I like planting trees...

[TreeMan]

...but it hurts my back!




Hello, everyone. I think I found a good site here.

IMO I'm young in terms of back problems (26)... I found out I have had degenerative disc disease and have been experiencing excruciating pain for the last 5 years. This site seems to be full of good info, so I look forward to the discussions here.

[Justin]

...but it hurts my back!

Hello, everyone. I think I found a good site here.

IMO I'm young in terms of back problems (26)... I found out I have had degenerative disc disease and have been experiencing excruciating pain for the last 5 years. This site seems to be full of good info, so I look forward to the discussions here.

Hey TreeMan,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

It was good talking via private message. Being young and having spine problems is not fun. We are here to support you, as many Spine Patients here at SPS have been in your shoes.

I wish you the very best.

[Cindylou]

I want to extend a warm welcome to you as well Treeman. Glad you found us and I hope we can help you. I love trees too, but I don't plant them myself! Cindylou

[KanRunMo]

Reply to Justin and Treeman,
Being old(er) and having back problems is not fun either - maybe worse since doctors always use the term "at your age" as an excuse to do nothing about the problem.
However, I've found the younger doctors are more understanding than the older ones.

[Gilbert P]

Hi Treeman

sorry you have to be here But so glad you are joining our family.
How many levels od DDD do you have?

What options have you been offered?

I am much older and it no fun at any age the last Doctor was young and wanted to fuse four lavels and my SI joint witch is perfect.

All The Best

Gil

[TreeMan]

Hi Treeman

sorry you have to be here But so glad you are joining our family.
How many levels od DDD do you have?

What options have you been offered?

I am much older and it no fun at any age the last Doctor was young and wanted to fuse four lavels and my SI joint witch is perfect.

All The Best

Gil

Gil,

To be honest I'm pretty ignorant on it. I go to the doctor and all I hear is "Blah, blah, blah...sorry, I know it must hurt, but there's really nothing we can do for it now" My doctor told me that he could "make them rigid", but the problems will most likely move up my spine. He also said insurance wouldn't cover the cost, and that it wasn't going to be cheap.

I have had a few MRIs in the past, and I know the 3 bottom discs are pretty much worn out and gone.

So, what would that be?

My last steroid injection was at L5-51 (?)...that's what it said on my paper here at least. I've done a few injections in the past and they last me no more than 4-6 weeks.

Sorry, for the ignorance I'm a newbie.

[ajj1001]

sounds like you have problems at L3/L4, L4/L5 & L5/S1. no apologies needed, all this spine stuff is very complicated.

[KBear]

Welcome to the forum. I also started with spine problems at a young age (25). I was also told there was 'nothing that could be done for me' and that I needed chronic pain management. My best advice is don't give up, see more doctors, send your records out to doctors nation and worldwide. Get opinions and eventually you will find an answer. I lucked out on my diagnosis, in my search for a pain management doctor who treated 'end of the road patients', as I was told I was, I found one at Texas Back Institute. On my first visit he looked at my MRI and said you have degenerative disc disease (DDD) and are a perfect candidate for disc replacement. That's when I began my internet search and found the forums and read all I could to become educated. It was overwhelming at first, knowing nothing and feeling like I was always asking stupid questions (in all honesty there is no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to your spine and surgery, so ask away.) Up until that point I had just done the treatments the doctors offered and believed everything they said... hence why it took 2.5 years for a diagnosis.

Once I decided to go forward with the surgery, I then found out that my insurance wouldn't pay. I appealed and lost and at that point I had no fight left in me. I went into a clinical trial and received the Active L 2 years ago and am 100% pain free. And I was able to have a baby after surgery and remained pain free and now have a sweet 6 week old little boy. So, I say all that to say, don't give up and become as educated as you can on your condition and treatment options.

Kathy

[Katie]

Welcome! We all have to start somewhere, and no question is stupid.

Are you a professional tree planter...one of those who goes out and plants a million seedlings in the middle of nowhere? I used to live in a logging/pulp mill based city and that was the summer job for hundreds of young people. Thankfully I hated bugs and couldn't face that backbreaking work

It took me almost five years to get surgery after first going to a doctor who told me that he doesn't operate 'just for pain'. This from a guy who probably never had a hangnail in his life.....

Most surgeons here (Canada) take the same attitude, so I had to go to Brazil for my surgery, and am glad I did it in the end, instead of finding someone here. He is world class and did an excellent job on my messed up back. I did have to have fusion at L4/5/S1 because I was allergic to the metals in any Artificial Discs (ADRs) available at the present time, but had an ADR put in at my C5/6 in my neck during the same surgery. So far, so good! Old age will probably do me in and I may be looking at more surgery in ten or twenty years, but I'll take what I can get in life for now

Lots of experienced people happy to help here...fire away!