Need to Vent!

[usraptr]

Okay, I just need to vent a little.  After the winter we had I was really looking forward to Spring/Summer like so many of us.  Readers Digest version: woke up 3 weeks ago with what I thought was a pulled groin muscle in my right leg.  No trauma or injuries, just woke up with it.  Two days later I couldn't stand for more than 2-3 minutes without sitting down as it felt like somebody was sticking a knife in the middle of my right thigh.  Several Dr visits later, two different sets of X-rays and two MRIs later I found out I had a large herniated disc at L3 that is pushing on the nerve bundle that goes to my right thigh.  On top of that L4 vertebrate is out of position and the disc there is starting to bulge.  Last week I had a nerve block shot directly into the nerve/disc area.  I got relief for about 8 hours and then the pain was back. To top it off the pain has increased in the last few days and now extends down to the top of my knee.  When I first stand up it's like a lighting bolt going off from my hip to my knee.  I have to either be holding onto to some furniture or use a cane for support the first 2-3 steps or I'd go down.  So now I have to have surgery to remove the discs and fuse L4 to L3 and L3 to L2.  Can't get in for surgery for over a month and then I have an 8 week recovery time.  So basically the summer is shot.  I already had to cancel a bucket list 16-day Long Range fishing trip out of San Diego and a bucket list motorcycle ride from the West Coast to the East Coast (Run for the Wall ride) in May.   I had also planned on making a lot of progress on the restoration of my '70 'Cuda this summer but that won't happen either since I can't stand.   My steering column is in a million pieces as I had started restoring it before this happened.  Now, by the time I get back to it I'll be lucky to remember how it goes back together.  I know in the big scheme of things and compared to issues that others on the forum have faced and are facing; this is minor and correctable and I'm lucky that I only have pain when I stand or walk.  I can sit or lay down without pain.  I also know I'm fortunate to live in this day and age when we have modern medicine and this can be corrected.  It's just frustrating.  I'm not a sedimentary type of guy and this is really killing me.  At 66 I don't have that many more summers to waste.  I Guess I'll get caught up my reading this summer.  Thanks for letting me vent. 

[brads70]

Sorry to hear this. I can relate somewhat as 10 years ago I got crushed with a crane and cracked 3 of my lower vertebrae and messed up some of my intestines. I couldn't walk at all for a month, took me a year before I was 90% again. Back pain really sucks , I don't wish it on my worst enemy.
Keep your chin up!    We could always come down with a cordless drill and a few grease fittings and fix you up! 

[Cudaragtop]

Get well soon!
Broke my back 3/03/2001. No more quad riding for me [she said]. Missed 12 weeks work.
Asked my surgeon if I could play golf when I dot my brace off and he said, "It depends"...
I asked, "Depends on what?"
He answered, "Could you play before?"
Well I lost about 10 yards off each club but straightened out my slice a little.
All things considered, the back pain I have now as a reminder is far better than some of the other possible outcomes...
Hang in there!
One word of advice for the day you check out of the hospital.

Enema 

[torredcuda]

I feel for ya - literally as I`ve been there also. Mine was L4 and L5 and sciatic nerve in back of right leg. I had the surgery after trying everything else with no relief and I`m 80-90% better but I have nerve damage and pretty much constant pain in my leg. Hope everything goes well for you, like Brad I don`t wish back pain on anyone!

[usraptr]

Thanks guys.  I appreciate the good thoughts/wishes. 

[dakota]

I'd certainly agree with previous comments about not wishing back pain on anyone.   I had a pinched nerve that had me on the floor crying like a baby.   In my case, there was some new high tech traction machine that had just come out (~2003) that essentially helped suck a bulged disk back into place.   It doesn't sound like that's an option in your case, but like you said we are fortunate to live in an age where this kind of thing can be treated.

I went through surgery for an abdominal tumor last fall.   It was a "once and done" deal for me (no chemo or radiation), so I'm very fortunate.   I had 4 different roommates while I was in the hospital recovering.  Based on what I heard,  3 of them probably won't be alive for more than a couple of years, so it helped me keep some perspective on my relatively simple situation.

Back pain definitely sucks but if you have a path that gets you well that's a good thing.   I wish you well on your treatment and recovery.

[AARuFAST]

DO NOT DO TRACTION.  OUCH!

usraptr  I had the same s..t this new years day ambulance rushed to hospital.

