Would like educated opinions on this - back surgery

[KillahBee]

Quick background for those that don't know:

I tweaked my back about 14 months ago (squatting) and ended up with an extruding disc (L5). Did the PT thing (hit it REAL hard) and had 3 epidural injections over the span of about 10 months.

A lot of the symptoms went away with the first injection, some with the 2nd and none with the third. PT and the gym helped, but eventually I just plateaud. There is not a DAY that I do not have extreme discomfort / numbness running all the way down my left leg and there feels like a constant knot is being pulled in my left glute. I am very limited in the exercises I can do and my left hammy is tighter than a virgin on prom night.

Went to see a specialist in the city today. His summation of my issues:

- degenerated disc (it is blatantly darker than the others in the MRI)
- L5 is fused to my sacrum (rendering it pretty much useless)
- L4 is rubbing up against my nerve

My corrective options:
- keep on going the way I am - basically, "deal with it"
OR
- surgery. he would do a procedure called a "lateral decompression" where he would basically remove two ligament by the disc which would hopefully relieve the tension on my nerve (which is the major issue I have been experiencing). I would be in the hospital overnight, followed by 2 weeks out of work, followed by a month of no lifting or major movements/exercise.


My heart is saying surgery - actually, my head is too. Just wanted to see if anyone has any thoughts on this, cause I know some of you have experienced it and have been a great help to me throughout this cocked up experience.

Cheers

 

[mrplunkey]

How old are you?

 

[KillahBee]

How old are you?

woops, meant to put that in.

26

 

[Smurfy]

you spelled "coked up" wrong.


I vote surgery. You seem to have exhausted other options for treatment and you got the opinion of a specialist. Although, only you truly know if you can live with that discomfort or not. How are you able to bang broads in such a wild untamed fashion with a bad back?

 

[mkazzbmf]

Yeah If you dont you will be all fucked up later in life.....either way its a real bitch of a decision...



Kaz

 

[Smurfy]

Also, exactly what kind of specialist did you see?

 

[mrplunkey]

Gah! I'd really be careful before getting back surgery at that age.
I can't think of anyone who's glad they had back surgery.

My first thought is chiropractic help -- have you tried that?

Also, how debilitating is it? Can you still work out some? What activities can you no longer do or no longer enjoy?

 

[KillahBee]

Also, exactly what kind of specialist did you see?

I don't friggin know - back surgery specialist. He was asian, so it's all good.

Seriously though - he was with the Hospital for Special Surgery - GREAT rep in NY and I have worked with them for a while now and I know of others who have. I fully trust them (as much as you can trust the medical profession)

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

Quick background for those that don't know:

I tweaked my back about 14 months ago (squatting) and ended up with an extruding disc (L5). Did the PT thing (hit it REAL hard) and had 3 epidural injections over the span of about 10 months.

A lot of the symptoms went away with the first injection, some with the 2nd and none with the third. PT and the gym helped, but eventually I just plateaud. There is not a DAY that I do not have extreme discomfort / numbness running all the way down my left leg and there feels like a constant knot is being pulled in my left glute. I am very limited in the exercises I can do and my left hammy is tighter than a virgin on prom night.

Went to see a specialist in the city today. His summation of my issues:

- degenerated disc (it is blatantly darker than the others in the MRI)
- L5 is fused to my sacrum (rendering it pretty much useless)
- L4 is rubbing up against my nerve

My corrective options:
- keep on going the way I am - basically, "deal with it"
OR
- surgery. he would do a procedure called a "lateral decompression" where he would basically remove two ligament by the disc which would hopefully relieve the tension on my nerve (which is the major issue I have been experiencing). I would be in the hospital overnight, followed by 2 weeks out of work, followed by a month of no lifting or major movements/exercise.


My heart is saying surgery - actually, my head is too. Just wanted to see if anyone has any thoughts on this, cause I know some of you have experienced it and have been a great help to me throughout this cocked up experience.

Cheers

That's nothing compared to what it could end up being 10-15 years down ther road. It'll get worse as you age. In fact the only reasons not to get surgery would be if you don't plan on living that long lol. Even if you have to go into debt it's best to correct this issue early as possible before you're in a wheelchair and can only bang chics in 2.5 different positions.

 

[KillahBee]

Gah! I'd really be careful before getting back surgery at that age.
I can't think of anyone who's glad they had back surgery.

My first thought is chiropractic help -- have you tried that?

Also, how debilitating is it? Can you still work out some? What activities can you no longer do or no longer enjoy?

I don't think chiropractic help will help with this....

