Do I or Don't I

It's bulged, torn and contains no fluid, so it is virtually grinding together.
Sounds bad and feels it as well.
They have tried injections (5 in total) with no relief.

Kev

Can I offer my experience?

My discs were not as bad as that, mine were bulging badly, experienced constant pain for over five years. Sometimes I was flat on my back for up to a fortnight with the legs elevated on the lounge to get some relief.

Went to a orthopedic specialist who recommended spinal fusion, I retreated from there real quick.

After getting to the stage of where at times I began to think of topping myself I finally got smart enough to start doing the rounds oa specialists.

Walked away from a few and then found a bloke who:

Engendered confidence

Did not try to get me out of the door two minutes after I walked in

Took a hell of a lot of time to put x-Rays and scans up on the screen and then point out the bits and pieces and explain what they represented

Fully explained with both diagrams and models the TWO different procedures he would do to alleviate my problems, shaving three discs and modifying (grinding) the nerve canal

Well I bit the bullet and have never regretted it. I am not "cured" in the sense that my spine is restored, but am certainly cured from the point of view that I'm no longer in pain twenty four hours a day. Certainly I have to be careful in what I do, my days of lifting bags of fertiliser and cement are long gone but providing I'm careful in what I do I can live a pain free life. Most importantly I can now DO THE DEED without suffering for days after. (I do however refuse to jump from the wardrobe or do that bit involving a chandelier) but the wife is not as bitchy.

Mate, shop around before you commit, we all of us shop around for tyres or a new fridge, vehicle or what ever. Its amazing how few people think to shop around between doctor, surgeon, dentist etc:

To anyone out there who is in a similar situation I would say shop around till you find the guy who engenders confidence, then if you feel comfortable with what they recommend go for it.

I did exactly that on the assumption that I could not finish any worse off than when I started, now I just regret the unnecessary pain and inconvenience I suffered whilst I made the decision to shop.

I was so happy with the results of my procedure I offered to write the guy a reference, he nearly fell out of his chair laughing.

IOan

p.s .

If anyone in Sydney would like his name give me an M.M.

Yeap complete with small crane to lift it all for me.

Kev

Thanks to the Dili sewerage ponds, is where I first did mine. Lifting the thick walled Gal inlet pipe into position, by myself of course.
It doesn't sound good when something in your back just goes pop and you fall over in a heap of bleep with rifle still hanging of your back.
But I enjoyed my time over there and would have loved to go back.

Cheers Kev

I have had 5 of those injections so far and none of them have worked, not even for 1/2 an hour.
It looks more likely that I'll have a total disc replacement, touch wood, and it will all be sorted

Muzzgit,
I think you hit the nail on the head,
Surgery is a marvellous thing if done by the right doctor etc.

Kev

C.J

I think that I have tried just about every thing.
Accupuncture, Chiro, injections, Bowen therapy, Physio, even tried to be hypnotised.

Having a nearly 3 year old is hard as she just wants to play rough with me on the floor. SWMBO is beginning to feel resentful as I now cant even pick up the new addition, she is now 1 month old. Cant cut the grass even the enjoyable kind is to painful.
So hopefully the miricales of surgery will fix reduce the pain to a level that I can function to an extent that I can play with the kids and the missus and continue working, and above all be able to sit in a car long enough not to be in a truck load of pain when I get there.

Cheers Kev