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I Need a Little Bit of Advice
#1
Let me catch you up to speed real quick. My Junior year of high school I got injured in an football game. I ended up with 3 broke vertebrae(which never grew back), 2 bulging disc, 2 swollen facet joints, sciatica, pinched nerves, and arthritis. 3 years later my back still kills me, and I went to the doctor the other day. I have an MRI Monday and I possibly will be seeing a surgeon in Lexington soon. Now my question is what should I do here? Should I have the surgery if possible or try to live the rest of my life in miserable back pain?
#2
God has blessed me in life so far to not have any broken bones or any other injuries.I would talk to the doctor and get more info but I'd say have the surgery. I'm sure it would ease the pain. I wish you the best of luck, I'm sure you will make the right decision.
#3
I have the surgery.
#4
HR, find people who have had similar surgeries. The back is extremely complex. My first inclination is to say surgery because it sounds so simple and "matter of fact" to fix the issue. But I have many friends and acquaintances who have not had the success that surgery seems so sure of fixing. I have some pretty tragic stories to tell, but nothing to post here. I'd highly recommend asking the Dr.s for help in finding patients with similar situations. If you were considering this for your child, you would want to do all the research in the world, please be sure to do the same for yourself.
#5
Honestly buddy, id do what my Doctor said to do.

But I only have one question. Could it get any worse? If not, have the surgery. It only could help.
#6
MisterPerfect Wrote:Honestly buddy, id do what my Doctor said to do.

But I only have one question. Could it get any worse? If not, have the surgery. It only could help.

The worse could come from surgery complications, that might be one of the fears/hesitations
#7
LWC Wrote:The worse could come from surgery complications, that might be one of the fears/hesitations

That is my hesitation I have heard of people having back surgery and coming out fine. On the other hand I have heard people coming out of it needing surgery again.
#8
LWC Wrote:The worse could come from surgery complications, that might be one of the fears/hesitations

That's why I asked him "Could it get any worse?" If not go along with the surgery.
#9
I've had back surgery, and in my case it was well worth it. Similar injury to yours, I couldn't walk, sleep, sit. I really couldn't function at all. I woke up from the surgery and felt 10 times better, I knew I was in bad pain, but I didn't realize how much until the next few days. It worked for me, pretty much gave me my life back at 27 years old.
#10
NEXT Wrote:I've had back surgery, and in my case it was well worth it. Similar injury to yours, I couldn't walk, sleep, sit. I really couldn't function at all. I woke up from the surgery and felt 10 times better, I knew I was in bad pain, but I didn't realize how much until the next few days. It worked for me, pretty much gave me my life back at 27 years old.

Amen! Praise the Lord!
#11
Hawks, let me give you some real good advice. Ive had major back surgery. I have four rods, 12 screws, a mesh cage, 8 metal crossmembers and two seperate fusions in my back alone, after getting crushed in the mines. I have severe chronic back pain every minute of every single day. Number one, I do NOT recommend Lexington. I went there a few times, and just about every single one of those guys were jokes. If I were you, and please listen here, contact my surgeon in Bristol at Bristol Regional Med Center before making any decisions. And you'll have to trust me here. That guy is phenomenal. He wont BS you like the people in Lexington will. Heres the good and bad, just like he gave it to me. Right now, your back is very unstable, and will worsten, this we know. With the extent of your injuries, you are going to have back pain forever, regardless whether you have the surgery or not. My piece of mind is knowing that my back is stable. Yes, it hurts, and the pain is almost unbearable, but I know that it is stable, and that it wont crumble if I fall. But please, contact Dr Travis Burt at BRMC before dealing with those yokels in Lexington. Those guys will tell you that if you have the surgery, youll want to run 50 miles uphill as soon as you get out of surgery, and that youll never take as much as an Ibuprofren for the rest of your life. However, I know first hand how Dr Burt is, and I promise you that he would take care of you.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
#12
Tidehoss pm me with a way to contact that guy
#13
I've heard horror stories of people having unsuccessful back surgeries. I wish you luck.
#14
^ ditto
#15
MRI is in morning I guess I will be keeping you guys updated if wanted.
#16
My dad has had 2 back surgeries because he didnt let the 1st one heal before going back to work..but the 2nd one helped him tremendously
#17
I wish you well HawksRule..
And this is what I would do in your case..
I would have the surgery (even though surgery is my worst fear of all time) I would do it..
If you are in that much pain, I would give it a shot..
However, if you do not go through with the surgery, I know many of people who have complained of back trouble and were put on narcotics.. Needless to say they are now all dopeys. I hope the same doesn't happen to you.
#18
Ballers Wrote:I wish you well HawksRule..
And this is what I would do in your case..
I would have the surgery (even though surgery is my worst fear of all time) I would do it..
If you are in that much pain, I would give it a shot..
However, if you do not go through with the surgery, I know many of people who have complained of back trouble and were put on narcotics.. Needless to say they are now all dopeys. I hope the same doesn't happen to you.

No need to worry Ballers I got too much ahead of me in life to become a dopey. Plus I hate even taking a tylenol unless I have to.
#19
HawksRule Wrote:No need to worry Ballers I got too much ahead of me in life to become a dopey. Plus I hate even taking a tylenol unless I have to.
While it is true that many get hooked on their pain pills, there is nothing wrong with taking them the way they were intended. You will need them if you have your surgery. I tried to go without taking them, and my blood pressure got so high because of the pain, that I almost stroked out. My doctor didnt ask me to take them again, he demanded it. So take them, but take them exactly like they say to take them, and you wont get hooked on them..
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
#20
#1 - Make sure you see a spinal specialist and not just a general MD.
#2 - Listen to everything he/she says and don't try to do anything YOUR way.
#3 - Don't let it progress. The longer you let your back go the worse of you are.
My dad has some back issues that he let go and the Doctor said they were inoperable.

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