JUST TAKE LONGER TO GET WELL.
PAIN PUMP IF I DO THAT IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF MY PAIN...
SO THERE ARE MY OPTIONS...ANY SUGGESTIONS..
1..SEE MY SONS CHOIRPRACTOR WHO PUT HIS BACK IN PLACE.
2...CONTINUE PT WHICH I HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE JAN WITH NO CHANGE.
3. CHECK INTO HAVING THE PAIN PUMP PUT IN(BEEN TRYING TO AVOID THAT FOR 12 YEARS)
4..SURGERY...YES MY NEUROSURGEON WAS A JERK..BUT A GREAT BACK SURGEON SO I WOULD STAY WITH HIM FOR THE SUGERY.
IF THE CHOIRPRACTOR WORKS IT WOULD BE ALMOST FAST RELIEF...
IF I DO SURGERY...IT WILL BE INSTANT RELIEF WITH RECOVERY TIME.
IF I CONTINUE WITH PT AND HAVE STILL HAD NO HELP WELL IT WILL JUST TAKE LONGER TO GET WELL.
PAIN PUMP IF I DO THAT IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF MY PAIN...
SO THERE ARE MY OPTIONS...ANY SUGGESTIONS..
Replies
Well Sandi I have very similar problems, I have Bulges at the L2-3, L3-4 and most prominently at the L4-5 and L5-S1. Also have significant arthritic degenerative changes in the spinal column. My right leg has been hurting for years. It is getting worse and worse and it is getting to the point that I need to try something to get it fixed....what....I don\'t know. Like you I do not care for the neurologist I went to but unlike you I will not go back to him. Tomorrow I have an appointment with my PCP and he will give me advice, I trust him. My Neurologist told me to take some anti-inflammatory like aspirin. I had a real melt down in his office and he got discussed with me and walked out of the room saying he would be back, but he didn\'t come back, the nurse came back and gave me a prescription for B12 shots for my major fatigue and an appointment card for November and then lead me to the exit door.
Just FYI for me I would pick the back surgery to get it fixed, but with a different neurologist or orthopedic doctor. I take so many drugs (none for pain) that the idea of medication for chronic pain I don\'t feel is a viable option. But that\'s just me.
Are you up for a 2nd neurologist ? Ask your PCP who he would send his wife or mom to. A 2nd opinion will not hurt, before you decide on surgery.
I do not know about a bone cracker, ask you PCP first. I don\'t want you to do anything to make your back worse.
Hugs Penny
Wow. What a tough decision. I wish I had words of wisdom. I trust you will make the decision that is best for you.
Love and tight hugs, Marlene
I sure don\'t have any suggestions. The only thing I would do is get a second opinion before I opted for surgery, even if you use the surgeon that you are with now. Surgery at our age is very serious, but sometimes it is the only way to get any relief. Please take care of yourself, Nell
Be sure to get a percentage from a back Dr. on how much this surgery will help you. Mine is only 40 percent that surgery would help and for me I am not having my back operated on. Then again I have an entire different problem my vertebrae. Good luck and get a second opinion also....XOX, Debbie
Sandi, those are tough choices for sure. I guess I would get a second opinion and find out what the percentages for a cure are with the surgery before I went further. If you get relief from chiropractic, then I would probably do that in the meantime. Gentle hugs, Linda
Well definitely leave your feet on:) I\'d bag the PT since you should have seen some improvement by now. I think a pain pump just masks the problem. So now two choices. I personally don\'t believe in chiropractors but that\'s just my opinion. Some people swear by them and have good results. If you have bulging discs what would they do for those? I would do as some of the others have said and get a second opinion and then see what the percentage of success is with surgery. Surgery has risks and recovery can be long but they have many new techniques and with a skilled surgeon I\'ve seen patients I\'ve taken care of with immediate pain relief. Best of luck. Much love. Robin
Sandi, I will pray that you make the right decision. My only advice is to not use the pain pump option unless it is the last possible option. I wish you the best and am sending my love.