Back surgery question

[backpacker]

I know this is a hunting site but I thought I'd ask anyway, you can never have too much info. I was kind of curious if any of you fellas out there have ever had to have back surgery for a bulged disc and if you'd make the surgical choice again. I've had one for about a year and half now (thankfully it's not ruptured) and have been researching different procedures and talking to doctors debating the pros and cons of surgery since it's a major thing or wondering if I should just live with it even though it could get worse down the road. Thanks for any input.

 

[Model_70_Guy]

sent you a pm

 

[larrbo]

I had 2 ruptured discs in my neck and had surgery 10 years ago to have them fused. After years of chonic pain they finally blew up into accute pain. I went with a neuro-surgeon for the fix and it went well. I had my first hole in one only 8 weeks after the surgery and was back coaching fastpitch softball. I have gone from pain in my neck and upper back to rare discomfort. Glad I got it fixed.

 

[Huck58]

I have had two herniated (bulged) discs in my lower back for over 10 years. I went through the usual, leg numbness,tingleing, and even lost feeling in one leg for a short time. I had no idea what it was. I felt as though I had a hernia, was checked for that, no hernia. It was the two discs. After two GP visits to two different GP's, the second one MRI'd me, sent me and the photos to a specialist in Billings, recomended as the best in this area. He looked it over, said, lose some weight, excersize, strengthen my stomach, strech the back, and when they get to where you can not stand the pain come back and I will fix you. That was eight years ago, I am still active, packed four elk on my back since then, and only occasional pain, when I lift wrong, and I still climb poles at 51~~!

I honestly believe the doctors get anxious for the surgery, and want the cash, so they cut. The first doctor wanted me to get to a local surgeon and have it fixed. I opted for the second opinion, (wise choice), second GP did the MRI and recommended a very honest surgeon in Billings, from India or Pakistan! When I left his office for the 3 hour drive home, I felt better than I had felt in months! So saying that, some of the problem is mental!

Good luck in what ever you choose! I feel for you, I wish when I was younger I had listened to the old farts on the crew~ and lifted with my legs, made two trips, asked for help, etc;

 

[mtnmn44]

Sent you a PM

 

[antlerrick]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-17-09 AT 09:38PM (MST)[p]I blew up a disc in my back at work and had to have surgery to remove the pieces. I thought I had to use the hospital and dr that they had contracted with, and he really done a trash job on me and created more problems that he should have. He left so much scar tissue that within 5 years I couldn't stand up straight or walk upright. I had to go back in and get my lower back fused. It allowed me to have somewhat of a life again after the fusion.
My wife had a ruptured disc operated on, and 5 years later the part of the disc that was left in, worked it's way out and became lodged when the root nerve goes down to the leg, and crushed the nerve, causing her to lose the use of her foot and creating further back problems and a never-ending nerve pain in her bad foot. It has progressed to where the only way for her to get around very well is thru the use of a wheelchair.
In her case I wish she would have tried to go without the surgery and she would have been better off in the long run. In my situation, I had no choice as they had to get the floating pieces of disc out.
I think with diet, excercise, and changing the way you lift and do things, that is by far the best way to go if you have that option.
Good luck with your decison!

 

[Hazmat]

Having seen multiple people both at work and family go through back surgery, I would recommend you try the conservative therapy as long as you can. You are never the same after surgery. I have seen several surgeries go very badly and leave the people crippled for life. On the other side, I've seen people have very positive experiences. I think if you have multiple ruptured discs that's when you should think seriously about surgery.

Take the advice given before: make sure your weight is in line, gently work yourself up to the point where you can exercise without pain and stick with it.

I have a bad back (sachroilliac, not disc). If I keep in shape, wear the right shoes and lift smart I never have any trouble...drift away from those things and I'm back in pain.

Best thing for my back is hunting. For some reason long hikes help and its a lot easier getting by the pain it there's a chance for a big buck over that hill...

Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

HAZMAT

www.muddyroad.net

 

[ktc]

You can be conservative and let it go untreated for many years like I did. Then when it does go, it %&$@'s everything up for good. Whatever you do change your lifestyle. Quit doing what made it bad or you can go from a healthy person to an old feeling, miserable POS in seconds.

 

[ktc]

One more thing, if you think a bulging/herniated disc hurts, let a crappy doctor hurt your nerves or let the disc rupture and hurt the nerves. Then, you will know what hell is.

Good luck. I sure would not wish it on anyone so choose wisely.

