Hi Harry ~ I'm so sorry you're in so much pain. Being a spiney isn't much fun at all. I've been suffering with this for 26 years -- and there have been times I've questioned my survival too. But then I know that I am here for a reason, and if God wanted me, He'd take me.

Harry, have you gone into pain management? If not, you should. There, they can give you more options for pain relief. There are many things they can do to relieve your pain, and not just medications. Ask your doctor for a referral to a pain management clinic. You will be glad you did.

If you are having surgery for a BULGING disc, DON'T DO IT. If it is HERNIATED that's a different story, but I would still recommend you not do it because it will cause you to need further surgery later on. Every time you have surgery, the level above/below will fail, and more surgery will be needed. It's a vicious cycle. The doctors don't tell you about this, but it happens almost every single time. I didn't know about this when I had my 2 surgeries. It was before the internet, and I didn't know of anyone who had had surgery.

Also the AMA has stated that the surgeries that were performed last year, including the fusions had the SAME OUTCOME as the people who just went to physical therapy!!! Those surgeries didn't come out any better. Most of the surgeries were unneeded. That's kind of scary!!!

I wish you the very best. God bless and take care. Hugs, Lee