Got a bad back and need advice

[Drholliday]

I'm only 26 years old and have a bum back. Military life hasn't been easy on it. Long story short I have a bad disc between my L1-L2. I've seen a surgeon and he says I will have surgery at some point in my life, its just a matter of when.

Have any of you had spinal surgery? I'm trying to decide what my best options are. If I get surgery now (before I get medically separated) Then my insurance will cover the cost of an artificial disc. If I wait until I get out my insurance will only cover a fusion surgery.

My biggest problem with all of this is I don't want to have a surgery b/c it can lead to problems further down the road and I'm only 26 and hope to have a lot of road left.

I'm just trying to hear from other that have had similar situations and how it turned out.

Thanks!

 

[jmaz268]

Being in the military myself man...I feel your pain.

But my best advise is to get it taken care of now, for one while you can get the best treatment without paying for it.

Second, the longer you wait to get it fixed. The worse its going to get and the surgery is only to get more indepth, recovery will be longer, so on and so forth.

 

[SSgtRyder]

Have to agree. Getting it done now is your best option. The military will pay for it and you get a paycheck still. If it gets screwed up, it will only make your disability check increace. Money cant replace a back but atl east you know you'll be taken care of the rest of your life.

 

[RENODMAX]

I agree with the others. Ive had a fubared back and its best to just deal with it. Get it fixed.:thumb:

 

[HiMilz]

Get it done

I have had 2 back surgery's, not quite as serious as yours, but I can tell you take care of it now. I had my first one at 30 and it had been hurt for about 6 months, I was like you and was afraid of being messed up for life. I got to the point I couldn't hardly walk and had to do something. It was the best thing I ever did, no pain for 6 years and of course stupid me I hurt it again working by myself when I should have waited for some help. I went back to work 1 week after the first one, now the second one at 36 was quite a bit harder to get over. Do your research and find a good Surgeon if you have the choice, not sure how the military works. If you can find a really good surgeon I say do it now, it will just hurt worse and take longer to heal when you get older.

 

[custom8726]

I herniated a disk in the same area when I was 20 racing motocross After a year of dealing with physical therapist, chiropracters, spine specialist, etc,etc I got fed up and just learned to deal with the pain and discomfort. I just went back to the spine specialist a few months back after 11 years, they gave me another MRI, and Ill be dammed!! Now I have 2 herniated disks, one moderatly and one severe in there words. They wanted to schedule surgery ASAP but I told them I wanted to think about it. I decided even though my back constantly hurts it does not stop me from doing anything, I still race motocross, water ski, physically demanding job, etc, etc.. I just dont want to be laid up for 3 months and take the chance of coming out worse then when I went in. I have insurance and the means to take a few months off even though I'm self employed, I just cant justify the risk untill my back starts severly limiting me from the things I love to do aswell as the things I need to do.Staying in good shape and stretching is crucial to dealing with back problems, that and most importantly staying mentally positive about the situation will do wonders.....So in short, If you can deal with it, I personally would suggest you do, but If its bad enough were you cant deal with it then roll the dice and (HOPEFULLY) get it fixed, good luck which ever route you take...

 

[jeramoosh]

Your body can heal itself in some cases if its your not overly hard on it. Back in the day of our older generations surgery was the only option, now it is a final option and alot of doctors will only do it under worst case senario. Talk to several neuro sergeons before you decide and see what they can tell you. Ive been living with 3 herniated disks around L-3, S-1 for better than a year now and the main thing is taking care of it. If it flares up, ice,ice,ice!! No heat whatsoever. Alot of people make the mistake of heat and that is wrong, its hot enough in there you have to cool and shrink it. You can also talk to a phisical theripist or a good chriopractor ( hard to find one but they are out there) to get on some back stretches that you can do at home that can help alot.

 

[paint94979]

From my experience stay away from Chriopracters(sp) I had an issue a few years ago (neural tension) and my Physical Therapist bless her said to never go to one... They can do more damage in one session than you can do over a years period. A good idea is to see a Phyiscal Therapist they will give you exercises on how to safely strengthen your core and by doing that will take pressure off of you back.

 

[dmaxfireman]

research disc replacement... it made my dads life so much better. he was in the first group of americans to get it done. they would not do it in the states so he had to go to germany for the surgery but they now do it in the states under certain circumstances. since one of the guys i work with has had it as well and the difference it makes is amazing. take the time and talk to specialist about it.

 

[fast03]

Core, Core, Core. PT and excercise. Live with the pain till you cannot any longer. 3 bad disc's in my early 20's. L-3,4and5. one bulging at 5mm.. I am now 46 and excercise regularly and keep my core strong. Still have some pain and some bad flare ups sometimes, but I think it would have been worse with surgery in the long run. Those artificial parts wear out too. Good luck.

 

[Drholliday]

I have had 2 back surgery's, not quite as serious as yours, but I can tell you take care of it now. I had my first one at 30 and it had been hurt for about 6 months, I was like you and was afraid of being messed up for life. I got to the point I couldn't hardly walk and had to do something. It was the best thing I ever did, no pain for 6 years and of course stupid me I hurt it again working by myself when I should have waited for some help. I went back to work 1 week after the first one, now the second one at 36 was quite a bit harder to get over. Do your research and find a good Surgeon if you have the choice, not sure how the military works. If you can find a really good surgeon I say do it now, it will just hurt worse and take longer to heal when you get older.

Right now I'd like to wait b/c I can still do everything just fine, I just need to be careful when it comes to moving heavy things.

