[biakenny]

Hi I am Pete,
here is very short version of my story. This is truly great comunity!

I am 34 year old male, with very athletic background. I swam competitively for 20+years.

· 04/14/08: I injured my back 2.5 years ago
o Continued to run for about 4 weeks.
· MRI - 05/14/08: MRI L4-L5 Herniated and some L5-S1 (Photo: 1-Initial Injury)
· 05/30/08: 3+ Month of PT with no real improvement.
· 09/14/08: Discectomy on L4-L5 no structures outside of nucleus were touched.
· 09/14/08 – 12/14/09 3 month PT – no improvement, but no pain medication.
· Careful workout cardio warning belt
· MRI - 02/14/2009 - MRI limited changes and some new herniation on L5-S1 (5 - Month After injury)
· 03/01/2009 - 1 set epidurals central L4/L5 (limited effect)
· 04/14/2009- 1 set of bilateral L4/L5
· Better, I was never fine but 90% pain free most 2009 summer, I would not be very active as I would hurt the area easily.
· 09/1/2009 – 12/1/2009 – pain returns over time, different more in my feet.
· 12/1/2009 – Epidural bi lateral L4-L5 (some improvement)
· 02/02/2009 – 04/02/2010 – Pain continues to increase, no medication but I had to get another epidural.
· MRI - 04/02/2010 – Epidural L4-L5 central
· 04/14/2010 – 5/30/2010: Traction on DXR 9000 30+days – definitely made if significantly worse.
· 5/14/2010 - Medication initiated, Laryca, Tramadol, Celebrex.
· Continued pain
· 6/30/2010: North American Spine (http://northamericanspine.com/), report attached.
· Great improvement for 5 days.
· Then pain returns back in - Continued Medication.
· 08/30/2010 – moved to Chicago.
· MRI - 11/15/2010 – MRI report photos attached.
· 11/22/2010 – Epidural, Some help with back pain, limited help with burning and numbness in feet/legs
· 11/25/2010 – Discontinued Tramadol do to side effects, Lyrica to be discontinued soon, Celebrex still on.

My symptoms have changed over the years. I started with a pain to the right side form L4-L5 and I believe some of that was somewhat resolved in the discectomy. I believe I have more problems from L5-S1, and burning/cold feet feeling. The problem is more on the left side now. I have not really been able to become really active in the 2.5 years with the exception of summer 2009.

I had to stop medication as I believe it was making me addicted and some of the symptoms where in fact probably worse. It is hard for me to function without medication but I do manage a full time job and full time school. I am doing my MBA at Northwestern University.

I am not sure I have too many options, I am more less told by Physiatrists (back specialists) to a) either take it b) take medication, c) learn pain management. I am not really told that fusion or anything like that is an option. Perhaps the back does not look as bad as my symptoms are.

Thank you!