Spinal Disc Replacement

[babalon]

I've been suffering from constant lower back pain for 18 months a MRI scan has shown a disc bulge/prolaspse at L5/S1. I take tramadol for the pain and manage a relatively normal life still with constant ache but managable as long as I take the pain killers and don't have flare ups (in which case I am crippled for 3-4 weeks). Had a my second consultants appointment regarding this on tues and due to there being no improvement dispite trying all conservative treatments he suggested a disc replacement operation.

Have any of you had one or know someone who has. Did it work what is the recovery time like and would they recommend it?

I don't want to do anything to make it worse but at 30 yrs old I don't want to live the rest of my life in pain. I'm scared about back surgery dispite being a theatre nurse but I haven't seen this proceedure done.

Hello - not had this surgery but just wanted to say Hi to a fellow sufferrer of a L5/S1 disc prolapse. I too have constant pain and take kopake and also now anti-depressents to act as a nerve pain killer. The anti-depressents are good but they make me sleep all day so I can only take them if REALLY bad.

My consultant thought about doing a laminectomy? So where they'd shave part of the prolapsed disc off. Never heard of a disc replacement. But then he decided that as the pain wasn't interfering with my life too much/stopping me doing stuff then he didn't want to run the risk of paralysis etc.

I am quite down about having to spend the rest of my life in pain but would also be scared about surgery. Obviously its different for everyone and your surgeon must think you're bad enough to run the risk. I've only ever had one flare-up where I was crippled - that was for one week. If I had regular flare ups like that I'd be begging for surgery.

Good luck

Thanks for your reply, I've seen and asisted in laminectomys and discectomys but apparently these operations work better if your leg pain is worse from the back pain. I get leg pain but this is well controlled by the tramadol so not the major issue.

I came off citalopram that I was on for PND to see if that was causing the pain (god I'd try anything). So would be reluctant to go on anatriptaline(sp) for pain control. I asked Dr to run blood tests too because I worry the tramadol might ruin my liver.

He's booked me in for a repeat MRI scan and a CT and I'm back to see him in 2 months so I'd like to have come to some kind of decsion by then.

It's good to talk to someone who knows what chronic back pain is like I won't wish it on anyone it grinds you down.

I've had the pain for 12 years now, since breaking my back. I love the fact that if I take the amalytriptaline (sp) then I get a night with no pain - but am like a zombie the next day so its just not an every day option.

My back pain is worse then my leg pain which I rememebr now the consultant saying was anotehr reason for not doing the surgery. I still have leg pain, right down into my foot - but my back is worse.

I hate the way it affects my life - I cannot for the life of me find a sofa/armchair that I can sit on in comfort for more than 10mins. So I can't even sit and watch TV with my DH in the evenings. If I want to watch TV I have to lie down in bed and watch it. So I don't watch much TV. Not the end of the world but its something most coupless do together and think its a shame I can't.

Hope you come to a decision that you're happy with.