Jackie
Sam: If anyone has been through it all with a herniated disk, it has been me. I started having back pain two years ago (I'm 39 and very active). Things kept getting worse, although I never actually had leg symptoms, I had terrible back pain. Last year alone, I went through physical therapy as well as having over 5 injections (4 epidurals and one facet injection). Some shots worked and others didn't. Keep in mind even when the shots worked, the pain always returned within a few months. It's a treatment, not a cure. My back began to slip out more and more frequently when finally I had enough. I was herniated badly at L4-5 as well as disk degeneration. I decided to have the surgery. Although I was afraid, the doctor assured me that he felt I had an 80% chance that this would help me tremendously. Well that the 3 weeks ago and he was right. I finally feel the stability in my back that I haven't felt in a long time. I went back to work 11 days after surgery (Light duty because I'm a mailcarrier). People cannot believe that I came back that early. There was no horrible pain. I feel good. The first week or two is a little rough because you feel like your never going to be able to bend again, but slowly I am bending and now at three weeks, I am bending really well. Feel free to email me if you want any details about my surgery. (It was a fusion and my doctor is great).