Re: Herniated discs - Desperate for suggestions - please help me.

[Guest guest]

Jenn,Yes I am glad I no longer have the pain but I did 3 loads of wash a few days ago and hung them to dry and began to get pain so I guess it is "there" and won't be going away. Same happened after trying to spend 6 hours in my office (with breaks) trying to catch up from all that has been neglected while I was in pain. So I guess I can't do a lot of lifting my arms overhead or sitting straight up for long periods.

I also do not want to live a restricted life - I am a small business owner - just me - and it requires me to be able to lift and move (at least 20lbs) so it's frustrating not to be able to do it and it looks like I may have some major changes ahead in terms of trying to stay in biz in a way that will work for me with this problem. Really sucks.

I also hate that I have to ask my husband to do so much and that I can't paint the house or dig in the garden or muck my horse's stall or even gather up stuff in big loads to go to for charitable donations since I am not supposed to lift anymore. I had a huge closet clean out for me as well as my elderly mom planned until this....Not fair to him and makes me feel terrible as I feel useless, sitting here feeling "good" but not able to do anything. OTOH I am grateful for how much I do have, husband, not so much pain now, I can read and feed my brain and that I don't have more physical problems than this. Having this makes you grateful for what you do have I guess like any crisis in life....

On your Dr telling you he doesn't think it's the disk or fragment causing the pain, well he might be guessing. In my MRI that Dr who read it reported it in such a way that sounded as if it was questionable that my herniation was causing pain. It WAS causing pain because I felt it and I know that had to be causing it. So it could be the same with you - maybe what they see on the tests isn't clear enough to really say and so they go towards the conservative as they don't want to push surgery which is a major deal and with many risks and problems as many here would tell you. Actually having a Dr who is conservative is a good thing but also you have to keep pushing them to answer if they are not doing so. A second or third opinion is a good idea and I think educating yourself on the exact details on your issues can help. That is what I am trying to do. Since I am not in pain crisis or numbness crisis, I am just trying to figure out how I prevent more damage, more herniation and prevent surgery down the road. Unfortunately without surgery I do not think there is a way to fix a herniated disc truly - even though I read that today. I think maybe with time it stablizes but I am not sure, just guessing. That's why I came here, hopefully to hear from others who might have gone this road before and might be able to share.

I wish you well and hope you'll get some answers soon.

Kathleen

Re: Herniated discs - Desperate for suggestions - please help me.

I am so glad to hear that you're doing better - even though the problem might not be gone, at least you're not in pain right now. I'm only 28 years old - I don't want to be in pain and live a restricted life. And not only that - if this doctor is right and my herniated discs and the disc fragment isn't causing my pain - then what is? I don't want to cover up the problem - I want to fix the problem.Kathleen Wattle <captivespirit@...> wrote:

I am brand new to all this. I began in late Sept this year waking up with a stiff neck.

[Guest guest]

There is some good information here on back problems, diagnosis, treatments and surgeries:http://www.spine.org/sitemap.cfm

[Guest guest]

Hi I am sorry to hear you are still having such a hard time.

My situation is similar but not the same. I have 2 herniated discs also. One has ruptured. I have gone thru the injections and the therapy and done about all I can find to do. My second MRI shows that it has worsened and I have gone to a Orthopedic Surgeon who has told me that surgery (fusion) can help me. Luckily it is an elective surgery so I am still searching for things to help me. I do not want surgery.

My brother in law had the discectomy lamenomencty. He now has Aracnoiditis. He had told me that myelograms are the number one cause of Aracnoiditis. He is now a mess and the Aracnoiditis will never go away, they can only do things to try to make him more comfortable. It is enough to scare the surgery out of me.

Ask many questions for every test that they run and be as thorough as you can. I am not an expert but I know that once I go there (surgery) there is no going back. So I am being very cautious. I think it is possible that sometimes the Doctors can be only guessing on what is going on.

Hope I am of some help.

