Hi ~ I had surgery due to herniated discs - DDD was secondary. I herniated in August of 1986, and the surgery wasn't until January of 1987. All during the pre-surgery time, I had horrendous sciatica and back pain. This was on level L4-5. After surgery I had the same pain if not worse. I wasn't able to go back to work full-time for 6 months. There was NO fusion involved.

In 1995, L3-4 herniated while I was SITTING in a car. This ALSO happened in August, and once again the doc didn't operate until January. Like before, I still had the horrendous back pain along with the previous sciatica. After surgery, the pain was STILL there and worse. I could not go back to work AT ALL, as the pain had become debilitating. There was NO FUSION involved. I filed for SS disability.

Since then other levels have herniated, but because of osteoporosis I have been deemed inoperable by several Neurosurgeons. I've had the spinal cord stimulator implanted, but because I don't have enough "fat" content, the unit tried to work itself OUT of me. It had to be removed before it removed itself. I couldn't have the morphine pump because it's bigger than the SCS. I'm now on pain medications and have been told I'll be on them the rest of my life. The pain SUCKS. Hugs, Lee