My back is toast

I got the results of my MRI this afternoon.  I have five bulging discs in my lower spine, L5 through S1.  A couple of them are bad enough to put pressure on the nerve path down my right leg.  I have to start a course of steroids in the morning, then get injections of steroids and lidocaine into the discs, hopefully some time next week.  I hope this isn't going to screw up my surgery.  I have my pre-op appointment soon, so I guess I'll ask about it then.  I really hope these injections work.  This has not been fun at all. Linda

Hi, Linda, you poor thing ,my oh my, how did you ever do so much damage to your back? That is a major injury. I hope you can get all healed up with the treatments. Your surgery should still go, I would think as long as you can get out of bed and walk.I will be thinking of you . Best of luck Jo Ann

Hi Jo Ann - the Friday before Memorial Day, I got off work early and decided to get chores out of the way so I could enjoy the entire weekend.  Three whole days to myself!!  So, I mowed and weed-whacked the front lawn.  I was winding up the cord to the weed-whacker, so I could move to the back yard.  The cord was bunching up all on one side of the reel, so I scooched back to get a better angle.  I ended up running into the lawn mower and feel backwards, right on top of it, striking the very bottom of my spine on the engine.  OWWWEEEEEEE!  Thanks for the sympathy.  I'm just glad no one saw me fall.  I felt so stupid. Linda

I feel so bad for you.  I do hope the injections work and do what they are supposed to do.  And hopefully the surgery will progress.  Losing the excess weight seems like it would be a positive for your back.   I am a wishing and a hoping that it all turns out for the best.   Brandon

Thanks Brandon - I'm also thinking that getting this excess weight off will help me out tremendously.  I just hope I don't end up having to have surgery to get that disc out of there too.  All my lumbar discs are affected, but it's that L5-S1 that is the very worst. Linda

The good news is that a bulge is reversible, a rupture is not.  I have a bulging disc in the lower back brought on by years of obesity.  I was diagnosed with Degenerative  Disc Disease and have good results with physical therapy and weight lifting...which I need to get back into.  That helps like you cannot imagine, but I am not an overly motivated person, so I need prodding.  Getting the weight off is key.  Keeping up with therapy is imperative.  You don't want to end up having surgery like so many I've known.  It has been hard on them all and none are back to normal.

Oh Linda, no WONDER you've been in such pain! I know that just one bulging disk hurts like hell, so I can't even imagine. I hope the treatments work-take care and keep us posted!

Looks like things will be okay for my RNY at the end of July, as long as I am no longer taking oral steriods.  I talked with Susan at OHSU this morning, so it looks as though it's still a go.  I am soooo relieved! Linda

Linda - I am so glad you will still be able to do the surgery.  I was thinking the same thing that Dinky-Doo said - that lucky they are not ruptured...that can really cause a problem!  I know it's a pain to go through the injections, but they work great for most of the people that have them!  Also, from my own personal experience, getting the little amount of weight off that I have so far has been a Godsend to my knees!  I hope it will help you too. Best of luck with the shots....I do hope that you will get relief soon!