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back surgery - 11/22/2006 4:43:41 AM

pahunkboy

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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/22/health/22spine.html?th&emc=th

People with ruptured disks in their lower backs usually recover whether or not they have surgery, researchers are reporting today. The study, a large trial, found that surgery appeared to relieve pain more quickly but that most people recovered eventually and that there was no harm in waiting.,,,,,,

My ex told me this years ago. I heeded his warning. A smart man really.

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RE: back surgery - 11/22/2006 6:01:33 AM

sub4hire

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How much pain are you still in after the fact? For how many year's now?

Doug goes in Jan for surgery...his pain will never go away as his disks are eroding.

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RE: back surgery - 11/22/2006 7:18:05 AM

Mercnbeth

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/22/health/22spine.html?th&emc=th
People with ruptured disks in their lower backs usually recover whether or not they have surgery, researchers are reporting today. The study, a large trial, found that surgery appeared to relieve pain more quickly but that most people recovered eventually and that there was no harm in waiting.,,,,,,
My ex told me this years ago. I heeded his warning. A smart man really.

I have L4, L5, S1, S1 damage. I woke up on 1/1/99 and couldn't move. It took a few months of physical therapy to finally move without shooting pain. At the final insurance allowed doctor visit he told me I had a choice. Loss weight or expect to go under the knife.The problem was it was difficult to go any serious training with a bad back. But the physical therapist gave me a set of exercises to strengthen the back muscles. I started walking every day and did 'push aways'; pushing all the food I knew was fattening 'away'.

His prognosis, and everything else I read, said that surgery should be considered the last resort. I had a good doctor that told me unless I took the stress of the extra pounds away I'd be facing a life of constant back pain. "Successful" surgery was defined as being able to walk afterward. The only other advice I got was if you were going to have surgery, have it done by a neurosurgeon.

40 pounds and 5 years later I haven't had any reoccurring pain. It used to be 60 pounds but it's such a long ago memory I gained back 20 pounds. I blame beth for that!

Based upon your picture it doesn't seem that weight is an issue. I'm guessing you also do all those 'special' back stretching exercises. I'd still recommend that going through surgery should be the last option. Even then, there are all types. I was considering one treatment that actually heated the damaged disk with a wire, making it pliable and putting it back in the shape it was designed. After 6 years I'm sure there are many other alternatives.

Keep fighting for yourself. Remember, most treatment recommended by doctors and/or 'managed care' facilities are cost based decisions. Make sure you have that in mind. Pain management and quality of life should be considered on a before and after surgery prognosis. When pressed no surgeon could assure me at 45 that after the surgery I'd have no pain, or even less intense pain. I was determined to try any and everything else first.

Good luck!

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RE: back surgery - 11/22/2006 10:09:30 AM

sophia37

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Yup. I agree. Surgery is last resort. I could tell you too many horror stories of people who got surgury with terrible results. Life altering and permanent damage.

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RE: back surgery - 11/22/2006 12:12:45 PM

KatyLied

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My aunt had back surgery and it helped her a lot with pain management. She also had some sort of disc deteroriation problem.

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RE: back surgery - 11/22/2006 12:22:51 PM

pahunkboy

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Gloria, the point is - that it is the very very very LAST resort.

im told once they start cutting into u they keep on having too

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RE: back surgery - 11/22/2006 12:40:37 PM

Lashra

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I've got a ruptured disk and the bone fragments are laying on a nerve causing severe muscle spasms. My doc is suggesting strongly that I have surgery and I really do not want too. But I can't live with this pain either. Its a tough call.

~Lashra

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RE: back surgery - 11/22/2006 2:17:52 PM

Level

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I've had two back surgeries. The first one actually made things worse, I began getting numbness in my left leg. About a year later, and after losing some weight, a second surgery was done, with better laser equipment, and it helped out a lot.

The docs told me if the second one didn't work, the only surgical alternative would be to take part of my hip bone and fuse it to my damaged discs..... no thanks, I said.

I know a lot of men and women that have had back surgeries, and most tell me they wished they had never gone that route.

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RE: back surgery - 11/22/2006 3:53:28 PM

dekley

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I had back surgery (disk removed) almost 25 years ago now. I couldn't walk, or even sit up for that matter, for over a week. When I finally decided to go to the hospital, I had to be taken in an ambulance and carried in on a stretcher. I was able to walk out of the hospital though, so I guess mine was a success.

My back had been bothering me for a good 10 or 12 years before the surgery, and it kept getting progressively worse as time went on. I'm pretty careful now about using my legs instead of my back when lifting anything heavy, but I've been pretty much pain free and unrestricted as far as physical activities go for the last 25 years now.

