Scared of surgery!!!!

[brandi ??]

Heya everyone!

I'm Ali, I'm only 21 and its taken me 18 months to convince my doctor that I've had a real problem in my lower back. I eventually had an MRI scan which showed that I have a prolapsed disc (L5 S1) and also multi level disc degeneration.
Reading up on this on the internet, I've discovered that in a long term problem case like mine is its likely to end in surgery.
I haven't seen the specialist yet but wanted to try and get rid of some worries on the subject. I'm terrified!! I've heard so many horror stories of people ending up in wheel chairs and things.

I've already done a 3week rehab course with work (as I'm in the RN) which helped a little coping with the pain...but it didn't stick for long.

Is there any one else as young as me with this problem that I could talk to or words of wisdom from the older generation that this is a more likely problem with (no offence guys!!!)

Ali xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[watevers peeps]

Evening Ali,

Hope you are well.
You sound just like me before I discovered I was suffering from a prolapsed disc.
I am 37 years old although there are some people on this forum who have had similar problems as you. Some are older, some younger.
I also have a slight central disc bulge at the L4/L5 level although this does not cause me any problems at the moment.
Are you suffering any symptons like sciatica following the MRI scan?
Your surgeon will be able to advise you about the % chance of success for the operation, mine certainly did. I had a 95% chance of success with a 1% chance of success.
When I went to see him after the MRI scan, I felt really uiptight and was ready to burst into tears through fear about the possibility of paralysis.
He totally alleviated my fears by telling me ending up in a wheelchair did not even come into operation which was a massive relief.
Please be prepared to ask your surgeon the question of the downsides, I do hope his answers will be the same as what I got.
The rehab course sounds like it did you some good.
I would think it has not had a long lasting effect as it stopped.
Prior to my op, I suffered left leg sciatica for 8 months. I received physiotherapy which helped manage it.
You need permanent rehab until your op is done.
Also, you will need rehab following the op.
I have been doing physio for around a year now which covers both pre-op and post op.
You are not alone in being scared of surgery, I was.
Look at the benefits could be in comparison to how you are feeling now.
I am glad I had surgery. My rehab was not perfect but I only feel a slight pain in my left leg which seems to be going with time.
Something very important you need to know is why has your back gone like it has.
Have you been lifting incorrectly? Do you not warm up before sports and cool down afterwards?
If and when surgery has taken place, you need to adopt good practices to ensure your back will be as good as it can be.
I do hope you get only well when you see the surgeon.
Let me know how you get on.

best wishes

dalep115

 

[vwzcmssd]

Evening Dalep,

I know what the cause was...I was lifting on board my ship when I felt a spasm in my back. I couldn't move properly, sit down, stand up or walk very well.
I was given Ibuprofen and shimmied on my way.

I believe sciatica is the shooting pain? Yes, I get it all down my left leg. It used to only go to my knee but over the last 6 months it has reached as far as my ankle.

The only reason I got onto the rehab course was because I was working as an admin assistant in the building where they were run and I got to know the physio guys pretty well.
Although I think that even they doubted my pain.
It was a real shock when I got the MRI results back. They had all but convinced me my pain was in my head and had been for 18 months.

My discs on L4/L5 and L4/L3 are bulging slightly as well. I think this may be because nothing was done sooner about L5/S1. But I'm not sure.
I'm still trying to work out in my head how the spine is 'built' and works so I can understand what is wrong a bit better.

Will the other discs get worse with time? And if so am I going to go through all of this again? Or will fixing the lowest one sort out the higher disc problems???

Thanks for your words, you can probably imagine how good it feels to find a community of people that are going/have been through the same and similar things.

What is it they do in the surgery???

Ali xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Naomi Irwin]

Afternoon Ali,

Thanks for the message.
Regarding leg pain, the area of the leg pain dictates what area of the back it relates to.
It sounds like your back has got worse with time although you dont really need me to tell you that.
In my opinion, I expect you will only need L5 S1 operating on.
Your pain progressing further down your leg which relates to L3/L4 and L4/L5 should be made manageable by continuous physiotherapy. This will determine whether you need just L5 S1 operating on.
As I would have said before, I have a slight disc bulge at L4/L5.
This is manageable for me by constant physiotherapy.
Any good physiotherapy department should have a skeleton for you to look at as well as a drawing to show what area of the leg relates to what area of the back.
To my knowledge, my back will degenerate with time just like anybody elses.
What we can do to make it as good as it can be is to strengthen it, pilates is a fantastic way of core strength. Just dont do the exercises that aggravate the left leg pain.
Regarding the op, I understand part of the disc L5 is removed to free the trapped sciatic nerve S1.
I would advise you to start some physio ASAP to make your pain manageable as well as considering buying a book called The Back Sufferers Bible by Sarah Key.
A number of people have stated on this site it is certainly helpful to understand your back as well as recommending exercises.
Sorry to waffle on. I never have been one to be concise!
Let me know when your appointment is with the surgeon.
My advice would be to go ahead with the operation based on how I felt pre-op and now feel post-op.

