OK, just got off the phone with my doctor. They have the MRI results. I have 3 bulging disks. Two of them are only bulging couple millimeters, but one is bulging a full 10x15mm. So it’s bulging out a full centimeter. They said that that one is probably the one pinching my nerve, causing me all the pain.
They said that surgery is probably the most likely option here. If were just the smaller bulges, it’d be one thing and physical therapy might do the job, but with a bulge that large, surgery’s the primary option.
I still, to this day, don’t know what I did to mess up my back like this, nor did my sister when she had back trouble.
Regardless, they’re going to try to get me into see Kathy Moore, the spinal expert at DB&J, today or tomorrow, or Monday at the latest, so we can discuss options.
My request from before stands: If anybody knows anybody who has several grand they have to get off (for tax/embezzlement reasons <hehe>) have them get in touch with me. I’m always taking donations, as well.
Meanwhile, I’m still working from home on my wife’s computer until my laptop adapter gets here. I don’t know when I’ll be back at the office again, but I’ll do whatever I can do from here.
Thanks again to all of you and your support. It’s helped me through this tremendously.
I’ll keep you posted as to what happens.
Update: Also of note: I’m violating MT’s license by doing this, though as soon as I get enough money to pay for a commercial license, I’ll pay for it, but I’m running those Google ads at the bottom of every page. Please click on those, and I’ll see if I can get a few bucks that way.
Comments
waitwait… that bad, as young as you are, without antecedent trauma.
waitwait… that bad, as young as you are, without antecedent trauma.
Oh, that’s comforting 😉
Like I said, I have no idea how the hell it got this bad, but let me tell ya, it hurts like an S.O.B.
Spread the word, folks. Maybe somebody out there will feel sorry enough for me to help pay for this, as I’m sure it’s going to be damned expensive to fix 🙁
Hang in there, friend. I promise to send you fully HALF OF MY ENTIRE FORTUNE at the moment, to assist you.
Got change for a buck?
😉
Help Jake’s Spine
Jake’s got back problems.
Haha…thanks, Barney. I know you’re as broke as I am, so no worries. It’s the thought that counts 🙂
Man back pain sucks and is scary. I was having a problem with one of my discs pressing on a nerve causing sciatica via the MRI results. I had pain for about 6 months and went through physical therapy for about 3 months and went to a chiropractor as well. No luck. I had surgery scheduled, then either by extreme fear or reading of the book Healing Back Pain by John Sarno, my pain went away. No fooling. Go read the reviews on Amazon. No real pain in 2 years since either. Hey, I’m not selling this book, but hell I was 2 weeks prior to surgery reading this and I’m damn glad i didn’t have it.
You’re actually the 2nd person to recommend that book, so I might have to go out and find it.
Sorry to hear about anybody having back problems. I too am traveling down the same road as you. Mine started as lower left back pain that over a week or so faded only to be replaced by the most horribly painful Sciatica in my left hip, calf and foot along with some (30%) numbness in my left foot that pesists after all pain has gone. Had Open-MRI last Wednesday and won’t see the Doc until tomorrow. Well versed in electronics I have to admit to all that I am made nervous about any High-Energy device of any sort. I asked for Open MRI because I am indeed claustraphobic. My experience was not bad. Once on the table and slid between the upper and lower halfs of the unit I closed my eyes, only opening them briefly to see a out-of-focus (too close) sticker of some sort on a plastic cover. It was not loud, only made sounds like a large rubber band. I slowly counted upward from zero for something to concentrate on as a distraction with each differing pattern of sounds. I think I may have briefly fallen asleep after 10 minutes or so. I wanted to be her best patient of the day and I think I was. Am now anxious to her my results. The lingering numbness in my foot tells me I too have disc problems. Like you I don’t know what I did to provoke this. Without medication the pain was enough to make we literally “writhe” in pain, moan and cry out at times. What ultimately gets me is when someone breakes their arm they can point to their cast and say, “It hurts because it was broken.” We cannot point to anything that was injured and internalize that. We must all probably ask why we are being made to go through such agony. My heart goes out to each and every one of you who are or will suffer from this affliction.
I just got the results from my mri as well. I have a 1.5cm diameter blob of what used to be my S1-L5 disc wandering around in my spine. It is currently pinching my S1 nerve such that , like ThomasE , I have been known to writhe in pain. I have found that ICE is my new best friend along with his familiar – asprin. I expect I will have surgery shortly since in the mri ( I got a copy) shows that the blob pretty much takes up the entire space where the nerve is supposed to be. I am amazed that I can still walk. Anyone had any experience with back surgery (suggestions on how to survive) ?
Getting Out Of Town
As I mentioned a few days ago, I’m heading out of town this weekend to go to my brother’s wedding in Fort Collins, Colorado. Unfortunately, it’s a solo trip as…
I too will be going into surgery after 4 weeks of therapy. I too have a bulging disc pressing on my sciatic nerve. Unfortunately, there is no relief. I have been taking up to 16 – 20 ibuprofins a day. I have been prescribed the hydrocodone, flexeril & the anti-inflammatory pills. They do help, but do not take the pain away. The therapist wants to move on to shots now. I opted for surgery. I don’t want to drag this out any longer than I have to. I’m in debt up to my eyeballs & the light at the end of the tunnel is a faint spec of white.