 

[kilowatt]

I have had back problems a long time and the older you get the harder it is to keep from doing something wrong and hurt yourself again. I know of three people that have had back surgery and the results were not good. One was worse after the surgery than before, the second one that had it done, says he still hurts and can't get rid of the pain. The last one was my previous Doctor.
I went to him for a problem I was having and he informed me that he was going to retire, could no longer do the job of his patients and the other Dr. that was a partner in office, that Dr. died from Pheumonia. Dr. Sully told me that on Oct.1st 2007 he was retiring and would help me find a new Dr. if I need advice on finding one taking "new" patients.
Then he told me that he was contenplating having back surgery as he was in a lot of pain.
Third week of Oct. I was reading the local paper and the Obit Section and was shocked to see his name there. Died on the operating table from "complications" while they were performing the back surgery.

Back surgery needs to be left to the cream of the crop surgeons like the ones that did Joe Montana's back when he was playing Football.

I will not let anyone cut on my back, very few ever come out better than they were when they went in for the operation.

Sorry for the long winded speel, but your back is nothing to take lightly.

Brian

 

[Shummy]

Not my back, but I have some herniated disks in my neck, they rub up against my spinal cord. It really sucks! My mom is an X- ray tech for the best orthopedic surgeons to be found, they told me to live with it! Neurologist told me to stay off the dirt bike and live with it. My pain management doctors occasionaly mention surgery, but for the most part they say live with it, and find ways to manage the pain. I'm going to live with it!

 

[antlerrick]

+1 ktc.. Well said..
My wife is to the point that even walking for ten minutes into a store will make the nerves burn so bad that that it takes hours and hours, or even days to get the burning under control again.
If you let the nerves get damaged, life as you knew it will pretty much be over.

 

[Packout]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-18-09 AT 09:19AM (MST)[p]I have had back surgery and it worked out well enough for me. About every 2 or 3 years it causes me some problems, but for the most part I am able to do most things.

The way I understand it, there is a difference between bulged and hernaited disks. A bulged disk means the disk wall is rubbing agianst the spinal cord. I would not recommend surgery for a bulged disk, rather change your lifestyle, diet exercise, work.

A herniated disk means the disk wall has ruptoured, spilling the disk material into the spinal column. There is no other way to relieve the pain except through surgery. This is what happened to me and I tried to man-up through it. Took me 4 months to finally see a doctor and some damage is permanent. My Dr, one of the best in the country, removed the material, but declined to fuse. Once it is fused you can't go back. Fusion will cause the disks above to have more stress, causing them to fail at some point.

I guess what I am saying is I wouldn't want to have surgery over a bulged disk. One of the leading ortho surgens in the country once told me "Use surgery as a last resort. You don't want someone mucking around in your body with a knife."

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www.sagebasin.com
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[Huck58]

One other thing that helped tremendously was changing mattress's! I went to the space foam topper on top of a good Sealy matteress.

 

[ras1954]

Be careful with the Back, I'm all beat too crap but a few years ago I was having problems, the pain started in my hip, so I went to a Doc I heard good things about, Had xrays said nothing wrong just your back is aliitle messed up, pain got worse hurt like hell went back to the doc. set me up for epiduriel shots, ok maybe that will help had 3 sessions of shots no help, got pissed at that doc. found another, this guy was really a smooth talker, my mistake, he jacked me around for year and half, more shots,nerve test that really made my ass pucker, treatment I didnt need.Finally got pissed at him went and found the right doc, he found the problem right away,he said hell you hips wore out,anyway had the hip replaced no more pain. I guess you could say get more than one opinion when it comes to cutting on your back.

 

[ktc]

Huck that is funny!

I bought one of those awesome Sealy's, paid a boat load for it, now 2 years later that POS is worse than sleeping on a pile of rocks. I am currently doing battle with the retailer to warranty out that POS. I am about to go sleep on that 295 dollar mattress out in the horse trailer. I am glad you are happy cuz mine sure sucks!

With all the internet experts out there PO is pretty accurate. Listen to the doctor, not a bunch of guys on the internet who has a worse back than the next guy.

I wish your wife would feel better Rick! That just blows.

 

[antlerrick]

+1

you are right ras, and if you decide for surgery, check out the different doctors and their success.
If I would have found a different dr to do my first surgery, I would probably be "good to go", instead of "almost gone".
And if you don't like one opinion, definately go see another one. If we wouldn't have listened to the dr in the ER in my wifes case, she would probably still be walking and still have the use of her leg and foot...
Backs are a touchy subject...do everything in your power to find the right dr and procedure!

