newb looking for advice..where to begin
 

Im so happy I stumbled across these forums. They look like an excellent resource.

I am a 28 year old male and just recently found out I have an annular tear/disc herniation at L5-S1 and disc bulge and L4-L5. The pain has been going on for a little over a year and a half but only recently decided to have imaging done.

I went to see Dr. Rasouli in LA and he basically told me the disc will not heal on its own and my options are to get injections or to get an artificial disc. He was all for going with injections first but getting steroid injections in my back for the rest of my life doesn't sound like something I want to do.

I can tolerate the pain. I never had any pain radiating down my leg.

I am very active. I like playing contact sports, hiking, and weight lifting. If I just get injections Dr. Rasouli told me I should lift any more than 20 or 30 lbs. That really isn't an option for me. He told if I got a disc I would be able to resume weightlifting (squats, deadlifts) as if I was completely normal.

Im just looking for any advice or resources that will help me make my decision or to hear from any in a similar situation.

What have people heard about Dr. Rasouli? Should I go see more doctors, I've only seen him.

Hi Reen, welcome. Sorry you are here, but I hope we can help. When you can, pls search the forums for the doc's name -- you'll find many topics there. You can PM the people in those topics.

Forgive the curious question: what are you doing to help your body heal? I ask because your doctor may have given you some advice that could be interpreted as being false: some people in this community have seen:

- tiny annular fractures that have caused great pain and disability that never healed, until they had surgery;

- huge, unsequestered herniations that have healed with exercise, juicing and dietary changes.

So, you see, there are many extremes. In the midst of all this confusion, we are here to try to help you. I hope we can!

How do people typically find information about how much experience a doctor has with a surgery like how many surgeries performed?

That's a great question! So many ways, actually. Here are a few:

1. Look thru the post-op forum, but skim through the pages first, these topics go back to 2004;

2. Email, call or PM the patients in this topics;

3. Ask around in your own networks: family, friends, neighbors;

4. Also see the Article Library, for lists of docs which include some bio-related information (like this topic);

5. Call the doc's office and ask. When you meet the doctor, ask away -- and ask for patient references! Rinse and repeat. ;)

Many more suggestions coming, hope this helps.

Definitely get a second opinion. For that matter get a third. Really do your research. I am sorry you are having pain. Hope we can help. My opinion - Don't get surgery unless you really have to.

Well said Beaner! :shedance: