options or surgery for disc problems Posted: 01-31-08 00:00am
could any one help me with there stories,
i have just had an mri and this is the
conclusion -
L4-L5 central and
left disc protrusion L5/S1 central and
right-sided occlusion.
My specialist appointment is not for a
month so i am trying to find out as much
information and options for treatment as i
can.
Its great to have found this site and i
look forward to any replies.
Thanks
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Posted: 01-31-08 21:35pm
Hello Bbk,
Welcome to this forum and the great people
who post here and try to help others.
Good, you have a month to get some "2nd
opinions" before you see your specialist.
Lood for the best neurologist/spinal
surgeon that you can find. Talk to those
you know and find out which spine doctors
they liked the best, and which ones they
did not like. Call your local hospitals
and ask them which spinal surgeons they
would recommend. If you are in or near a
city which has a professional sports team,
call their office and ask which
neurologist/spinal surgeon they use for
their players.
Then call the spinal doctor at the top of
the list and make an appointment. Oh yes,
make sure you take your MRIs and X-rays
along to the doctor.
From my expeience and the experience of
others, it is a "process" one goes
through. You get advice from several
doctors. Do some research as you are
doing on the internet. Talk with other
people.
In any case, the very last option is
surgery. Unless your pain is very severe,
I'd suggest trying to stay away from, or
use as little as you can of pain meds.
They become very addictive very quickly,
and it is not pleasant going through
withdrawal.
After you see the spinal specialists, then
make an appointment with a pain managemet
doctor. Mine did wonders for me through
the use of epidural injections. which
contained the corticosterod, Kanalog. It
reduced the inflammation and thus reduced
the pressure on the nerve.
Do stay in touch and let us know how
things go for you.
Take care.
RichT
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ashoverman
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 54 Location: ,
Pain Posted: 02-02-08 18:08pm
I have been told that I have a cerviated
or cerbiated disk, lumbar damage and onset
arthiritis. I am seeing my neurosurgeon on
Monday for the first time. I do not want
surgery, but I will cross that bridge when
and if I come to it. I dont have any
insurance so pain management is out of the
question for now. I am starting a new job
on Thursday and will have insurance on
June 1st 2008. Then I am starting pain
management. Until then, I need some pain
meds so I can get through the days and
nights, as I havent been sleeping at all
because of the severe pain in my neck,
back and shooting down my left leg and
making my left arm numb at times. I have
tried Lortab 10 and they dont work, I have
tried Demerol 100 mg every 2 hours and
that doesnt work either. What is the
standard protocol pain med that a
neurosurgeon would administer for this
kind of severe pain?
