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stobes01 · Oct 24, 2012, 07:22 PM

Hello. I am a 37 year old man with a history of celiacs, anemia (Fe), hypothyroidism, cervical fusion, left & right inguinal hernias, and bowel resection. I have been battling a L2-L3, L4-L5, and L5-S1 herniations for 4 months. I had had a bowel resection 3 months prior and injured my spine doing a routine exercise that I have done forever since I was 17. After thinking about it and reading. I figured out the my resection caused my pelvic floor and tranverse abdominis to be overly weakend, which was verified by buddy who is PT. I have had 5 rounds of oral prednisone, muscle relaxants, and 2 epidural injections. The epidural injections did help but I am still not able to stand longer than 10 minutes.

My primary wants me to consult surgery, but microdysectomies don't work well enough (10-20%), nor do I want to ever have spine surgery again. I stand on my feet for a living and do not know what direction to go in. I am in danger of losing my job and going on disability. My question for you is the following: on the average, how long to lower back injuries typically take to resolve without surgical intervention?

Note: I do not have any pain down the legs anymore, but I still have the lower back pain and muscle spasms. I just started traction and physical therapy this week and heading for my third epidural this Friday. Am I missing other means of treatment so I can get back on my feet?

CravenMorhead · Oct 25, 2012, 07:24 AM

You've probably been to enough Doctors and Doctor's offices to know that the spine is a precision piece of machinery. The central structure, bone, ligaments, and discs, form a sturdy platform for the rest of your body to use.

AS you've written, your back has been shot all to hell and back. Everything is out of alignment and isn't work near peak performance. So the herniations on your lumbar discs will not go away quickly, if at all. You've injured your spine doing exercise, how exactly?

It will take a long time with or without surgery for your back to get back in shape. It will just take less time with surgery.

I have a bad lower back, and constant trips to the chiropractor seem to be the only way to keep it well. Not the best solution but it works for me. I would go for the surgery, but realize that it is going to a while before you're in a position to stand upright for a while.

joypulv · Oct 25, 2012, 10:34 AM

I don't know that a job standing all day is good for someone with all you have, especially if standing in one place is most of it. To me that would be my primary concern at the moment - either getting reassigned, cutting back on hours, or starting the disability process.

stobes01 · Oct 25, 2012, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by CravenMorhead

You've probably been to enough Doctors and Doctor's offices to know that the spine is a precision piece of machinery. The central structure, bone, ligaments, and discs, form a sturdy platform for the rest of your body to use.

AS you've written, your back has been shot all to hell and back. Everything is out of alignment and isn't work near peak performance. So the herniations on your lumbar discs will not go away quickly, if at all. You've injured your spine doing exercise, how exactly? I was doing a core stabilizing exercise with an 8 lb ball. I held is in front of me and squatted. It was a freak thing especially when this exercise is used in the later stages of PT for lower back injuries.

It will take a long time with or without surgery for your back to get back in shape. It will just take less time with surgery.

I have a bad lower back, and constant trips to the chiropractor seem to be the only way to keep it well. Not the best solution but it works for me. I would go for the surgery, but realize that it is going to a while before you're in a position to stand upright for a while.

I go to the chiro weekly, it does help with alignment. Unfortunately, my chiro said he can't help because MRI shows disc injury. My x-rays show good alignment.

stobes01 · Oct 25, 2012, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by CravenMorhead

You've probably been to enough Doctors and Doctor's offices to know that the spine is a precision piece of machinery. The central structure, bone, ligaments, and discs, form a sturdy platform for the rest of your body to use.

AS you've written, your back has been shot all to hell and back. Everything is out of alignment and isn't work near peak performance. So the herniations on your lumbar discs will not go away quickly, if at all. You've injured your spine doing exercise, how exactly?

It will take a long time with or without surgery for your back to get back in shape. It will just take less time with surgery.

I have a bad lower back, and constant trips to the chiropractor seem to be the only way to keep it well. Not the best solution but it works for me. I would go for the surgery, but realize that it is going to a while before you're in a position to stand upright for a while.

Thank you for responding

stobes01 · Oct 25, 2012, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by joypulv

I don't know that a job standing all day is good for someone with all you have, especially if standing in one place is most of it. To me that would be my primary concern at the moment - either getting reassigned, cutting back on hours, or starting the disability process.

Thank you for the response. A career change is not possible. Unfortunately, I am looking into the direction of disability. I have pride, and it is hard for me to consider that a viable option after many years of college.