Hello and introduction

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone,

I read a few of the posts already and you all sound so nice. I'm very

glad that I search the for spine disorders.

My name is Ticia (sounds like Tisha) and I'm 36 yrs old. We live in

Wisconsin. 2 yrs ago I had a discectomy between L4 and L5. That was

after more then a year of PT, losing weight and pain killers. It took

me forever it seemed to recover from that surgery. (meaning that 8

months after the surgery I was sure I was going to need a spinal fusion)

Then it started to get better. Better being the pain went down from a

5/6 all the time pain. To a 3/4 all the time pain with spikes higher.

Then it got better and better. So last summer I didn't have surgery

because I was at a 2/3 pain level usually with spikes of 8 if I did

something dumb like sit on the floor, ride in the car for more then a

few hours, or twist and lift a kid at the same time (I have 5 kids and

watch 2 more)

Now I'm back to thinking about surgery. I've lost 67 lbs total, and

work out at the gym (2 to 3 times a week). Still I can't do any of

those things listed above. I tried to rake yesterday for 15 min. and

ended up not being able to move much. I have to take vicitin after

riding in a car or plane for more then a few hours, I can't really

" play " with the kids because all I need to do it turn or jerk back and

I'm hit with an 8 pain.

But I'm big time scared. My surgeon said that when I couldn't live

this way any longer he would do the surgery but only I could make that

choice. I'm so scared that the pain will be worse after the surgery.

That I won't be able to get to the gym or that it won't work and I'll

have had the surgery for nothing.

I'm hoping to hear some positive experiencs from people, or to hear

from people who are trying to make a similar decision. I'm feeling

very frozen in place.

Thank you in advance and I look forward to getting to know you.

Ticia