Debbie
I will try to make this brief but here goes. I had cervical surgery for herniated disk in Dec of 97 and before that I had the cervical steroid shots which made my pain and movement SO BAD I couldn't work anymore. The surgery on my neck was promising but I found out that the pain is still there - not as bad as when on steroid shots but I can't keep neck in certain positions etc. In March of 98, mind you this is 3 months after I had cervical surgery I had to have back surgery for a herniated disk. I don't know why he said you are too young - that's bullshit. I am 34 and was 32 when I had this surgery and I have talked to many people who have had the same surgery and a hell uv a lot younger then me! In any case I had the surgery on L4 - S1. I had a bad experience in hospital as after the surgery when I went up to my room they were giving me less pain meds then I was on BEFORE the surgery so when my doc came in the next morning to check on me I was losing it literally. He immediately put me on a pump for pain meds to go directly to my IV and I could do it myself. I was in the hospital a total of 4 days. The pain is horrendous!!! (sp) I can't tell you how bad. My husband literally had to lift me off the bed so I could go to the bathroom. In any case I have never NOT had back pain. In the months after surgery the pain was some what better but by no means what I was expecting. In July of that year I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Myofacial Pain Syndrome. They believe because I had two surgeries so close together this is what brought these chronic diseases on as they are known to come after trauma and let me tell you these two surgeries were no piece of cake!!! I am on pain meds and have been since my diagnosis so I don't know what els to tell you. I work part time due to my chronic diseases and pain. It is very hard to even get through the day, if I didn't have the pain meds I would be in bed all the time. If you would like to email me feel free. Hope this helps and doesn't scare you. Debbie