I’ve had chronic back pain for the last 6-7 years. My treatments have spanned the gambit from ice packs to 3 back surgeries, including 2 in one year. In March, 2004, I had an aggressive laminectomy and foraminotomy, where the surgery also addressed an advanced spinal stenosis condition. The area affected is the left lower lumbar spine at the L4/L5 sciatic root. After months of physical therapy I had to return for my 3rd and most aggressive operation which included the above as well as spinal fusion at the L4/L5 with a bone graft “wrap” to stabilize the spine. Recovery from this last surgery lasted over 18 months, and I was able to return to work in April 2006. As a bank examiner I have to commute to wherever the bank is located in order to perform my regulatory responsibilities; however, after so much driving over the past 16 months I feel as if my symptoms have nearly returned to my pre-operative condition, back in 2004. I’ve recently had a Myelogram (barbaric as it was) and the results show a “pinched nerve” and a build up of scar tissue (I’m not surprised).

I’d like NOT to have another surgery, nor am I interested in a bunch of narcotics (i.e. “pain management”). What's out there that could successfully address chronic sciatica, scar tissue that's been builoding up as a result of numerous surgeries, severe lower back and leg pain, which at times includes numbness (left leg) and that the treatment could be as non-invasive as possible, and lastly without the need for mind numbing meds that do nothing more than make you useless and drossy. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Wow, that's a lot of surgeries! They must send you back into such flare ups! If I get a blood test, or anything intrusive like that, I risk a flare. Flare? That's silly, I'm never not in a flare.

I have damage to my disc in my neck and I won't have surgery because they will have to get to it by going through my throat and I can't handle that thought.

As for lower back pain, I have it nearly always. I get cortisol shots in my lower back because my sacral joint is a mess. They can barely get the needle through. The cortisol is supposed to last three months but with me, I'm lucky to get a couple weeks out of it. So, they will up me to methotrexate or something similar. Maybe the steroid shots will help you. My doc says use ice,which does help but hey, I live in Buffalo and I don't need to be any colder than I already am.

People have no idea the pain involved when your lower back is a mess. The slightest lean can provoke profound pain. Also, my legs go numb to and the docs say I have pinched nerves. The whole matter was made worse by me seeing other docs for years who really had no clue how to treat fibro and my other autoimmune ails.......just narcotics to cover it up and in the meanwhile, I just got worse.

I wish you all the best and I pray for strength for you.

All of my best,

Kelley

(ultimate newbie)