Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibiki
So earlier in the month I was approved for SSI due to a spinal injury that was diagnosed in 2005. I have slipped discs in the L4-5 and the L5-S1, and some nerve damage to boot. I recall words like "obliterated" and "emergency" being thrown around after the diagnosis, and the doctor wanted to do immediate surgery.
Until he found out I was uninsured. At that point, it was a "Don't let the door hit you in the butt" attitude, and the injury has remained untreated. I'm sure my spine must be in a really bad way now, although when I was approved for SSI they didn't run another MRI, so I can't be sure about the extent of what's gone on back there in the last six years.
I know there are days when I can't move for the pain. I just lay on my side and cry. Those days are the worst.
But now that I'm on SSI and Medicaid, I'm planning on seeing a doctor and trying to get on a pain management program. I need to get my weight under control -- it spiraled as a result of inability to take cardio exercise and self-destructive bouts of depression -- and I'm hoping that will go a long way in naturally alleviating the pain.
The thing I've gone back and forth on is exploring the possibility of back surgery. For along time I was determined that I would have it done immediately if I were able, but, well, I'm not sure it's the best solution. The doctor who examined me for the SSA outright advised against it, saying it could make things potentially much worse.
And I'd say he's right: my mother has Degenerative Disc Disease and has had a number of surgeries as a result. None of them have helped. One of them made things worse. My ex girlfriend's mother has also suffered permanent injury due to back surgery for slipped discs. And like I said, I've even got doctors and nurses advising me to avoid surgery.
I'm looking for outside opinions on the matter. If pain management and weight loss is enough to make life tolerable, then I'd be more than happy to stick with that. I'm not sure I want to risk further injury.
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Hi, Hibiki. Your post really caught my eye when I saw that you are having L4-L5 issues. I see a Dr. at a pain mgmt. clinic on the 27th for a 2nd opinion on whether I need a surgery in this region. In my case it all began about a year ago when I was standing in the kitchen bragging about how strong & well my legs felt after power walking our 65 lb. dog 4 miles per hour per day for 3 years. Told him I wanted to take up kickboxing & he said that he didn't think I could get my leg high enough. When I showed him that I could he caught my right heel while it was in the air & I hit the tile kitchen floor. Funny - NOT! Not long afterward, I began having what my GP thought was a pirifomis muscle issue in both legs, went to a ortho who took xrays, sent me to P/T & everything was better for a couple of months. I then began having nerve spasms in both legs, they felt really tired, & began having lower back pain which ran down the back outside of my right leg into my foot. I "dealt" with it as long as I could, went to see GP again who sent me to an orthopedist who said I was "textbook" herniated disc. The MRI that he sent me for shows L4-L5 grade I degenerative subluxation with bulge, annular tear & prominent facet arthropathy, mass effect on the right lateral recess nerve root & crowding of the left. Possibly stress injury of the pedicle & pars region of L5 also.
As you were at one time, I am uninsured. I am 52 years young. Working without a net, i.e. no insurance, has now come round to literally kick me in the behind. I have had cervical problems since the late 80's (3 car wrecks in 5 years) with degenerative disc disease. A neurosurgeon I saw at that time said that I would eventually need surgery on my neck but at that time I had a set of 3 epidurals and they worked wonders for years, but have worn off years ago. I was in excruciating pain from each epidural for a day - felt as if half of my head would explode - then on the 3rd day I was totally drained from the pain the day before.
I am torn too as to whether surgery would be an option for my lumbar problem...not liking the idea of epidurals either. What I am certain of is that I cannot go on like I am. Not sure if I want to put a bandaid on the pain and "make do" or take a chance on fixing the issue that is causing the pain.