OK as some may know i have some pretty hefty back problems, (degenerate disc disease, scoliosis, sciatica...... etc.....)

I've been thinking about it more and more and just now been searching google for the surgery options doctors and professors have mentioned to me and none look good at all especially considering my age.

I have another epidural injection on Wednesday so I'll be out of action Wednesday and Thursday most likely (really annoyed as I'll probably not get animation done now and lose out on competition ) however at last meet prof thought this will be my last epidural and we should look into surgery.

I turn to the forums as there is a widespread knowledge and many good friends here that have seen me through some tough times;

The standard procedure at the moment for the issues I have is a Triple Level Posterior Lumbar Fusion (search google lots of illustrations and a few animations explaining the situation/operation) a 1 level fusion has about 85% success rate this decreases the more levels required (so my success rate will be pretty damn low)

As my main source of pain currently is my left leg, the Prof wanted to perform an operation to relieve the stress/tension/pressure my discs are putting on my nerves, although confident, this will also not heal me

And a fairly recent procedure of disc replacement therapy (As far as I know not on the UK NHS) however some sites i saw seemed to suggest that I could not have this treatment as I have more than one disc that would need replacing

As is stands I pretty much face a life of pain and suffering ahead of me trapped in my prison of a body whatever route taken

I'd rather not die, for obvious lack of life reasons But I won't lie, the thought has been through my mind on occasion.

I'm sick of being stared/pointed/laughed at and talked about in derogative manners behind my back by complete strangers and so called friends.

If you were in my situation, how would you cope, what would you do? what would you choose? How would you suggest I lead my life and what decisions should I make regarding these health issues?

Thanks in advance for all decent replies

Nile

i wouldnt go with the procedures, because i hate changing my body in any way (piercings, surgery, haircuts =p). most other people would tho.

really sad to hear this ;<

without them my discs will just degenerate and/or collapse and protrude further into my nerves causing yet more pain, I've had a few really bad painful days recently

The worst I get though is an extra bad form of cramp except it lasts for days afterwards and during the cramp I can't sleep and just scream and cry and writhe around trying to find a just the right position to not feel the pain, which normally doesn't happen either

thats why i said other people would do it. i dont really care about my self and if i have natural defects, i'd live with them. even if it meant pain for the rest of my life. i suggest you get it done tho.

i would take the risk if i was you.

well the one prof wanted to do first should next epidural not cut it is the leg relief of which i assume is going to be cutting away at one of my discs I'll be going for that anyway (although I love the idea of a bionic back as long as it has latest kernels LOL)

Sorry to hear it's getting worse

If it was me, I'd probably take the surgery. I hate surgery, but if there's a chance it would help, even a little, then I'd most likely take it.

I hope things start getting better for you though. - And just as my back pains were getting slowly better =(

im not suprised you've got a bad back vaccy, look at the way you fly!!

you should get the surgery, life's a gamble anyway.

Nile, it's obvious something needs to be done to prevent even more pain. Nerve damage will cause pain for the rest of your life (unless they kill the nerve)...so anything that can be done to prevent that should be done. However after reading http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/backpain/a/discreplacement.htm i think you should not go for Spine Fusion at this time, atleast not without looking deeper into the other possibility. Lumbar Disk Replacement sounds most promising, i would ask about that if i were you. If need be you can do the pressure relief operation for now.

I also understand beeing stared at etc can be very depressing. It's easy to say ignore them..i know that isn't easy..but well yea you'd have to. If it's your freinds doing that then they aint your friends. I got a mate over in the UK who's hernia operation went wrong, he has to walk with a crutch all the time and he smokes hashies/marihuana (not excactly sure wich and what exactly) to ease his pain from time to time..do you think i love him less for that? Hell no...and the same goes for you

Edit: Some interesting read:
What is degenerative disc disease?
Living with degenerative disc disease
Deciding on surgery for degenerative disc disease
...and several links you find on the left under Related Information whilst reading these..i hope these will inform you some more and help making the correct decision.

Well I guess I should say something. I too have back problems. I went to the doctor months ago and nothing was really noticed, except that I stand a little bit awkward. Now it has gotten worse and my knees constantly hurt (it could be unrelated).

