Good Morning!

[L J]

It wasn't such a good morning for me guys. I received news this morning confirming what I did not want to hear, but almost knew was the case. I have a ruptured disc in my lower back that has been wreaking havoc on me for the past 6 weeks since I injured it. I just don't know what I am going to do. This injury has affected everything in my life... physical, emotional and spiritual. Just in time for my wedding, so much for carrying my bride.

wow, praying for quick healing. And congrats on the wedding.

I started my weekend yesterday. had knee surgery.

El praying for your back

Praying for quick healing for you as well. I tore my ACL 3 yrs ago, so understand the knee surgery thing. Follow dr orders and you'll do fine.

 

[L J]

oh , and good Friday Morning. Its a gorgeous day here in northeast Washington state. About 45 degrees, but very sunny. won't be a busy day at work, but they limit our internet use to 60 min a day. jerks

 

[Elephant]

Thanks L J, I must admit your presence on this site is refreshing! I enjoy your positive attitude thoroughly.

Got my 1st epidural yesterday and that sucked AZZ!!! They will try one more to see if it alleviates the pain, but I am feeling worse which they said could happen. It is the 3 or 4 day mark they want to see improvement. We'll see. If these don't work, they will push for surgery. Although I don't see much alternative, I do not want them to cut me open!

One week from right night we will be finishing up with the rehearsal and headed to dinner. I cannot believe it took me 'til 43, but I am truly blessed with an incredible woman! Boone, you mentioned before how awesome she seemed when she signed up here, but I am here to tell you all she is the most beautiful person I have ever known. Well, except for maybe my gramma!

 

[Nobody]

Got my 1st epidural yesterday and that sucked AZZ!!! They will try one more to see if it alleviates the pain, but I am feeling worse which they said could happen. It is the 3 or 4 day mark they want to see improvement. We'll see.

My wife has been getting one about every 2-3 months since last November. More often than not, she will bitch about it not working for 4-5 days afterward, then it seems to magically get better for a week or two. Then like clockwork, everything goes back to being just like it was to begin with. However, she also had one that did absolutely nothing. They seem to me to be a short term fix at best.

If these don't work, they will push for surgery. Although I don't see much alternative, I do not want them to cut me open!

If they push for surgery, don't do it, no matter what they tell you. Do some reading and asking around to talk to people who have had back surgery. In almost all cases, you end up worse of from the surgery than you were before it. The pain is usually gone, but your functionality will decrease immensely. Not to mention the risk of ending up having to wear diapers, which my grandfather's surgeon said happens in about 30% of back surgery patients, due to permanent loss of bowel or bladder control. Personally, I'd rather deal with the pain.

I was in a similar situation as you 3 years ago. I was a Red Bull salesman, and driving through Suffolk when a tornado hit. It was by all accounts, the worst to ever hit this area. I never saw it, but as I was driving down route 58, the trees bent down from the side of the road and a gust of wind put the van up on its side. I wasn't wearing a seatbelt, and got thrown down pretty hard. The result was a ruptured disk.

For me, I had to do a year of pain management, about a month in a traction belt, and 3 months of physical therapy. Luckily for me, that was enough to do the trick. No injections, no surgery. The surgeon I was talking to at the time told me that he would never recommend surgery in any situation, unless the pain was unbearable to the point meds weren't helping. His reason being, he didn't like knowing that while he was curing their pain, he was essentially crippling his patients.

I'm pulling for you, and I really hope they find something that works. I urge you not to opt for surgery unless it is a result of total desperation.

 

[Boone]

I urge you not to listen to non-medical professionals on the internet

It's true that lower back surgery can have risks, and it's also true that there is never a guarantee it will prove to be a fix. And it's even possible it can make things worse (just as is true with any surgery). But it's highly dependent on the exact nature of the issue, the skill of the neurosurgeon, and a number of other factors. There are plenty of successful lower back surgery patients out there.

And a surgeon will (and should) always tell you that surgery is the absolute last option. Even an orthopedic surgeon will tell you that, for something as relatively straightforward as a knee replacement.

 

[Nobody]

I urge you not to listen to non-medical professionals on the internet

It's true that lower back surgery can have risks, and it's also true that there is never a guarantee it will prove to be a fix. And it's even possible it can make things worse (just as is true with any surgery). But it's highly dependent on the exact nature of the issue, the skill of the neurosurgeon, and a number of other factors. There are plenty of successful lower back surgery patients out there.

And a surgeon will (and should) always tell you that surgery is the absolute last option. Even an orthopedic surgeon will tell you that, for something as relatively straightforward as a knee replacement.

I agree with your opening remark. I was giving advice based on personal experience. I have had 3 family members that all had different surgeons, and all had the same end result. Obviously, that's not the case for everybody, but it's common, at least according to health and human services.......

According to a 1994 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study, overall low back disk surgery has a 40% success rate.

http://www.drrisley.com/html/herndisc.html

Disc issues are apparently quite the bitch to fix. Understandable when you consider all the nerves and muscle groups involved.

 

[Boone]

I get it - believe me - and there are lots of horror stories about lower back surgery. But there are also plenty of pain-relieving, return of function stories as well. A surgeon will tell him there are risks - that's not quite what you were sharing

 

[Nobody]

I get it - believe me - and there are lots of horror stories about lower back surgery. But there are also plenty of pain-relieving, return of function stories as well. A surgeon will tell him there are risks - that's not quite what you were sharing

True, but there are plenty of doctors who will sugarcoat everything, and mention the bad things in passing, just so you can't sue them if they screw you up. I've dealt with more than enough doctors over the years to learn this lol. they are only obligated by law and ethics to tell you about the risks, not the likelihood of those risks.

