Looks like I might be headed down the surgery road.

I've had back problems for many years, but it's always been something a couple Aleve would make better. About 3 years ago, I started having pain in my right hip. It got worse the farther I tried to walk. Finally, when I got my yearly shot in the knee, I asked the doctor about it. He took X-rays, and said there's nothing wrong with the knee. It's your back. So I went to a pain management doctor, and got an MRI. The tunnel, in my lower back, where the nerves come out of my spine, is closing up. So last July I got a shot in my back, and that helped for 4 to 6 weeks, then the pain in my hip came back. I really, really, really didn't like the shot, so I've just been living with it.

Friday, December 29, I got out of bed, and thought I'd been kicked by a horse. My back hurt so bad I couldn't hardly walk, and there was an area about the diameter of a basketball, around my right hip, that hurt like a real S.O.B., and it hasn't gotten any better.

I go back to the pain management doctor Wednesday to get another shot, and Friday I have a consultation with a neurosurgeon.

I know 3 people who have had back operations. 2 of them had it done twice, and it never was successful, the third was a winner, and that person was very happy. I'm hoping for a little better than a 30% success rate. Anyone with some encouraging stories to tell?

I recommend a referral to a physical medicine doctor (physiatrist). They are good at interpreting MRI's, and at diagnosing the cause of your pain.
I have had 2 shots in the lower back; one gave complete relief of symptoms for 4 months; the other about 50% relief for about 2 months, so not really successful.
At the moment I am undergoing a nerve block to see if my low back pain can be treated by deadening the nerves to the facet joints in the vertebrae. It's looking like that should help me a lot. Even as a physician with specialty in internal medicine as well as cardiology, the physical medicine specialist offered a lot I was unaware of.
Back surgery can be successful, but it shouldn't usually be the first choice for treatment.
Not sure why you didn't like the epidural steroid injection. It's a piece of cake compared to surgery; if it worked reliably I would get that 3 times a year to avoid surgery.
Also I will note I got some help from physical therapy, but not enough to avoid other procedures.

In any case you should not assume that the pain you describe is coming from your back, even if you have an abnormal MRI. If we all had MRI's a lot of us would have very abnormal ones yet have no symptoms--that's what I've read and been told.

Good luck!

OK, you asked so I'll tell you. Mine worked.
L5S1 was completely destroyed. After a while I couldn't put my right foot in front of my left. Had to have surgery, but didn't want it. Too many bad stories. Had a neurosurgeon consult and went ahead with it.
That was 20 years ago. I've run 3 half marathons, and done 15 MS 150 rides since then. My key is keeping mu hamstrings and hips loose. Walk, elliptical, run (jog) every day and stretch. I've had close calls (rear ended and done stupid stuff to aggravate it) but as long as I do my part, I live a normal life.
Don't do it until you have to but IF you have to, there can be life at the end of the tunnel. Oh, and skip the oxy's and deal with the pain. Better than an addiction.
Good luck!

josp, good to hear. You've boosted to percentage up to 50. Yeah, I'm not planning on any of the super drugs. I have seen them in action.

sjtill, I don't take shots very well, so it's probable that I made it worse than it was. All I know is, I didn't like it. The doctor at the pain management place is actually an anesthesiologist. He's the one that referred me to the neurosurgeon. It's a consultation visit, so I'll see what he has to say.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Muddflap,

My wife had L5 and S1 fused, pinned and screwed about 12 years ago and has no problems today. She had a great surgeon and did her therapy religiously. It was a long recovery process but she did well. The nerve blocks didn't work for her at all and neither did therapy before surgery.

OTOH, my mother and my sister both had back surgery they wish they never had.

My 88 yo Dad died as the result of a back surgery in which he got a infection. He walked into the hospital. He did not leave.

Just something to chew on, if you have to have it, get it, but go into it with both eyes open.

I have not had any personal experience, but I have had friends and family that did have back work done.

My ex had two neck fusions and a back fusion.

All three have been stellar results for her.

My younger sister had 1/2 dozen lower back surgeries where they put more metal in her than they put in an aircraft carrier, and have left her in constant pain and suffering.

I also had a friend that had two back surgeries with metal and similar outcome as my sister.

Now, to be as fair as I can, given, I am neither in the medical field nor know more than two shits about any of this, the metal worx were done between 30 and 20 years ago, and the bone fusions were done within the last 5 years.

But, if I were going to have any work done, it would be with bone, and fusion, as the body has a remarkable ability to heal and work within the "natural" pieces/parts, and a tremendous ability to reject that fake stuff that gets stuffed into the body.

I have multiple issues with back, and other connective tissue problems, but I am a wuss and will avoid being sliced and diced or whacked and stacked.

I think a lot of that comes form being a mechanic, and whether your wailing on a car or a person, often the "mechanic" is a ham handed SOB that is one step this side of Frankenstein. (or is that Fronkensteen?)

I wish you the best, no matter what. Chronic pain sux.

To the OP.

I have the same back problems you do. Mine started affecting my legs first, my legs would go numb, and I swear, I couldn't walk!

I thought it was a circulation problm, but after going to many checks with my vascular doctor/clinic, I was told it was probably my back.

This was 5 years ago. My back still hurts, and I get the epidural steroid shots once a year.
At first the shots helped, but the last 2 not as much as the first 3. I have researched surgery, and do not want to do surgery until I cannot bear the pain.

Right now I am taking a low dosage of Gabrepentin (100mg 1 daily), it helps some. Also, wearing some IWB holsters sets the pain off really bad, so I have started using OWB holsters.

