Anyone have advice

  • Thread starter Thread starter paulo60
  • Start date Start date
P

paulo60

Guest
Hi all, my back went out about ten days ago, either due to a strain, a sprain, or as a result of a herniated disc which showed up on a MRI I had done of the lurabar spine in Deceraber. It is quite disconcerting to not be able to sit for longer than 5 minutes, or do much of anything without some fear that I may make matters worse. I do have a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon the first week of February, but since he is a surgeon, I am not optimistic that he will prescribe non-surgical interventions. I don't know how much bed rest is good before it becomes too much bed rest. I do have a fairly bad case of osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, but I am uneasy about the idea of surgery to correct something that may correct itself; but I am a bit lost as to what if anything I can be doing. Any help would be appreciated....Paulo:(
 
Hi, normally insurance company have a standard of care/protocol before they allow surgery. It includes: physical therapy and epidural injection (at least 2 sometimes 3) and/or nerve block.

Good luck and I hope you start feeling better soon.
 
Hi Dietpepper,

Thanks for the info. I already know that this doctor does not do epidural injections or pain management of any sort. His nurse made it clear that all he does is surgery. The only reason I am seeing him is to get another mri of the thoracic spine done as there is some reason to believe I may have cauda equina syndrome, but won't know until I have the T-MRI done....Paulo
 
Hi Paul. Most surgeons today defer all the former duties like injections and such to other professional groups anymore. Surgeons stick to surgery these days. Hopefully he will refer you to a good PM to try the injection route.

Most surgeons today are not cut happy and try many non-invasive treatments before surgery is ever put on the table, unless the patient is in an emergency condition to warrant it right off. Those are pretty rare.

You should try conservative treatments before considering any thoughts of surgery. As you said. .you may be able to stave off surgery through PT, rest, and medication. and with all that, the disc may heal on its own.

I have one that healed on its own and another that did not.

Keep us posted.
 
Justoneofus, Thanks for the reply, however, that bit about surgeons deferring surgery has not in my experience, been true. That may be due to the severity of my low back condition, but have had two previous surgical consultations with surgeons, for the C-spine and Lurabar, both of who mapped out a lengthy surgical report along with recommendations, they seemed more than eager to perform surgery. I have also had herniated discs resolves themselves, and would not consider surgery were that the problem. Right now I am kinda of in the dark as to what this latest problem is related to: disc herniation, lurabar strain, or lurabar sprain. There is the outside chance I could have a condition called hydronephrosis of the right kidney, which might also cause the pain. I have done all the bed rest I am going to do this time around. It has been beneficial, and it has decreased the acute phase. But I need to get out tomorrow and exercise, even if it is mild, the longer I lay up the more depressed I get and that also is not good for healing. Maybe you will be right with the next surgeon i see, and he will recommend conservative treatment. More than likely he will order more imaging, for the thoracic spine, to rule out cauda equina. I have put off surgery for 20 years, by swimming, exercise and watching what I do. But now that more surgeons are trained in microsurgery, I may give some serious thoughts to the idea of getting as much of the problem fixed up now, rather than continue to wait and watch an out of control arthritic condition get so bad that I need hardware to brace my spine. I do appreciate your view, but I am getting older and I also have an advanced peripheral neuropathy that is inherited, so before more damage gets done to back nerves and the diseased nerves that they feed into, I need to be open to all options, even if back surgery is the one lowest on my list....Paulo
 
You're both right. Whether a surgeon goes through all conservative treatments first or not depenRAB a lot on your age, the condition of your spine, and your general health. The younger and better shape you're in, the more likely they are to want to try all the conservative treatments before doing surgery.

Good Luck,

David
 
Back
Top