Steffie
Member
Reged: 04/11/02
Posts: 107
Loc: Southwest
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I have degenerative disc disease and my disc at L5-S1 is completely collapsed. I've been recommended for surgery by 3 docs and 3 more docs told me to wait because of my age (only 36). I've been trying to control the pain with meds and am sick of taking presciptions. Short of surgery, does anyone have any suggestions? Anyone go through surgery - I've been told I need decompression / fusion at L5-S1. Apparently I've had this problem for years and a few years ago I was involved in a very bad accident with a drunkkkk driver and was thrown from the car. The way the accident occured apparently terribly aggrivated my back. I give up. I want surgery and want to taper off meds, but I don't know where to turn. I know this forum is for experiences, but I believe my questions/problem is appropriate for this forum.
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johng
Board Addict
Reged: 02/13/03
Posts: 354
Loc: great lakes
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look into ADR artifical disk replacment. It is suppose to be ok in USA now. check around. it is a good alternitve. I would have tried that but could not wait i had sever nuro probles and my surgery was emergent.
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Ask and it will be given to you Matthew 7:7
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trixxie
Member
Reged: 05/23/03
Posts: 122
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sorry to hear of your troubles...artifical disc replacement is still in the clinical trial phase here in the states. I believe its called Bryan artifical disc replacement.
Do a google search for clinical trials and include "bryan" discs, and hopefully you can find it. I called them regarding my situation, and there is some criteria you need to meet, including an okay from your doc, and live within one and half hours of the facility, so they can monitor your progress.
Good luck...
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The truth shall set you free!
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khioxn
Newbie
Reged: 07/22/04
Posts: 36
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I have had two herniated disc surgeries since april on my L4/5 S1. It was called Microdysectomy. The first one in April and then it reherniated and it was redone in May. Now again it is reherniated and they are wanting to do a fusion.
I have not found any pain meds that will stop the nerve pain from my legs but some will help to make it tolerable. I also know that they longer you put this off the more damage to the nerve you can do and have permanent nerve damage.
They also decompressed my nerves twice because the disc keeps getting tangled in my nerves.
If you have had 3 doctors tell you to have the surgery. I would really consider what my best option is because I know if you damage that nerve bad enough you COULD lose control over your bladder and bowels.
I will keep you in my thoughts and good luck to you ....
 Its Contagious ..
Kel
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Pocahontas
Enthusiast
Reged: 01/28/03
Posts: 214
Loc: North
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I would definitely look into other options and leave surgery as a last resort action. I have chronic pain and take meds daily...it's horrible and I hate that I have to live my life around my meds, when it kicks in and can participate with my family, etc. In my car accident, I also had a brachial plexus injury of my left arm which has mostly come back to life--when i awoke from my coma I had no left arm, no feeling at all. The nerve pain was the most excruciating pain as the nerves were waking up again and no medicine I have found works to ease nerve pain. I was even on Neurontin (the wonder-drug for everything!) and that didn't help....just nothing works!! My left arm is still half numb in the middle, deep inside, but my hand is normal and I am glad to have what I have.
Have you tried aquatic therapy?? Pool work gave me the fastest, easist, painless return of my body to normal. My arm has gotten back to near normal I believe because of the pool therapy.
During my aquatic therapy for my arm, I saw a wheelchair bound young lady start walking again. It's amazing how the water can heal us like that.
So, if you haven't tried aquatic physical therapy, I'd definitely go for it. Let me know how it goes for you!
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~Princess Pocahontas
Aim for the moon, for if you miss you will always land amongst the stars ...
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johng
Board Addict
Reged: 02/13/03
Posts: 354
Loc: great lakes
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to all:
My wife is a PT. she says aqutic therapy is by farthe best therapy around. it is low impact. it supports most of your weight so you get relife it your spine is pressing on something. and you can control the restance and vigorusness. it sdoes not repace all therapys but it can be a great adjucnt.
johng
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Ask and it will be given to you Matthew 7:7
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daddyj
Board Addict
Reged: 02/06/03
Posts: 367
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Quote:
I have degenerative disc disease and my disc at L5-S1 is completely collapsed. I've been recommended for surgery by 3 docs and 3 more docs told me to wait because of my age (only 36). I've been trying to control the pain with meds and am sick of taking presciptions. Short of surgery, does anyone have any suggestions? Anyone go through surgery - I've been told I need decompression / fusion at L5-S1. Apparently I've had this problem for years and a few years ago I was involved in a very bad accident with a drunkkkk driver and was thrown from the car. The way the accident occured apparently terribly aggrivated my back. I give up. I want surgery and want to taper off meds, but I don't know where to turn. I know this forum is for experiences, but I believe my questions/problem is appropriate for this forum.
It would be helpful to know what kind of pain you suffer from. I have a herniated L5-S1 myself (likely the beginnings of DDD because the MRI found tears in 2 thoracic discs and my L4-L5, which are only mildly painful). There are three kinds of pain that I know of due to disc injuries. One is due to inflammation and swelling of the surrounding tissue, one due to the nucleus of the disc putting pressure on the nerves and the other is from muscle spasms. PT is most effective for muscle spasms, as are muscle relaxers, but usually don't do much for the other two.
Another option might be the electronic muscle stimulators. The version I was on in PT had 2 settings, a pain cycle and a swelling cycle. The pain cycle felt like a constant buzz, kind of like a massager and the swelling cycle felt like getting a hard back massage from a 240 lb. gorilla. The pain cycle helped a lot with the inflammation, but the swelling cycle always made me feel worse.
Yet another option is a medtronics unit in which a tiny wire is implanted into your spine and sends electrical impulses that blocks the pain signal to your brain. I know very little about this machine.
Good luck and best wishes.
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Misty morning, clouds in the sky
Without warning, the wizard walks by
Casting his shadow, weaving his spell
Funny clothes, tinkling bell
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Steffie
Member
Reged: 04/11/02
Posts: 107
Loc: Southwest
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Thank you for all the wonderful posts. The dr's have never suggested doing a complete disc replacement (Bryan) but rather a "decompression and fusion". I don't think that my problems are quite one of the 3 quoted by daddyj, but I don't think I quite fall into any of those categories. Swelling and inflamation, or muscle spasms, - I've tried everything, and I mean everything, for that type of injury and since I haven't have any success from those meds or procedures, I don't think that's my problem. The last dr just told me that it was basically a "degenerative disc", and it appears from my MRI that my disc is completely collapsed. I haven't tried aquatic therapy on a regular basis, as I don't have access to a swimming pool on a constant basis, I do try when I'm in a pool. (but I know not enough to make much difference). Thanks again for your suggestions, and I think I'll just lean towards surgery. I am sick of meds and I've got to try and get better and reduce my intake.
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IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 875
Loc: usa
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I'm in the other camp on the surgery front.....they waited to do surgery on me and my vertebra collapsed one onto the other at L5S1, I now have permanent nerve root damage and a wicked chronic pain problem, I've had over 10 surgeries total and am on Oxycontin 80 MG twice a day and percocet
10/325 for break thru pain, my pain doc said they really screwed me up by "waiting" to do the corrective surgery, I say do what's best for you, but if your in chronic pain, your setting yourself up for a pain problem for life by putting it off. I just had a spinal cord stimulator put in, another wicked surgery, but well worth it if it works as well as it did before for me....just don't end up with permanent damage cuz they waited for you to get "older" it's also easier to recover the younger you are
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