The doctors have told me its a difficult surgery, and I would be laid up in the hospital for 10 days, 8 months of minimum,minimum activity, and 50/50% rate of sucess.

One thing recently I have found to give some relief is sleeping in a recliner vs a bed. When I was going through bronchitis back in November, I had to sleep in my recliner in order to breathe.

I noticed my back did not hurt as bad , as when I slept in bed, so I continued. Not the best sleeping arraignment , but if it eases my back pain, I can live with it.

Know your pain, keep us posted on how you are doing.

January, 2006.
After years of pain, I had an MRI done. Spinal cord tumor (somewhat rare) at L2-L3 was the diagnosis. Neurosurgeon removed as much as he could (this was just prior to robotic surgery becoming available here). Had to learn how to use my left leg again.
For 12 years I have been pain-free, as of last Saturday.
It truly changed my life.

I blew L1-L2 into the spinal foramen, compressing the spinal cord. Not having surgery was not an option if I wanted to retain use of my legs and other things.

So I have a bilateral laminectomy. Basically the neurosurgeon drilled two holes in the vertebrae and went in and nibbled away the blown disk. Sadly, when I stood up in the recovery room, it blew again. My insurance carrier at the time dragged their feet for three months (all on long-term disability) before approving me for another surgery.

The second surgery got all the compromised tissue, but a combination of the original damage, the first surgery, three months of unprepared damage, bad genetics leading to severe degenerative disk disease, and a genetic disposition to growing celloidal tissue, and I was left with a scar there that just touches, ever so lightly, my spinal cord. The result is constant pain and light muscle tremors, occasionally becoming worse to the point where I am unable to withstand it.

Don't judge your prospects based on mine. Mine was due to the intersection of bad genetics, a bad injury, and a bloody awful insurance carrier. I can still walk and do things, which I would not have been the case without the surgery.

L4-L5 worked on about 16 years ago, everything worked out well.

I think some it has to do with what the actual issue is and the procedure to repair it.

When you absolutely cannot stand the pain any longer it may be time for surgery, that is why I went the first time and it was successful, so nice to lay in that hospital bed with no pain!

I was lucky and found a great Doc and he gave me my life back.

L5/S1 mircodiscectomy and laminectomy

I was in a car accident, did PT and routine therapy at the GP's office for about 2 months. Then when it wasn't getting any better they sent me for an MRI and then sent me directly to a neurosurgeon.

He declined on surgery right away, did some shots and RFNA's which helped for about 12-18mos. Then some more of the same and they only lasted a few months. Kept up that routine every 6 months for about another 2 years, mixed in PT with it. Then one day I couldn't stand up and doc said it's time for the surgery.

It helped, a lot, I can't play hockey but I can golf, hunt and fish.

I was scared shitless to have the surgery, then my grandmother told me that my grandfather had L5/S1 fusion surgery when he was 18...back in 1945, he was an only child and a farmer all his life. I never would've guessed that he had back surgery.

I had 2 back surgeries. The first one was cleaning out the spinal column and went well. The second one was a fusion of S1, L5 & L4. I couldn't walk for 3 months, still loose the use of my left leg at times. Most of my lower back is still without feeling. The arrested the doctor 2 years later for forging RX's and he is currently in jail. I would avoid fusions at any cost. I still have daily pain.
Good luck on whatever course you choose.

Back surgeries have caused me as much or more pain than my fractured vertebrae and herniated discs did. BE VERY CAREFUL and get at least two opinions. My experience is better with neurosurgeons than ortho docs.

2007 to 2014 my back deteriorated to the only pain free place was my living room floor, spent a month there before a L4-L5 fusion surgery. Followed the surgeons directions to the letter, 6 months off work, no further issues.

My L4 had slipped forward over my L-5, it was very obvious in the MRI. Not all back issues are as obvious or are good candidates for surgery.

I researched both surgeons and hospitals, there are A+ surgeons and C- surgeons. Hospitals can have excellent service and outcomes and some not so much. It pays to stack the deck in your direction as much as possible.

I fractured my S1-S3 vertebrae, and bulged all of the disks in between. I couldn’t stand up straight before having a subcutaneous disk decompression done, and it’s a night and day difference. However, I still can’t stress my body the way I used to, and lifting more than 25 pounds will have me down for the count for a month or more.

I used to have one large suitcase when I travel. Now, I have 3 small ones because more trips to the car and back equals less pain. You’ll never be 100%, but you can feel better and manage it by being smart.

Find a real back doctor, not just an orthopedist or an internal medicice doctor. You need someone who specializes in spinal injuries, often found at medical universities.

3 spinal surgeries, 2 cervical, 1 lumbar. 2 rods, a plate, and I’m not in a wheelchair!! Do your homework, it’s not fun but what are your options? It’s much better than being totally disabled or addicted! I take no pain meds. Yes there is pain, but livable. Good luck, I have an AMAZING DOC here in Nashville if you are interested.

My adult son (29) had a successful micro-discectomy 5 months ago. He was healthy and in great shape which really helped post surgery.

After 3 months he was released and is slowly getting back to his normal, active lifestyle.

He had his surgery at Duke and couldn't be happier about the care he received there.

About 20 yers ago I had back surgery. L4 and L5. Prior to it I could not stand up for at least ten minutes after sitting. I was in constant pain. Could never find a comfortable position to either sit or lie down. I was off work for 27 days. Today I run, lift weights and do pretty much everything and anything I want to. Having the surgery was one of the best things I ever did. Some one mentioned stretching. I stretch my hamstrings everyday. Google how they are attached to the body and the impact tight hamstrings can have on the back. But be careful. Stretch them too much and you can create more pain.