[Help] Back Pain

[Light_Bulb]

I know there are a number of old farts here on NSC, so presume back pain is fairly common amongst us: I'm one of them.

I've been suffering for years with degenerative discs in my L1,L2 and L3. I've seen lots of specialists and had tons of injections, needling, chiropractic treatment and physio etc.
To date I've only spoken to Orthopaedic Dr's and I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience of dealing with back problems via a Neurosurgeon instead?

Has anyone ever had a disc removed and spine fused? Or a disc replaced (apparently you can do that now). How has it affected your quality of life?

I'm worried as it seems my only option now is surgery.
Thanks!

 

[Flounce]

I know there are a number of old farts here on NSC, so presume back pain is fairly common amongst us: I'm one of them.

I've been suffering for years with degenerative discs in my L1,L2 and L3. I've seen lots of specialists and had tons of injections, needling, chiropractic treatment and physio etc.
To date I've only spoken to Orthopaedic Dr's and I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience of dealing with back problems via a Neurosurgeon instead?

Has anyone ever had a disc removed and spine fused? Or a disc replaced (apparently you can do that now). How has it affected your quality of life?

I'm worried as it seems my only option now is surgery.
Thanks!

I am doing this from memory of about 40 years ago, and neither of us remember in detail, and things must have come on in leaps and bounds since. My wife has suffered from disc problems in her back since being a child. In the late 70s she had a neurosurgeon remove a crumbling disc as she was really struggling and in constant pain but he advised against fusion for some reason. It did involve moving the spinal cord and it seems it did bruise it, which was flagged as a risk as she could have apparently have ended up paralysed. Luckily this did not happen and the surgeon suggested she could expect 10 years relief. As it happens she got 30 years before other discs started to cause similar problems.Recovery was quite long as I remember it. She is now of an age where she does not want to go through the same again and is becoming more and more immobile. She has had physio and injections but none last for very long. I am unwilling to pressure her to have surgery again as she is set against it and she fears that she won’t get as lucky again.

So in answer to your question, yes it can be life changing and it was for her. No idea if the risks remain the same though.

I do remember that she felt very nervous pre operation because she thought that the neurosurgeon, who was a big man, had “butcher’s hands”

 

[GJN1]

I know there are a number of old farts here on NSC, so presume back pain is fairly common amongst us: I'm one of them.

I've been suffering for years with degenerative discs in my L1,L2 and L3. I've seen lots of specialists and had tons of injections, needling, chiropractic treatment and physio etc.
To date I've only spoken to Orthopaedic Dr's and I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience of dealing with back problems via a Neurosurgeon instead?

Has anyone ever had a disc removed and spine fused? Or a disc replaced (apparently you can do that now). How has it affected your quality of life?

I'm worried as it seems my only option now is surgery.
Thanks!

I had denervation at the base of my spine maybe 10 years ago when they basically singe the nerves and my back pain stopped almost overnight. I feel for you as back pain is awful and wish you well.

 

[grubbyhands]

I had a prolapsed disc,L5 I believe some 20 years ago. The prolapsed part broke away whilst I was awaiting a laser discectomy so on that occasion I fixed myself.
However, I have since bought an Inversion Table ( Google them?) and use it fairly often if I feel a twinge coming on. Speak with your Chiropractor though as it may be completely unsuitable for your circumstances.
Very best of luck though, back pain is the worst I've ever experienced.

 

[BLOCK F]

I have got Spinal Stenosis in the lumbar area of my back. Very debilitating and seriously restricts my mobility.
Had the jabs administered by a specialist spinal surgeon under general anaesthetic, but they did nothing for me. A year later I had the op carried out by the same surgeon, where a bit of the offending vertebrae that was putting pressure on the spinal cord was shaved off and a metal spring was also used to stabilise the vertebrae. I think the whole procedure was called spinal reduction and co-flex stabilisation. I ws in hospital for three days and given physio which I carried on with when I got home. End result was that the op helped relieve the discomfort I had in my hamstrings, but has done nothing for my back pain. To be fair, the surgeon did say this could happen. All this was ten years ago and things may have moved on since then.
Hopefully, you will have more success than I did, because back pain is a real bummer.
Spinal surgery always sounds scary, but well worth it if it cures or helps the problem.
Good luck.

 

[Light_Bulb]

Thanks everyone. I think I was hoping someone would say "Yes I've had it done and I'm still jumping around on a pogo stick!!"

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I know there are a number of old farts here on NSC, so presume back pain is fairly common amongst us: I'm one of them.

I've been suffering for years with degenerative discs in my L1,L2 and L3. I've seen lots of specialists and had tons of injections, needling, chiropractic treatment and physio etc.
To date I've only spoken to Orthopaedic Dr's and I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience of dealing with back problems via a Neurosurgeon instead?

Has anyone ever had a disc removed and spine fused? Or a disc replaced (apparently you can do that now). How has it affected your quality of life?

I'm worried as it seems my only option now is surgery.
Thanks!

Had a discectomy L5 (performed by a neurosurgeon) around 2007.

Currently I have stenosis/myelopathy in C5/6 / 6/7, and they do need to be fused, but for various reasons I’m resisting, until my symptoms get to a certain point.

Lumbar disc wise, I literally couldn’t walk more than about 10 yards, so paid privately as simply was too debilitating to wait.

Complete recovery, upright, able to walk. Played badminton and golf again, until got further symptoms, but much less acute and am happy just walking now.

I would always recommend as neurosurgeon over a orthopaedic back surgeon.

 

[BHANSC]

I have got Spinal Stenosis in the lumbar area of my back. Very debilitating and seriously restricts my mobility.
Had the jabs administered by a specialist spinal surgeon under general anaesthetic, but they did nothing for me. A year later I had the op carried out by the same surgeon, where a bit of the offending vertebrae that was putting pressure on the spinal cord was shaved off and a metal spring was also used to stabilise the vertebrae. I think the whole procedure was called spinal reduction and co-flex stabilisation. I ws in hospital for three days and given physio which I carried on with when I got home. End result was that the op helped relieve the discomfort I had in my hamstrings, but has done nothing for my back pain. To be fair, the surgeon did say this could happen. All this was ten years ago and things may have moved on since then.
Hopefully, you will have more success than I did, because back pain is a real bummer.
Spinal surgery always sounds scary, but well worth it if it cures or helps the problem.
Good luck.

I've also had the coflex implant about 5 years ago, good to know someone else out there with it as didn't think was used that much! If I'm honest I do feel pain and tightness most days but keep on top of with with flexibility / yoga / swimming and general good health which helps a lot. I probably wouldn't recommend it as feel I will have to have a fusion at some point in the future when the pain gets un manageable, hopefully a few years away from that though.

I work with someone who's had a fusion at two levels and seems to have worked well for him, definitely a lot better than before the operation. I guess it comes down to how much pain you are in and if that's worth taking the risk (hopefully small!) of the operation.