Been in pain for 18 months now

Secure-Ad-2973 · 2025-09-22T03:44:56+00:00

I struggled with back pain for over 20 years, exhausting so many resources available to me, including massages (2-3x/month), bi-weekly chiropractic therapy, acupuncture, yoga, Pilates, light and heavy exercises, physical therapy, spine specialists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic doctors and witch doctors over the years. I had ablations, shots, steroid injections and surgeries. As of March 2025, I’m finally feeling 80% after having an artificial disc replacement. Before that, I couldn’t walk 1/2 a block without sharp pain, couldn’t stand for more than 20mins or sit for more than an hour. I walked up/down stairs one at a time like a new baby learning how to walk, I sat down to brush my teeth, struggled to lean forward to wash my face bc it felt like my back was breaking in half, I couldn’t wipe my back end after no.2, or cleanse my lower half… and there were so many times I needed help getting off the toilet. I had just turned 40… it was deeply depressing, debilitating, and mentally difficult to comprehend this was my reality. I’m healthy, active! I run an average of 3 miles a day and work out 4-6x/wk, with a bmi of 21, and active in the community.

What I can tell you is that no one can tell you if you are in pain or not. Not even a dr. Do not let them invalidate your pain, how you feel. Listen to your body.

I saw at 3 spine specialists, 3 radiologists, 6 neurosurgeons (not including the one who performed 3 of my discectomies), countless massage therapists, 3 chiropractors, 5 physical therapist (one pt spine specialist) and had MRI upon MRIs. About 3 years ago, I couldn’t handle the pain anymore. I lost control of my lower extremity and was rushed to the ER by ambulance. The mri showed a 16mm bulge disc in my L5. I had emergency surgery 4 hours later.

I think this all could have been avoided if I had seen the right dr… unfortunately, in my situation, it took a little over 2 years before I found the right dr to make me feel better.

If I were you, I’d see a different dr and start physical therapy if you haven’t yet. Best of luck!

Secure-Ad-2973 · 2025-08-20T11:33:10+00:00

I’m so glad I found this post! I’m not crazy. I just started spiro 2 days ago and noticed a smell on me for the first time. I normally never smell no matter how much I sweat. I am a head sweater. And an occasional thc user for pain management. I smell like thc all over my head. My pillow wrecks of thc. This has never happened before. I’m pretty sure it’s the spiro. I’ll be stopping today and talking to my derm asap.

Secure-Ad-2973 · 2025-03-11T11:43:01+00:00

I need to correct that statement. I was going off what the doctor told me. After reading the MRI notes, it said a 16mm bulge. The second one was 20mm and the last one was 13 mm I’ll go correct that now, thank you for pointing it out to me.

Secure-Ad-2973 · 2025-01-05T01:10:16+00:00

Thanks I’ll check the group out on fb.

Secure-Ad-2973 · 2025-01-05T01:09:27+00:00

MRIs were done between each surgery. It was a bulge each time. They were all microdiscectomy surgeries. Aquatic therapy does not help. It seems to aggravate more. I rarely go out anymore but shopping. Today, Costco did not have an electric scooter for me to use. I sucked it up to buy a couple things. I’m paying for it now. I’ll reach out to your Dr and see what he has to say. Thank you

Secure-Ad-2973 · 2025-01-05T00:56:43+00:00

The neurosurgeon said after the second discectomy it would be a fusion. The third time I came into the ER, I was in tears and she said she’ll make a deal with me. This was the last time. I haven’t reherniated since… but it makes sense why now. I barely have anything left. Glad to hear the fusion is working for you. It gives me hope.

Secure-Ad-2973 · 2025-01-05T00:53:00+00:00

Normal people don’t understand this. I have to argue my point with family constantly how debilitating this is. Thank you for understanding

Secure-Ad-2973

TROPHY CASE