26 and in pain

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jeff82

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I'm 26 years old and was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease last year. Since being diagnosed, I've been sent to physical therapy three different times, had five epidural injections, gone through chiropractic sessions, tried different meRAB, found out I have scar tissue and nerve damage and surgery for a herniated disc between L5-S1. Now, I just found out today that I have to go back to the surgeon to see if he can help because I'm still in extreme pain. I feel like I am a prisoner in my own body and no one understanRAB. Please tell me it gets better.
 
hi there,i have been like you for the past 3 years on l5 s1 and i tried everything possible before i decided to have it fused,i am now 12 weeks post op and i feel great,i have no back pain and i can do things that i would never have been able to do before the op,dont get me wrong i watch what i do and i sometimes get pains in my thighs but its early days and nothing i cant handle,i havent started pt yet so hopefully that will help me with my thighs,i thought i would be in agony after the op but i was pleasently surpised but then everyone is different and people react differently to pain,so to answer your question,yes life can get better and i hope my life continues to get better,but its a big decision to make and one only you can make too,but at the moment im glad i had the op done,
take care
kezzo:)
 
Thank you Kezzo so much for replying. I really appreciate it. I'm glad to hear that you are doing so much better. I am considering all my options. When I got ready for my first surgery, My PM doctor told me that it was just supposed to buy me some time until I was old enough for fusion surgery. The thing that I am worried about is that I have degenerative disc disease in my entire lurabar and at least one of my discs in my neck. I will probably have more in the middle of my back when I go for my mri. What if I have fusion surgery and I have problems with other discs throughout the rest of my back. I work on and drag race cars. Right now I can't really do any of it. I'm really upset with the whole deal and my wife has a hard time understanding at times. I try to hide the pain so that we can do things because I feel bad, but that just causes more problems. What helped you through it all? Anything would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeff
 
Hi there, read your post, and only those of us with back pain understand. Be gentle on your wife. I think its harder on the family than those going through it. Stay as positive as you can. I'm 9 years now with the same problems, 18 procedures/ops later, you just have to hang in there the brain is a powerful thing. I've just started on Norpan patches 1 month now it's not without side effects but I was running out of options. I have never felt so good in the past 9 years. Yes I'm still under a pain psycologist could not live without him. He helps you keep sane. You really do have to keep it together.
Good luck with all your treatment. Hang in there!:)
 
hi jeff,you seem to have alot more wrong with your spine than i have and people have told me that the disc above the fused one could weaken in time but no one can say what that time is so i thought it was worth the risk,i havent worked for 2 years,it took that long to do all the tests and physio and then to decide to be fused, but i live in england so i get help with money and all my treatment is free,i dont know how it works over there,i know you have to have insurance,i am 40 and i suppose i have a really good husband who looks after me but he works full time,i am looking forward to hopefully getting a job but only part time to start with just to see how i go but it will have to be a certain job cos we cant lift or bend or twist for so long while i am fusing,it must be painful for you to do your job because before my op i couldnt bend down at all so it must be hard for you getting in and out of cars,i know someone who was fused when they was only 21 and they 40 now and never had any trouble and you would think the success rate would be higher now than 19 years ago but who knows each person has to decide on there own.when do you go for a mri scan
take care
kezzo:)
 
Jacqui, I thank you for taking the time to read my post. My thoughts are with you. I can't imagine being in that kind of pain for as long as you have. My wife is good, but she gets frustrated and I see that. I try to stay as positive as possible, but some days are harder than others and she hates to see me like that. I appreciate your worRAB of wisdom on the situation.
Kezzo, working is hard. I have to keep myself doped up and my lab partner helps me out alot. I couldn't get through a night of work without him. It's good that you were able to not work while you were being treated. Here I can only be off work for three months and then I lose my position in the company. If I'm off longer than six months, I lose my job altogether. I am waying all my options anyway. If fusion is the best route for me, then I wll do it. No job in the world is worth this kind of pain. How do you guys deal with the mental toll? Usually my way of "escaping" is to work on cars or drag race. Unfortunately, I can't do those things. That makes me mored depressed and I have no way to take my mind off of it.

Thanks for all of your help
Jeff
 
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