Katrina :-)

JenieGirl <jeniegirl27@...> wrote:

Hi everyone -

I need major help. This is going to be long but I am desperate for suggestions or stories on what you have gone through to see if anything will help me figure out what to do.

This all started October of 03. I started getting pain in my inner thigh, right leg. At first it just felt like a severe muscle strain or something but then I realized that it was moving towards the back of my leg and was more of a nerve pain. I finally went to the doctor and they took an x-ray of me which showed the curvature of my back was straightening, indicating to them that I had muscle spasms. So I went through phsyical therapy to get rid of the spasms and strenghten my back. After two appointments I was in more pain so I went back to my doctor and insisted on going for an MRI which he sent me for. They called me with the results a few days later and said that I have two herniated discs - L4-L5 and L5-S1 and sent me to see a Neurosurgeon.

I went to the Neurosurgeon who looked at my MRI and said that they don't seem to be too bad and that its' too early to put me through any kind of surgery. So he gave me really strong anti-inflammatory, the kind that you take a lot of the first day and then slowly cut back each day. He also suggested that I go through the epidural injections. At first I was petrified to go through with the injections so I just started taking Vioxx and went for a second opinion. The second opinion was with an Orthopedic surgeon that specializes in spines - I forget his actual title. He agreed with the Neurosurgeon and said that I should start out with the epidural injections along with physical therapy. Well I waited a long while because I was petrified to go but the pain got too intense so I went to the pain management doctor and got scheduled for the epidural. I had one in April, a second in

June, and a third in August. The first one helped me tremendously. I went from not being able to walk to walking again, not completly normal but at least I was walking again. After the soreness from the injection wore off I went to see a physical therapist. He gave me some home exercises to do to strenghten and stretch my lower back. In a couple of weeks I was back in pain again and it only got worse from there again so I went back for the second injection and physical therapy again. Then I went through the third but only got relief for maybe a week.

So now here I am out of options and still in pain so I went back to my Neurosurgeon who sent me to get an updated MRI. The new MRI isn't showing anything different from the first one. He also sent me for a nerve/muscle test which came back normal. The Neurosurgeon (NS) said that there was a disc fragment that was in the center of my back slightly more to the left side so he thinks that I should have pain down my left leg. I believe he also said that the herniated discs are more to the left too, I think. He said that I could go through a laminectomy and remove the disc fragment but he honestly didn't think that that is the cause of all my pain. He tested my reflexes and the reflexes in my knee are ok, but when he tested my foot right in the back of the ankle - I lost all reflexes which he said is the S1 nerve. So there is obviously something going on with the S1

nerve.

He wanted more time to look over my MRI's so I left them with him for a week. He was also going to consult with his associate. He called me just now and said that they are both very hesitant to put me through surgery because it could be for nothing. He said he would want to go in more on the right side, right where the S1 nerve is on the right side and see if he sees anything there. He said he could be surprised and see something that would be causing all my pain that the MRI is not showing. But he said that he could get in there and find nothing. He said that he probably wouldn't be able to get the disc fragment out because that's more on the left side than the right and if he's going in on the right side he will not be able to reach the fragment. He also said that he will try and shave back any part of the disc that he could reach. But he is very hesitant to put me

through this. He doesn't like to do surgery unless there is an obvious reason to go in.

So I asked him if I don't go through surgery, or if I do go through surgery and he finds nothing - what do I do then. He said he would send me back to pain management for more epidural injectios and have me continue on the medication that is slightly helping me right now called Neurtriptolyne (not sure of spelling). But to me that's only covering up the problem and the pain - that's not solving the issue at hand. I already lost reflexes in my right foot - if I don't correct whatever is wrong what's going to happen next? Am I not going to be able to walk?

I need help - I am absolutely desperate. Is there anyone on this list that can offer any suggestions, have been through the same thing or something similar? I'll listen to anything. Please help me.

Jenn

Do you ?Check out the new Front Page. www. __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

What is Aracnoiditis?

