Back Surgery .?
Question:
I think my only option that i have left is disc replacement.Can someone that has had disk replacement surgery share their experience and tell me a bit of what i can expect?
Answers:
I was in your shoes last year. It hurt so bad no narcotic would touch the pain. It hurt to move, shower, or do anything. I literally stayed in bed and writhed in agony for months. I went through the steroid shots, PT, all of that crap. it didn't work. Finally they operated...microdiscectomy. Worked like a charm. I am fine now. Also, I didn't realize that when I was in pain, I also couldn't pee normally. When I woke up from surgery, the first thing I did was pee for like ten minutes...it was great..LOL
Edit: I should add that my pain was down my right leg..from my lower back to my ankle. My very lower back hurt, but it was my leg that was in agony.
Why disk replacement? They can remove the part of the disk that is bulging without having to replace the entire thing. Disk replacement is fairly new and often a last resort.
I had this done, sort of. My disc wasn't replaced, it was removed. my disc was "broken" in pieces. the doctor removed the smalle pieces and left the bigger one in place.
it helped enormously. back surgery isn't for everyone, but it worked for me.
get yourself on glucosamine, this helps. the discs in your body are made of glucoasmine. taking this supplament helps rebuild your discs and cartiledge. it also helps with the pain.
However, undertand that glucosamine does effect your blood sugar levels.
I couldn't say it any better than beautifulirishgirl did!
I wish I had chosen the surgery about a year before I did, i suffered alot for nothing, because the surgery and recovery was a piece of cake compared to what I was going through before. I too, woke in recovery feeling better than ever!
I have a different story. I had the back surgery, (same problem)2 years ago, but had complications from the surgery. The doctor or the surgery did not go wrong, this was just something that happened. I got RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) from the surgery. It is where my legs and feet swell to about 4 times their normal size. The pain is at a 9 on the pain scale. It's like hot pokers are inside my legs trying to get out. I have gone through so many procedures since the back surgery, there isn't enough room or paper to name them all. I have finally ended up with an implanted pain pump which delivers dilaudid straight to the nerves in my spine and I am on 43 different pills a day, which include 3 different narcotics. I am also 100% disabled now and receive SSDI. My life has been reduced lo either laying in the bed or sitting at my desk for about 15 minutes at a time. I have to either use a walker or a wheelchair. I cannot drive, do housechores, fly, walk freely, go shopping, etc. I am not allowed to lift anything heavier than a teacup for the rest of my life. I am only 49 years old. This has affected how I will live out the rest of my life. I have two children that I used to go on yearly vacations to Mexico, Bahamas, fishing, camping, skiing, etc. with. That is not to be any longer. I am now housebound. This is not to say that your surgery will end up this way, but I do ask to everyone that is considering back surgery. If it is not a necessity, please consult with your doctor over every other possibility. Granted, this disease that I have is very rare. But, it can happen and it does. It happened to me!
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