spinal decompression

[Hilary]

Hello everyone,
A little nervous writting for many eyes to see. Short story, I have had a diskectomy 03' and for a year now, other means of treatment for reacurring pain now known as DDD. Think-
ing I was ready for the Prodisk-L on the 4,5, and s1(cancelled on the 8-30-08), I went and tried spinal decompression and it started to work after the 2nd session. But,(had 4th by now) I went dancing with some friends and was back to my pain, not too smart to do.Is my disk too far gone to be repaired with decompression? I am schedualed for surgery again on the 9-4-08 and feel like, maybe I should try it again ,cause I did feel better, and wait a year or two for possibly the(PDN)prosthetic disk nucleus. There is more, I would like to add that I do have full confidence in my Doctor and the prodisk holding out for 30 to 40 years.(?)Thanks for reading.
Hill

[johnb]

Hillary,

Are you looking at a 2 level at L4/L5 and L5/S1 or a 3 level surgery? I can't quite tell by your description.

John

[Hilary]

Hey John,
Wow, thanks for your response. It is a 2 level at L4/5L and L5/S1. I haven't listed my procedures yet, but will get on it now.
How long have you been going through decompression? And are you thinking about disk surgery?

[tazdell]

Hi Hilary,

I recently had success with spinal decompression too. It was unfortunately short lived. I don't know about the condition of your discs but mine were breaking off from eachother and in poor condition. It makes sense to me now that I got temporary relief from the decompression because it put my spine back into alignment, but I did not have a healthy disc to keep it there and it would keep collapsing and causing pain again. I am now scheduled for fusion surgery in 2 wks. From my experience I think it depends on the condition of your discs. I may be way off base but that's my experience. For me decompression was only temporary. Don't know if that helps but thats my view on it!!!

Good luck in your surgery. Back's are a pain!!!!

tazdell

[steelskyway]

Hillary,

I am curious how the surgery went?

Paul

[Hilary]

Hi steelskyway,
Two days before surgery, I had schedualed to see my doctor to settle some of my concerns only to be told, that I wasn't ready for the 2 level prodisc surgery. I still had concerns and questions and he seemed to not be happy with me. I did go back to talk with the c.o.p.e. pain management department, to do damage control and to ask them some questions. It has been put on hold until I go through some more decompressions and possible spinal manipulation. I tried a different machine for decompression at a physical therapy group and it wasn't the same as the one I used before that seemed to work, so I am going back to keep one doctor to monitor my progress and give it another chance. My pain level is around 5 and or less at many times, cause I have been learning to modify many of my acivities that caused lots of pain and that goes for work too. For starters, I have read that yoga and other simalar exercise are good and if I can manage it, I will try it too. With all that, if and of course, when it is time that I no longer can take other treatments, the doc. and I agreed to a discogram. I have done more research to even consider having the L4/L5 prodisc, and the S1 fused. Hopefully, I can still do more investgations. Thanks for your concern. To note, my bones are still in good shape according to the Xrays etc..