Back Problems ...updated

[Dave223]

Well,
Tomorrow at 10am I go for my MRI on the back problems I mentioned in another post. I went see a doc last Thursday and it doesnt sound good:( . The doc did xrays an says my spine looks good but because my leg hurts and the reflexes in my left foot dont work that great he thinks there may be some nerve damage in my spine? So tomorrow I have an MRI and Thurs I see the doc again to get the results. He seems to think I may have a herniated or ruptured disk. Jeez I hope not!
i know this sounds weird but I love to work, and I just cant see myself sitting around not being able to do the things I love to do.
On a side note, Im doing this thru workmans comp., If they recommend surgery and I refuse, what happens? Everyone I spoke to that had back surgery says to stay away from it. I dunno if I can take this kind of pain everyday. What can be done besides surgery? Dave

[traxxasx]

Lots of pain killers, i heard surgery just makes it worse and you have to take lots of pain killers to even sleep. I would just try to keep your back straight as possible and not to use it to much, dont bend over as much and try not to lift really heavy stuff. I dont know im not doctor.

[bigreddaddy]

Dave,

I have been through what you are about to venture on. I can honestly say I love to work too, but can't anymore (well a full time job anyway, I'm/was a Telecommunications Technician and did a lot of physical labor, climbing telephone poles, working at heights and in attics, etc.)
I hurt my neck at work in 2001. I told my supervisor about it but he blew it off and didn't report it. So I kept working for 3 months until I couldn't take the pain and migrane headaches anymore. As soon as I told him that I was going to go through my work insurance the companies Workmans Comp lady got involved. She was a real *Edited**Edited**Edited**Edited**Edited*! I hate to tell you this but in our state workmans comp is a joke. They REFUSED to pay for ANYTHING, even before I went to see a doctor!
Trying to make a very long and frustrating story short, I was lied to by the company I loved working for and was pretty much forced out. GET AN ATTORNEY NOW!
After going through several doctors because most just want to do surgery without even knowing what the hell is wrong, I FINALLY found a good doctor that did a DISKOGRAM on my neck. This was a VERY PAINFUL procedure because they couldn't give me pain medicine when they did it. They stuck 5 needles in my THROAT all the way through to my cervical discs (neck). They found two RUPTURED DISCS that two MRI's only saw as Bulging Discs.
This doctor really showed compassion and actually cared about my pain. I went through about 6 doctors and over 3 years before finding him.
So now I'm pretty much screwed. The only option was having metal discs replacing the bad ones, and I also have Degenerative Disc/Spine disease. I said hell no and my doctor agreed.
So I take pain medicine every 4 hours to help control the pain and live a halfway normal life.
I'm still fighting for my disability. I have been through HELL and am still going through it.
But I'm a FULL TIME DADDY and DAMN PROUD OF IT. I just wish I could get paid for it. Hopefully one day I'll get what is only fair. I've been hustling to help make ends meet, and luckily my wife has a very good job and has been beside me through this never ending ordeal.

I know I've probably gave you a grave outlook, but PLEASE consult an attorney especially when dealing with workmans comp.

Good Luck my man.

[Billy Golightly]

I'm not a fan of surgeries in any condition (Doctors either actually), but in particular we have a friend of the family who was hurt in an at work accident and is pretty much a cripple now. I mean he can walk around some and drive but he can pick anything up, cant bend over, etc. He says the surgery made it worse, I think it did too. before you go under the knife, consider a chiropractor. For the back aches and neck pain I have the chiropractor has fixed me up.

[XTrumpX]

I have a great doctor to recommend, actually 2. First one is in Denver, and the other in Phoenix. I flew to Doc. Haney back in 2002, 1 herniated and 2 ruptured discs. Blew them out playing baseball in September... made it through the winter, then one day in Feb, I couldn't get out of bed. Looked around, went to some good doctors, guys who worked on MLB pitchers like David Wells and Roger Clemens. Both said fusion (not an option). Then did some research on the net for the laser surgery I heard about and found Dr. Young in Phoenix. He was too backed up, so he recommended that I see someone who trained under him, Dr. Haney. Anyway, long story short... I feel fine and still can play ball, ride and paly with my kids (most important). Check out this site, it will give you more info.

www.spineonecolorado.com

I went there for a whole week while he did all the tests. I had a total of 42 needles stuck in me, half of them in my discs. I'll be the first to tell you I hate needles, hell, I can't even watch a person get a shot on TV, real or fake. That's how much pain I was in to tuff it out, knowing there was a shot to feel better. Anyway, see what your doc says... and make sure you can get copies of the films... tell them it's for a second opinion. If you opt to check with someone else out of state, they'll be more then happy to look at the films and consult you on the phone. I've sent a few people there and all of them feel much better. But once you get that back operated on in the traditional way (fusion, cutting discs) this may not help you. If you need more info, PM me.

