Back Issues

I don't know about this illness....But i do know that back surgery is a big risk with not a big success rate. Read my history then you will understand why I say that. Sry I couldn't help u more...also sry to hear that about your wife!!!

Hi, Sorry to hear about your suffering and such a young age.
My DDD started at level one. I too went through PT that didn't help.
I have had maybe 3 or 4 epidural shots at the level one stage.
I was told be my neural surgeon just a month ago, he said that do to new research that recommends not going in higher then level two. I think you may be smart not taking surgery on, but to be honest If my surgeon was willing to operate at Level 5, I would do it in a heart beat. I have never been through major surgery before.
Why did you stop your lyrica? I as well take Trazodone 100mg at bed time(I call it my tylenol pm) Good luck and sorry to hear your a medicated and still bedridden. Can you enlighten me on the shaving surgery?
Cloe

Post Edited (~Cloe~) : 7/24/2008 8:47:49 PM (GMT-6)

Hi, Quizzical,
Welcome to the HW forum. There is a lot to learn here, especially if you search the threads for things like surgery and stenosis. Stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal through which the nerves pass. Many of us might have a little stenosis, but I would say a lot depends on more specifics of your wife's condition. Is this something that's been getting worse over years, is it located in one area or throughout the spine, your wife's age, etc.

I would certainly suggest she try any possible conservative treatments to see if that helps her symptoms, and if she can manage them without surgery. However, she may have something going on and the doctors want to take the pressure off the nerves ASAP. Remember - surgeons tend to want to operate because that's what they do. I'd definitely get more than one opinion.

I just had a double fusion (L4-S1) which failed to decrease the symptoms in my legs and feet, even though I'd been given an 80-90% chance that it would. Lots of failed back surgeries here, but I've known people with successful surgeries, too. And one thing I learned the hard way - the longer the nerve is compressed, the less likely it is to heal. Nerves can take up to 2 years to heal, if they do, and then at that point you have to manage whatever pain you have left. I've found once you start having back problems, I don't think anything totally fixes them. Especially because our spines normally degenerate as we age. So there are a lot of variables.

I'd suggest going to medscape.com and you can access some research at no cost; you can also access some of the medline.com journals - which are the same things the doctors read. So that may give you more detailed info. and success rates if you search for your wife's condition.

Hope this helps a little. Your wife is also welcome to post; both of you will find lots of support here.

PaLady