I'm definetly trying to ask a ton of questions and I'm glad I found a doctor that isn't rushing me right into surgery, I just wish he was more forceful wtih getting to the bottom of this. I lost reflexes from my S1 nerve in my right leg and this is a nerve doctor that I'm seeing - you would think that HE would be pushing me for more tests. I am beyond frustrated that I'm still in pain, and now petrified of what else could happen since I already lost reflexes when I didn't think I was getting worse.

Katrina <sweettoobeme@...> wrote:

Hi I am sorry to hear you are still having such a hard time.

My situation is similar but not the same. I have 2 herniated discs also. One has ruptured. I have gone thru the injections and the therapy and done about all I can find to do. My second MRI shows that it has worsened and I have gone to a Orthopedic Surgeon who has told me that surgery (fusion) can help me. Luckily it is an elective surgery so I am still searching for things to help me. I do not want surgery.

My brother in law had the discectomy lamenomencty. He now has Aracnoiditis. He had told me that myelograms are the number one cause of Aracnoiditis. He is now a mess and the Aracnoiditis will never go away, they can only do things to try to make him more comfortable. It is enough to scare the surgery out of me.

Ask many questions for every test that they run and be as thorough as you can. I am not an expert but I know that once I go there (surgery) there is no going back. So I am being very cautious. I think it is possible that sometimes the Doctors can be only guessing on what is going on.

Hope I am of some help.

Katrina :-)

JenieGirl <jeniegirl27@...> wrote:

Hi everyone -

I need major help. This is going to be long but I am desperate for suggestions or stories on what you have gone through to see if anything will help me figure out what to do.

This all started October of 03. I started getting pain in my inner thigh, right leg. At first it just felt like a severe muscle strain or something but then I realized that it was moving towards the back of my leg and was more of a nerve pain. I finally went to the doctor and they took an x-ray of me which showed the curvature of my back was straightening, indicating to them that I had muscle spasms. So I went through phsyical therapy to get rid of the spasms and strenghten my back. After two appointments I was in more pain so I went back to my doctor and insisted on going for an MRI which he sent me for. They called me with the results a few days later and said that I have two herniated discs - L4-L5 and L5-S1 and sent me to see a Neurosurgeon.

I went to the Neurosurgeon who looked at my MRI and said that they don't seem to be too bad and that its' too early to put me through any kind of surgery. So he gave me really strong anti-inflammatory, the kind that you take a lot of the first day and then slowly cut back each day. He also suggested that I go through the epidural injections. At first I was petrified to go through with the injections so I just started taking Vioxx and went for a second opinion. The second opinion was with an Orthopedic surgeon that specializes in spines - I forget his actual title. He agreed with the Neurosurgeon and said that I should start out with the epidural injections along with physical therapy. Well I waited a long while because I was petrified to go but the pain got too intense so I went to the pain management doctor and got scheduled for the epidural. I had one in April, a second in

June, and a third in August. The first one helped me tremendously. I went from not being able to walk to walking again, not completly normal but at least I was walking again. After the soreness from the injection wore off I went to see a physical therapist. He gave me some home exercises to do to strenghten and stretch my lower back. In a couple of weeks I was back in pain again and it only got worse from there again so I went back for the second injection and physical therapy again. Then I went through the third but only got relief for maybe a week.

So now here I am out of options and still in pain so I went back to my Neurosurgeon who sent me to get an updated MRI. The new MRI isn't showing anything different from the first one. He also sent me for a nerve/muscle test which came back normal. The Neurosurgeon (NS) said that there was a disc fragment that was in the center of my back slightly more to the left side so he thinks that I should have pain down my left leg. I believe he also said that the herniated discs are more to the left too, I think. He said that I could go through a laminectomy and remove the disc fragment but he honestly didn't think that that is the cause of all my pain. He tested my reflexes and the reflexes in my knee are ok, but when he tested my foot right in the back of the ankle - I lost all reflexes which he said is the S1 nerve. So there is obviously something going on with the S1

nerve.

