Has Anyone Been Told They May Need Back Surgery?

Have you tried checking with a chiropractor? I always prefer the least invasive option for healing. I don't know if that is something that a chiropractor can do anything to help or not, but they can do a lot of different types of treatments and offer exercises that may help too. It's worth a try if it could save you needing surgery. I've been going to a chiropractor for years and they can help with a variety of problems and adjustments and treatments are typically painless. I go to a great family practice in the Penn Hills area (east of Pittsburgh). I'd be happy to give you their contact info if that is near you and you are interested.

I have also had a lot of success with a book called "Pain Free" by Pete Egoscue. He has an interesting philosophy about what causes pain and offers VERY simple exercise routines to help correct ailignment and eliminate pain with quick and lasting effects. When I say simple, I do mean simple - many involve simply laying in different positions or standing with your hands facing particular directions. At first glance, it seems the exercises are silly, but if you give it a try, you may be surprised. I was nearly unable to move at all with a back problem and received some relief from chiropractic treatments, but my recovery was accelerated by also using the exercises in this book. My husband has used it for back and carpel tunnel issues too with success.

Keep your head up. I have terrible back pain also but I just deal with it. Now that I heard you're story I think I should tell my doctor... Everything will be okay and I know you're emotions are running real high right now.. Look into it and make sure you ask other patients that he has seen if he is good. Make sure you choose the right one to do the surgery..
If you made it through child birth I'm sure you can make it through this!!!! God bless you, this is the time when you really need a friend to talk tooo.

M.,

I had surgery when I was 12 to remove a tumor. Last year, I had a second surgery to repair the weakened spine. L2 thru T11 are fused and I still have titanium rods in my back.

IF you are in the Erie, PA area, I recommend Dr Brian Dalton. HE"S THE BEST and I would not let anyone else TOUCH me. He IS a long wait tho. VERY worth it. If you go to see him, let me know and I will give him permission to tell you about my case. In addition, I am giving you my live journal space address for my back so you can read my thoughts on it. I've not posted in a while and I still have some 'background info' to finish posting too. It is jam-packed full of info tho.

http://community.livejournal.com/back_to_back/

Yours is lower than mine was, but my surgery was (I hope) more complicated than yours will be. Read that site, if you will. Then get back to me... Oh, pardon the pun. :o)

I read that a Dr T is the 'best on the east coast'. I'm not so sure about that. Dalton pioneered a NEW procedure that only three other US docs have done. He's done this one that the did on my (and sounds like it would be similar, tho not as extensive for you). He trained to do this over the last two years and I've made a phenominal recovery. However, he attributes most of it to my attitude for a FULL recovery. I simply cannot rave over him enough. He even straightened out my scoliosis to 0% deflection... where only 5% was accomplished prior to his creation of a device that he first used on ME!! I was amazed!! Still am.

PLEASE don't see a chiropractor until you've seen a surgeon. Mine wanted to continue to treat me inspite of films that showed MASSIVE amounts of deformities. Please don't let a chiro touch you until a surgeon says it's okay. He could do irreparable damage, as was likely with mine, had I allowed it.

My other site, my private one, is at the following link: http://www.katefan.livejournal.com if you'd like to visit it also. I don't recall if they are 'members only' or not.

Good luck,
D.

I started having my back pain last year and it would go down my leg and make my toes numb! I would definitely recommend a physical therapist over a chiropractor. I worked on my problem with Erie's Hertal&Brown. They were AWESOME! They tried everything with me. My insurance wouldn't do the mri until I tried the therapy. Finally, I got the mri and found problems in the same area as you. I've been on Naproxen and still doing the therapy moves. My pain was bad enough that I needed to do cortizone shots (it was like an epidural shot). I just got that last week and it may take 2 weeks to see if it works. My neurosurgeon said that we'll do three rounds of those before we even think about surgery. So, my advice to you is try everything you can before surgery. If you are in the Erie area try Dr. Bonfiglio (neurosurgeon) and Dr. Carnes for the shot.