How debilitating? I can't workout (besides light limited machine work), can't to any impact exercise (basketball, running, tennis), can't swim, it hurts to fuck, etc

It's not so much that, it's the day to day issues. When I get up out of my chair, I have to limp for a few seconds cause it feels like a MAJOR muscle cramp in my left glute. EVERY SINGLE DAY

 

[eat big]

Easy. Surgery.

 

[mrplunkey]

I don't think chiropractic help will help with this....

How debilitating? I can't workout (besides light limited machine work), can't to any impact exercise (basketball, running, tennis), can't swim, it hurts to fuck, etc

It's not so much that, it's the day to day issues. When I get up out of my chair, I have to limp for a few seconds cause it feels like a MAJOR muscle cramp in my left glute. EVERY SINGLE DAY

If it's that bad you probably don't have a choice. I've had a bad c5/c6 for years and even the spine/neuro docs tell me to not touch it until I absolutely have to.

I hate to point this out, but I still can't think of a single person who was happy with the results of back surgery

 

[Scotsman]

Answered you over in the weight training board.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[Sub-Zero]

get it done.

were you just fucked up form? this is selfish but i dont want it to happen to me.

what did u do wrong taht caused this

 

[Lestat]

If it was me, I'd see one more specialist/surgeon, but definitely be game on for the surgery unless the 2nd opinion said that it was not a good idea.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

If it's that bad you probably don't have a choice. I've had a bad c5/c6 for years and even the spine/neuro docs tell me to not touch it until I absolutely have to.

I hate to point this out, but I still can't think of a single person who was happy with the results of back surgery

Damn that sucks. Find the best back surgeon possible and hope for the best. Gotta come out of it better. If that's not your state, litigate.

 

[superqt4u2nv]

I don't think chiropractic help will help with this....

How debilitating? I can't workout (besides light limited machine work), can't to any impact exercise (basketball, running, tennis), can't swim, it hurts to fuck, etc

It's not so much that, it's the day to day issues. When I get up out of my chair, I have to limp for a few seconds cause it feels like a MAJOR muscle cramp in my left glute. EVERY SINGLE DAY

I couldn't live like that if I were you I would going under the knife ASAP.

 

[boxerjake]

If it's that bad you probably don't have a choice. I've had a bad c5/c6 for years and even the spine/neuro docs tell me to not touch it until I absolutely have to.

I hate to point this out, but I still can't think of a single person who was happy with the results of back surgery

C3 & C4 for me ... wore the halo for 8 weeks and you can still find the holes in my skull from it .

Cervical thorasic then lumbar .. lumbar your dealing with your legs if they fuck up . I'd want aleast two or three opinions and then even references from people who have had this surgery so you can see for yourself how they live now . Any rehab facility would help you with that , ask whats the worse and best case senerio's .. in other words how bad can they fuck you up if it goes south ??

How routine is this procedure and where does it rank on the risk scale ...

I had a friend who lived through seven back surgerys before he finally commited suicide becasue they could'nt fix him and the pain was too much to bare daily .

I broke my neck at 25 and i'm now 42 with zero complications

 

[KillahBee]

get it done.

were you just fucked up form? this is selfish but i dont want it to happen to me.

what did u do wrong taht caused this

no worries.

I don't think it was bad form...before I ever squatted back in the day I practiced/learned with a friggin broom. form was important to me. AND, it was a warm-up set, wasn't event heavy. I could ahve gotten lazy on that particular day with the form, or it may have just been one of those things

 

[Sub-Zero]

no worries.

I don't think it was bad form...before I ever squatted back in the day I practiced/learned with a friggin broom. form was important to me. AND, it was a warm-up set, wasn't event heavy. I could ahve gotten lazy on that particular day with the form, or it may have just been one of those things

im sorry u had bad luck man.

that happened to me on a "light easy" set of deads.

i had done squats the day before and thought id take it easy on deads... wasnt easy enuff and i fucked my back...it all healed though so ig uess ig ot lucky

 

[KillahBee]

C3 & C4 for me ... wore the halo for 8 weeks and you can still find the holes in my skull from it .

Cervical thorasic then lumbar .. lumbar your dealing with your legs if they fuck up . I'd want aleast two or three opinions and then even references from people who have had this surgery so you can see for yourself how they live now . Any rehab facility would help you with that , ask whats the worse and best case senerio's .. in other words how bad can they fuck you up if it goes south ??

How routine is this procedure and where does it rank on the risk scale ...

I had a friend who lived through seven back surgerys before he finally commited suicide becasue they could'nt fix him and the pain was too much to bare daily .

I broke my neck at 25 and i'm now 42 with zero complications

ok...I'm officially worried now....

