Back surgery

Clode

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I have screwed disks L3-L5, I am now getting inter-laminar injections. The injections take the edge off the pain and gets my left leg working. I will eventually need to get these disks fused, but the surgeon told me I was to young to do it yet, as I would end up destroying the next disk up and require another fusion. I was told to wait until my mid 50's if possible for the repair.
 

06 Dragon

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I have heard of some folks getting back surgery done in Mexico. Said they wish that they would have done it 20 years earlier.
 

jhurkot

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I have screwed disks L3-L5, I am now getting inter-laminar injections. The injections take the edge off the pain and gets my left leg working. I will eventually need to get these disks fused, but the surgeon told me I was to young to do it yet, as I would end up destroying the next disk up and require another fusion. I was told to wait until my mid 50's if possible for the repair.

There's a guy in Florida who can do laser disc repair with a 7mm incision and no bone removal. It's not cheap but it's a minimally invasive surgery compared to disc replacement or fusion. I wouldn't wish this pain on my worst enemy.
 

Clode

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My dad slipped a disk and they went in and relieved the disk, eventually he ended up getting a fusion, they should have done the fusion the first time.
 

MK4TDI

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I have a pretty bad S1-L5 and L5-L4. Just got an MRI yesterday and hopefully booking surgery soon.
I had/have issues in the same spot, spring of 21 my back issues really flared up, MRI showed 17mm bulge on the L4/L5.. Took it a lot easier that year, kept my lifting to under 75lbs. I also needed a lot of Chiropractor and massage to keep things aligned, with a whole bunch of prolo therapy and traction therapy.

I am about 90% good now but still have some days where It reminds me it's still there, it does seem like life is just about over for the first few weeks though I will say that. But it does get better with time. They told me surgery was the very very very last option.

My aunt had some lower back issues and she ended up getting surgery down in Kalispell and was in and out of surgery and back to work before the specialist could see her in calgary.
 

SUMMIT TREE

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I listen to The Joe Rogan podcast and He talks about stem cell treatments for injuries such as back problems. I don’t know much about it, But I suspect its very expensive and I believe it has to happen in Mexico or other countries outside the US. But apparently its life changing for those who have the means.
 

jhurkot

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I listen to The Joe Rogan podcast and He talks about stem cell treatments for injuries such as back problems. I don’t know much about it, But I suspect its very expensive and I believe it has to happen in Mexico or other countries outside the US. But apparently its life changing for those who have the means.

Anything cutting edge in terms of healthcare is guaranteed not to be happening in Canada. We have a system where if you need anything you get on pain killers for 2 years and wait for a surgeon. I can't even get a family doctor right now. I called about 20 places and found one that was booking new patients in the middle of December. So I book that appointment and 2 days later I get a text saying my appointment is cancelled because the doctor is not taking new patients anymore.
 

SUMMIT TREE

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Yeah pretty ridiculous. Kids waiting 2 months for a 15 min phone consultation. If he wanted a in person consultation it would be 3 months maybe more! Wtf?
 

jhurkot

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I didn't back read the whole thread but I just got back from Mexico. L4-L5-S1 stabilization. looks like a fusion but i still have movement. BajaMed was a dream compared to dealing with the shitshow in canada.
Good idea but I think I booked the wrong one.

Screen Shot 2023-11-07 at 7.05.33 AM.png
 

Luke The Drifter

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I didn't back read the whole thread but I just got back from Mexico. L4-L5-S1 stabilization. looks like a fusion but i still have movement. BajaMed was a dream compared to dealing with the shitshow in canada.
What did it cost you roughly to do said surgery all in? My wife needs a knee rebuild (multiple ACL injuries playing soccer in her early 20s) and AHS says that she's too young at 31... So under our current medical system, she can suffer:rolleyes:
 

BILTIT

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I listen to The Joe Rogan podcast and He talks about stem cell treatments for injuries such as back problems. I don’t know much about it, But I suspect its very expensive and I believe it has to happen in Mexico or other countries outside the US. But apparently its life changing for those who have the means.
There is a place in red deer that does stem cell treatment, my mom had it done and it helped her immensely. I had one appt with them but by that time my back had pretty much healed itself.
 

pano-dude

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Back injuries suck, I suggest anyone with lower back issues to try the foundations workout program, there are videos on YouTube to follow. 12-15mins to do them.
My chiropractor suggested them to me and they have been fantastic.
 

