Hi,
I am new to this but just writing to offer what I have been through and what has helped me. Everybody is different, and I have found after many years of trial and error that what will work for some, will not work for others.
I am 28 years old, had ongoing lower back pain for around 4-5 years, finally had it scanned, had spondylolisthesis, bulging discs on a few levels and pars defect. Within 6 months of my first scan on it, I was operated on. Laminectomy and Fusion of L5/S1 in 2012.
I thought it was bad before this, it only got worse. It went from pain of worrying about what sort of occupation I would have to switch to(I was a Carpenter), and what sort of sports I'd have to give up……. to how long can I live with this pain!
It is an irreversible operation, and after living with that extreme pain for 2 years (no work, very little social life, became dependent on all types of medication) I am now 2 months post second fusion. At this stage, still in a fair bit of pain and due to them going through the front and back, I now have abdominal issues that have me unable to leave bed. I am still hopeful I will find an answer, but the future definitely worries me.
I have seen every profession I could afford, (Physio, Osteo, Chiro, Psychologist, Pain Management, Kinesiologist, massage therapy, dietician) they all have their own ideas and believe they can fix you. I now see one physio, and one massage therapist. You can't mix up treatments, as one can be undoing all the work of another.
Hope, Faith, and sharing your feelings with the right people, without sounding like a whinger, is was has helped me mentally. (If you are constantly complaining I know people would not want to visit so much).
I also look up, and watch many videos on people who have documented their stories, a lot of them who are no longer here, and you focus, and realise the things you still CAN do! There are always people worse, millions of them.
You have to be determined to beat it and sometimes the time limited you put on it need to be extended. I have had this pain for a while, I have watched friends go through cancer, or friends be off work for 12 months with injury, and still, I sit here with this ongoing debilitating pain. It is hard when you feel your body only healing something to a certain point.
I am now determined I need the rods out and thats what I will be discussing with my Dr. After so long, you learn your own body, nobody knows it like yourself, you can take on expert advice and opinions, but at the end of the day, you know your body. Sometimes you have to push for what you want. And be happy with your doctor, do not be intimidated. I had to change specialists between my surgeries because the first one did not want to know about it when I had problems, and I felt I could not tell him it had failed. You want to hear your doctor say he is going to fix you, and you have to have faith in him, only you can determine that.
Physically, I found, once my back had stabilised, stretching (hamstrings, gluteus, calves, hips, core exercises like planking, in the sun when possible), all of what I do is a routine where I have taken bits and pieces from each visit and profession I have seen. The pool is also excellent, I hate swimming, but I have had to learn to love it. (Waterproof headphones helped).
As far as medication goes, I would say at one point in my life, they saved me, but they do come with side effects which is what you have to weigh up. I am now going through the withdrawal stage to determine how well the second operation has worked, it sucks, but I am lucky in the sense that I have a roof over my head, no children or partner so I do not feel burdened by that. Although that support would be awesome, I would hate the fact that I could not provide or do the things I dreamed of with a girlfriend or family at this stage. I am also on centrelink so I am unable to do a lot of things for financial reasons.
Although I try to stay positive, I definitely have my down days, more than anyone would know. I recently started a diary and write my inner thoughts down there. I am finding that is helping. Keep looking until you find a doctor you are happy with, be proactive, it won't fix itself, and if you have to take medication, trial ones until you find the right one for you. It is an on-going learning process. If I did not have a fusion, I found this recently, I believe it would have helped me a lot, it's ..........Link Removed by moderator!................................... there are many testimonials and it is made up from a person who had back pain themselves. I'm sceptical of all these things but I emailed him, he was prompt to reply, and advised me which parts to not do with the fusion and to take it very easy. I believe it is definitely on the right track though.
Sorry, you try not to make your postings too long on these forums but they always end up going forever!