Hello. I came here because I didn't know where else to turn. I was recently told that I need to have back surgery due to my burning pain in my buttocks, that I have had on/off about 6 years now. For the past 2 years it has been almost a constant annoying pain and months ago started going down the back of my leg. I have done physical therapy, I had a shoe lift (from a tilted pelvis) had a breast reduction in 2002, been to see many chiropractors, had steroid epidural injections, facet injections, cortizone injections & worn a brace. I have been told that I have degenerative joint disease, arthropathy & arthritis.

A couple of months ago I had an mri done and went and saw a orthopedic surgeon in sa tx and he said I had a cyst on each side of the L5 S1 region, one was bigger than the other, but not the side that hurts more. Also that there was a bone spur on the side that hurts that is pinching the nerve (assuming siatica nerve) he recommended that I have the mitr-microdisectomy surgery done along with removal of the cysts. He said the cyst were caused from repetitious movement, and that they could come back. I had the surgery scheduled and chickened out last minute, thinking I needed a second opinion. The injections really help for the first month or so and then when the pain comes back, it's back with a vengence!

What I couldn't understand is that when the surgeon was looking at my mri, he looked at me & said "you know looking at this & looking at you, these do not look like they belong to you." basically telling me that my joints look "old." I am 30. I have several different reasons why I hurt so much, but I guess I was looking for an exact reason for my pain. I am an active mother of 3, love to go to the gym and workout and just stay busy. I will not live the rest of my life laid up in bed or limited to what I can do for the rest of my life. I am too youg, in my opinion to be going through any of this. If anyone can help me at all I would appreciate it greatly. Thanks.