He wanted more time to look over my MRI's so I left them with him for a week. He was also going to consult with his associate. He called me just now and said that they are both very hesitant to put me through surgery because it could be for nothing. He said he would want to go in more on the right side, right where the S1 nerve is on the right side and see if he sees anything there. He said he could be surprised and see something that would be causing all my pain that the MRI is not showing. But he said that he could get in there and find nothing. He said that he probably wouldn't be able to get the disc fragment out because that's more on the left side than the right and if he's going in on the right side he will not be able to reach the fragment. He also said that he will try and shave back any part of the disc that he could reach. But he is very hesitant to put me

through this. He doesn't like to do surgery unless there is an obvious reason to go in.

So I asked him if I don't go through surgery, or if I do go through surgery and he finds nothing - what do I do then. He said he would send me back to pain management for more epidural injectios and have me continue on the medication that is slightly helping me right now called Neurtriptolyne (not sure of spelling). But to me that's only covering up the problem and the pain - that's not solving the issue at hand. I already lost reflexes in my right foot - if I don't correct whatever is wrong what's going to happen next? Am I not going to be able to walk?

I need help - I am absolutely desperate. Is there anyone on this list that can offer any suggestions, have been through the same thing or something similar? I'll listen to anything. Please help me.

Jenn

Do you ?Check out the new Front Page. www.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi - I did see an Orthopedic spine specialist back when this first happened, I saw him after seeing the neurosurgeon that I'm still going to - and both doctors told me the same thing, same procedures, etc. The guy was way too blunt for me though and put me into tears and was absolutely petrified to even move with the way he made things sound so I'm not really considering going back to him even though he is considered one of the best around here.

Everyone I talk to and everywhere I read it says to go to a Neurosurgeon because they deal with the nerves and since I can tell that my problem is the S1 nerve - I figured it would be best to see nerve doctor - but maybe I'm wrong?

Smokie1952 <smokie1952@...> wrote:

Hello , Have you been to an orthopedic surgeon ? In my experiences they seem to know more the a nuero doc . As for the epidurals,they only last a few days for me .not worth having them.JenieGirl <jeniegirl27@...> wrote:

Hi everyone -

I need major help. This is going to be long but I am desperate for suggestions or stories on what you have gone through to see if anything will help me figure out what to do.

This all started October of 03. I started getting pain in my inner thigh, right leg. At first it just felt like a severe muscle strain or something but then I realized that it was moving towards the back of my leg and was more of a nerve pain. I finally went to the doctor and they took an x-ray of me which showed the curvature of my back was straightening, indicating to them that I had muscle spasms. So I went through phsyical therapy to get rid of the spasms and strenghten my back. After two appointments I was in more pain so I went back to my doctor and insisted on going for an MRI which he sent me for. They called me with the results a few days later and said that I have two herniated discs - L4-L5 and L5-S1 and sent me to see a Neurosurgeon.

I went to the Neurosurgeon who looked at my MRI and said that they don't seem to be too bad and that its' too early to put me through any kind of surgery. So he gave me really strong anti-inflammatory, the kind that you take a lot of the first day and then slowly cut back each day. He also suggested that I go through the epidural injections. At first I was petrified to go through with the injections so I just started taking Vioxx and went for a second opinion. The second opinion was with an Orthopedic surgeon that specializes in spines - I forget his actual title. He agreed with the Neurosurgeon and said that I should start out with the epidural injections along with physical therapy. Well I waited a long while because I was petrified to go but the pain got too intense so I went to the pain management doctor and got scheduled for the epidural. I had one in April, a second in

June, and a third in August. The first one helped me tremendously. I went from not being able to walk to walking again, not completly normal but at least I was walking again. After the soreness from the injection wore off I went to see a physical therapist. He gave me some home exercises to do to strenghten and stretch my lower back. In a couple of weeks I was back in pain again and it only got worse from there again so I went back for the second injection and physical therapy again. Then I went through the third but only got relief for maybe a week.

