[hoosier_dumplin]

Here's the sort of it...I've been experiencing some sever back pain for the past week....I went and had an MRI done on Wednesday.....my doctor called yester with news..., I have a huge herniated disc and I have to have back surgery!!!!

I'm terrified! This is my SPINE that they want to hack on, and to make it worse they might do it today! This really puts a damper on my trying to lose weight because it is obvious I won't be able to exercise like I want to.

This new was so upsetting to me....I have to two small children and a dh with a demanding job. I'm at a loss...I don't know what I'm going to do!

Any advice?

[rockinrobin]

I am sorry that you are in so much pain.

My DH was in agony for weeks and weeks and then one day his back totally and completely went out. He had to be taken out of my home on a stretcher. He could no longer walk. He was in a wheelchair. It was beyond belief horrible. He was diagnosed with 3 herniated discs and was told surgery was his only option, that it would only get worse.

Well he didn't have the surgery. And he is 100% fine now. After hearing his story a neighbor of my FIL told us of a similiar situation that happened to himself and how he dealt with it. It's kind of complicated. The bottom line is, is that MOST back pain is due to stress. I know this sounds hard to believe and I was skeptical as well. Herniated discs are just part of the normal aging process and that we all have them. When you have back pain and then they FIND em, the Dr.s say - that's why you have pain.

This neighbor of my FIL's was given a book written by John Sarno, called The Body Mind Prescription. I urge you to read this book. It details everything I said and then much more so and tells you how to deal with it and get rid of the back pain without surgery. Without much at all, just the book and a pen and paper. We were so at our wits end. My husband refused to read the book, saying it was utter nonsense. So I read the book and found it was worth a shot and begged, pleaded and bugged my husband to do the same. And he did and he listened to what it said and within a few short weeks his back pain was gone. Please read the book before you do the surgery. It is a book I have recommended over and over again throughout the years and it has helped so many people that I know. Good luck.

[JayEll]

I second what rockinrobin has said. I've read Sarno's book, and although it gets a bit heavy into psychology, I believe what he says about back pain.

Also, I've known people who have had the surgery and still ended up with pain all the time. It's not a quick fix. I hope you don't let them rush you into having surgery. Remember, surgeons always go for a surgical solution--it's how they were trained.

That doesn't mean that you shouldn't do whatever you can to be comfortable, however. Ice packs, lying down, anti-inflammatories. There are alternatives to the knife.

Jay

[GatorgalstuckinGA]

here's my opinion...go get a second opinion. The reason for this is i am a doctor (veterinarian)...and the above points are valid..and you may be able to fix it without surgery. BUT on the other hand....what if you are one of those that can't be fixed without surgery? A herniated disk is a severe issue that can lead to complete paralysis...and not something to be taken lightly. Surgery may be your only option...or there may be other options. I recommend getting another opinion from another dr.

[rockinrobin]

Oh Jay, I'm so happy someone else has heard of him and not everyone thinks I'm nuts. It's a hard concept to grasp. But actually I didn't think the book was heavy into psychology at all. I thought it was pretty bare bones and simplified.

By the way my Dh was schedueled for the surgery and we cancelled and the doctors office kept calling to see how he was doing every few weeks or so and I would tell them he's getting better and then of course that he was 100% and they were amazed and asked me how it happened. I wanted to scream at them, "How dare your recommend surgery when it is so not necessary!!!!'

And yes I too know of people who have the surgery and it does not help, which is with in perfect reasoning to what John Sarno says. PLEASE hoosier, get the book.

[Mrs Quadcrew]

Ditto on the No surgery for right now. Once you mess around in there, it seems there are always issues. Research and get another opinion (or 2) before letting them cut you. My DH was told the same thing - and he opted NOT to have surgery, and he is fine now too. Be well informed before taking that drastic of a step.

