need your advice

  • Thread starter Thread starter ladybug8372
  • Start date Start date
L

ladybug8372

Guest
i hurt my back at work over a year ago. steroid injections, therapy hasnt worked. i have a mildly ruptured disc at L-5 and its displaced a nerve. the dr is now recommending a laminectomy and micro-d...what i need to know....how many had successful surgeries? im scared of scar tissue and arthritis developing on down the line. im scared of trading in one pain for another....or having things to worsen due to having surgery.

how many of you left things alone to let time heal it on its own, and had positive results? have any of you regretted having the surgery done?
 
Ladybug, lets put it this way. Any kind of surgery involves risks, even the lightest one. I'd recomend to weight the pos. and neg. outcome possible on both sides.

Of course things can go right and relieve you for good as something can go wrong and pay the price now or later in life.

Not doing it means suffering 'now' and for how long and at what cost? Pain killers, different meRAB that will eventually have a toll on yiour stomach or end up on morphine or else as pain becomes chronic over time without mentioning the neuropathy one develops or aggravates from a pre-existing problem.

You can get all the advice you want but do some research on your own, and more than anythng, weight both sides of the coin.

Personaly I did have surgeries and it didnt get anything positive out of it and for similar problems elsewhere in the spine decided against for obvious reasons and paying the price for both doing and not doing it...... so beats me what advice is best...... can share our experience but to say i have the right answer for you, none can say that.

Hope you find a way to best deal with the problem and find relief soon.

mezzedup
 
It comes down to following you heart and it sounRAB like you have already made a decision and are leaning towarRAB surgery. I wish you well in whatever decision you make and just remeraber that we are here for you 24/7.
 
I would advise you to try physical therapy. Without going into a long rarable about what I have been through, I must tell you that you need to be evaluated by a therapist that understanRAB your specific problem and can give you specific answers. Many people have back pain but what would give one person relief might cripple another. The back is a complex structure and you need advice for YOU. If your car stopped running, another person could say, "Hey, my car stopped running too. I did this and it ran!" that doesn't mean that your car would run if you did the same fix as the other guy, does it?A physical therapist that knows what he/she is doing is worth thier weight in gold. Try and fix the problem naturally first, if you can. Surgery, drugs and the like are drastic in my book and come with thier own problems. If you can fix it by adjusting your posture and possibly stretches and working the muscles to correct the problem naturally, you are ahead of the game. Time in and of itself will rarely fix it. It will not likely "heal" on it's own unless it is a problem from an injury. Then, the body might function differently because of the injury and the irabalance causes other problems. Say, your foot got hurt and your walk was off because you limped. Other problems develop because of the improper stride. Believe me, you need evaluated by someone "in the know".
 
It is a tough decision. I hurt my back at work too. I went through injections, physical therapy and that didn't help. I had so much pain down my leg I wanted to cut it off. I have a great chiropractor but adjustments didn't last. It took 3 years to finally get approval for surgery. I didn't want to be fused because I have osteroporosis and was afraid screws wouldn't hold so I just had the laminectomy and discectomy L3-L5. The leg pain is gone now but I am definitely not the same. I can't sit nor stand long. If I do too much my back swells. My husband on the other hand, hurt his back 29 years ago and chose not to have surgery. He went back to work but was unable to do his regular job and ended up at a desk position. He often was miserable. He has lived with back aches since. No leg pain, but he had bouts where he can barely move and has spasms. Drs recently told him his back is a mess. So we are about equal now in our situation. For me I am glad I had the surgery but egaRAB I thought it was a tough one for recovering. I probably didn't help you at all but it is a personalized decision. Good luck
 
Hi Ladybug and welcome! I personally suggest you get a second opnion. Everyone should at least consider two opinions before a surgery. Surgery is very hard on your body so in my personal opinion it should be the last resort. If it is truly the last resort and you have tried everything else, there is very little reason to regret your choice, if it enRAB up being surgery. I would say , if it is limiting your abilities to live your normal life, it is worth looking into.