So now here I am out of options and still in pain so I went back to my Neurosurgeon who sent me to get an updated MRI. The new MRI isn't showing anything different from the first one. He also sent me for a nerve/muscle test which came back normal. The Neurosurgeon (NS) said that there was a disc fragment that was in the center of my back slightly more to the left side so he thinks that I should have pain down my left leg. I believe he also said that the herniated discs are more to the left too, I think. He said that I could go through a laminectomy and remove the disc fragment but he honestly didn't think that that is the cause of all my pain. He tested my reflexes and the reflexes in my knee are ok, but when he tested my foot right in the back of the ankle - I lost all reflexes which he said is the S1 nerve. So there is obviously something going on with the S1

nerve.

He wanted more time to look over my MRI's so I left them with him for a week. He was also going to consult with his associate. He called me just now and said that they are both very hesitant to put me through surgery because it could be for nothing. He said he would want to go in more on the right side, right where the S1 nerve is on the right side and see if he sees anything there. He said he could be surprised and see something that would be causing all my pain that the MRI is not showing. But he said that he could get in there and find nothing. He said that he probably wouldn't be able to get the disc fragment out because that's more on the left side than the right and if he's going in on the right side he will not be able to reach the fragment. He also said that he will try and shave back any part of the disc that he could reach. But he is very hesitant to put me

through this. He doesn't like to do surgery unless there is an obvious reason to go in.

So I asked him if I don't go through surgery, or if I do go through surgery and he finds nothing - what do I do then. He said he would send me back to pain management for more epidural injectios and have me continue on the medication that is slightly helping me right now called Neurtriptolyne (not sure of spelling). But to me that's only covering up the problem and the pain - that's not solving the issue at hand. I already lost reflexes in my right foot - if I don't correct whatever is wrong what's going to happen next? Am I not going to be able to walk?

I need help - I am absolutely desperate. Is there anyone on this list that can offer any suggestions, have been through the same thing or something similar? I'll listen to anything. Please help me.

Jenn

Do you ?Check out the new Front Page. www.

Do you ?Check out the new Front Page. www.

( Y ) (>'.'<)o('')_('') Bumper's Tribute PageAnimals In Need's WebpageAnimals In Need's Mailing List

Boycott Greece!!! (Warning - video graphic)__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thanks!Kathleen Wattle <captivespirit@...> wrote:

There is some good information here on back problems, diagnosis, treatments and surgeries:http://www.spine.org/sitemap.cfm

( Y ) (>'.'<)o('')_('') Bumper's Tribute PageAnimals In Need's WebpageAnimals In Need's Mailing List

Boycott Greece!!! (Warning - video graphic)__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I have been to an orthopedic surgeon. He suggested I

go to a pain relief clinic. They did a diagnostic

epidural on my neck. It worked for a week. Since it

worked, they are planning a major epidural there. If

it lasts, then they will do epidurals on the middle

and lower back areas. I feel like I do not belong on

this list sometimes because I do not know or

understand all of the technical jargon that

corresponds with the back but I know it hurts and I do

want relief. Relief has come with one epidural for a

week. Yes, that is a short time but I have hopes of it

lasting a lot longer when they do the major one.

--- Smokie1952 <smokie1952@...> wrote:

> Hello , Have you been to an orthopedic surgeon ? In

> my experiences they seem to know more the a nuero

> doc . As for the epidurals,they only last a few days

> for me .not worth having them.

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon,

Thank you so much for sharing your story with me and giving me advise. My doctor actually did give me the Neurotin, but I'm on another medication right now for my migraines and it says that it helps in nerve pain as well - and it is to a point.

My biggest problem - I don't want to cover up the problem with medication. I want to figure out what is wrong with me and correct it. I'm only 28 years old and look forward to having kids one day in the future and at the present moment I can't picture that ever happening. I don't want to live on medication my entire life and hope each day that it is a good day. I don't want to jump into anything either and regret anything which is why I'm really thankful my doctor isn't just sending me to surgery when it might not help.

Do you know of any other tests that I should be asking for to maybe help figure out what's causing my pain?

