Degenerative Disk Disease

Is this considered a Co morb?  I'm facing back surgery because of it, but my Pain Dr really thinks that weight loss would prevent the back surgery or at least put it off for quite some time.  Considering I'm only 35, I would think that a revision to my RNY would be cheaper in "the long run" vs a back surgery.  Any thoughts?

I'm the same age and also have back problems and arthritis. I'm using that as an argument for approval with insurance. Check out Obesity Action Coalition - they have a list of Co morbs and codes to use and degenerative disease is one of them. You also might put in your letter to insurance the cost of your back surgery vs RNY - couldn't hurt.

Obviously, I am not a doctor.  But I have had Deg. Disc disease since the ripe ole' age of 14 and I was about twenty-five lbs overweight at that age.  I had surgeons tell me that crap about losing weight for FOUR years.  I ended up in a wheelchair eating Vicodin  like candy before someone said.....maybe we better operate.  They did and by that time I had a "dropped foot" ando ther perm.  Paralysis b/c they had let it go so long.  I know this is not everyone's situation. But it just makes me mad that doctors always use this excuse.  Not that weight loss surgery won't help....it may....but don't put all your chickens in one basket.  If you have a PINCHED NERVE then it can be damaged if you let it go. 

Also, I have had two back surgeries and Lap RYN.  I can tell you that I could pay for 4 or 5 back surgeries with what  my RYN cost. 

I hope that you get your WLS and it DOES help.  I just get so tired of doctors pointing to the fat and saying....yep, that's it.

When I lost weight before it drastically helped my back pain, I think it depends where you carry allot of your weight too.