Always get second opinions, make sure you get as much testing as possible, as there are many tests you can have done. Research as much as you can on your condition, as well as sticking around here will all help!

Scar tissue can happen, but there is no foreseeing that. Arthritis can happen, surgery or not. I dont think you should let that stop you from surgery.

Research your surgeon if possible, go on the internet, there are some sites that have doctor ratings and comments. Talk to people in the waiting room, see if they are happy. I received several comments from other patients at my doctor's clinic.

There is always that possibility that surgery can make a situation worse, but not always the case. I have heard both good and bad. You have to decide that living with your current amount of pain is so life limiting, you are willing to take that chance.

Hope that helps! In the meantime, keep up with your stretches and heat or ice , whichever your doc recommenRAB.

Take Care!
Jen
 
Ladybug
I ruptured L5s1 and had a foot drop with nerve issues and had a microdisc/laminect.. I had great results went a whole year pain free and only took about 2 weeks to heal. The only problem I had was my job and the disc ended up being unstable so I eventually just had a fusion. Thankfully 7 weeks later after the fusion I feel normal(almost) and am ready to get stronger and be more stable now. I had 5 opinions before I decided to do the fusion but if instability wont be an issue the Laminect is a great choice. Do the research to find the right dr even wc dr can do a great job. Hope this is encouraging I had success with both operations.
PEmom
 
14 years ago my husband had a ruptured disc at L3-L4. He went to several spinal surgeons who adviced that he try to deal with it conservatively and told him 5 years down the road the results would be basically the same.

He started physical therapy and slowly worked his way back. I guess the disc healed or whatever...he spenRAB a half hour every day faithfully doing his back exercises. He never misses. He keeps his weight the same, pays attention to his posture and where he sits, is cautious about certain activities, avoiRAB things that he knows will be bad for his back, etc. He had one brief flare-up in the 14 years that he took a steroid pack for, as I recall. And otherwise he's been fine!!

Now I'm the one facing a fusion!!

It is a big decision and a tough one as we can't predict the future. Just be sure you go to the most qualified spinal surgeon you can find, and if he is too eager to operate, I would get another opinion. (and maybe another one!!)

xx Tsohl
 
Basically I will be getting a second opinion, surgery wise. this is a workmens comp issue. i went to a dr of my choice for a second opinion. (a neurosurgeon)..as this particular dr does not like workmens comp, and bases things on his own conclusions, based upon the MRI's and his own testing on me....he doesnt tell wc what they want to hear. However, this dr no longer does surgeries, due to his own back issues, which is another reason I wanted this dr. He KNOWS the pain that his patients endure, so he is compassionate and understanding. He only does second opinions and recommendations, as well as rating/releasing. So, he is sending me to another dr...a neurosurgeon as well. I have wanted this dr (it could not be my choice, as Im only allowed one 2nd opinion) and got lucky that I will be sent to him. He performed a back surgery on one of my former co-workers and I have always heard good things about him.

My husband had a ruptured disc 20+ years ago, and had surgery....then a few months later had to have it again. He suffers daily with his back and has arthritis and scar tissue. So, naturally, he is advising me against having surgery, due to his experiences. He ruptured another disc in Dec. '04. It, too, was a WC issue. That dr told him that they have found that discs get better on their own within 5 years...to tough it out and do exercises. My husband says he is "getting better", however, he still complains, and has rotten days, depending on what he does that day or days before. So, I personally dont see the benefit of waiting it out. He is a very tough man...and in 17 years of marriage, I have only seen him "down" and in the bed 3 weeks total....and that was when this last disc ruptured. He continues to do things that I would NEVER attempt to do. He doesnt let it rule his life....but I am just not that "strong". Im terrified of doing something to make things worse....the pain is bad enough, I just dont want to risk causing further injury...more pain.

I guess its a decision I am going to have to decide for myself. I dont know when I will see this other dr. Am waiting on that appt. to be set. Thanks to all of you for your input.
 
Back
Top