i do MRI's daily on patients.IMO i would not have surgery unless depended on paralysis or urinary incontinence . i would also be very particular about the neurosurgeon,etc doing the surgery. do your research! i do scans on pt's that have had multiple surgeries and they are no better than before. do everything you can before having surgery. if you have surgery follow therapy and everything you possibly can.

Man we sure are ruff on our backs!! :faint:

Im 38 now and after surgery on both knees, right shoulder three times now and several back and neck injuries, I can tell you that surgery is not always the right way to go but it does work at times. Also physical therapy and chiro are very helpfull and have saved me from the knife even more than I care to remember. Bottom line is get several opinions and good doctors.

Well, 24 hrs later and I feel just about the same. Immediately after the injection my pain levels were brutal. The Dr. explained that the fluid injected may cause more pressure on the nerve root that was already being affected. There was pressure to say the least.

The good news is that the teeth grinding pain has subsided, the bad is I have not experienced immediate relief. The Doc said to give the steroids 3-5 days to start working. Wish me luck!!!!!

Spoke too soon......Pain is worse than before. I'm going in for a surgical consultation the first of next week.

My wife had the injections done and it did help, but took few days to really kick in. This might sound odd, but we recently bought a new bed and that has done more for her back than anything! If I had only known! Might be worth looking into before you go under the knife. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Wish me luck
 

Well, apparently I need surgery. I'm getting a microdiscectomy tomorrow. Wish me luck! Looking forward to getting healthy so I can go back to a "normal" life.

WOW that is a quick decision by the surgeon. Be careful!! Like I said if you think it hurt before wait till you f with your spine. Hope it gets you the relief you want but most surgeons unless emergency surgery will have you on specific muscle relaxers and anti inflamatory medicines first. Didn't want to see the outcome of the series of shots?

How do they operate if you have been taking medicine? Usually you have to wait a week or two. How did you get an insurance co to pay that quickly? Usually only emergency room situations get that kind of action.

I am going to assume this is some sort of in and out laser surgery. Expensive and no warranty.

Hey good luck and be ready for some long therapy after.

Good luck with the surgery. I had the shots in my back they only helped a little, and then not at all. Mine is not herniated it is bulging and the next lower is sliding out to the side. But luckilly I don't need the surgery. Again good luck. My friend's son works for a company who make the replacement disc's He instructs the surgeons in the O.R. He said they do amazing stuff now a days.

Brian, I tried the anti-pain/inflams for 2 months. Tried a steroid pack followed by an epidural injection that made things worse. It got fast tracked because I have no feeling in my foot accept for my big toe. I have been sleeping about 1-2 hours a day for 2 weeks due to my "discomfort." I have exhausted every viable treatment which in addition to the above include physical therapy, accupuncture, spinal decompression, traction, chiro and stretching/manipulation by a D.O.

Long story short I appreciate your advice. I also realize you have no way of knowing the above info so this is not me crapping on you post. Thank you very much for the well wishes.