Fusion/cage surgery..?

[Flamommy2boys]

Hi, I have been lurking on this forum for awhile now. This place is fantastic and comforting. I had a question about surgery.
I have had LBP for 26 months. I thought it was a muscle thing, and was pregnant plus nursing so really couldnt get MRI or seek help. 3 ER visits and was told probably pulled muscle. So I kept enduring the pain.
Went to Ortho they did MRI it stated mild to moderate hypertrophy...annular tear with bulging disc at L5 and something L4. Also mentioned DDD...
I had Nuerosurg. appt. but was 7 weeks from MRI. The pain was so severe I felt something pop or rip 2 weeks after MRI and it has become unbearable. Couldnt wait and got fit in last week. After looking at films Nuero said he recommenRAB something blah blah LTcage...you could try shots (steroid) but that would only be a band aid..surgery will not completely leave you pain free but bring you down to a 1-2 vs a 8-10. (daily, hourly...I feel that way). I thought he was going to rec. PT or injections but now I am scheduled for that surgery July 13th sorry for the vagueness but I haven't had time to sit and read or ask too many questions yet. My aunt says look for 2n opinion but I just want the pain to end NOW..I have 2 children and hubby is a truck driver so I am alone with them in the middle of nowhere I want to feel normal and pain free again...My quest. is, is it normal to reccom. surgery right out the gate or not..or is my lurabar damgae too far gone for the conservative stuff..?

 

[zoloftallergy]

Hi!
Sorry about the pain you're in . . . I can relate. First off, any dr. who specializes in surgery is going to recommend surgery because that's what makes them money. Long story short, I was in a similar boat as you - horrendous, unbearable pain in my left leg though. Had MRIs, x-rays, etc. said I had lots of problems with my back - herniated discs, hairline fracture in vertebrae and a few other things. Tried everything - phys. therapy, cortisone shots, acupuncture, chiro. - nothing helped. Went to appt. with neurosurgeon - within 2 minutes said I needed surgery. Scared me to death to have surgery on my back. I was very lucky to have a friend recommend an Egoscue Method clinic to me. It's a kind of physiotherapy/exercise physiology but very different than PT. I was skeptical but after 8 weeks (I know, it sounRAB like a long time but sooo worth it) I was completely pain free! I couldn't believe it!! Turns out my leg pain was due to my hip being turned in, probably from carrying 2 back to back babies around. 3 years of progessively wose and worse pain. So, please, before you try surgery, look into this. They have clinics everywhere - look it up online. It's called the Egoscue Method. I can't say enough good things about it. It's been about 2 years and I still can't believe that it helped me - I thought I was doomed to be in pain the rest of my life. If you do your research on back surgery you'll see that 33% of the time people improve, 33% they stay the same and 33% they get worse. 66% chance of staying the same or getting worse?? No thanks! Egoscue is kind of pricey but so worth it! Good luck!!