In Reply to: Pain Management for DDD w/herniated disk? posted by Jan on December 17, 2000 at 00:33:48:

: Hi everyone, I'm in need of some advice. I have had DDD for over 6 years now, and it has gotten progressively worse over the years, and is to the point now where I am in pain everyday. My doctor says I have a herniated disk that is probably pressing on a nerve. It hurts when I sit, stand, lay down, bend over, walk, or do basically anything. Sometimes it gets so bad I think I can't stand much more. It feels like my back is literally breaking. I'm sure some of you know exactly what I mean. Well, my doctor wants me to go to a pain management specialist. She said he would probably try physical therapy or some type of injections in my back. I don't know whether to go or not. I don't want to have surgery and I don't think injections sound like a good idea either. I don't take a lot of pain medication because I don't want to get dependent on it. I don't know what to do. Can anyone give me some words of wisdom? I would really appreciate it. Thanks, and I wish everyone a pain-free Christmas and New Year.
Dear Jan: I agree with Maria. Give pain management a try. They won't force you to do anything you don't feel comfortable with. I've had epidural cortisteroid injections in my low back and neck. My low back has disk bulges from L4-5 on down. They helped my low back. They didn't help my neck, so it was fused in June, 2000, and the fusion went well. Some people do well with the cortisteroid injections; some people do not. Take care, and have a nice holiday season. PatG