best wishes

dalep115

 

[IaPdn]

Hi, I am scared too so you aren't alone. {{{{{{{{{{{{Ali}}}}}}}}}}}

It seems we are never the right age for anything, I had a back back at 21 they said I was too young to have anything serious wrong, so I persevered over the years and had loads of pain killers and nsaids and now I am nearly 50 and suddenly my bad back is normal lol! Earlier this year I couldnt take the pain anymore and started the fight to get an xray which showed disc problems and then again another long fight to get an mri! Thankfully for my sanity the mri shows the history of, and the current problems, and for a few fleeting hours I was happy then the realisation sunk in that this wasn't going to heal or go away on its own and that the dreaded s word was most probably needed.

You are still young and so hopefully they can help you sort out your problems, and stop them getting any worse. But I do sympathise with how you feel and only wish I had pushed more when I was younger and the first disc went.

 

[Almost Happy Housewife]

i am 42 years of age ex dancer have prolasped disc l5 s1 for 8 months now have shooting pains sciactica and numbness left foot . but from all my research having a op can normally result in more disc deterating or crumbleling think about the back like a car suspension s1 l5 is where all the pressure goes on the spine luckerly i am never over weight but for those with more weight this means more pressure on the disc so when you take the lower ones away like a buliding take away the foundation and the rest will crumble i will not have surgery and wouldnt recommend it i would reccomend good diet and pilates to strengthen the lower core and strengthen it think again and ayurveda . namaste darran

 

[Tina M]

hi gurudee67
I have to disagree with you about having the surgery on L5S1. I had this surgery June 2008 and am back to full strength and mobility. I am an aerobics instructor and teach 15+ classes a week. The back will degenerate with age whether you have the op or not. I agree diet can help and so can Pilates(i teach pilates) but neither of these will cure a prolapsed disc. Why would you want to put up with the pain of sciatica when there is a solution out there?
Anyway I hope you find a solution to your prolapse soon.

REgards
Fitbird

 

[simpleonline12]

Afternoon fitbird/gurudee,

I would agree with fitbird in this instance.
If you have a prolapsed disc, an operation can solve the problem.
I feel a point to make is we can all take our backs for granted. I have done in the past and that is the reason why mine failed.
Your back will degenerate over time naturally and will be more prone to weakness because of having an L5 S1 discectomy. I think they cut out a piece of the L5 disc out to free the trapped nerve(s1) in my instance.
What anybody who has an L5 S1 discectomy needs to do is ensure they always strengthen their back after the op.
If someone carrys extra weight, it will put pressure on the back but would have done so whether a back op was needed or not.
As I have put in previous messages, I had an L5 S1 discectomy in April 2009 and my back feels fine now. If I do not do my physiotherapy exercises, my back feels weak.
A good diet is certainly most helpful as well.
Please do think of your back like a spring. Thats what my picture shows which I got from a physio. It shows me what sitting positions including leaning forward etc... are either good or bad for my back.
Gurudee,
You are exactly right in stating core strength exercises will help.
Unfortunately if the S1 nerve is trapped, an epidural or surgery may be the only option if all other avenues have been exhausted.

dalep115

 

[seensopsync]

I agree with Fitbird and Delap.

All surgery carrys risk. All backs deteriorate over time.

The problem you have is mechanical and will not fix it self! and also will get worse without surgery, especially if it leaks! all the Physiotherapy and Osteopathy will only temporarliy ease the pain (I know, 20 years of them)

Look up the following links, as they will explain about available 'cutting edge treatments' that will avoid the destruction that you fear so much.
I have had one of the procedures and it was very succesful!!
please post again for more info if you want to.

www.bonati.com
www.laserspineinstitute.com
www.microspine.com
www.spinal-foundation.org