Originally Posted by rwh824

I am 22 years old. I have been dealing with back pain since I was 12, and "threw out" my back for the first time when I was 15. I have subsequently thrown it out numerous times. The most recent of which occurred while playing basketball just two weeks ago. I hit the floor and could not move the pain was so bad. I had to be wheeled out on a wheel chair, and carried up the stairs into my apartment. I was flat of my back for two days, before going to the emergency room to get something to cut the pain. I am currently walking with a cane, but am able to get around.
I have gone to see a doctor in Colorado, who comes highly recommended. My MRI this week shows that my L4/L5 and L5/S1 discs are SEVERELY herniated, to the point that the doctor was surprised at how severe they were. They look like a spike going into my spinal cord. I am not down to many options. The only way to fix it is surgery. They are too severely damaged that disc replacement is not an option.
I don't know what my best course of option is. I am constantly stressing about this and would like any input that those of you who have gone through a similar situation would have for me.