 

[ktc]

Rick,

It is funny how stuff works. Hindsight is always 20/20. I think we do what we think is right, or do what we have to do, and it usually bites us in the ass. I never dreamed this would or could happen. Bad backs are one thing, nerve damage is another and I would not suggest getting to that point. Most guys I know who have had surgery in the last 10 years have had good luck. I think surgery is a last option these days, but if you need it, you need it.

 

[Groundshrinkage]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-19-09 AT 12:37PM (MST)[p]If I were you I would try different conservative treatments before I resorted to surgery. (of course without knowing specifics of your case, this is just a general suggestion) I myself am a Chiropractor so I would recommend you give Chiropractic a chance, at least discuss it with your Primary care physician. There are other conservative options including lifestyle modifications, physical therapy, acupuncture, etc... Bottom line, find a doctor you are comfortable with and follow their recommendations and don't be afraid of getting a second opinion.

there have been a handful of patients of mine who I just couldn't help and they went on to have surgery, and in all the cases I personally have been involved in they have had very good results. So if surgery does become necessary, you can have confidence that you are in good hands.

 

[BreederBuck]

I had to finally have surgery a few years back and it was a success, I will still wake up with some lower back pain in the mornings if I over do it. I have just become more aware of my limitations. I'm sure I will fight this the rest of my life but it sure beats the alternative of living with the pain. Any body on here that can relate to the siatic nerve pain constantly shooting down their legs will tell you it's a pain like no other.
The only advice I would share with you is if you decide on surgery,follow doctors orders 100%, Make sure you are ready to go back to work. I jumped the gun a little early because I felt good and it may have interupted the healing process for me, still no regrets about the surgery.
Good luck to you, I know it's a bad situation to be in. Hope all works out well for you................

 

[Huck58]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-19-09 AT 06:34PM (MST)[p]Actually my Sealy wasn't that good,by good I meant one of their best models, it was the top of the line in Sealy, the space foam topper is what made it. It was a 4" topper and helped immensely. Beds can make or break a back as far as I am concerned. The sad thing is, you don't know until you sleep in the d@man thing a few nights. I might try the airbed next time. A honestly believe you should get a new bed every couple of years. H$ll look how much time we spend in one!

I can tell you a true story of a guy on my crew, he was unloading a 30 gallon barrel of water out of the back of his Ram Charger, it rolled out and pinned him against the side of the barn.. No one came to his aid, he finally pushed and strained with all he had, he was a strong man but about 50 years old at the time. He finally got out from under it. His back was killing him. Then after two days of pain, he started chiropractic treatments. This went on for a few months, two treatments a month. Back just kept getting worse. His legs were numb and had no feeling in his feet. I kept telling him to go see a back doctor. After two or three months he relented and went. Two ruptured discs and 6 months out of work. His surgeon told him that every time the chiropractor tried to adjust his back it only made it worse. The chiropractor had neglected to do xrays.

Ok enough of the war stories!

 

[Huck58]

Hey I got another one, another guy I work with, he is only about 33, he blew his back out 7 years ago, at work, on a snow machine. He got the fake disc installed. And came back to work. He could have gotten 25% disability but chose to stay working.

He only lost mobility, but has very little pain.

 

[Huck58]

I guess what I am getting at is, if your back is good, take care of it, if it is bad, take better care of it. Don't hesitate to get second and third opinions! And as for Backpack, I can sympathize with you! Good Luck and Best Wishes!

 

[Frontier]

You've gotten some good advice already, especially on second and third opinions. I would say not only no, but hell no! When your pain gets to a certain level then you'll know, it doesn't sound like you're there yet. I've had similiar problems, was able to keep it at bay with a number of tactics. Deep tissue massage, chiropractor, and exercise. The inversion table, where you hang upside down and do situps really strengthened my abs, helped the most.
About 14 months ago I blew out a vertabrae, had emergency surgery and it has been pure hell ever since. Surgery is a last resort in most cases on anyones back!

 

[backpacker]

Thanks for all the info guys, it gives me a hell of a lot more to think about!

 

[troutsniffer]

pm sent.

 

[Slide]

I had two fusions in 11 months and I WOULD NOT DO IT AGAIN!!!!!!! Now I still have major back pain on a daily basis, my last sugery was 5yrs ago. They have a new techinque out where they use an aftificial disc, my doctor's wife had this and after 1 week you could not tell she had back sugery. Oh yea, she had multiple levels done. After my sugeries I was down and out for a long time. NO, NO I would never do it again.

And after having back problems, dude I'm sorry for your pain.

Slide