But for what El's specific condition is, and the surgery that it would entail, a success rate below 50% isn't exactly a silver lining to look forward to. It all depends on how bad the pain is, and how much you can tolerate. I would personally rather be walking with a cane than enduring that mind numbing pain again, but I wouldn't take the surgical route unless the pain was driving me insane.

 

[Elephant]

I have had the last few months to weigh my options. I am doing my homework and will base my decision on the comfort level I feel with a surgeon. While I appreciate the input, I would never make this decision without learning everything I can. This is not a decision I would ever take lightly. I am reading this wondering why I actually put it out there to be honest.

Anyway, I am not going to make my decision based on any single individual. I have been speaking with people who have had surgery. I have been speaking to those who have decided to bypass surgery. I do not feel at this stage of the injury that I have much choice in the matter. All I am convinced of at is I cannot live life like I have the last 3 months.

 

[Nobody]

I have had the last few months to weigh my options. I am doing my homework and will base my decision on the comfort level I feel with a surgeon. While I appreciate the input, I would never make this decision without learning everything I can. This is not a decision I would ever take lightly. I am reading this wondering why I actually put it out there to be honest.

Anyway, I am not going to make my decision based on any single individual. I have been speaking with people who have had surgery. I have been speaking to those who have decided to bypass surgery. I do not feel at this stage of the injury that I have much choice in the matter. All I am convinced of at is I cannot live life like I have the last 3 months.

You are a wise man. And I am not a doctor, I just play one on the interwebz

 

[Boone]

Good luck Brian - I am thinking good thoughts for you. And I would include 'my advice' as advice not to listen to. Like in any other field, there are great doctors and surgeons and mediocre ones. Find a great one if you decide to go that route.

I am fortunate - I had several ruptured discs, but they were cervical. I had surgery and after a long recovery, never had another problem. Wish you the same luck.

 

[Burgundy Burner]

I have had the last few months to weigh my options. I am doing my homework and will base my decision on the comfort level I feel with a surgeon. While I appreciate the input, I would never make this decision without learning everything I can. This is not a decision I would ever take lightly. I am reading this wondering why I actually put it out there to be honest.

Anyway, I am not going to make my decision based on any single individual. I have been speaking with people who have had surgery. I have been speaking to those who have decided to bypass surgery. I do not feel at this stage of the injury that I have much choice in the matter. All I am convinced of at is I cannot live life like I have the last 3 months.

If you are willing to travel, the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia has some of the best orthopedic surgeons in the world. Every person I know that has had any kind of surgery with them comes out fully healed or has the best overall result(s) possible.

 

[Elephant]

Thanks guys!

 

[Nobody]

I talked to my wife's neurosurgeon, who is the top ranked in the area, who he would recommend up there close to you. He said the best surgeon in the state for disc surgery is a guy by the name of Brent Ain. He's in Fairfax, and Dr. Singh says that in addition to being the top guy in the state, Dr. Ain is one of the best in the country at what he does, and has an insane success rate. It would definitely be worth looking into.

 

[Elephant]

While not morning, I sit here so very grateful in light of of the wonderful blessings that have come my way recently I just felt like sharing.

As many of you know, I was recently married, and if you don't then start reading the damn threads I start! I jest. But it goes well beyond that, tonight I was reminded where I come from and what my life has become and I am overwhelmed with tremendous gratitude.

Good evening everyone!

 

[Nobody]

day 12 no smoking
day 03 no drinking

I am nervous about the weekend and being able to not drink.

I admire you for both. I have tried unsuccessfully for years not to smoke. I was able to quit drinking no problem, and I LOOOOOOOVED getting hammered. I promise you, the first few days of not drinking are the hardest by far. Around the 4-5 day mark, I quit craving it entirely. You can do it, I'm confident you can. Especially not smoking, giving up the drinking will be a breeze. Stay strong.

I'm almost two and a half years sober, and if I can quit cold turkey with as much as I drank, and as much as I loved alcohol, I am certain anybody can do it. You've got a lot of support here at BGO. Fight the temptation.

 

[Elephant]

Good morning everyone! Just trying to enjoy the outstanding weather we've had lately before hibernation is in full effect. Hope you all have a great day!

 

[Elephant]

Well, I know it's not morning time but I wasn't going to wait til morning to announce it. Miss Piggy and I are expecting a child in early June. She just had another sonogram today and the baby is healthy and we have been told HE/she is stubborn. The doctor was trying to poke at Megan's belly to get the baby to move in a certain direction to get a good view and all HE/she would do is wave HIS/her arms as if to say, "leave me alone Doc!"

What does a man say who has been given everything he has always wanted? All Glory goes to God! He has truly blessed me!

 

[Boone]

Congrats Brian There's really nothing better than sharing that experience with the person you love. Excited for you...

 

[Nobody]

Well, I know it's not morning time but I wasn't going to wait til morning to announce it. Miss Piggy and I are expecting a child in early June. She just had another sonogram today and the baby is healthy and we have been told HE/she is stubborn. The doctor was trying to poke at Megan's belly to get the baby to move in a certain direction to get a good view and all HE/she would do is wave HIS/her arms as if to say, "leave me alone Doc!"

What does a man say who has been given everything he has always wanted? All Glory goes to God! He has truly blessed me!

Congrats buddy. Best wishes for you both, sHE will bring you great joy. Parenthood is an amazing thing.