Hey folks. I will try to keep this as short as possible, but bare with me.
4 years ago, I was using an ab/back machine at the gym. The kind where you bend forward into it, and your front, or abs, push the weight forward. Did this for a few days, until one day, I got up, and could barely move. My back was absolute toast! Everthing I did hurt, getting up, walking, bending over was nearly impossible.
A week or two went by, hoping it would heal by itself, but no luck. To speed things up here, I has an MRI done 3 yrs ago, which showed a herniated disk, and 2 or 3 other bulging disks. Signs of DDD too, but I know That's common. I'm 29 and in good health now.
Both the neurosurgeon and orthopedic dugeon said no surgery for now, try physical therapy, stretches, chiroprator, etc. During PT I had ultrasound stuff done, as well as some electro therapy stuff. That didn't help at all after 2 months of going twice a week. Then we tried epidural injections, had about 3 or 4 of those done over a year and a half. They actually made things worse!
So, here I am now, 4 years later, with lumbar pain so severe I want somone to stab me! Also, I have sciatica, which began on my right side, but now is worse on my left. Its pain that goes from my butt to my thigh/knee, and sometimes to my foot. I can't sit for more than 5 mins, then standing bothers it, so I'm always in a battle to attempt to get comfy. The pain keeps me up most nights since I can't get comfortable. Along with the pain in my butt and legs, I get numbness that comes and goes and weakness too... Like sometimes I feel like my leg will just give out on me.
So, since I'm young, I know they don't like to operate, which I understand. But I'm at the point now where I feel like I've tried all conservative measures, and have been coping with awful pain for 4 years! My Dr wants me to try lumbar facet injections, which I suppose I will try... I've tried everything else, right?! I'm also thinking that things may have changed in over 3 yrs, since my last MRI. I'm getting to the end of my rope here, and I've come to terms that I will probably always have some pain, but at 29, I shouldn't have to carry a cane to ensure my balance. Does anyone agree to that?
My PCP said, "no, we don't like to operate for disk issues usually, espwcially at your age, but when the nerve is involved, then we are more likely to think about surgery." well, I'm not looking forward to surgery, but I am looking for relief. If it would help me a little, I'd do it in a heartbeat!
Does anyone have any input/thoughts on what I'm going thru? Does it sound like surgery would help or no? I've even got numbness in my fingers sometimes, which may or not be related.
Thanks in advance guys! Sorry it's a long a$$ post! Much love.
Meg