I would go with the surgery if I were you. If I got the info right, your condition keeps  getting worse so there is a slim chance it will go away by itself or anything like that. So just keep researching and talk to some people who have experience in the subject so they can help you find the best solution.

That's all I have to say. I hope you get better Nile!

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Originally posted by Val
Well I guess I should say something. I too have back problems. I went to the doctor months ago and nothing was really noticed, except that I stand a little bit awkward. Now it has gotten worse and my knees constantly hurt (it could be unrelated).

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As i mentioned earlier the disc replacement is fairly new, untested for length of time etc and i read somewhere that it isn't possible to perform on multiple discs or something like that, also that site mentions that they too wear away.

The fusion would restrict my movement and I'd most likely still be in pain etc

As for friends and random strangers and just ignoring it, that's impossible, some teachers at college also seem to doubt me, think that I'm not telling the truth when i say i got a bad back, think that I'm acting and/or over reacting the issues

Well, I'd go for it.
Sad to hear that it's getting worse tho.

I recommedn you a) ask the doctor for some papers proving that you have a bad back, so that your teachers can just stfu. b) Ignore them. Ignoring people is a really smart thing to do in some cases. If they talk behind your back like that, then they're not realy friends. Sorry.
I can just tell for sure that I'd not let people go around talking behind my back, if those were lies, but I'd also ignore them, depending on the case.

As I said, even if there's a small chance of success, I'd go for it. (I don't want you dead though. )
If you think it's hard to ignore them, just give them bullet proof proof!
They may still doubt it, but then, they are plain assholes (IMHO).

Nile, before anything read up on everything..i didn't put in those links in my post for nothing. An operation is a very big step and can not be undone! That site also says that artificial disc wearing away is uncommon..And if you read more you might not even need surgery..

Screw what others think of you, you are you. If the teachers are giving you problems when you have to stay home an all cuz of your back tell them to go contact your physician (ofcourse let your physician know in advance he/she can expect calls). Your problem is visible, think of the problems those who have something that isn't so obvious have (i dunno what i'd rather have..visible or invisible problem..both suck..visible: you get stares..invisible: ppl think you are lazy and what not if you don't do stuff one otherwise would do etc.).

I love you no matter how you look or wich decision you make, i love you for you (who you are). And hey, remember you'll have to visit me at my 40th birthday!

You still gotta tell me where to come to!

Assholes Nitro, are unfortunately what makes up most of my country now worst thing being nice guys fund the assholes via their 'benefits' most of these unemployed chav scum get more money via different benefits than most people get who work a job.

I don't really talk to anyone from my high schools or local area any more they've ALL let me down, not one person from either of my schools came to my uber cool birthday bash this year, yet the next week they all went over everyone else's house for their own random parties.

It's easy to say screw them, and I have, just now I have no one who I can rely on and call a friend, and haven't for a while now.

My college mates are pertty cool and there's one guy I can call a very good friend however the physical distance away from each other generally makes us good friends only whilst at the college.

Sure with University (which I am definitely in now, as I have already passed my conditional entry requirements ) New friends will come and go, but it's always nice to have good friends from past times.

Yesterday I saw someone I knew (who at one time was damn scarily obsessed with me, needn't go into full details but she carved my name into her stomach with a pair of scissors on one occasion {can you blame me for turning down her offer of dating? }) and she didn't even recognise me, nod her head say hello or anything.

Although that disc replacement sounds awesome (I like the sound of it a lot) I don't think it's available in the UK and seriously doubt anyone I'm being treated under would know how to do the op, I mentioned to him previously this German therapy that re-fills the discs with fluid grown in a Lab from your own disc's fluid, however he was quick to shoot this down as money making crap from a magazine (which is where I was given the article from {bloody grandparents })

I've been granted next week off of college for animation purposes which is pretty damn cool, so HOPEFULLY you'll all see something by the end of the week

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Originally posted by aNILEator
You still gotta tell me where to come to!

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I've been granted next week off of college for animation purposes which is pretty damn cool, so HOPEFULLY you'll all see something by the end of the week

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