 

[Sub-Zero]

ok...I'm officially worried now....

we are here for you bro. ur in NY? ill come visit you.

 

[KillahBee]

we are here for you bro. ur in NY? ill come visit you.

lol, anytime maing.

 

[boxerjake]

ok...I'm officially worried now....

Don't be worried ... be informed

Do your research ahead of time cuz after the knife you can't take it back .

My friend took bad advise the first surgery and the next 6 were trying to correct damage from the first . Research the pro's and con's up front is all i'd ever advise anyone .

Least then you can't say you never knew what the risks were .. in your case maybe there are no risks ?? olny a professional is qualified to say

 

[KillahBee]

Don't be worried ... be informed

Do your research ahead of time cuz after the knife you can't take it back .

My friend took bad advise the first surgery and the next 6 were trying to correct damage from the first . Research the pro's and con's up front is all i'd ever advise anyone .

Least then you can't say you never knew what the risks were .. in your case maybe there are no risks ?? olny a professional is qualified to say

agreed. sound advice. thanks

 

[bran987]

I know this goes without saying but before operating on your spine I would see at least 3 people who come as highly recommended as the guy you're with now. Didn't know it was that bad?! Fuck. fuckfuck.

 

[KillahBee]

Didn't know it was that bad?! Fuck. fuckfuck.

yeah, sometimes I wish I was more an extrovert when it came to things like this. I just sucked it the fuck up. there are nights where I get up off the couch and am literally hunched over completely walking to the fridge

 

[Miss24k]

Hun I think you should get a 2nd opinion, just to make sure you've exhausted all other options. But you should be really looking at doing the surgrry I can't imagine you just dealing with your situation for the rest of your life, you're still so young.

 

[Gambino]

I can't workout (besides light limited machine work), can't to any impact exercise (basketball, running, tennis), can't swim, it hurts to fuck, etc

if you can't smith-sq bor, is life worth living???

 

[KillahBee]

if you can't smith-sq bor, is life worth living???

PASS ME THE VISOR!!!! LET"S KILL THIS SHIT!!!!

 

[Gambino]

PASS ME THE VISOR!!!! LET"S KILL THIS SHIT!!!!

had i never posted the infamous visor pic, i'd still be wearing it, thinking i'm cool.
thanks lestat, for making me aware

 

[KillahBee]

Hun I think you should get a 2nd opinion, just to make sure you've exhausted all other options. But you should be really looking at doing the surgrry I can't imagine you just dealing with your situation for the rest of your life, you're still so young.

Agreed. I'll look into a second opinion.

 

[eat big]

had i never posted the infamous visor pic, i'd still be wearing it, thinking i'm cool.
thanks lestat, for making me aware

That says a lot.

 

[TC2]

That's whay I never gave a shit about power lifting or going super heavy.

Way too easy to get a perment injury...it's just not worth it.

 

[BigRupe]

Quick background for those that don't know:

I tweaked my back about 14 months ago (squatting) and ended up with an extruding disc (L5). Did the PT thing (hit it REAL hard) and had 3 epidural injections over the span of about 10 months.

A lot of the symptoms went away with the first injection, some with the 2nd and none with the third. PT and the gym helped, but eventually I just plateaud. There is not a DAY that I do not have extreme discomfort / numbness running all the way down my left leg and there feels like a constant knot is being pulled in my left glute. I am very limited in the exercises I can do and my left hammy is tighter than a virgin on prom night.

Went to see a specialist in the city today. His summation of my issues:

- degenerated disc (it is blatantly darker than the others in the MRI)
- L5 is fused to my sacrum (rendering it pretty much useless)
- L4 is rubbing up against my nerve

My corrective options:
- keep on going the way I am - basically, "deal with it"
OR
- surgery. he would do a procedure called a "lateral decompression" where he would basically remove two ligament by the disc which would hopefully relieve the tension on my nerve (which is the major issue I have been experiencing). I would be in the hospital overnight, followed by 2 weeks out of work, followed by a month of no lifting or major movements/exercise.


My heart is saying surgery - actually, my head is too. Just wanted to see if anyone has any thoughts on this, cause I know some of you have experienced it and have been a great help to me throughout this cocked up experience.

Cheers

I had back surgery about 3 years ago. L4L5. I had no choice as i was getting nerve damage. The pain was terrible. Now I'm much better but not 100%!

if you want more info let me know

 

[BigRupe]

I hate to point this out, but I still can't think of a single person who was happy with the results of back surgery

I sure as hell am glad i had back surgery. Life was miserable until i did.

 

[KillahBee]

check your PM's bigrupe. thanks bor