This forum is awesome. I fell down icey steps in January 2004 and my life has changed dramatically ever since. I had an MRI and was told that my L4-L5 disc was bulged. I tried medication and physical therapy for a couple months and then had a steroid injection, which didn't help at all. So I kept on doing the exercises that the PT gave me at home for the past year and nothing was getting better, just worse. I had my second MRI and was told that the disc was bulged and that it was DDD. I was supposed to get a discogram in January 2005 but chickened out. Finally I got the discogram in May 2005 and boy was it painful. The disc was definitely the cause of my pain.
On my follow-up appointment my doctor told me that I could either get a fusion or and ADR and that I am a good candidate for the ADR. I'm going to have a consultation with Dr. James Yue from Yale New Haven Hospital July 21, 2005.
I've been reading everyones posts on this website for the past few months, and since I'm getting close to making a decision as to what surgery to get, I thought it was time to say Hello to everyone and share my experience with everyone as time goes on. Everyone's experiences have been very informative and hopefully my experiences can be informative for others as well. I look forward to conversing with you all. I'm only 22 but am hoping for the best so I can get my life back.
Thanks for reading my post.

You�re Welcome and Welcome!

Glad you've made it out of the closet and said hello. As you may well know I'm an open book around here and it is a safe place to do that. It sounds like you�re in good hands. Dr. Yue is well respected around here. Again welcome and chime in anytime. http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...icon_smile.gif

Yup Dr Yue is a good surgeon and a good guy

Jay, I can relate to your story! Mine has a few things in common with yours:

http://www.adrsupport.org/content.asp?cid=191

I hope we can help you. Pls let me know if you are not getting the right answers or support...

Jay

Welcome, and sorry you're having to deal with this at such a young age. The good news is you've connected with one of the best surgeons around and your age is working in your favor in terms of healing.

Maybe we should be doing a statistical analysis of icy falls, Rich? Thought that sounded familiar... http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...icon_frown.gif

Welcome to the forum and you willlearn so much from everyones experiences here. I am also from Connecticut and Dr. Yue is my follow up doctor. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me.
Judy

Welcome,

Dr. Yue is excellent....he is my husbands pre and post op doctor. His dedication to "helping" patients feel better is reminiscent of Dr. Bertagnoli, they work often as a team.....

We are also in Connecticut, and here to help.

Anita

Thanks for all the replys everyone. I'm looking forward to seeing Dr. Yue and knowing that he is highly respected as well. Hopefully he will be able to do the surgery not too long after he see's me, as I feel I'm not living but only just existing at this point.

Welcome Jay,
I am so sorry you are having to deal with spine problems at such a young age, not that dealing with it when you are older is any easier! It just really doesn't seem fair when you are so young. I am glad you found the forum and hope you find it helpful. Again, welcome.

Linda