Jenn

darkstarzz1019 <darkstarzz1019@...> wrote:

Ji Jenn sorry to hear you are in so much pain. It sounds like something is pushing on your sciatic nerve and causing the numbness and pain in your leg. I have gone thru the surgery for that and it did not do any good. In fact the pain got worse after my surgery. Within 3 months I couldn't walk again and the pain was in my entire leg and foot. So last Dec. I had a pain implant put in my hip. It is a dorsal spinal stimulator. Basically its is attached at the nerve root in my upper back by wires and the stimulator sends pulsating signals to stop the pain from going down to my leg. They say if you get 50% better its a success and at first I didn't think it would help. It does IF I do nothing that will cause me pain. Basically not lift over 5 lbs and not go anywhere in a car or shop or go out period. But before I had it put in I

couldn't even leave the house I was in so much pain. Yes I take pain meds, strong ones and a ton of other stuff. The dr's refuse to do surgery on me again they don't think I am bad enough to have that done yet. Would it work anyway??? I am not sure. I have considered going to the Back hospital in San Fransico, it is supposed to be one of the best in the US. They repair what other dr's mess up. Go check out their websit you might find help there. Your dr too might try putting you on Neurotin, its a nerve medicine that Blocks nerve pain and it helps me ALOT!!!! I also take muscle relaxers because the nerves cause my muscles to cramp up and spasm. I've have spent over 4 yrs going to dr's and about 11 so far to get this far. I had to totally change my entire life to live with this but I have no choice at the moment. I also own 8 horses and I used to show and raise them. Now I am giving some away and selling a few to cut back so

I can take care of them. The dr's say I can never show again which I truly loved showing my black stallion, but at least I can still sit on him at the barn and just go for little rides. I hate to say it but your chances in surgery ar 50/50. Most dr's will tell you that, 50% are lucky if they get relief from their pain. Thats why I started this group because so many people Needed a place to vent and to find help. I have found that people going thru what we do understand our pain the best and everyone is different in what works for them but its worth sharing ideas to help each other out. I hope you can find some help, I would say go to a nuerosurgeon and ask your pain dr about the neurotin. It doesn't help everyone, some people get no relief on it. But its worth a shot if your are in that much nerve pain. Also hot tubs are wonderful for pain I spend alot of time in mine when I hurt. Don't get me wrong I do have good days, some

weeks I feel great and can walk very well. But most times I am back to my cane and my foot feels like it is on fire and numb. I was lucky to have my pain go completely down my leg and around my foot makes wearing shoes challeging to say the least. But there are alot of people here who are going thru similiar things as you so hopefully some of the advice will help. Check out the links section too you will find some help there.Sadly it seems that finding help is left up to us, seems the dr's don't really want to help most of the time so keep pushing and learn all you can about what can be done. There are several new things that might help too. The hospital in SF does all of them. But I am just hesitant to have another surgery, after 3 in under a year I am not anxious to go to a hospital again. I know I will have too sooner or later if I want to try and fix this problem but I know too its a 50/50 chance it will help. Best

of luck. Sharon > Hi everyone - > > I need major help. This is going to be long but I am desperate for suggestions or stories on what you have gone through to see if anything will help me figure out what to do.> > This all started October of 03. I started getting pain in my inner thigh, right leg. At first it just felt like a severe muscle strain or something but then I realized that it was moving towards the back of my leg and was more of a nerve pain. I finally went to the doctor and they took an x-ray of me which showed the curvature of my back was straightening, indicating to them that I had muscle spasms. So I went through phsyical therapy to get rid of the spasms and strenghten my back. After two appointments I was in more pain so I went back to my

doctor and insisted on going for an MRI which he sent me for. They called me with the results a few days later and said that I have two herniated discs - L4-L5 and L5-S1 and sent me to see a Neurosurgeon.> > I went to the Neurosurgeon who looked at my MRI and said that they don't seem to be too bad and that its' too early to put me through any kind of surgery. So he gave me really strong anti-inflammatory, the kind that you take a lot of the first day and then slowly cut back each day. He also suggested that I go through the epidural injections. At first I was petrified to go through with the injections so I just started taking Vioxx and went for a second opinion. The second opinion was with an Orthopedic surgeon that specializes in spines - I forget his actual title. He agreed with the Neurosurgeon and said that I should start out with the epidural injections along with

