4 bad discs
authorwriter
Posts: 323 Member
I got an MRI on Friday. I see my PCP tomorrow. While I don't have official results, my husband is a radiologist and gave me some preliminaries...
I have 4 bad discs, starting at L3 and working their way down. Husband mentioned possibility of a diskectomy. said they don't have to open you up to do it. Apparently, they use needles. He's getting some info on it for me so I can talk to my PCP about it. I guess the next step is to get an eval, see what my options are and, hopefully, get it treated.
I've been a cripple for years because of my back. Sometimes, worse, sometimes better, but have been in a lot of pain and pretty housebound since january when it flared again. I've lost over 50 pounds. It's helped a lot. I'm in PT and Aquatic therapy. That helps a lot also, but I'm aware these are only temporizing steps. I need a solution.
Does anybody here have these kinds of serious back issues? anybody have surgery or a discetomy? I've avoided surgery for decades. I could use some encouragement and solid knowledge and experience from anybody out there who has gone through this.
thanks, everybody!
I have 4 bad discs, starting at L3 and working their way down. Husband mentioned possibility of a diskectomy. said they don't have to open you up to do it. Apparently, they use needles. He's getting some info on it for me so I can talk to my PCP about it. I guess the next step is to get an eval, see what my options are and, hopefully, get it treated.
I've been a cripple for years because of my back. Sometimes, worse, sometimes better, but have been in a lot of pain and pretty housebound since january when it flared again. I've lost over 50 pounds. It's helped a lot. I'm in PT and Aquatic therapy. That helps a lot also, but I'm aware these are only temporizing steps. I need a solution.
Does anybody here have these kinds of serious back issues? anybody have surgery or a discetomy? I've avoided surgery for decades. I could use some encouragement and solid knowledge and experience from anybody out there who has gone through this.
thanks, everybody!
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Replies
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You're very lucky to be married to a radiologist who can get you the information you really need. I think it's a wonderful thing that they can do a procedure without surgery. Hopefully they do numb you prior to using the needles. After all these years of pain and distress can you even imagine being pain free and be able to move around freely without problems.
I am very glad you had the MRI and there is a procedure in place to fix your problem. Hoping the best for you and keep me informed on what's going on. Losing 50 lbs. in your limited capacity says a lot about your determination and will power. I'm very proud of you.:flowerforyou:
Wishing you my best.
Karen0 -
awww,,,thanks, Karen.
I've been googling around. It's arthroscopic surgery, not just needles, but not as invasive as traditional surgery. Also, it doesn't seem to address my particular problem. I have numberness under the balls of my feet and in my toes. Plus, my back is always threatening spasm, the muscles are always tight. Plus the pain. But I don't have shooting pain down my legs or anything. This has always been the problem of trying to characterize it to doctors, because it doesn't follow a traditional pattern.
So, i'm not sure the surgery would fix my problem, but I won't know until I talk to somebody who does know. And I'm sure losing another 50 pounds will help a lot also.
And no, I can't imagine moving unafraid. sometimes I wake up in the morning and my back feels near normal, or I get up from a chair and it feels all right. Or I walk around a grocery store, you know, doing normal stuff people do every day and I really savor those moments, because they're pretty rare.0 -
I have damage (compressed discs) to and arthritis in my lower spine. My orthopedic surgeon told me years ago that I needed to have my back fused. However, since losing what I've lost so far, I must say I rarely have back pain. In fact, most of the time, I would say 95% of the time, I don't have any pain anywhere from anything. Yes I know I still have arthritis in my spine, hips, knees, and feet. I also still have those compressed discs and the bone spurs in my left knee and bth heals, but again, 95% of the time I am pain free. As you lose more weight, I would bet you will have less and less pain. In the meantime, praying for healing for your discs and relief from the pain.
Pat0 -
I think your treatment options depend on what exactly the MRI shows. Do you have degenerative discs or do you have actual nerve impingement? Have you tried physical therapy? Have they considered epidural injections? Depending on your findings, there may be several other options besides surgery. Certainly as already stated, the weight loss will be a big help. Whatever the case, you should address the problem and get some help for it. Chronic pain can wear out your body and your mind really fast.0
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MRI shows DDD L3 to S3 or so. Two discs almost gone. Some nerve impingement. Also congenital spinal stenosis, made worse in some areas by the discs. I'm off to see a pain management doc. Avoiding surgeons for now. They're hammers. To them everything looks like a nail. My toes and the undersides of my feet are numb. PCP thinks from the back. No radiating pain down back. Never had that. I have good days and bad days. getting more good days now. Weight loss has helped, but it's also hurt. That's difficult to explain. Probably the change of center of gravity. I'm really sensitive to changes in movement, grade of land i'm walking on, etc. Like getting off and on curbs without a hand rail is kind of scary for me. I have a tough time on terrain that isn't smooth and flat, even yard gravel. It's been years since I've been able to just sit in a chair without thinking. I'm always scoping out the seating arrangements in somebody's house, or when I travel or even just go to the doctors or in restaurants, looking for chair possibilities. Often, I am not successful and I have to leave.
I had a number of years where my back was just fine, despite my increasing weight. I traveled all over the place and didn't worry constantly I was going to throw it out. Broke my foot last Novemeber and I think hobbling around on the boot, THEN, taking it off and not hobbling was too much for my back to handle. I've been pretty housebound since then. But I'm starting to get out on my own again. Am able to get to appointments on my own and travel withe my husband and family's help. So things are looking up.
I hope the pain doc has a magic bullet or two in his arsenal. Been looking it up at his website and it all looks pretty scary.
And yes, I do PT - land and aquatic.0 -
Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Having numbness on the feet has got to be really challenging! I can't imagine not being able to feel the floor or step. I'm still a little unsteady on my feet and I know it's because of all the arthritis and stifness, so I can relate a little, a very little to what you mean. I also understand the chair thing although for me that was pre-weight loss. If it wasn't big enough or had some form of support to help lift me out with my hands, I couldn't use it and either stood or left. This has got to be so frustrating for you.
Again, praying for healing, answers and relief from pain and numbness.
Pat0 -
sometimes I look at those old lady chairs that lift you out and think, 'Hmmm...that's an idea...'
i finally caved and got a handicapped application from my doc. i have to send it in. Going for the placard. Sometimes I look at the scooers inthe grocery store, but I'm afraid I won't be able to get off it. Also, I'm afraid I won't be able to work it. Or I'll jerk my back. Right now, I'm trying anti-anxiety meds rather than narcotics. seeing how that works. jury is still out.0
