Severe Lower Back Pain/Sciatica Advice.

[Exodus Outfitters]

Guys, In 2001 while moving an armoire I strained my back and went down for about a week. Every year since at some point or another I will throw it out again and will gradually get better over a week or ten days or so. 31 days ago I was lifting my tire to put back on my truck after a break job on the ol' F-250. I turned while lifting to get lined up on the studs when WHAM!! It felt like lightning ran from my back down to my left foot. This I know is the Sciatic nerve being pinched or otherwise hurt by a disk. I have been working 7 days a week having to climb up and down from my crane and it has been brutal. I cannot afford to take off just because Im in pain, not during the time of year I make most of my yearly income. My question is, how many of you have had the surgery to trim the disk affecting the nerve, and what advice would you give. My dad had the surgery last summer out-patient, and my mom had to make him put his beer down and come in from working in the flower bed on day 3. I go tomorrow to get the required referral to have another MRI, and hopefully get this thing fast tracked for surgery. Any Prayers or advice would be greatly appreciated. I feel like Im being driven mad.........

[trseato]

A second opinion from this guy wouldn't hurt. IMO he is good!

http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-richard-westmark-yhc4g

[SCHU]

Wife has had back surgery, but not to trim the disc. Obviously, being a crane operator you can't take pain pills. Sorry man, the longer it goes uncorrected, the worse it will get until you can't stand the pain anymore. I wish you all the best and it may not be as bad as you think, talk to your dad...keep us posted. Or, you can look it up on the old 'net to see how its done, recoup time, etc.

[plugger]

Every situation is different . You can't compare Billy Bobs bad back to yours . I had a laminectomy in Novemder 2012 by Stanley Jones , MD . Arthritic bone and cyst were removed from around my spinal cord and a mobile vertebrae clamped to the adjacent one . You need to get diagnosed and see what the problem is , and treatment options . Perhaps steroid injections and therapy can get you by until you can have surgery if needed . It's painful I know .

[imhammer]

I had mine done twice by Dr. Eric Santos ( http://www.houstonphysicianshospital...ntos_eric.html )
He is the spine surgeon for Nasa. He was great and I was back at work in 10 days both times. It all depends on the severity as to how long it will take to get back to work. Good luck!

[TroutSupport]

Good posture and back exercises to keep those muscles strong will go a long way to helping that disc stay in place.

[Termo]

I got nothing.....but I hope you get better soon....good luck with the surgery.

[Beandaddy]

I have had the injections that lasted a couple months, a laminectomy that lasted 3 months, and a fusion surgery. The fusion surgery finally fixed it. That was 7 years ago last week. The surgeons name was Walter Sassard. Had it done at St. Lukes. Best thing I have ever done. Good Luck!
Beandaddy

[Hopper]

My family has had a variety of orthopedic operations at http://texasorthopedic.com.
Great doctors all specializing in various parts of the body as opposed to an ortho guy that does all.
Several of the docs there have been the ortho doctors for several of the Houston sports teams.
My daughter is a PTA and stresses that specific stretching and exersices can help a sciatic (assuming no other ruptured discs are involved)

[Robalo]

I have L4 and L5 herniated discs. I take prednisone (steroid) and anti-inflammatory pills when iot acts up-about once a year and I'm down for at least a week (plus I take soma and vicodin, but you can't take soma and can't take Vicodin-hydrocodone, while working a crane), so other than taking the steroids and anti-inflammatory pills, you have little choice but to suffer or get cut. I would suffer as long as possible for many reasons-but especially what happened to me GF:

My GF has had 4 neck surgeries and 6 back surgeries. The six on her back were because the first surgery on her lower back gave her MERSA (resistant staph infection) and that sheeit is big time trouble-doc said it "musta been a dirty stitch", but with Tort Reform, we had no recourse against doc or hospital and we used a highly recommended doc and the hospital had the lowest infection rate of any in and around Houston-sheeit can happen-for six months I hooked her up on IVs-at 4 am and again at 6 pm everyday and missed most of a year's fishing and she lost her job because she couldn't work while being that sick-it almost killed her. Think about that before having any surgery!!!!! 10 days in the hospital 2 weeks after initial surgery, 2 blood transfusions and 5 re-openings to irrigate and drain the infection (likely $200,000 in cost at least). She had laminectomy and fusions and now the discs above and below are taking all the brunt from moving and they are starting to act up-think about that when deciding-because now the discs above and below get all the pressure and then they go out/get herniated.

Good luck!!

[rtoler]

I agree with Plugger. Get all facts/xrays/mri's etc before you make a decision. Always get a second or third opinion. This is your only back...... I had back problems due to two compressed discs and have found some exercises that helped me out tremendously. One doctor had me taking 10 pills a day. Good luck!

[kenny]

open decompression/ partial laminectomy by a neurosurgeon then yoga. Yoga helps me a whole lot. It will improve your posture and build your core like nothing else, and that supports your spine.

[Baby Tran Cat]

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[slickfish]

Payman paksiban in Pasadena did mine in 08. Could have kicked myself between the legs for not doing it five years earlier. Do your research on the doctor you choose. Mine had the personality of a pet rock but I wasn't there to make friends. I highly recommend the guy.

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