My L5 blew out 16 years ago, I was in pain often.
Over the years it has healed up and settled down.
I was told recently that some arthritis has started around there but I am doing fine. I drive a truck all day and unload the product by hand.
Discs can heal and you can return to some kind of normal activity.
I keep my weight down, and see a chiropractor. Two Chiropractors hurt me, the guy I am using now has saved my job.

Surgery is the last resort!! If you can't fix your problem through good posture, exercise and good diet, then try the surgery.
If you are inactive, i.e. desk job, paper-pusher etc. I think your body and back will take longer to fix. If you start regular physical activity and stretch every day there is a good chance that you may be able to overcome the problem in one year.
Find out what it takes for your body to heal itself. If you are smoking a pack a day, drinking 80 ounces of coffee and killing a case on the weekend, maybe you should consider how hard that is on you. Your back is your life! It needs good care, and there are no overnight cures when the discs are blown out. Good Luck

 

V10MAN
If I may ask who did you get to do your sergery?

 

Had 2 Harrington rods installed to straighten a curved spine when I was 16. Grew 2" in one day, had a hell of a sore back for a week [quitting the demoral was the worst part] spent 3 weeks in a striker bed, 3 months in a body cast and was about 2 years to normal. I'm a 47 year old carpenter with a better back than most of my friends. My surgery was different than your predicament but surgery was the right thing for me. My Doctor found the best surgeon in the country to do the work. I think that makes all the difference. I know it sure does with mechanics. Face it, things won't likely improve without it.

Good luck,

Renoman

 

I had the exact same dics go bad and had surgery, I tell haven't had a single proble since. The short lived pain from the surgery was well worth it. I would do it all over again in a sec if i had another back problem.

 

i myself am having lower back pain from an epidurel do to me 2 years age i have been told to stay away from surgrey but in my case they still can not find out what is wrong with me you can also push on my back where to needle was put in (you can still see the hole)and i lose feeling in the lower legs.

 

I just got home yesterday from the hospital after having back surgery last Thursday morning. I had L5 S1 removed and L4 replaced with a synthetic disc grown from a piece of cow bone. The docs say all went well on their end, now it's up to me and physio to see if it will alleviate the pain, and correct the problems with my pelvis and sacriatic joint. I've been over compensating on my si joint to keep my back from hurting for the over a year now (since my wreck) so it's got my hip and pelvis right wonky now. Were gonna work on that after my back heels up.

They figure even with this surgery chances of me ever going back on the road again (longhaul trucker) are slim to none. But hey as long as I can get the pain factor down ( lower back and right leg ) to the point where I don't need to live off oxy-contin and regain some mobility and common (painkiller free) sense, I'll be quite happy with just that. I'm tired of looking at everything differently and not enjoying life to the fullest.

Oh ya were sueing the pants off the weenie that did this to me (mega high speed rear ender), but I still want to punch his momma right in the mouth for breeding such a fool. My son who's 12 fractured his hip in the wreck but he bounced right back with in a few months, I wish I was still young and flexible.

I sure wish I could use the computer from the couch, I'm going to lay down for a spell again

 

I wish you guys the best.

 

...Nutter,
I was curious...Are ya sueing the family or the insurance company or both...?

 

His insurance co, I'd love to sue him too but the guy left the country to avoid another legal mater. Even though he's at fault no mater what, the fact is he wont be there to tell his side of the story in court (if it comes to that) this will just make my lawyers job that much easier. But with our silly no-fault insurance here in Ontario the max I can get for pain and suffering is $250k. My loss of future income is another story, this has yet to have been calculated, I have no idea how their going to figure that one out ?

 

Ya know when I started this thread I expected only a few responses. It surprises me to see how common back injuries are....... I am going to go for a second opinion. I had the epidural injections 2 years ago and they did't help one bit........So now for the hard part finding another GOOD Orthopaedist. I moved to a new county since my injury and don't know too much about Drs. in Suffolk County.....This decision will be dificult because this would most likely be the person to do the surgery since this would be my second opinion. I don't want to end up with some friggin quack and get screwed up even more.................

 

No, stay away from QUACK chiropractors. Mine is great, and he's saved several people from needless surgery. You need to talk to other people before finding the right chiropractor; get recommendations. You need to avoid the ones that IMMEDIATELY want you to commit to a schedule of numerous visits, and avoid those that claim they can cure ANYTHING by manipulating your spine. But to say "avoid all chirpopractors" is the same as saying "avoid all doctors" just because you had a bad experience with one.

 

ok So I found a new Dr. Today. Thomas J. Mango of Stony Brook . He is affiliated with St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson. he specializes in spinal surgery. I called his office for an appointment and ther ewas no answer. I'll call again Monday. I have to go with who accepts my insyrance. I was lucky to find someone that specailizes in Spine Surgery. I'll keep everyone posted.