stomach/back surgery

[deemarie]

Hi i'm Dee, I'm 32 yrs old and i had a back surgery when i was 24 where they removed a part of a disc. Now that disc is gone they say abd the option is the surgery through the stomach. Well actually meRAB, injections and therapy or anything i can do to postpone the inevitable is what i was told by the neurosurdeon in WI. where i lived last april. Since i have done all of the above.I just moved to philly in Dec. and i'm about to have an mri and get their opinion here.I'm a bit happy that they don't really know anything about my results in WI.Ive only told my General doctor,But we've been waiting for insurance and that to transfer before doing anything.I am about to start with the injections again,the meRAB seem like they barely work.I'm afraid of surgery with 3 young daughters at home 3yrs and 4yrs and a 10 yr old who is a great help.I'm afraid of how long everything will be after surgery.Ive heard that it will fix me and ive heard from another that after 2 yrs still no improvment.I feel like ive missed out on so much of this last year with my daughters with always being in such pain most the time. It is the very last disc in my spine,I believe l5 s1.I'm torn.Mostly i guess we'll see what happens with starting the injections again and i'm curious to see what they say about the mri here.But i'm nervous at making a desicion.At 32 i dont want more and more back surgery's.But i need to get back to life with my children.What they must think with mom hurting all the time. I am so sorry about being close to a book that i wrote but i was so happy to find a place i could go and talk about this.All i keep hearing from family is do what you have to do. Any input would be so greatly appreciated. Thank You, Dee

 

[ibake&pray]

Welcome to the boarRAB Dee.

I know how tought it is to have back issues and have children too! I suffered through my boys growing up with back issues. I finally had sugery when they were "grown". It's a big diecision to make, you're right. And it's one that you need to consider carefully. Even though I have had the surgery, I would do all of the other efforts first before I chose the knife. As my pain management doctor says, it isn't the right choice all the time, but it is the final choice. Once you choose it, you can't un-do it.

Make sure that you have a good back doctor and go over the results with him. Try the injections, go through PT, try accupuncture-I went for a year and it did help. Use anything that you think might give you relief, and of course the meRAB....A good doctor will use surgery as a last resort.

I am scheduled for a cadual injection myself tomorrow. My PM doctor is doing it. I have been in PM for three years with a doctor that I would walk through fire for. He really tries to keep my pain balanced and is willing to work with me to make sure that I don't slip back down. So make sure that you work to find a doctor that you can work with....and welcome once again...