I just found and registered for this forum so I'm sure what I'm posting here is probably covered somewhat under previous posts which I will review over time. However, I thought I'd start by posting my entire back pain and treatment history as I have questions on options from here going forward.
I have been experiencing lower back pain and symptoms for years. I have seen my GP, a couple of neurosurgeons, and have recently had several treatments at a pain clinic. Everything I've tried, for the most part, has given me results to some degree. But, I'm recently at a point that concerns me and I'm not sure how to proceed given the options that may be put before me.
First, x-rays showed nothing. Eventually, I got an MRI and it was determined that I have a degnenerative disc problem and 3 herniated discs in my lower back with 2 of them being mild and 1 (the lowermost damaged disc) most likely the culprit of most of my pain issues. An appointment was made for me with a neurosurgeon but it was 6 weeks or more out. I was also given a shot of cortizone. By the time my appt. rolled around, the cortizone and/or time had caused my pain to go away. I consulted with the Neuro doc and he discouraged me from pursuing surgical options if other medications were helping. Since that time, over the course of several years, when back pain came back, usually 6 or more months apart, I was able to return to my GP for another cortizone injection with very good results. Last year, the injections seemed to stop working as well as was expected eventually, and I was referred to a pain clinic. I had a single epidural steroid injection and the relief was almost instantaneous. However, it only last a month and I went back for another. Again, the results were immediate but this time it only lasted 2 months. At my third visit, the doctor told me that if a third injection did not produce better, longer lasting results, perhaps it was time to look into surgical options. My symptoms were different prior to the third visit however. I had only mild pain at the same point on the left lower side of my bike but I had more severe pain in my leg (which I had experienced many times before) but also a significant loss of mobilty in my left foot and toes which I still have at this moment as well as numbness in my foot. Most of my pain is gone but I still cannot raise my left foot as high as my right and my left toes cannot be raised much higher than level no matter how hard I try. It's not due to pain, they just aren't responding. And that scares me.
What I didn't add, above, is that about a year ago I woke up with severe pain in my left arm and some numbness in my left hand and fingers. Long story short, I had another MRI and it was discovered that I also now have 3 herniated discs in my upper back and 1 was causing this pain and numbness. After some time, the arm pain went away but, a year later, I still have 2 fingers on my left hand that still have significant numbness in them. It was explained to me that the numbness may never go away or at least take a considerable amount of time to go away.
So, as of today, I have an appt. with the same Neurosurgeon I saw several years ago. But, the appt. is over 6 weeks away. Is surgery my next logical option? Is it possible that the numbness and lack of mobility in my foot and toes may be permanent or at least long term with or without surgery?