I'd imagine back surgery has gotten much more sophisticated since I had mine, but so far (knock on wood), I'd consider my surgery to have been pretty successful. YMMV of course.

dekley

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RE: back surgery - 11/25/2006 11:41:07 PM

CandleInTheWind

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are you all speaking of ruptured or herniated discs?? they are entirely different animals..I have been dealing with 2 maybe three by now ruptured discs...and well the back pain hasnt gotten any better regardless of what i did a 60+ weight loss had no effect i had a tummy tuch and removed about 15lbs off of my belly and tightened up the ab muscles to no avail any helpfulhints...I am unable to walk more than a half block without a stroller ( i usea stroller rather than a walker) it makes me feel less like an old lady!

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RE: back surgery - 11/26/2006 12:06:39 AM

MstrssScarlet

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My husband has had four back surgeries now. For him there was no choice. He is still dealing with a lot of pain and numbness. As someone else already mentioned, success is usually considered (by the doctor) as an increased range of motion and function, not a decrease in pain. Of course everyone hopes that the pain will decrease, but it's a crap shoot. The reason most people have more pain after their first surgery is because of the scar tissue that builds up and presses on the spinal nerves. There's still no good way to remedy this dilema because every time they go in (even to simply to remove the existing scar tissue) it causes even MORE scar tissue. If you have bone fragments floating around near your spine, the doctor is probably concerned that one or more of them may cause even more damage by lodging someplace in your spine. Ask him to explain to you exactly why he thinks this is your only option, what the alternatives are, and what he expects to accomplish by doing the surgery. After watching my husband suffer, my heart goes out to you.
Mistress Scarlet

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RE: back surgery - 11/26/2006 5:18:03 AM

windchymes

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Back surgery WAS my last resort last January, my L4-5 and L5-S1 discs had deteriorated away to nothing, and my vertebrae were slipping forward and downward and compressing my spinal cord, (called Spondylolithsesis, if you can say it!). I did months of physical therapy, lost weight, had epidural injections for pain management, but surgery was the only thing that was going to rebuild my spine. I was terrified, but gave it a shot.

Best thing I ever did, I had a fabulous neurosurgeon and it healed beautifully, and it's like I never had a problem. I would do it again tomorrow if it got me where I am today, no pain at all, fully functional, mow my own grass, lifted my own air conditioner into the window, can bend, twist, and carry my baby granddaughter around.

The best advice I can give is to get recommendations from people to find the most top-notch neurosurgeon you can find (and that your insurance accepts!). Granted, it was a really rough and painful recovery, but after I got over that first week agony, it was uphill from there.

I know not everyone has such great results, but I just want you to know that it IS possible!

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RE: back surgery - 11/26/2006 6:15:23 AM

pahunkboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/22/health/22spine.html?th&emc=th
People with ruptured disks in their lower backs usually recover whether or not they have surgery, researchers are reporting today. The study, a large trial, found that surgery appeared to relieve pain more quickly but that most people recovered eventually and that there was no harm in waiting.,,,,,,
My ex told me this years ago. I heeded his warning. A smart man really.

I have L4, L5, S1, S1 damage. I woke up on 1/1/99 and couldn't move. It took a few months of physical therapy to finally move without shooting pain. At the final insurance allowed doctor visit he told me I had a choice. Loss weight or expect to go under the knife.The problem was it was difficult to go any serious training with a bad back. But the physical therapist gave me a set of exercises to strengthen the back muscles. I started walking every day and did 'push aways'; pushing all the food I knew was fattening 'away'.

His prognosis, and everything else I read, said that surgery should be considered the last resort. I had a good doctor that told me unless I took the stress of the extra pounds away I'd be facing a life of constant back pain. "Successful" surgery was defined as being able to walk afterward. The only other advice I got was if you were going to have surgery, have it done by a neurosurgeon.

40 pounds and 5 years later I haven't had any reoccurring pain. It used to be 60 pounds but it's such a long ago memory I gained back 20 pounds. I blame beth for that!

Based upon your picture it doesn't seem that weight is an issue. I'm guessing you also do all those 'special' back stretching exercises. I'd still recommend that going through surgery should be the last option. Even then, there are all types. I was considering one treatment that actually heated the damaged disk with a wire, making it pliable and putting it back in the shape it was designed. After 6 years I'm sure there are many other alternatives.

Keep fighting for yourself. Remember, most treatment recommended by doctors and/or 'managed care' facilities are cost based decisions. Make sure you have that in mind. Pain management and quality of life should be considered on a before and after surgery prognosis. When pressed no surgeon could assure me at 45 that after the surgery I'd have no pain, or even less intense pain. I was determined to try any and everything else first.

Good luck!