Got the results of my discography back. I don't have any disc's that are leaking. However, my L4 and L5 disc's have major internal damage. I still have to talk to the Surgeon. I saw him last Monday, before he had the results. I saw the pain management Doctor Friday. The plan is to put two rods in and affix them to the vertebrae's where the disc's are bothering me.

The Surgeon told me this has a 75% success rate. I have to try it. Taking these hard core narcotic pain medicine the last two years is REALLY GETTING OLD!

Hopefully it all works out. If I could actually get my back fixed 2011 could still be a success even with me losing my job (around June) and us losing our house in the next few months (that thread was back in May or June '10).

Hopefully it works!

Prayers sent. Although I'm not sure He works on behalf of Tide fans. Best of luck, seriously.

I too offer prayers for your healing and a change of fortune.

They fused my L3,4 AND 5 ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO AND can gladly say it was well worth it.Hardly ever any pain just some stiffness every once in a while,which I can deal with.I wish you the BEST which ever way you go.I's a pain that unless you've had it or going thru it,you can't explain it to someone else.
You're right the drugs are worse than the cure.

Prayers sent.

Ed

Prayers up for you and your surgical team.
Mark

I'm getting over Rotator Cuff surgery right now myself, so you have my deepest sympathy. I pray for the best results, and an end to the pain/pain meds/steroid shots!
Don

That's rough... but 75% chance of getting off narcotics is a pretty damn good risk to take. Good wishes & I'll put you on the list when I work the beads.

My prayers are with you and your surgeons.

Denny

I had it done, come 3 years this March. 6 screws,2 rods.
The statistic I saw claim about 75% of people with severe probelms are very happy, 60 % with moderate problems are happy and less than 50% with less acute problems are happy. 50% of those with rods installed have to have them removed in the future. The rods only act as stabilizers until the fusion takes hold. In 3 months it is ok, but takes a full year to reach it's full strength. I had a 5 lb weight restriction for 3 months,then 10 lbs fro 3 months.Now I have a 40 lb weight lifting restriction for life.

I had it done in March and was riding my mules in August.

Afte surgery therapy is a must and walking is the best, along with swimming.This is for the rest of your life. Not saying to baby it, but if you abuse it, you will find yourself back under the knife and you can screw up,even break the rods.
You mobility wilbe slightly inpaired and you will neeed to learn to sqaut ,not bend over. Also you will have to limit your twisting which is the most dangerous motion

Surely hope it works out well for you. Mine don't hurt that bad-- yet.

BCR

I had my L5 & SI vertebrae fused in January of 2000 using bolts made from donor (cadaver) bone. It worked fantastically. Haven't had ANY trouble with it since. No narcotics and I can do about anything I want to do.

Prayers sent your way for your complete recovery and that your job situation will change, soon.

Thanks for all the replies, I really appreciate it. I have moderate to severe pain everyday. It's been getting worse as the months go by. And the narc's are starting to have really bad effects on me. My wife will ask me to do something, I'll get up to do it and totally forget what she just asked me to do. I'll be doing something and go to get something else and forget what I was going to get. It's getting really bad.

Same thing at work, my boss really likes me though, I do the best I can for him as I always have. We have a great relationship. He doesn't ask me any question, but is MORE THEN HELPFUL when my back starts to bother me or if I get a migraine head ache (those are getting A LOT less frequent thank god!). I have a pretty good job right now, even with the bad back I do more parts then the other two shifts. I don't try to do more then anyone else, I go to work, do my job and then go home. He's a car and gun guy just like me. In November he gave me a Muzzle Loader and a bunch of the things I need to use it. Been to much snow at the range and I really haven't had the extra money to get the rest of the things I need.

I got hurt at work and the company and their insurance company gives everyone a really hard time, especially now that the plant is closing. That's why it's taken so long. Their Doctor said "there is nothing wrong with me", then he said "I'm 25% disabled", then said I could work "as long as there is no running, jumping and lifting over 50 LBS.". All in the same report lol. He used to work in my Doctors Office. He lost his licence for a while therefore was let go by my Doctors Office. He got his licence back and pretty much does second opinions for companies and their insurance companies, you know...he's a team Doctor. He always sides with who ever is paying him regardless of medical facts, which is against the law. He especially go's against everything any of the Doctors from my Doctors Office says, he has a grudge. Then go's to court and gets made a fool by other Doctors and Lawyers.