Did nothing to cause it.......felt like someone smashed my knee with sledge hammer,  pain down front leg, from back to toes.
Couldn't stand, lay down.
from no where pinched sciatic nerve.
MRI T12,  L4 bulge disc . L2 L3
Sport back Doctor said to try therapy, start with traction
 
Wife,
son-in-law,
 son
and friend had bad results from traction.
Son passed out from traction.
Like a dumb ass i let therapy doctor talk me into traction.
Now both legs and back are shot.
Just keep taking oxycon, muscle relax... long naps.......
Left leg numb from knee to ankle.
You will probably need a MYELOGRAM SCAN for surgery.

I feel your pain. &%$* OUCH! &%$* OUCH!   
cannot sit long at computer.......

[torredcuda]

DO NOT DO TRACTION.  OUCH!

usraptr  I had the same s..t this new years day ambulance rushed to hospital.

Did nothing to cause it.......felt like someone smashed my knee with sledge hammer,  pain down front leg, from back to toes.
Couldn't stand, lay down.
from no where pinched sciatic nerve.
MRI T12,  L4 bulge disc . L2 L3
Sport back Doctor said to try therapy, start with traction
 
Wife,
son-in-law,
 son
and friend had bad results from traction.
Son passed out from traction.
Like a dumb ass i let therapy doctor talk me into traction.
Now both legs and back are shot.
Just keep taking oxycon, muscle relax... long naps.......
Left leg numb from knee to ankle.
You will probably need a MYELOGRAM SCAN for surgery.

I feel your pain. &%$* OUCH! &%$* OUCH!   
cannot sit long at computer.......

From what I researched every case seems to be different with outcomes varying from 90% better to worse off than before treatment whether it was surgery or something else. I put off surgery as it seemed to a 50/50 split for good vs bad outcomes. I tried therapy, exercises, steroid and muscle relaxing pills and steroid injections but none of those things helped much so I opted for the surgery as a last resort. As I said I`m a lot better than before surgery but am very limited in what I do physically and still have constant pain in my leg. Do your homework and ask people who have gone thru it before doing anything you can`t reverse and again, good luck!

[jordan]

I work in surgery assisting with spinal surgeries.  It sounds like you have a serious degenerative spinal process going on in your lumbar spine.  Therapies can help, and surgery is another option.  If you have surgery, remember to take your time to heal and don't overdo anything too soon.  Also, you are now damaged goods.  Keep you expectations realistic about how you will feel after you recover.  Nerves take a long time to heal.  J

[AARuFAST]

I  have heard of 3 other similar cases of sciatic nerve pinched by disc this year.
I BLAME IT ON THE FLU SHOT.  My first ever flu shot past December.      S#*^ OUCH! 

[usraptr]

I'm hoping to get the referral to my wife's back surgeon this week.  Who know how long it will take to get an appointment.  I just hope it isn't too long.  Dakota, last night I was there.  Don't know why, but last night the pain was unbelievable. I was watching the clock so I could take the next pain pill.  It felt like somebody was sticking a knife in my thigh and twisting it.  It's better today, except when I walk then the twisting knife is back.  Thank heaven for pain meds. 

[torredcuda]

I'm hoping to get the referral to my wife's back surgeon this week.  Who know how long it will take to get an appointment.  I just hope it isn't too long.  Dakota, last night I was there.  Don't know why, but last night the pain was unbelievable. I was watching the clock so I could take the next pain pill.  It felt like somebody was sticking a knife in my thigh and twisting it.  It's better today, except when I walk then the twisting knife is back.  Thank heaven for pain meds. 

Oxycodone is your friend! I remember back when no matter what position you`d try they pain wouldn`t get any better. Hang in there and get to your doc.

[Colorado-0A5599]

 Sorry to here that. As guys above and you, had my problem starting in 2008 from colon cancer. Nerves in back, sciatic etc. Pain constantly. it will work on the mind after 60. Hurts like a hog biteing!!

[72cudamaan]

I've had back pain and sciatic nerve pain, but nothing near as bad as yours that I can tell. Hope
they get you figured out and maybe not ruin your whole summer. 

[burdar]

A good friend of mine just had back surgery in December. They actually went in from the front which is why the recovery time is so long. He was off work for 12 weeks. Like you, he had pain in his leg at times. He also had problems with the leg being numb too.

The only advice I can give is, do exactly what your physical therapy team tells you to do. They know what they are doing. Your recovery time will be shorter if you do what they say.