physical therapy. Well I waited a long while because I was petrified to go but the pain got too intense so I went to the pain management doctor and got scheduled for the epidural. I had one in April, a second in June, and a third in August. The first one helped me tremendously. I went from not being able to walk> to walking again, not completly normal but at least I was walking again. After the soreness from the injection wore off I went to see a physical therapist. He gave me some home exercises to do to strenghten and stretch my lower back. In a couple of weeks I was back in pain again and it only got worse from there again so I went back for the second injection and physical therapy again. Then I went through the third but only got relief for maybe a week.> > So now here I am out of options and still in pain so I went back to my Neurosurgeon who sent me to

get an updated MRI. The new MRI isn't showing anything different from the first one. He also sent me for a nerve/muscle test which came back normal. The Neurosurgeon (NS) said that there was a disc fragment that was in the center of my back slightly more to the left side so he thinks that I should have pain down my left leg. I believe he also said that the herniated discs are more to the left too, I think. He said that I could go through a laminectomy and remove the disc fragment but he honestly didn't think that that is the cause of all my pain. He tested my reflexes and the reflexes in my knee are ok, but when he tested my foot right in the back of the ankle - I lost all reflexes which he said is the S1 nerve. So there is obviously something going on with the S1 nerve.> > He wanted more time to look over my MRI's so I left them with him for a week. He was

also going to consult with his associate. He called me just now and said that they are both very hesitant to put me through surgery because it could be for nothing. He said he would want to go in more on the right side, right where the S1 nerve is on the right side and see if he sees anything there. He said he could be surprised and see something that would be causing all my pain that the MRI is not showing. But he said that he could get in there and find nothing. He said that he probably wouldn't be able to get the disc fragment out because that's more on the left side than the right and if he's going in on the right side he will not be able to reach the fragment. He also said that he will try and shave back any part of the disc that he could reach. But he is very hesitant to put me through this. He doesn't like to do surgery unless there is an obvious reason to go

in.> > So I asked him if I don't go through surgery, or if I do go through surgery and he finds nothing - what do I do then. He said he would send me back to pain management for more epidural injectios and have me continue on the medication that is slightly helping me right now called Neurtriptolyne (not sure of spelling). But to me that's only covering up the problem and the pain - that's not solving the issue at hand. I already lost reflexes in my right foot - if I don't correct whatever is wrong what's going to happen next? Am I not going to be able to walk?> > I need help - I am absolutely desperate. Is there anyone on this list that can offer any suggestions, have been through the same thing or something similar? I'll listen to anything. Please help me.> > Jenn> > >

> ---------------------------------> Do you ?> Check out the new Front Page. www./a

( Y ) (>'.'<)o('')_('') Bumper's Tribute PageAnimals In Need's WebpageAnimals In Need's Mailing List

Boycott Greece!!! (Warning - video graphic)__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I've been seeing a neurosurgeon, and I also saw a pain management doctor who did three epidurals on me. I got some relief, but never completly. I wish you luck - I truely hope they work for you so you feel better!Dudley Stadler <dudthedawg@...> wrote:

I have been to an orthopedic surgeon. He suggested Igo to a pain relief clinic. They did a diagnosticepidural on my neck. It worked for a week. Since itworked, they are planning a major epidural there. Ifit lasts, then they will do epidurals on the middleand lower back areas. I feel like I do not belong onthis list sometimes because I do not know orunderstand all of the technical jargon thatcorresponds with the back but I know it hurts and I dowant relief. Relief has come with one epidural for aweek. Yes, that is a short time but I have hopes of itlasting a lot longer when they do the major one. --- Smokie1952 <smokie1952@...> wrote:> Hello , Have you been to an orthopedic surgeon ? In> my experiences they seem to know more the a nuero> doc . As for the epidurals,they only last a few

days> for me .not worth having them.> __________________________________________________