IThank you to everyone who responds.

I have been going through back problems for about 4-5 years now. Lately it has been unbearable, the pain going down both legs, tingling and numbness.
January of 2006 I woke up 1 morning and couldn't get up. Everyone told me I pulled a muscle. Then my pcp sent me to physical therapy, the PT told me right away it wasn't a muscle, and requested an MRI.

this is how my back looked when this happened in 2006:
(take the space out between photo and bucket to see the pics)

http://img.photo bucket.com/albums/v232/VeNgEnCe-PoW-/back.jpg

and my MRI:

http://img.photo bucket.com/albums/v232/VeNgEnCe-PoW-/Picture052.jpg

Right away they send me to a neurosurgeon, and he wants to do surgery the same week. My pcp talked me out of it. Saying I was to young for surgery.

So I have been on Pain meds since then.
My started hurting more and more, so I got another MRI in febuary 2007.
Here is the report:

http://img.photo bucket.com/albums/v232/VeNgEnCe-PoW-/img002-1.jpg

now I hust had another MRI today. Yesterday I was taking out the garbage and fell. My back pain went thru the roof.

Can anyone tell me anything that may help. It is getting to the point tht I dont want to do anything because of the pain. This includes work. When I come home from work its like I am mad at the world because of the pain. I hate myself for this because I love my wife and daughters and dont want them to have to deal with this.

thank you in advance,
Kevin

Hi Kevin
I too had the problems and symptoms you have for 10 years it got to the point that not even medication could help. I found a spinal specialist and was explained that my only and last alternative would be a spinal fusion. You are young and you would probably heal quicker than someone who is older. I am now 1 month postop and doing pretty good I am no longer on meds. Nobody can make the choice about having surgery except yourself you know how you feel and only you know how bad your pain is You need to do whats best for you and if you need surgery so be it. It is a long recovery, do i think it was worth it yes. would I do it over again Yes. I no longer feel the pain I did Pre op. talk to more people on these boards everybody helps everybody get through the hard, bad and good times.

Your freind Denise

Were you in an accident that started this or it just came on one day and progressed? I was wondering if it is work related? I had so many industrial accidents involving my back they have it down like repetitive motion injury. Like carpel tunnel of the lower back. Over time doing the same job with twisting or lifting can cause this. I would talk to an attorney. Once you talk to the attorney, you might want to apply for SSD or some form of disability in you state, if you haven't already. If you need a fusion it will take a long time to heal. You might get a second opinion regarding surgery. You can't live on pain meds either. Good Luck

I have read the comment before about being young is good for having a spinal fusion because you will get over it quicker and will mend better. I just want to state that doctors talk about being to young to do for a specific reason. Discs adjacent to the fusion site degenerate at a faster rate because of the added load that the fusion transfers to them. So you can get a Domino effect of degeneration of the spine.

In a younger persons more flexible spine the load is constantly shifting. As we age our back stiffen and our disc dry out and flatten. The younger you are when a fusion is done the greater the likelihood of more trouble down the road as other levels start to herniate and you experience the symptoms that you had prior to your first fusion. Six years is the average time before new symptoms start appearing for fusion patients so unfortunately this is most likely not a lifetime fix. Second opinions should always be sought and this is one surgery that should always be avoided if at all possible.

Thank you all for responding.

No I wasn't in an accident, but I do have disease in my spine called Spondylosis. Which is a degenerative disease.

ATM I just want to live a normal life no matter how/what I have to do. Right now I am on 30mg of MsContin 2 times a day, Percocet 5/325mg 2 times a day for break thru pain, Flurbiprophen 1 time a day 100mg, and Flexaril 10mg 1 at bedtime. I do not like taking medicine , my Dr. and wife had to talk me into going to a PM, now I think Im addicted and they dont work like they used to. I do not like taking them and wanting more :( so thats another reason I think I want bck surgery. I have a very high tolerance for pain but ately its getting to the point of MASSIVE pain all the time.

Thanks again to everyone that responded,
Kevin