I've posted a few times with progress reports but thought to pull the tale together here ahead of seeking opinion.

I started having lower back pain in 2010. The pain occurred whenever I lifted anything more than a pound or too. I went through the standard Family Dr treatments -steroids/Norco/rest - then a really crap experience at a well-regarded spine & sports rehabilitation clinic, then the spine injection (effective 1 week) and finally into surgery in May this year. If this seems hasty it actually reflects the speed in which the issue disrupted my life.

The surgery went well I'm told; the damaged disk was cut away, cage inserted, and bolted (L5S1) I was home 3 days later and recovering. I was back at work a month later walking with a limp and well-medicated. But although the original pain has gone, the post-surgical pain receded over time, I seemed to reach a plateau of pain at the incision site. I'd healed but I was still in a lot of pain. I get by on 4 Norco and celebrex each day and although I've tried various times I can't manage on any less medication; the pain starts after I've been out of bed 30 minutes and lasts til I go to bed at night.

At my last meeting with the Dr we agreed my movement was good - bending forwards and backwards, stuff like that - the next course of treatment should be physiotherapy (4 weeks, 3x per week) to see if that resolves the pain. Failing that we would have to consider taking out the bolts, which he found he had to do 3 or 4 times a year. I've just about finished the PT, which was good, but the pain remains pretty much the same. I see him again next week and I'm becoming quietly hopeful there can be a route out of this situation. While obviously ignorant of such things it "feels" like it's the hardware at fault - strictly localized at the incision site, unshifting despite PT.

I guess I sound like an impatient guy; I certainly want the fastest fix there can be, I want the pain gone. I want to stop watching the Norco clock and get on with an otherwise wonderful life. Are there readers out there that went through the same loops I've described? Any still visit the site who can tell me what's ahead? How long the recovery? success rates? Options after that? Would greatly appreciate the input if you can give me any. Many thanks, D