I am 31 yrs old and have two discs in lower back that needs to be replaced but i also have four kids?

Question

The doctor says that I will be on bed rest for eight weeks and in therapy for another three months. I have heard from several people not to get the surgery because that its a bigger risks to have it and i will be in more pain than i am in now. The thing is i use a cane and when i go shopping i have to use a motorized shopping cart, i use a chair in my kitchen to cook, wash dishes and clean my counters. I cant stand for more than five minutes and cant walk for more than ten. I take 13medications a day. I cant even keep up with my kids anymore i am missing out on so much of their lives. I cant go on none of their school field trips because they require lots of walking. And to make things worse i get severe anxiety attacks on top of all this. Any suggestions on what i should do would be greatly helpful. I am at a total loss of what to do.

Answer 1

I am a medical professional who happens to be in the ortho field...we don't like to suggest surgery for herniated discs because often enough the result is minimal to the patient...your case, however, sounds severe and I think your doctor is correct to offer this surgery to you...your quality of life sounds very poor and this surgery would most likely be benificial to you...therapy is key as well, once you have had the surgery...good luck with whatever you decide to do...I think you should get a second opinion if you really aren't sure, as well...have a great day!

Answer 2

You are a young woman with 4 kids who wants to be out of pain and have your life back. I'd be listening to the doctors. Yes, there is a chance it won't make things better but doctors seek to make patients better, not worse, so I don't believe they would make such a recommendation (and surgery is always risky) if they didn't believe there's a good chance they will improve your situation.

There's no guarantees, and you should definitely ask for a second opinion, and if necessary a third. Insurance almost always will pick up the cost of a second opinion (because it often saves them money).

Ask another doc, not a bunch of unqualified strangers who can't diagnose you.

I hope it works so you get your life back.

Answer 3

Two of my patients have got spinal surgery in India.One was treated for spondylolistheis by spinal fusion and the other for disc replacement.Both of them are very happy with the results.Their pain and other symptoms due to nerve compression have totally gone.

Spinal Surgery is very cheap in India.There is one company that is very famous in India that arranges spine surgery for foreigners in India.They are called the Forerunners Healthcare.I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and about their patient stories.I have also read that they arrange financing for american and canadian patients as spine surgery is not covered by insurance.They also have photos pasted of their International patients.You can checkout their website.

The cost savings are incredible.As a doctor i personally believe that your spine surgery can be easily handled in India as the quality of healthcare available here is simply best in the world.The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.both my patients had gone to India through the forerunners healthcare company.i strongly recommend you to talk to this company,checkout your options with surgery from them.

http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com

In my belief--depending on the grade of herniation-you have following surgical options-

1)laminectomy
2)percutaneous endoscopic discectomy
3)laser spine surgery--that melts away the herniated disc
4)decompression without fusion
5)spinal fusion
6)artificial disc replacement

best luck!