See right through me

[sienamystic]

Got my MRI results a few minutes ago. They spotted some disc protrusion, and have referred me to an orthopedic surgeon (not that it means I'm definitely going to have surgery, or anything - he's just the specialist they wanted to refer me to).

Looking on the internet has done nothing but make me nervous, because most of the hits I'm getting are people who are in terrible pain and are desperate. Thankfully, a few of the "just the facts, ma'am" sites have been more reassuring. In theory, conservative treatment should be able to help me, with surgery reserved for only the most drastic cases.

I don't want to be a drastic case.

I'm really uneasy about all of this, but hoping for the best. I've been lucky in not having had to deal with any real medical issues beyond bad allergies up until this point, so between this and the increasing number of silver hairs I'm discovering along my hairline are not doing much for my outlook at the moment!

Stupid Bemo why is your phone off I really want to talk to you right now.

Comments

Crossing fingers, toes and whatever else will cross for you.

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping that your orthepedist sends you to PT. PT is good. OK, I won't lie, PT also stands for Plain Torture, but every time you do the exercises, they get a bit better, and you help your body get well, and the pain can go away remarkably fast. When I had a frozen shoulder, I got better really quickly.

The same has been known to happen with disk protrusions as well. I'm wishing you the best.

Hope hope hope hope hope hope hope hope hope hope hope.

I'm waiting for my own PT referral. I want to be in the hands of the kind young torturers as well. ;)

Re: Crossing fingers, toes and whatever else will cross for you.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

Heh, if a little amiable torturing at the hands of buff twentysomethings is the worst I have to look forward to, I'll be more than happy!

[juniperus.livejournal.com]

I had a lumbar discectomy years ago - been right as rain since.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

Good to know!

sorry to hear it :(

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry you're having this stress, Genibee. I'll give a call this weekend to chat. Miss you. Go see the new Bond movie and distract yourself. :D

xoxo,
Cherbear

Re: sorry to hear it :(

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

Ooh, this would be a stellar excuse to pamper myself mercilessly, wouldn't it? Do you think Daniel Craig is available for massages?

Re: sorry to hear it :(

[(Anonymous)]

Oh my yes. Craig has a license to thrill :p

Cher

[nwhepcat.livejournal.com]

I was a very short way from getting surgery on my neck a few years back, and I tried acupuncture. It worked for me, so if you want to try to avoid surgery, you might be interested in checking that out.

Yeah, I've had doctors say it's a crock of crap, but I was feeling pain at 9 on a scale of 10, and it went away without surgery.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

I actually wouldn't be averse to trying acupuncture as an option before surgery - thanks for reminding me that it's there as a possibility.

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah, I say try a good acupuncturist, make sure you TRUST the surgeon whether you'll need surgery or not (does he listen well?) and DON'T LOOK AT THE INTERNET anymore. Please? Those are all about drastic cases, and you'd be much worse off if you were one of them.

Please?
Jess

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

I've stopped looking at anything but photos of cats and framing ideas for a drawing from the 1930s *g*

I've never met the surgeon before, so I have no idea how pushy he is or isn't, but if he's the wrong guy for me I'll ask for a referral to a different doctor. Actually, most of the doctors here that I've encountered have been pretty good and willing to listen, so I have hopes.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm hoping for the best news possible. Take some deep breaths, stop looking at the internet and I second watching the new Bond movie. I am pretty certain a disc protrusion does not mean Doom.

I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving.

~Kate-h

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

It does not mean Doom. And I will stop wibbling about it because it's really not that bad.

Stiff upper lip! For Queen and Country! Lie back and think of England!

I really do need to go see Bond.

Thanksgiving was v. sedate - lots of napping. But I made a turkey breast that turned out quite nicely.

[coneycat.livejournal.com]

My fingers are crossed for you. I had a hell of a time this part year with a bulging disc that herniated (probably because the symptoms were showing up in my leg so I didn't realize the problem was actually my back and I didn't look after it.) Physiotherapy helped a LOT, my core muscles are now stronger so I'm less likely to have a recurrence.

My physiotherapist told me that since I didn't have weakness or loss of function, just pain, I was never a surgical candidate. I just had to stick to the exercises and be patient. Hope that's the way it works out for you. It's a lousy thing to go through but you do get through it.

Also--my brother had a terrible herniated disc and did have surgery about a year ago. When he woke up the pain was gone. Gone. He had a trouble-free recovery and was back on his feet in no time. So hey.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have a feeling that at some point in these proceedings, I'm going to be told to "strengthen my core." And if sticking to exercises is what it takes to get rid of my symptoms (a little pain, but more numbness and tingling) I'll do them dutifully.

Good to know about your brother!

Hee, Kaa is your "talking about my back" icon, right?

[coneycat.livejournal.com]

Yes, Kaa and his sacroiliac is my back icon. It makes me feel a little better about it. (Actually, I'm doing great lately. Sleeping again and everything.)

A friend of my parents had disc surgery around the same time as my brother. Prior to the surgery he could hardly walk around. When he woke up the pain was gone. GONE. I know surgery is an intimidating idea, but the results seem to be incredible.

But if it's mostly a bulge impingeing on a nerve, you may just be given exercises to help your muscles hold things together, and they really do work. Slowly, but surely.

Best of luck with it, I know what a drag it is!