by iceman5 » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:51 am
I would get a 2nd opinion. Back surgery is no joke. Once they open your back up, it will never be the same. Take it from someone who has had 3 bulging discs in his back , which I didnt have surgery for (but was in substantial pain for 2 years), and a herniated disc in my neck which I did have to have surgery for (excrutiating pain that was so bad that i wouldve rather died than have to withstand it for another week).
Also, surgery is normally not done right off the bat for a "slipped disc", so either your doctor is "surgery happy", or you misunderstand the actual terminology of the injury you have. Most back injuries can be healed thru proper exercise, stretching and rehab.
Also, I forget the exact number but Ive read that if every adult make had an MRI on his back, something like 70% would show disc injuries of some sort....and that includes everyone who has never felt any back pain at all. Most back injuries do NOT require surgery.
My back is fine now but I still have constant stiffness in my neck since 2 vertabrea are fused together by a titanium plate.
So if your pain isnt "excrutiating", I would seek another opinion and avoid surgery if at all possible.
iceman5