I just got back my CT scan and the Dr. wants me to go to a neurologist. My L4 and L5 is messed up pretty bad. It has pinched my nerve. Has anybody had surgery on this and if so, what is it like,does it help, and what is the recovery time. I am going to a chiropractor tomorrow to see if he might can help me.
2006-09-13 14:39:28 · 3 answers · asked by tincup 1 in Health ➔ Men's Health
I HAD SURGERY ON L4 L5 12 YEARS AGO AND IT HELPED OUT ALOT I AM JUST NOW STARTING TO HAVE PAIN AGAIN IN MY BACK AND THEY WILL NOW DO CORTIZONE SHOTS..
I SAY GIVE IT A SHOT AT THE SURGERY IT WILL HELP WITH THE PAIN DOWN THE LEGS..
IF YOU NEED MORE INFO YOU CAN EMAIL ME
2006-09-13 14:45:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had both Laminectomy and Discectomy surgery done on my back a few months ago and I have very few muscles left in my back and abdomen. It was L4, L5 and L5 and S1.
Some of it will depend on your physical condition before surgery and the nature of the problem.
For me, it felt like a square board had been inserted into my back for several months and I couldn't bend for six to eight weeks after surgery. I had monster headaches that pain pills couldn't touch but caffine helped.
I had been in constant pain for a year before and could hardly make from chair to chair and couldn't straighten up before I had surgery. I don't expect to be back to "normal" for a year but I was in bad shape.
Surgery was good for me because I'm no longer in pain 24/7 but getting my muscles back up and running is going to take a while.
Always get a second opinion and do surgery last after you give everything else a try.
P.S If you do have surgery go buy a tool that helps you pick up things without bending "before" surgery" I found mine at Home Depot in the car washing tools. Its a pole a few feet long that has a lever that makes the pinchers on the end clamp together.
2006-09-13 22:09:32 · answer #2 · answered by demarkation_line 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Proceed with caution, get many as many second opinions as you can. These are the same discs my mom (at 48) had damage to, and sadly she is on her 5th back surgery in 8 yrs to try to correct and stop pain. Not all surgery is bad, but please research every option very carefully.
2006-09-13 21:45:46 · answer #3 · answered by trishopesisters 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