[Is that really me]

I don't have any specific advice to offer on back pain per say, but I agree 1000% with what others on here have posted -- DO NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL YOU GET AT LEAST ONE SECOND OPINION!!

Surgeons always recommend surgery; that's all they are trained to do. I have a 13 yr. old special needs son and have been the rounds with, oh about 20 doctors over the past 10 years. Took seven docs b/4 they even diagnosed him at the age of 6 and that was w/us telling all of them that something just wasnt' right. (He has autistic spectrum disorder but is very "high functioning" -- I HATE that term-- and is not your "typical" autistic child.) They all overlooked his other symptoms because he understood what you were saying even though his languages skills were practically zilch at age 2 1/2 (among numerous other symtoms). I could go on and on but what I've learned from all these endless docs is that they are not God, they do NOT know everything but they will not tell you that they don't know, and they will always recommend whatever their speciality is.

They cannot force you to do anything; no matter how authoritative they sound. My son was receiving wrap-around services for about a year. Over and over we asked for recommendations for either a pshyciatrist or psycologist. We finally got an appt. w/a psych. The appt. lasted exactly 1/2 hr. (we had never seen or met this guy b/4). He said "Oh, I see kids like this all the time. Here's an RX for Concerta (stimulant). Come back in a month." I asked if he didn't think it would be beneficial to have my son come in an talk w/him once or twice a week in addition to the meds. NO. I told him we had tried Ritialin and Dexadrine (both stimulants) w/really crappy side effects. HE DIDN'T GIVE A CRAP. I asked him why did he want us to come back in a month. SO HE COULD SEE IF THE AMOUNT OF MEDS WAS CORRECT. Then he said bye. We tried the meds for one day, dumped them and put this guy into the same category as all the other docs. They just want an quick fix. They don't want to spend time figuring anything out or trying to come up w/alternative solutions. They just don't care.

Sorry to rant; can you tell I have "issues" with doctors? Anyway, I'd get a second opinion or two, get the book that rockinrobin recommends and most importantly listen to your gut. If you feel uneasy or uncertain, then wait and really weigh all your options. Once they cut there is no turning back. DEMAND pain meds; don't leave the docs office w/out them.

Ok, one last story. I had a gallbladder attack about 2 yrs. ago. On a Sat then again on Tues. Went to doc; doc said "must have contrast cat scan TODAY. Got appt for next day. (all pain had passed by the time I had gotten to the doc on Tues). Had contrast cat scan. Doc never bothered to call me or even tell me the test results. Had to make numerous phone calls and finally got info from nurse. You have gall stones. (LIKE DUH!) Doc said to make appt. w/ specialist NOW. Got appt. -- one month out. At appt. specialist said "well, this cat scan does show you have gallstones, but it's a month old so now we want to do another test (MRI) and you have to have your gallbladder out." Ca-ching for the docs on all these tests. I had done a lot of research on this after cat scan -- I like my gall bladder and think it does a good job. Told doc to forget about taking it out. Asked about alternative options. She whispered about some alternative docs down in Philly -- like it was a secret or something. Had taken percocet for pain but am allergic. Nurse said there was no other pain med other than perocet. (?????????) I said what about tylenol w/codeine? She said, oh yea there is that. NUMBSKULL!

Bottom line, I decided to take a wait and see approach to this whole thing. I have tylenol w/cod. for pain if it happens again. I believe a gallstone passed from my gallbladder throught the bile duct and out of my body. So far, so good. Taking out the gallbladder has risks and I'm not willing to take the chance.

I do ramble on, don't I? Sorry. Do your homework. No one really cares about your health like you!! Good luck.

Jo

[JayEll]

I just want to add--get a lot of opinions from different kinds of doctors or practitioners as well. Visit a pain center, for example. Why? Well, suppose you went to a Catholic priest who told you that using birth control was a sin (this is just a made up example--please let's not start discussing Catholicism! ). If you wanted a second opinion, would you go to another Catholic priest? You would likely get the same answer.

Jay