[XTrumpX]

I'm not a fan of surgeries in any condition (Doctors either actually), but in particular we have a friend of the family who was hurt in an at work accident and is pretty much a cripple now. I mean he can walk around some and drive but he can pick anything up, cant bend over, etc. He says the surgery made it worse, I think it did too. before you go under the knife, consider a chiropractor. For the back aches and neck pain I have he has fixed me up.
Forget the chiro, they can make it worse. Herniated discs wont get better from those guys... once it's open, only way to close it right is to see a doc like the guy in Colorado. Dr. Haney was a chiropractor before becoming a surgeon. They close by using heat, kind of like cauterizing. Shrinks up the hole and zaps it closed.

[Dave223]

well I went see the doc Thursday. I have a herniated disk at L5. Its the last disk before the tail bone starts I think( from the MRI pics anyhow). I was told that surgery is possible and one of the "best " back surgeries that I can have. They are telling me its almost an outpatient operation... I am scheduling an appointment with a neuro surgeon for next week to discuss everything about the surgery.
My doc told me that the choice is mine to make. I can live with it and hopefully it will go away (the pain). Or I can have the surgery and feel a difference the next day, with little chance of it recurring. I was told that riding offroad and acting the fool is still possible, just heavy lifting or any lifting for that matter had to be done cautiously. The surgery is called a "Disectomy", they make a small incision, go in and cut out the bone around the nerves, releiving the pressure, then sew it all up.

The doc said to me "You will be normal again Mr Arceneaux!" I looked at him and smiled and said "Could you please tell everyone I know that I WAS normal!" He just laughed and shook his head....Dave

[XTrumpX]

Is it Laser Disectomy? If so, that's what you want to get. It goes in and vaporizes, or shrinks the disc back under the bones, and they also cut away any spurs. Just cutting away the bone will not help the herniation, you need it to be closed up and the laser will do that... like I said before, cauterizing the hole. Trust me, been there and I feel great. I know someone who did the same thing he's talking about, ended up going and getting the laser done 2 years later... fine since. Also, ask them about a disc cortisone shot, I had that done first so i could get some strength in my back before the laser was done so I made sure there wasn't any extra pressure. The cortisone numbed the nerves for a few weeks.

[XTrumpX]

Here's a link I had in my favorites that I read about. If you need more, drop me a note

Laser Discectomy (http://www.acpsc.com/Treatments/Laser%20Discoctomy.htm)

[russell56443]

I had a spinal fusion oct 2005,C 2,3 & 4 I belive,
I really havnt noticed much improvment at all,my hands are still numb,weak and hurt and now I cant turn my head very well?
I also have the Degenerative disk deal,(Ostieopenia)?
Arthritis in most all my disks,bones,hands feet lol,on and on!!
I have had others tell me they had the surgery on there lower back and it was great,seems the lower back handles it pretty well and they said it was instant relief for them.
I feel for ya,constant pain sucks and the sad part is when you tell the Dr's they usually act like your a druggie or crazy:rolleyes:
Really a bad situation to be in!
Good luck and hope you feel better soon!!!

[Dave223]

thanks for the links and info guys! The doc showed me the MRIs and explained things to me (not the neurosurgeon) He says everything BUt the disk is fine, no arthritis, no degenerations...just the one herniated disk. Im writing a list of questions for the neurosurgeon appointment, I will ask about the laser surgery...Again thanks! Btw, Im on Celebrex as an inflamatory and after 2 days its getting better, I walk without a limp now..Dave

[82300R]

get healed up soon so you can get some ridin in.:) were all loaded up and going to the spillway tommorow morning.:w00t:

[XTrumpX]

Btw, Im on Celebrex as an inflamatory and after 2 days its getting better, I walk without a limp now..Dave
Don't take that too long, can quickly build up a tolerence to that, which leads people to take a double dose. I was switched over to Naproxen for awhile... but after having the laser done, haven't needed any. It's good you're doing the homework, just listen to the people who had back surgery and still have problems. Sometimes doctors think the easy thing to do is the quick 'fix' fusion. That only fixes part of the problem. It sucks getting old.