I herniated a disk in the same area when I was 20 racing motocross After a year of dealing with physical therapist, chiropracters, spine specialist, etc,etc I got fed up and just learned to deal with the pain and discomfort. I just went back to the spine specialist a few months back after 11 years, they gave me another MRI, and Ill be dammed!! Now I have 2 herniated disks, one moderatly and one severe in there words. They wanted to schedule surgery ASAP but I told them I wanted to think about it. I decided even though my back constantly hurts it does not stop me from doing anything, I still race motocross, water ski, physically demanding job, etc, etc.. I just dont want to be laid up for 3 months and take the chance of coming out worse then when I went in. I have insurance and the means to take a few months off even though I'm self employed, I just cant justify the risk untill my back starts severly limiting me from the things I love to do aswell as the things I need to do.Staying in good shape and stretching is crucial to dealing with back problems, that and most importantly staying mentally positive about the situation will do wonders.....So in short, If you can deal with it, I personally would suggest you do, but If its bad enough were you cant deal with it then roll the dice and (HOPEFULLY) get it fixed, good luck which ever route you take...

I'm deff still able to do everything and have been living with it for the last 2 to 3 years. Still looking at all the options.

Your body can heal itself in some cases if its your not overly hard on it. Back in the day of our older generations surgery was the only option, now it is a final option and alot of doctors will only do it under worst case senario. Talk to several neuro sergeons before you decide and see what they can tell you. Ive been living with 3 herniated disks around L-3, S-1 for better than a year now and the main thing is taking care of it. If it flares up, ice,ice,ice!! No heat whatsoever. Alot of people make the mistake of heat and that is wrong, its hot enough in there you have to cool and shrink it. You can also talk to a phisical theripist or a good chriopractor ( hard to find one but they are out there) to get on some back stretches that you can do at home that can help alot.

Thats what I've been doing now, a lot of stretches and avoiding anything that hurts it.

From my experience stay away from Chriopracters(sp) I had an issue a few years ago (neural tension) and my Physical Therapist bless her said to never go to one... They can do more damage in one session than you can do over a years period. A good idea is to see a Phyiscal Therapist they will give you exercises on how to safely strengthen your core and by doing that will take pressure off of you back.

I'm going to one now. Even though nothing he does can cure it, it does make it feel better for a couple of hours. Dealing with the whole government medical process has been a nightmare and he's been the only one that believed I wasn't just making it up. He's the one that ordered the MRI that showed everything that is wrong with my back.

research disc replacement... it made my dads life so much better. he was in the first group of americans to get it done. they would not do it in the states so he had to go to germany for the surgery but they now do it in the states under certain circumstances. since one of the guys i work with has had it as well and the difference it makes is amazing. take the time and talk to specialist about it.

My wife is researching everything we can do as far as different options. Europe definitely has some of the best sounding options. I'd like to hear more about how your dad got to go to Germany for it.

Core, Core, Core. PT and excercise. Live with the pain till you cannot any longer. 3 bad disc's in my early 20's. L-3,4and5. one bulging at 5mm.. I am now 46 and excercise regularly and keep my core strong. Still have some pain and some bad flare ups sometimes, but I think it would have been worse with surgery in the long run. Those artificial parts wear out too. Good luck.

I've been through almost 8 months of physical therapy before they finally put me in for an MRI. The PT doc said there is nothing more they can do for me so I just do all the stretches and exercises they showed me at home. I am very active and have no plans of becoming a couch potato. I know the best thing for me is to stay active and thats exactly what I plan on doing.

Just got back from my PCP and he's starting the paperwork to separate me from the Marines. This is because I told him I would not do pain management. He wants me to get my back numbed up monthly so I can go back on full duty and carry a pack and do PFT's and CFT's until my EAS. I told him that I don't feel its in the best interest for me or my back to go through that when I've had 2 back specialists tell me its not the way to go and will make my back worse.

Sooo.... Now I'm going to start looking into my options with that as well. I've been in 8 years and after doing some reading I have learned that I am eligible for Medical retirement along with VA benefits. Now I just need to see if I will have to fight for it or if they will just medically retire me. But this is all going to happen in the next 3 months. My wife is happier then hell that I'm getting out and that we'll finally get to live in the same house after the military has had us separated for 90% of our marriage.

I'm kind of scared, anxious, and excited to see what will happen.

 

[02bigstrokin]

one other thing that you might want to consider is a different mattress. ive had back problems for a long time from racing motorcross and i was feeling just like you. wondering what the hell i needed to do just to make the pain go away. i was going to chiropractors, i had acu-puncture done, massages, etc.. i was at the point that you are with surgery, and before i did that i decided to try a new mattress first. my friend had swore by his so i figured i would try it because i didnt want to have surgery if at all possible. i got a tempur pedic mattress and i will swear by it to anyone. i promise that it was a HUGE improvement. i can ride again without pain and whatever else. maybe travis will see this thread and vouch for it. hell most of the time i pick up his tractor wieghts for him and it doesnt bother me anymore. one of the chiropractors told me something that was very true, he said " people spend so much money on different things in life ( ex. trucks, cars, clothes, etc..) but then they want to cheap out on a mattress when sleeping is the one activity that a person spends more time in their life doing then anything else" think about it, i promise that it worked for me.

 

[770JOHNNYW]

Just get a bottle of lortabs and take 4 per hour on the hour and you'll feel better i promise:thumb: