i recently asked a question about my mom who is 81 with severe degenerative disc disease. she has been?

Question

through every therapy available, including epidural shots. pain meds do not even help that much. we are now thinking about surgery . i'm very confused, as we have been to many neurologists and have been getting conflicting answers as to whether or not surgery should be peformed. other than this condition, she is in good health and was very active before this happened. she has had this disease for 18 months now, and it breaks my heart to see her not able to do any of the things she used to do. she is in so much pain and is also getting very depressed . i would love to hear your input on this.

Answer 1

I have degenerative disc disease as well. I have had 5 lumbar fusions as a result. Although each was done to repair a different disc space. I do not regret any of them. The pain that I had before the surgery was almost unbearable. The pain that extended down my leg is now gone & I can stand up straight again. This choice however should be made by your mom hon. At her age there are bound to more risks involved. On one hand I know that you want her quality of life to improve. But you should know that it can take a full year or better to recover from this type of surgery.

Answer 2

Is she taking medicines like Fosamax or Miacalcin? If not, she probably should be. I have a close relative who developed terrible degenerative disc disease at age 80 after being on high dose prednisone for a year. She also had eight compression fractures and was in constant pain. Initially she needed some pain meds to get through the day like tramadol 3-4X daily and Celebrex but slowly her backbone stabilized due to taking Miacalcin plus 1000U of Vitamin D and a Calcium-Magnesium cap two or three times daily. It's now ten years later and her backbone is crooked as can be but her pain can be managed easily with tramadol and tylenol. She also stays active for at least an hour a day working around the house. The worst thing you can do is just lay in bed or on the couch 24/7. If she goes with the Fosamax, realize that this medicine can cause heartburn if you don't follow instructions carefully. Also, avoid taking oral corticosteroids unless absolutely necessary. Miacalcin is simple to take and is only one nasal squirt per day. The vitamin D and minerals are essential to stoping the degenerative process. good luck

http://www.miacalcin.com/index.jsp?checked=y

ps- Be careful going to a chiropractor at age 81 with degenerative disc disease. We tried that and we think the adjustments were detrimental and they were definitely very painful. We regretted trying this option.

Answer 3

I had 3 laminectomies,(ruptured disc restoration surgical operation) 2 in 1980 and a million in 1982. Had 3 distinctive ruptured disc, each and each repaired with the surgical operation meaning they opened me up, scraped away the disc textile that had come out and closed me returned up. I at present have a bulging disc that bothers now and then if I over do. The soreness in the previous surgical operation replaced into horrid and the surgical procedures have been great yet i do no longer understand in the event that they dot hat to any extent further, in spite of each little thing, that replaced right into an prolonged time in the past. in no way had the backbone fusion factor, the considered that scares me. i do no longer % something fused! I do have everlasting nerve harm from the ruptured disc. i can't lay flat without intense soreness and can't sleep different than in a wellbeing facility mattress so i'm able to alter the situation to wholesome me. no one desires to repair the bulging disc as I easily have a great number of scar tissue from the different surgical procedures so I cope. stable success.

Answer 4

I have it and was put on retirement at age 55. my days are spent in pain and muscle soreness and spasms. the dr told me that they couldnt make me any better or help me by surgery. there are no discs left in 5 of my spine joints,l5,l4,l2 are the worst! I cannot imagine how your Mom at 81 copes? I cannot walk upright for about an hour after rising,then its sit and stand to relieve pressure on joints. my hips and knees are now shot and the ankles are getting bad.my life is depressing and boring beyond belief!! at least your Mom had 80 yrs before she got this. I am now 61 and hope my input helps?

Answer 5

My heart goes out to your Mom! I have severe scoliosis and degenrative joint disease.....plus ostoarthritis. I had to have 2 major back surgeries last yr. and they finally fused my back. While i was doing physical therapy for my back my hip started hurting really bad and my knee blew up! So i just had knee surgury last week so that i can have a total hip replacement and i'm only 47!!!! I am in constant pain so i can only imagine what your poor Mom is going through! I would get her to a ortho doctor who specializes in DDD!!!! All my dr.'s are specialist in the areas i had surgery on, and did very good. I also get 2nd or even 3rd opionions!!!! For now i have to take pain meds and i'm on the Fentynal patch....it works great but it is addictive so i will go off of them after my hip replacement and get on something that is not so strong but right now i can barely walk.........even my dr's say, "How are you walking?" I have NO cartilege at all in my hip joint so its' rubbing bone on bone and it hurts like #@#%!!!! I also cannot do all the things i use to do. I was very active.............Be very careful if they want to do surgery cause she will have to have rehab. I had no choice or they said i would end up in a wheelchair@! So i would get her to a good ortho specialist!!! ASAP!!! Good luck and tell your Mom i will pray for her!!! But be sure to get her to a good specilist cause the longer you wait the worse the pain will get!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

What does your mom's Chiropractor say???