Thanks again guys!

New York Hunter2,
I wish you luck. If your outcome is as good as mine was, you will be 100% happy. My back hurt for 20 years and then I reached a point where I was having trouble walking, I kind of staggered around like a drunk. I could not pick my right foot up off the ground. I had fusion across L4-S1 six years ago this month. I only took pain meds for 10 days after my surgery and have been pain free ever since.
So good luck to you and keep us posted about your progress.

I had a lumbar laminectomy at L4 and L5 back about 6 yrs ago. Neuro surgeons usually try that approach first before opting to fuse. Wonder why they are going straight for the fusion?? Where will your donor bone come from for the graft? Your own iliac crest or codaver....(Go codaver..iliac crest harvests HURT like a martha focker.)THe day of my laiminectomy, I was in teh surgical suite by 8am..surgery complete sand in recovery by 0915 and home by 1130, And in COMPLETE relief. I herniated 2 discs recusitating a patient in the ICU then was rear ended in a car accidednt that finished the job off. I had terrible debilitating pain for a long time. And Ill tell you that you WILL have that immediate relief after surgery;(Called the honeymoon phase because you are pumped full of marcaine and steriods post op.) but its never gone 100% Once you tear up those discs. However, Having 75% relief beat the heck outta the 100% pain I had before I had any surgery at all. I take NO MEDS and only get a block about every 3 to 6 months.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU! I pray it all goes as well and easy for you as mine did for me.

Good luck. It works for some and doesn't work for others.

HOLD OFF IF YOU CAN.I would check into laser surgery if possiable.I had back surgery done 2 years ago L-3-4-and 5 on my discs 2 cages and 4 rods not much better IMHO.

Will be praying for a healing and a job to boot.

Jim

NurseKat, I was thinking about PMing you last week, the night that other team from Alabama won the NC game.

The Surgeon is going to use some type of pre made rods. Like I said, when I saw him last Monday he still hadn't received the discography results. He asked me a bunch of questions as to how it went. I told him and he said he'd have to wait until he got the actual results back but it sounded as if surgery was going to be necessary. I have a follow up with him early next month. He'll explain everything to me in detail then.

I had a routine (comp required) appt. with the Pain Management Specialist's PA Friday. He told me that the Surgeon has requested surgery and that the insurance company had 30 days to approve or deny it. I don't know why they'd deny it, I've done pretty much every conservative form of treatment so far. Seven spinal injections, a radio graph, two different Chiropractors, Physical Therapy and a $h!t load of pain meds....but you never know!

Dang NY. I wish the best of luck with the surgery and everything else.

Like I said.
These meds are really starting to get to me. I have to do something to get better. A 75% success rate is better then what I'm going through now.

NY-
Best of luck and prayers for a smooth recovery. I have a 6mm bulged L4-L5 disc and am doing everything over the counter right now until I need surgery. I am involved in this surgery frequently and talk to the neuro-surgeons and ortho-spine guys frequently about it.

Again, best of luck to you.
CaliRN

Thanks to everyone else who's replied!

Best wishes that your string of luck turns positive. Ward

Good luck, I am having surgery on my back tomorrow....

Tony

Good luck and hope all goes well.

Pitiful by comparison: Broke the left foot outside tarsal bone Friday playing racquet ball. How can one break a bone on a flat surface? Have to get it screwed together tomorrow. There goes my perfect record of 65 yrs without having to go see a doctor for anything but physicals. Got to be up and going strong by spring bear season (May-June).

Thoughts and prayers from Iowa.

Thanks again guys and gals. I really appreciate it!

Damn, you guys are making me paranoid!! Best of luck to ya guy!! fast recovery to ya!!

BTDT. L4L5 Laminectomy in 2005. Unfortunately, the nerves were damaged before surgery, still don't have full strength in the left leg.

I wish you a complete and speedy recovery.

L3L5 Laminectomy in 1989,major arthritis in that area nowdays.In 95 I did a fly in moose/elk trip in Northern BC,and because I didn't want something to happen while I was hunting and have the trip screwed for my partners I went to see the doc before I left.He put me through a bunch of tests and said I was good to pack 30 lbs max up the hills.As I was leaving the doc(an ex military doctor) said "how much does your rifle weigh?"I told him about 8 or 9 lbs all up,and he said "20lb pack and your rifle,no more than that".I've had to keep it at that ever since. Monashee