Re: Newbie with questions, Deb & Tumpliner

[Guest guest]

Deb,

I guess my question would be here, is that if you do nothing and are

feeling like you're making progress in the pain dept., can I assume I

wouldn't have to worry about developing the neuro symptoms you

mention? I'm not necessarily doing nothing...I'm trying to be

proactive & do the exercises that don't cause further pain. At least

I feel I'm working toward strengthening the muscles surrounding the

area. There are however (from my Physical Therapy visits, exercises

that DO affect the area negatively.

Another question......lifting anything with that one arm is still a

pain (especially if it's close to 5 lbs.....could I expect that to

improve over time? I'm just not sure what happens to the disc over

time if treated conservatively). I did read on the Mayo site that

surgery patients & those who treated the disc conservatively were

about equal in the outcome?

Tumpliner, I went back & read your post (very interesting)....How

long prior to your discovery did you have pain related to the

herniated disc?

Ang

> >

> > Sharon,

> >

> > YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT.......dont fix what aint broken. If

> your car

> > drove well and your mechanic said you needed a new engine...would

> you get

> > one. Many people have horrible MRIs but have no back pain......

if

> it is an

> > episodic thing (the pain) I would treat it conservatively as you

> are doing.

> >

> > Deb RN

> >

> >

> >

> > From: spinal problems

> <mailto:spinal problems%40>

> > [mailto:spinal problems

> <mailto:spinal problems%40> ] On Behalf

Of

> hepburnbs

> > Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 12:07 PM

> > spinal problems

> <mailto:spinal problems%40>

> > Subject: Newbie with questions

> >

> >

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > After spinal x-rays and an MRI, a neurosurgeon has recommended a

> fusion

> > with titanium hardware for my spondylolesthesis and degenerative

> disk

> > disease - L5/s1. This all came to light when I had intermittent

> > numbness and tingling in my feet. During the period between my x-

> ray

> > and the MRI, the GP sent me to PT. My feet stopped tingling. I

very

> > rarely have back pain. When I do, it can be traced to a specific

> > strenuous activity. When I asked the neurosurgeon (a guy with

minus

> > interpersonal skills<g>) if I could wait on surgery, and if so,

how

> > long, he said " At your age, you'll probably live at least another

> 25

> > years. If you come to me when you're 80, I won't be able to help

> > you. " (I'm 65) I have had excellent health all of my life and was

> > blindsided by this issue.

> >

> > I'm at a total loss as to what to do now. I've read everything on

> line

> > about my problems and back surgery. I've read all of the post

2001

> > books in my library on the subject. My GP says to do what the

neuro

> > says. The neurosurgeon is the head of his dept at a well-known

> > university. He has done these surgeries for years. My " friends "

> have

> > told me horror stories. I really want to know why I should have

> major

> > intrusive surgery to (maybe) fix something that doesn't hurt.

And,

> I

> > don't know how to investigate the alternatives.

> >

> > Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks for listening.

> > Sharon Hepburn

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Ang, I don't remember for sure, but I had pain for atleast 6 months,

and probably less than a year. Let me know if you are interested in

trying this. If you look in the Backpacking group I have a posting

there giving more details on it. I am really interested to see if it

would work for someone else.

>

>>

> Tumpliner, I went back & read your post (very interesting)....How

> long prior to your discovery did you have pain related to the

> herniated disc?

>

> Ang

>

>