I have to make a decision as to whether or not to have this surgery. It would be a double fusion (I believe that’s what it’s called): L4-L5-S1. Both of my facet joints are broken at L4 (spondylolysis) which is contributing to spondylolisthesis of L5 and S1. I have been to chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapy, tried multitudes of medications, tried ignoring the problem, and also recently had a bilateral epidural in an attempt to relieve the problem. I have been told the only way to fix the spondylolysis is through a fusion. I am 31 years old and have been having back problems for quite some time now. Sometimes my back flares up, and I literally can’t walk… crawling to the bathroom is about the only I manage to do when I have a flare up. I have been told that at some point in my life I will need a fusion, and I basically have to decide whether to do it now, or continue dealing with the pain and have it later.
Any suggestions/experience/advice anyone has with this particular surgery would be extremely helpful.
Thanks! 
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I have pain in one side of my lower body. it starts on my butt cheek, then down the hamstring and back of knee and down to my calf muscle. Also my foot is somewhat numb. I have to walk with a limp, I can sit down but it hurts to get up. Also, laying in bed hurts when I turn over. I have been to the Dr. and there is possibility of orthopedic surgery. Has anyone heard of not electing to have surgery, and have chiropractor or physical therapy/massage fix the problem? What about acupuncture will that correct the bulging disk. I saw the MRI and can see where it is a bulge, but the Dr. looks like she might be pushing surgery because it costs more money. Anyone have the same problem(s)? Serious answers by people who have had this problem before or doctors, please. Dont answer if you think you might know or are just guessing.
I have had tendonitis in my wrist for near two years and it gets so frustrating to have it still be painful. It all started when i was obsessively drawing with a pen till my wrist was in so much pain i had to stop. i thought i was building muscle bc it was sore but wow i was really wrong………… i have done physical therapy, and most of the typical stuff and now i want some more ideas???? i do some of the wrist stretches as well and mostly try to stay off of it. i don’t draw anymore and dabble with the guitar which can make my wrist quite angry? i just need some ideas on how to really get this healed. please………
In May I had a stress fracture to the 5th metatarsal of my right foot, and I am still having pain . An Orthopedic Surgeon diagnosed the pain as RSD- something with my nerves are overreacting to the trauma of the break. Has anyone ever experienced that? If so what was your outcome and how did they treat it? I am in Physical Therapy for it right now, but what happened to you all???
I work with two little boys who are disabled one of them is able to walk, while the other is not, currently we are trying to strengthen their trunks to help them maintain and gain balance as well as attempting to strengthen their arms and help them use their hands does anyone know of any sites where I can get any information on physical therapy exercises that I can do with them to help them achieve these goals? Anything you may know would be a huge help! Thanks!
I have minor arthritis in the back, I’ve hyper extended it a few times (thrown off of a horse, fell down the stairs) and physical therapy doesn’t help. I see a chiropractor 3 times a week and he only helps a little bit. I can’t do any housework or waliking for more than about 20 min. before I start to have major pain. I’m only 30 and fear it will get worse as I get older. Especially if I ever have children. I’ve had an open MRI in which they didn’t find anything wrong. Please, any advice or tips? Any ideas or answers to my pain? I have a dr. apt. next week with my orthopedic.
I injured my foot about a year ago. Now I have nerve damage my doctor is calling Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Today, my foot is in far worse condition than it was when I broke it. I can barely walk. It turns strange colors, and swells. I have terrible sharp, burning pains that shoot through my foot. My toes are trying to curl under my foot. Inspite of aggressive physical therapy, I seem to be getting worse. I can barely walk, and driving is becoming nearly impossible (it’s my right foot…) Is it possible to prevent disability? Is it in anyway due to choice? Exercise programs? Pain management would be wonderful, but what I am most afraid of right at this moment is total incapacitation-because I have also noticed similar pains in my left foot recently. Please, I haven’t been able to find anything positive on this subject…If you can give me a little hope, I would deeply appreciate it.
After having surgeries for 2 torn ligaments and muscle in the knee..had to start physical therapy. Its the third day and it feels like a muscle was torn again and hurts badly. Is this normal for it to be this painful or should I check it at the hospital tomorrow?
My little brother is in his junior year of high school, and was supposed to be starting wide reciever this year. He had letters as a freshman, but during his sophomore season he began getting a bad pain in his right side. He finished out the season playing less and less with each game. The doctors first said that it was an enlarged liver from when he took a hit to the side. He said the pain would go away within a few weeks. Well it didn’t. So we saw another doctor who diagnosed him with the side stitch. My brother performed the physical therapy and all of the techniques used, but still nothing helped. Since the end of last season (December 2007) he has been diagnosed with enlarged liver, stitches, gallbladder problems, twisted testicle, too much grease and weak abdomen muscles. He took a few months off, rested his side and eventually went back to spring ball where the pain instantly started again, worse than ever before. He has been through 2 acupunctures and still nothing. Deep tissue massages and nothing. He has had multiple X-Rays, an MRI, a Cat Scan, etc. This is very, very frustrating as he isn’t allowed to step onto a football field until he gets fixed. We’re losing optimism every passing day. Does anyone have ANY idea?
If so what do you do and why are you seeing the therapist? I am thinking about seeing one for my back but would like to know if anyone has been seeing one and what you do in your visit. Thanks!!