Thread: back surgery please help

I did, but I was 13 years old and fractured my spine from high impact trauma. I can still rock climb, run and race mountain bikes into my forties without a problem. I just can't do back flips or pilates or yoga that demands extreme flexion of the lumbar spine.

there are some new techniques you should look into before a spinal fusion, they have artificial discs now.

Good point Robert but two reasons why he won't get it

1. Insurance companies won't pay for it yet

2. It has only been studied well in the neck.

for now candidates with multilevel disease especially in the lower spine will still need fusion.

True, but I thought they had come a long way with disc replacement in the lower lumbar? I was reading about an orthoscopic technique not too long ago where they make an incision in your side and one into the back and they replace the disc through these two small incisions. Do you know of that one?

I looked into a fusion called XLIF they go in through the side and doesnt cut any muscle. I have to have a full lumbar fusion. Just hope I have some quality of life after

Originally Posted by Robert

True, but I thought they had come a long way with disc replacement in the lower lumbar? I was reading about an orthoscopic technique not too long ago where they make an incision in your side and one into the back and they replace the disc through these two small incisions. Do you know of that one?

I had five patients in that study, none of them did well so I'm a little skeptical.

I know that I will eventually have to have surgery on my L5-S1 disc, I am just hoping if I wait long enough by the time I really need it I can get an artificial disc, I have heard way too many horror stories from spinal fusion recipients.

Originally Posted by Robert

I know that I will eventually have to have surgery on my L5-S1 disc, I am just hoping if I wait long enough by the time I really need it I can get an artificial disc, I have heard way too many horror stories from spinal fusion recipients.

i would wait a while, like discectomies, which provided initial relief, ten years out most were back to their baseline back pain so I would give these artifical discs ( I think there are over 5 pattoned) time to see if their long term efficacy is any better than the discectomies.

how about this: Laser Spine Orthopedic Surgery - Spinal Surgery Experts - LSI ®

Robert and all back pain suffers. After suffering more than eight years of chronic, debilitating back pain, and after seeing specialists of all ilk, John Hopkins all stars and homeopathic quacks included, my MDs finally decided spinal fusion was the only option. Thankfully, I chose to postpone, and very glad I did because now, for the first time in years, I am almost pain free. Our problems may not be the same (mine is bulged disc, L4-L5; stenosis and an old stab wound) but what helped me may help you. I credit three things that have changed my life in the last 14-months. 1. I continued traditional treatment (epidural injections every four months.) 2. I bought a cross-crawl Versaclimber which is an ass-kicking stand-up elliptical that somehow strengthens core muscles better than anything I've ever tried. 3. I started hormone replacement therapy with a brilliant Florida physician (in my opinion) who prescribed 1 cc of Nandralone (Deca?) steroid with 1 cc of testosterone C weekly. My pain was much reduced after three months on the Versaclimber. My next epidural (six months ago) knocked it down another 25%. Finally, when I started the Deca/Test almost three months ago, the pain vanished within a few weeks. I haven't gone back for another epidural, and probably won't (I hope). But I do the Versaclimber at least five days a week; swim laps and stretch in the pool, and also inject myself weekly with the Test/Deca. Because you, too, know the hellish life that is chronic back pain, you can also imagine how f-ing happy I am to have stumbled onto this combined, hopefully permanent cure. Something else I was researching prior to beginning the HRT was Platelet Rich Plasma injections at a clinic in Ft. Myers Florida. I have heard great things about PRP from the researchers there. I would urge you to postpone the back surgery as long as you can because, as you know, if things don't go exactly right during your surgery, your future health could go completely wrong.

Originally Posted by 2tomlinson

Robert and all back pain suffers. After suffering more than eight years of chronic, debilitating back pain, and after seeing specialists of all ilk, John Hopkins all stars and homeopathic quacks included, my MDs finally decided spinal fusion was the only option. Thankfully, I chose to postpone, and very glad I did because now, for the first time in years, I am almost pain free. Our problems may not be the same (mine is bulged disc, L4-L5; stenosis and an old stab wound) but what helped me may help you. I credit three things that have changed my life in the last 14-months. 1. I continued traditional treatment (epidural injections every four months.) 2. I bought a cross-crawl Versaclimber which is an ass-kicking stand-up elliptical that somehow strengthens core muscles better than anything I've ever tried. 3. I started hormone replacement therapy with a brilliant Florida physician (in my opinion) who prescribed 1 cc of Nandralone (Deca?) steroid with 1 cc of testosterone C weekly. My pain was much reduced after three months on the Versaclimber. My next epidural (six months ago) knocked it down another 25%. Finally, when I started the Deca/Test almost three months ago, the pain vanished within a few weeks. I haven't gone back for another epidural, and probably won't (I hope). But I do the Versaclimber at least five days a week; swim laps and stretch in the pool, and also inject myself weekly with the Test/Deca. Because you, too, know the hellish life that is chronic back pain, you can also imagine how f-ing happy I am to have stumbled onto this combined, hopefully permanent cure. Something else I was researching prior to beginning the HRT was Platelet Rich Plasma injections at a clinic in Ft. Myers Florida. I have heard great things about PRP from the researchers there. I would urge you to postpone the back surgery as long as you can because, as you know, if things don't go exactly right during your surgery, your future health could go completely wrong.

that is awesome!

felt awesome