Hi M.,

At 17, I had L2-5 fused. When I had my daughter at 26, I was told that there were more fused than that. Sometimes surgery only stops the problem from progressing any further, but does not correct the problem. I would most certainly see a chiropractor. More and more insurances are covering them these days. And if yours doesn't, many are willing to work out a feasible payment schedule. It is expensive, but I haven't met one yet that won't work with us on the fee.
With regular manipulation of the spine to correct alignment, many problems are corrected or better managed. Sometimes there is nothing that you can do, and surgery is the only way to keep it from getting worse. Discuss that with your doctor, and tell him that you'd like to try a less invasive appraoch first. Your doctor will hopefully understand that you don't want to have surgery, but remember that chiropractors practice holistic/alternative medicine, so some doctors aren't always open to this. I also recommend that you have your doctor write down your specific condition so that you can look it up. Having anything wrong with your back can be scary. try to do a little research. You will find that there are so many people that have these issues and you can better learn what they are.
I can't tell you that you have nothing to be scared of. I was scared too, despite what everyone told me. But I can tell you that you will come through it. regardless of the approach, you need to do something about it because the pain will get in the way of life if you don't.
I hope that this helps a little.
Jenn

does your dr really want to do surgery right away? thats nuts, i have 3 ruptered disks, artheritis in my spine,my hip,my neck, a worn rotar cuff in my shoulder, i cant get surgery, who would take care of my baby, my house, the dogs, dads here, but we all know better, try chrrpratic, or physcial therapy, surgery is a last resort, not a first, there are many other things to try first before you go under the knife, and then that is no garentee.

Hi M.,
I too have back probs. but have had them all my life. I have my spine fused L5 S1 and have degenerative disc space disease. And believe that I have a bulge at L4, atleast, right now. Before surgery- I would try a chiropractor and physical therapy. P.T. can do wonders- like telling you if there is a better way for you to sit, stand, walk... I recommend Optimal P.T. in Cranberry. I could only stand for 10 minutes at a time and sitting was not an option, after 2 visits Sue had me doing much much better. I don't know where you live but no matter what they tell you get 3 opinions!
Best of luck!
Diane
PS- don't be afraid- everything is treatable- even after 20+ yrs of back probs- I am still very young and active- people don't know it unless I tell them.

It's very rare for a neurosurgeon to tell you to go under the knife for back pain after your very first visit. For things like herniated disks, you'll probably be advised all sorts of conservative treatment first, which would probably include things like physical therapy, chiropractic, maybe epidural steroids, etc. I have a problem with two herniated disks in my lumbar spine, and I've been able to keep surgery off my treatment list for ten years. The main things that have helped me are physical therapy, chiropractic and keeping myself in shape. I did have a breast reduction last year, which helped me more than I thought it would. I was a DDD cup and am now a C cup. That helped with obvious issues of posture and strain. I do exercises and stretching, and I've found that naproxen type meds, such as Aleve help, as well.
Back surgery seems to never clear up the pain issues completely, so I'm doing everything I can to avoid it, though perhaps down the road that will be my only option. Until then, find out everything you can, try everything you can. I know how awful the pain is, so I feel for you.

Hi M.
You should try ANYTHING before you have surgery ! I work for a chiropractor so I see the people he treats. I have also been a patient for years. He has tons of patients who previously had back surgery who still have problems. Sometimes surgery can make a bad problem worse with scarring. Sometimes there is nothing else to do but surgery, but that should be your LAST resort ! I wish you luck...

A. R

hi, i have had back surgery in the past. it was for ruptured disks. slipping or bulging disks should be treated with other methods before surgery. a good surgern would tell you this. i'm not sure where you live, but one of the best orthopedic surgery centers are orthopedic spine specialist on powder mill rd in york, pa. i see dr t., he is the best on the east coast but i'm told the others are just as good. they do mri's throughout the day, 5pm being the lastest. i have been seeing this dr since march of 2006 due to a car accident and i have been very happy with him. they are honest about everything and will try everything possible to make surgery a last resort. if you have anymore questions, feel free to contact me.

ps-the pain you are having might be from the nerve being pinched.