Back Surgery

[RandyL]

Anybody know of a good back forum like VR.com I need to find out some info from the guys suffering from back pain.Thanks

[aussigal]

Hi Randy...

I just had to nick off and find the net address for this joint for you...

Its Braintalk....one of the biggest and original medical forums....its not as personal as us here but the knowledge there is second to none.

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=237

This should be the address to the spinal-disorders corner of BT. I spent many hours there trying to figure out what to do about my sore back and the guys there are really great. There are even 2 medical professionals who visit there frequently.

I myself have problems with my entire spine Scoliosis and Arthritis with Degenerative Disc Disease. I had a 3 level Lumbar Facet Rhizotomy in December where they zapped the nerves to try give me relief from sciatica and back spasms...it was very sucessful. But my Neurosurgeon wouldnt even look at tackling my neck ,which is a mess, until I had my heart surgery.

So actually... I can have a fairly knowledgable conversation about back-pain with you and share some of the stuff I went thru and had done as well.

Do pop in and check these guys out too....there is an enormous ammount of knowledge there...

keep me posted....I am sure half my post-op pain is due to my dodgy spine.

[RandyL]

Thanks so much I will check it out and let you know.This is my MRI. What do you think?
My left thigh has been numb since my surgery in Jan 06 and it hurts like he** from time to time mostly at night.

!. Disc space narrowing, desiccation, osteophyte and central and left paracentral herniation at the L5-S1 level with anterior effacement of the thecal sac and probable effacement of the left nerve root.

2. Moderate left neural foraminal narrowing at L5-S1 level, and mild right neural foraminal narrowing. This is secondary to lateral osteophytosis and facet arthrosis. There is mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing at L4-L5 level.

3. Multifactorial mild spinal stenosis at L4-L5 level, and borderline to early spinal stenosis at L3-L4 level, including significant facet arthrosis.

[Der Biermeister]

Randy -- I don't go to any back forums, but I've had degenerative disc(s) and sciatica for about 30 years now and used to have a terrible time with "spells". (I even came within a day of emergency surgery by a nuerosurgeon.) However, I can honestly say that once I became a regular walker (15 years ago), my back problems greatly lessened to the point where I don't even think about it much anymore. A walking program is not an instant cure -- it takes time to work its wonder. But I would say that within 3 months you will see a big difference. You have to commit to doing this for life though.

There are also a series of back exercises that IF people would stick to that regimen, they could probably put their back problems behind them (no pun intended) -- but it's like anything else, once the exercises work their magic, people get lazy and stop doing them.
John

[lcwhitney]

Try the Texas back institute web site they may know of one.

lettitia

[aussigal]

Yep....
you have very similar problems to me...actually yours sound worse than mine you poor fella...
Its Arthritis in the spine and there are extra bony bits (oesteophytes) touching the nerve roots there...you have degeneration of the facet-joints which is what I had zapped and worked a treat...my discs are all wearing out but I have been well advised to let this happen as eventually they will fuse naturally and the pain will go away.
this foraminal narrowing is also a good possibility of causing your pain as that is where the nerves pass through...it does say its secondary to the facet stuff though.
whatever you decide surgery should be your last choice especially if you had a BAV like me and have this dodgy connective tissue stuff.
you could start with some investigative injections of steroids at the worst level to see if they can narrow down the worst area...
My back was really bad after OHS too after laying still for so long...have they suggested any pain-killers for you?
I will search-out my most-exccellent chart of Lumbar nerve/pain areas and it may match-up with your pain then you can help get yourself some action.
the facet-joints cause some nasty pain and are little jiggly-bits on the outer-edge of the spine. You can have these "blocked" (numbed) and if that gives relief you would be a good candidate for a rhizotomy like I had. I also use ice-packs, heat packs, and dencorub-type creams....ice is my favourite though, it seems to numb the pain better

The walking and possibly some hydrotherapy are your best bet at trying to help yourself