Treatment options for disks explained

newhere · #1 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 07:36 PM

im caring my lumbar problems for 10 years. After so many years,good doctor of mine preform discography on L4/L5,and it was totaly positive. Concordant 10/10 pain. Disc is degenerated with dalas grade 3,with annular tear in it.
Dr. suggest SED with annuloplasty...hope i will chose wright?!??

Maria · #2 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 07:50 PM

Some people (myself included) may actually go beyond an appropriate time frame for "options" and end up with "less options." Please try to check out "options" as early as possible once realizing what is going on w/spine.

Good luck to anyone that is trying to figure this out. I chose the "nothing further at the time option" even tho at least 3 surgical options were offered to me over a 6 year period of time. As time went on however because of exclusion criterion here in the US less options were available to me here in the US that would be covered by insurance. Perhaps abroad there may have been continued to be a chance for more options then $$ was a concern which makes the option of going out of the country less of an option.

There are often more factors involved in the decision making process than if one imagines so start as early as possible to figure things out!

ADR seeker · #3 (**permalink**) 12-13-2011, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newhere

im caring my lumbar problems for 10 years. After so many years,good doctor of mine preform discography on L4/L5,and it was totaly positive. Concordant 10/10 pain. Disc is degenerated with dalas grade 3,with annular tear in it.
Dr. suggest SED with annuloplasty...hope i will chose wright?!??

If it works you will probably be pain free for quite some time. If it doesn't work you probably won't be worse off.

Maria · #4 (**permalink**) 12-13-2011, 09:13 AM

Newhere,
Did your doctor suggest surgery for L4/5? Is L5S1 OK? Have you seen anyone else for consultation or will you be seeing anyone else? I guess how well the surgery will work will largely depend on if it's the right surgery for the findings (it addresses pain generators) and the surgeon's skill with surgery performing.

newhere · #5 (**permalink**) 12-13-2011, 09:36 AM

Yeah it was my L4/L5. I barely could stand after discography on my feets. So i know this is that pain.
I will not go to another doctor,since all doctors before say my disc looks allmost normal,and no need for surgery.
But now i found the best for me in Croatia and definetly i will stick with him.
Problem is i am having more trouble with thoracic then lumbal spine.
Lumbal spine flares when standing,specialy after 15min walking...

Maria · #6 (**permalink**) 12-14-2011, 12:32 AM

Newhere,
Glad you found a surgeon you think is the best to work w/you. I'm sorry to hear your thoracic spine bothers you more than your lumbar currently. Would this mean that you would hold off on the surgery recommended for lumbar spine because of this? I was also wondering about those positive lab findings you posted in another thread and what your doctor had to say about the findings (whichever doctor is in charge of your this part of your healthcare).