007sevens

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What did it cost you roughly to do said surgery all in? My wife needs a knee rebuild (multiple ACL injuries playing soccer in her early 20s) and AHS says that she's too young at 31... So under our current medical system, she can suffer:rolleyes:
It's not cheap, I don't want to divulge what I paid on a public forum but I can say it was the best money Ive spent in my life. I suggest calling they are real easy to talk to. They speak good English and will walk you through the steps. We did a Zoom meeting about my father's knee and sent them some year old X-rays and they got back to us in a couple days with a quote. However, in order to get the quote correct they need updated X-rays or a MRI and my suggestion is to go down and do it there. I, in one day, had my blood work done, a MRI, four X-rays, a neurological exam, and a ECG and the doctor brought the results to my room at 5:00pm that night. Then gave me all the X-rays and MRI for me to take home. Of course he kept copies for himself. He then said go home get a second option if you want. I didn't bother. Because of work I booked a surgery date three months later but he had an opening in one week from consolation that I could have taken.
 

ippielb

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I had back surgery when I was 28 on December 24 2019, just before Covid hit. So I wasn’t able to get any physiotherapy. So my recovery took quite a bit longer then it should’ve. Especially since insurance didn’t cover anything.

I have a stage 1 slip L5 on the S1, and had a severe herniation between L4 and L5. I opted to get a microdiscectomy instead of the 3 stage fusion like they wanted. I wasn’t able to give up the 30% of range of motion in my lumbar spine.

I get flare ups still, every 8 or so months it seems. They last usually two weeks where I can’t do a single thing.

The only thing that helps me is an inversion table. Use it, and use it consistently, multiple times a day. If you use it once a day for 20-30 minutes, I feel it does not help. But if i use it 5-10 minutes when I wake up. 5-10 minutes in the afternoon. And 5-10 minutes in the evening.

My back gets so bad during flare ups i look like I have scoliosis my hips are 2-3 inches out of alignment with my shoulders. Can’t even put socks on. But if I hang upside down with the inversion table and actually relax. My lower back opens up and decompresses. It pops like you pop your fingers. And my whole body drops an inch, and instantly it gives so much relief. That would happen 3-4 times a day from regular use of the inversion table. And i feel it eventually sucks the herniation back in. It relieves that pressure from the sciatic nerve, I hope it puts it back to where it’s suppose to be and rejuvenates all the discs with fresh spinal fluids. And I don’t need a second surgery.
 

jhurkot

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I had back surgery when I was 28 on December 24 2019, just before Covid hit. So I wasn’t able to get any physiotherapy. So my recovery took quite a bit longer then it should’ve. Especially since insurance didn’t cover anything.

I have a stage 1 slip L5 on the S1, and had a severe herniation between L4 and L5. I opted to get a microdiscectomy instead of the 3 stage fusion like they wanted. I wasn’t able to give up the 30% of range of motion in my lumbar spine.

I get flare ups still, every 8 or so months it seems. They last usually two weeks where I can’t do a single thing.

The only thing that helps me is an inversion table. Use it, and use it consistently, multiple times a day. If you use it once a day for 20-30 minutes, I feel it does not help. But if i use it 5-10 minutes when I wake up. 5-10 minutes in the afternoon. And 5-10 minutes in the evening.

My back gets so bad during flare ups i look like I have scoliosis my hips are 2-3 inches out of alignment with my shoulders. Can’t even put socks on. But if I hang upside down with the inversion table and actually relax. My lower back opens up and decompresses. It pops like you pop your fingers. And my whole body drops an inch, and instantly it gives so much relief. That would happen 3-4 times a day from regular use of the inversion table. And i feel it eventually sucks the herniation back in. It relieves that pressure from the sciatic nerve, I hope it puts it back to where it’s suppose to be and rejuvenates all the discs with fresh spinal fluids. And I don’t need a second surgery.

Yeah the inversion table is great. I'm tilting about 60 degrees for 7 minutes 3 times a day and it is noticeable. I saw a study that showed a 50% reduction in back surgery with proper use of an inversion table.

How much did the surgery reduce your pain in the short term after?
 
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