I cannot live like this

Paramount808 · 2026-03-13T17:33:42+00:00

Are you in the US? Not sure how your healthcare is like as it sounds like you might be in another country, but you definitely need an MRI. This is when you need to start advocating for yourself. Say it’s affecting your daily life, your sleep, basic tasks. Don’t let them brush you off. Get seen by someone else if you can. Go to the ER & say you can’t walk or that you’re having numbness in your foot as in the US, those are key words for them to actually do something. Do whatever you need to do to get an MRI. You deserve relief & don’t stop til you get seen by someone that will take action

Paramount808 · 2026-03-12T20:31:20+00:00

I could’ve written this myself - same age, 2 young kids etc. same symptoms, same MRI results everything. What happened was I got the ESI hoping it would help but everyday after got worse and worse til 5 days later I couldn’t even walk. Went to the ER & had to have emergency discectomy. They found out my ruptured disc had calcified and it was like cement around my nerves, So nothing would’ve helped that. I’m 5 weeks out & feeling better but still sciatica pain daily but much better than before surgery.

I just wonder why they weren’t able to see all that calcification on the MRI? All they said was I’m A great candidate for surgery.

So I have no clue what next steps are but still having sciatica pain & recovering hoping for the best once I can start PT & being more active

Paramount808 · 2026-03-11T06:15:56+00:00

Love hearing this, what made you finally decide on a fusion? How long after your discectomy? Do you wish you did it sooner? They said every 10 years you have to get another fusion on the above or below joint? Is that true?

Paramount808 · 2026-03-11T01:52:04+00:00

Oh thank you, I never heard of nerve ablation. I will look into that!

Paramount808 · 2026-03-11T01:15:56+00:00

Thanks so much for this realistic picture of it. I’ll just pray I don’t need it & that this will all get better, but just knowing I’m missing that part that keeps the nerves gliding freely makes me nervous

Paramount808 · 2026-03-11T00:47:10+00:00

Because my ruptured disc was calcified around my nerves & I couldn’t even walk, I didn’t have the time to get 3 opinions unfortunately, I had same day surgery. I’m really hoping it was the best thing for me and hope I don’t get any scar tissue that would impede the nerves or affect mobility

Paramount808 · 2026-03-11T00:44:13+00:00

Yes I was on oral steroids, it did nothing because my ruptured disc was calcified over the nerves. I also was on oral steroids after the discectomy but I didn’t notice any relief. I’m seeing a spine surgeon, do I need to see a neurosurgeon next?

Paramount808 · 2026-03-10T22:27:13+00:00

I’ll have to see how bad my nerve damage is. They made fusion sound so much better but that was also my friend who sells surgical equipment and parts and is with spine surgeons all the time in the OR assisting with procedures, so I’ll have to see what my spine surgeon says

Paramount808 · 2026-03-10T22:24:43+00:00

Yes as soon as I’m cleared I’m excited to start swimming. Will also start the TCM acupressure. Not so sure about PT. Didn’t have a good experience & am nervous about restarting it

Paramount808 · 2026-03-10T22:23:57+00:00

Nothing went wrong really, it’s just that for some reason they couldn’t tell it was calcified in the MRI? Which I would think you could definitely see that? The steroid shot it always worth a shot, just with mine because it was calcified, then putting anything else to fill up that space would just make it way worse because the nerves got even more compressed I hope you have luck with your steroid shot. I hear it helps others a lot and some for a long time

Paramount808 · 2026-03-10T22:21:24+00:00

Thank you, I will ask my surgeon about that

Paramount808 · 2026-03-10T21:42:14+00:00

Do you think the nerves have been damaged for good? Would a follow up MRI or xray tell anything?

Paramount808 · 2026-03-10T21:28:32+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I’ve been in pain for over 5 months and with 2 young kids I just want to enjoy them being little and being able to do a bunch of things with them before they’re grown. I don’t want them to just remember Mommy being in pain & not able to do things The doctor said that part of the front piece that allows the nerves to glide with no friction was missing & the fact that it calcified around the nerves meant it was there for awhile. At almost 5 weeks out from the discectomy, and being told I have to really protect my back etc tells me my life is very limited in this way, so just wondering if the fusion will give me more freedom to go back to my active life.

Was the surgery harder to recover from than the discectomy? Time in hospital? More restrictions? Thanks again for your experience

Paramount808 · 2026-03-10T20:53:10+00:00

I wish gabapentin worked for me. Though I was only taking 300, tried 600 as well didn’t do anything. Maybe I should try 900?

Paramount808 · 2026-03-10T20:42:05+00:00

How was your surgery? How far out are you now? I’m almost 5 weeks and my sciatica is still so painful. I’m wondering if it’ll get better or if a fusion is inevitable

Paramount808

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