I've been dealing with low back issues for about 15 years (i'm 37). I've always been in shape, lifted, ran, played pick up, etc... As I've gotten older, the bounce back after a flare up has taken longer and longer. This last instance has been since July 2023, and progressively gotten worse to the point where it was ruining my life. My relationship was struggling, my mental health was shite, I was growing apart from friends, and I could no longer do anything I enjoyed. I couldn't even go to sporting events because I could not sit down. Up until recently, I was sleeping 2-3 hours a night on the floor at best. The bilateral sciatica pain was excruciating at night.

I did not want surgery, but something needed to be done. After 3 doctors and a chiro all told me I needed surgery, I took one last effort to find a new PT.

In about 6 weeks of concentrated daily effort with a good PT, I am getting back so much. I'm working out again, I can sit down to eat and work, I'm riding my bike for 45 minutes at a time, and on the brink of being able to run again. All of the aforementioned issues are gone. I still have some hip tightness and range of motion issues that we are working through, but what a difference. It's incredible what a good PT that doesn't just stick you on Stim and let a tech babysit you can do.

TL:DR - Back sucks, found a good Physical Therapist and it doesn't suck as much now.

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Posted by tigernurse

Member since Dec 2005

30590 posts

Posted on 3/5/24 at 4:31 pm to GEAUXLPOST

I herniated L4/L5 and L5/S1 in Nov 2022 turning an obese patient at work.

After failing out PT twice (not making any improvement), surgery or PRP -platelet rich plasma injections were recommended for me. Like you, I didn’t want surgery so I opted to try Platelet Rich Plasma injections.

I went through two treatments of PRP about 3 months apart and feel better than before my injury.

If you have another flare up, look into that. I was amazed at how effective it was and still is.

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Posted by Big Scrub TX

Member since Dec 2013

33659 posts

Posted on 3/5/24 at 7:33 pm to GEAUXLPOST

quote:
In about 6 weeks of concentrated daily effort with a good PT, I am getting back so much. I'm working out again, I can sit down to eat and work, I'm riding my bike for 45 minutes at a time, and on the brink of being able to run again. All of the aforementioned issues are gone. I still have some hip tightness and range of motion issues that we are working through, but what a difference. It's incredible what a good PT that doesn't just stick you on Stim and let a tech babysit you can do.

TL:DR - Back sucks, found a good Physical Therapist and it doesn't suck as much now.

You're lucky. With mine (L3/L4 - bad herniation) no amount of PT, time or shots improved it. In fact, it kept getting worse. I ended up having the microdiscectomy and it changed my life.

I was VERY anti-surgery until I learned more about it. It's pretty routine, it's not a fusion and they don't really go near your spinal cord. It's really just a soft-tissue surgery that is surprisingly mundane. You can go on Youtube and see the procedure (I did this the night before mine).

It's always good to avoid surgery when you can, but if your "doesn't suck as much now" is a 4 out of 10 pain instead of 8 out of 10, yes, that's a great improvement, but it's still no way to live, IMO.

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Posted by scottydoesntknow