Back Pain Forum - Can I Avoid Back Surgery?

Conditions and Diseases > Back Pain Forum > Can I Avoid Back Surgery?

What structures make up the spine? We review basic spine anatomy here...before identifying potential causes of back pain....

Q: Can I Avoid Back Surgery?

asked by: montgomery13 on September 24th, 2007

New User

I am a 29 year old male that has been dealing with back problems for the last 7 years due to a car accident. I have two herniations at L4-L5, L5-S1. In 2000-2001 I went through physical therapy, then on to pain management for three epidermal. Nothing seemed to work so I was sent to a neurosurgeon and he wanted to try laser surgery to remove the herniations at L4-L5, L5-S1. I felt I was to young and couldn't take a chance of getting worse. I was listed as "disabled" by my Dr. but chose to work , against my Dr.'s orders, and now am in a bad situation. My pain is worse and have numbness, aching, shooting pains 24hrs a day in both legs. (Before the numbness and pain was not as bad and would come and go.) I just had a recent MRI and it reads;

L4-5: disc bulge with midline protrusion and annulus tear, indenting upon the thecal sac. Mild right and moderate left neural foraminal narrowing.

L5-S1: exposed disc bulge in epidual space. Mild right and moderate left foraminal narrowing.

Grade 1 retrolisthesis of L5 on S1 without spondylolysis. Degenerative disc, L4-S1 with mild right and moderate left neural foraminal narrowing L4-S1. Annulus tear in L4-5. Midline disc protrusions or herniations at L4-5 and L5-S1.

Comparison to 11/5/00 L spine MR, loss of disc signal in L4-5 has progressed. Midline disc protrusion and annulus tear in L4-5 are slightly more evident on todays exam.

What are my options? I can no longer work and have not had a good nights sleep in 7 years.

Replies(5)

Fairy Godmother

replied on September 24th, 2007

Supporter

I would most certainly shop around until I found a competent Neurosurgeon, ask if you could speak to a couple of his patients before you make a hasty decision. You are approaching 30, modern science has come a long way. At least now they can laser back surgery instead of cutting you 8-9 inches open......I too have herniated L4-5 and denerative disc, but have been very lucky...I know of several people who have had back operations because of the pain and 8 out of 10 would do it again. There is alwasy that 1 percent who it doesnt' help, and the other 1% usually has other problems that go along wtih the back problems. I'd say go for it.................take care of yourself and hope you are pain free soon.

lonestarguy

replied on September 24th, 2007

Active User, very eHealthy

Re: Can I Avoid Back Surgery?

montgomery13 wrote:

Hey Montgomery....I'm not a doctor, but have also had the exact same problem with my back for seven years. I could not have spinal fusion, so I have looked into lasery surgery and everything I have seen is good. I have degenerative disc disease in L4-S1 and L5-S1 with herniated and flattened discs.

I have also had many injections including spinal and facet blocks, radiofrequency ablation and used every type of pain medication. Not much has worked for me. I am now on long-term disability and was forced to retire early because I couldn't work.

There is a forum about laser surgery you should read. It has a ton of info about what can be done. Here is the link to it:

http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic103980 .html

Getting an honest, upfront neurosurgeon is a must if you are going to consider surgery of any kind. You are relatively young for the damage and pain you have but don't give up. If you have the right insurance or can afford the laser surgery, I think you will be satisfied.

Tyton

replied on September 25th, 2007

New User

Options?

What type of work did you do? Would it be possible to return to your previous line of work if you were to have surgery? Are you able to return to work without surgical intervention? And last but not least, how would you rate the current quality of your life? Because when you start making the decisions you are trying to make, it is my opinion that nothing is more important than the quality of your life.

For most people, work is last thing that we give up. Long before we stop working we discontinue other activities to enable our ability to continue to work. Living with a chronically painful back is disabeling and by the time we are forced to stop working we have usually lost everything else that was normal in our lives. So the most important question to me is whether or not surgery could (because it not always certain) improve the overall quality of your life?

For a multitude of reasons, I'm also a fan of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th opinions, if required to locate the very best and highest qualified surgeon available.

Best Wishes,
Tyton

montgomery13

replied on September 27th, 2007

New User

I have been working construction since I was 16. By the time I was 20 I did alot of side work and started building log homes. I became a contractor and built 4 log homes in the next two years. I had just started college and was majoring in business management, when I was involved in my accident. I was forced to withdraw from school and could not work for about 1 year. I sold my snowmobile, dirt bike and motorcycle because my back would not let me enjoy them anymore. I no longer downhill ski, weightlift or enjoy watersports. My life was drastically changed as a result of my accident at 22. When I was 26 I got back into contracting but landscaping only which I have done for the past 3 years. Now I can no longer do this work. I never returned to school because of the debt I acquired from a year of no work (I had 2 personal loans and a maxed out credit card totaling $14k) and could not afford to go back.

Tyton

replied on September 28th, 2007

New User

Many people with similar conditions to yours have greatly benefited from a course of physical therapy greared towards core and pelvic floor strenght. Since not all physical therapist are created equal you may want to interview several before making a commitment to any proposed treatment plans. There are some excellent exercises specifically for herniated/buldging disc problems and you may find that with strength and conditioning your pain could potentially be reduced, muscular imbalances corrected and you'll look fabulus in your bathing suit.

I too would encourage you to take a moment to read the thread started by RichT regarding laser surgery. There really is some great information, success stories and a great audience of people offering support, kindness and advice.

Best Wishes,
Tyton

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