Hey guys, For the past two years I've been dealing with a bulging disc at L5-S1, it's kept me out of the water for most of the past two years, minus a couple months this past summer when I had seen a little improvement. I'll save you the whole sob story, but basically all the conservative treatments I've tried haven't given any significant results, and I've been in pain every day for the last ~18 months. I just can't live like this, and although I never wanted to consider surgery I'm beginning to run out of options. I haven't consulted with a neurosurgeon recently, but I imagine they would suggest a microdiscectomy if I wanted to go through with surgery. I'm doing some reading about the procedure, and how many are able to return to an active lifestyle after a back surgery, and wanted to hear any success or failure stories some of you guys might have here on SI from yourself or maybe close friends who surf. I'm 26 so I'm trying to look big picture at my health since I hope to have many years of life ahead of me. Thanks
hang in there, you are young enough to heal very quickly once you get it fixed. if you live in the east coast you haven't been missing much lately.
im having a procedure for the 2nd time Monday! I have 3 bulging disks in my lower back! this procedure is fairly new and has only been around I think for 5or 6 years! sorry but I forgot the name. because I don't have pain shooting down my arss or legs he opted to pass on cortisone and do this! they put needles into the disk area and electrocute the nerve, killing it. it rejuvinates in about 6 -8 month! it works! try to make surgery your LAST option bro! gonna try to look this up for you right now! GOOD LUCK! it sucks being in pain when your doing something you love,SURFING!
Lumbar Radiofrequency Rhizotomy (RFR) (This is the section that explains the detail of the operation or procedure above and should be read in conjunction with the section Your Back Operation). A lumbar RFR procedure is performed for pain that is caused by damaged facet joints. The aim of the operation is to temporarily paralyse the very small nerves that supply the facet joint of pain sensation. This will then bring partial or complete (but usually temporary) relief of the pain, spasm and referred pain that these damaged facet joints can cause. The reason why your specialist performs this procedure and not a more invasive operation is because he or she is trying to be as conservative as possible in treating your condition. The aim is to treat your symptoms without resorting to a more invasive operation. When undergoing this procedure, you will be lying on your stomach on bolsters or pillows. Your specialist will use an X-ray machine to guide the needles that are used to do the procedure with. A very thin electrode is inserted through the needles and the nerve that supplies your facet joint is stunned or damaged by radiofrequency generated by a radiofrequency generator. This procedure is frequently performed following a succesful facet block. These are not majorly important nerves and it is not dangerous to inactivate them with radiofrequency pulses. When inactivated, these nerves cannot conduct pain sensation from the joint to the brain. This means that the pain sensation from the facet joints decrease or clear up completely. This is, however, a temporary effect and the treatment has to be repeated when the pain returns. Some of the effects are immediate, but it is quite normal that you may experience pain for about two to three weeks after the procedure. Maximum pain relief is usually experienced at about six weeks after the procedure. The effects can last for a year or more. Not all people have relief from this procedure and the success rate is quoted as being between 40% and 75%
I have a very similar injury but my disc herniated and was pushing on my siatic nerve, the pain was the worst Ive ever felt! So I went to a pain management Dr. He scheduled an Mri, and three days later I was in an operating room having an epidural done. Dude 24hrs after the procedure I felt amazingly fine (miracle). If you want his # pm me and Ill hook you up. I dont know where your from but maybe he could refer a dr. in your area... Good luck bro!! Feel better...
I broke my back in a racing incident at 16 and had to have the same surgery as you hanna. I agree completely however, it makes me be able to tell when it's going to rain now.
Before you to the way of back surgery, I would recommend reading the book The Mindbody Prescription by John E. Sarno, M.D. It might sound like quackery to some people, but many people including famous people have been able to cure their back pain just from reading and following what is in this book.
Dude someone gave me that book when I was winsing in the fetal position, phuc that!! You cant read pain like that away. Epidural and a good core workout regy, oh yeah and an invertion table to decompress before bed to replenish the blood to the disc so it can heal as much as possible over night. 800 mg ibproferens too.
Thanks for all the input and suggestions guys. Unfortunately I feel like I'm reaching the end of conservative treatments, and my patience. I've been trying to wait it out and find the magical fix at the end of the rainbow but to no avail. I've tried 3 different PT's, seeing them varying from a couple months to 4-5 month stints (well respected PT's here in VA Beach), tried chiropractic off and on for maybe 6 months, tried yoga, had 5 epidural injections into the disc (little to no relief, regret letting two different docs do that many), one SI joint injection, have been incredibly proactive in my own care (doing the proper exercises and stretches, eating healthy, change posture). Definitely no weight issues, I'm just under 6'4" and 190lbs on a heavy day. I don't know dudes, I got some decisions to make. For me it's the consistency of the pain rather than the intensity. Reading other people's stories of back pain these last 2 years I know it could be worse. Mine can get bad, but it's more the grind day after day of being in just enough pain to prevent you from doing much of anything except survive. I'm still pretty mobile from a surviving perspective and luckily my job isn't too physically demanding. Sitting is painful, standing gets painful eventually, lying on my back is usually the only way to get relief. Anyways, I think I need to quit speculating and set up an appointment with the highest recommended neurosurgeon in my area and see what he says, maybe get a 2nd opinion, and go from there. Like I said I'm in the VB area, if anybody has doc recommendations let me know
Oh, well....as long as "famous people" have read the book....... "Red carpet" mentality.....Ooooo celebs ........Ooooo.... Has ZERO to do with the OPs question; get it?? Your introducing Sarnos book however, is a positive suggestion as an alternative.
To add to what Hanna said, (as I was in the same boat), it really depends on what the issue is. I dealt with it for years, until the disc finally exploded and I was in the same boat as Hanna. It was a mechanical problem, the nerve was sandwiched b\t two bones. I could barely even walk, couldn't make it up stairs, etc. At that point I had no choice. I wish I had it done earlier. The microdisectomy can give good results if the disc is just bulging a bit, but if the disc is in bad shape most likely its going to go out completely at some point. Where are you located? If you are near Raleigh or travel is an option I can give you the name of my surgeon if you like. When I checked in at the hospital all the staff gave him rave reviews (anesthesiologist said he did his father and was the only one he'd let work on him, nurse said she never sees complications from his patients, etc...)
I realize Dr Sarno's book is not for everyone. I've had success with it for chronic back pain and you can read 100's of positive reviews on Amazon.com about his book. I have two friends that have had back surgery and are still having back problems to this day. I was just offering an alternative to surgery as surgery should always be the last option.
AGREED!! But if theres a substatial injury I dont think that mind over matter deal really works, or maybe Im just an instant gratification wussy hahahaha....
