u/ToeInteresting9430

Surgery or not? A bit of a special case...

Hi everyone.

First of all - Thank you everyone for this really special community

I am a 41M with degenerative disc disease.

I have had multiple large herniations with slipped discs/sequesters along the whole spine for the last five or so years

The last two years I have mostly issues in my lower back with 3-4 herniations on several levels and a large prolapse in the lower back, with one disc almost completely disintegrated.

I have several pain medications and have had that for the last two years.

Now for my dilemma:

I can undergo a fusion with disc replacement whenever I want. Three separate orthopedic surgeons have recommended me to do this.

At the same time, two extremely knowledgeable and experienced (60 years of experience amongst them two) GPs discourage me firmly to undergo surgery.

Both of them tell me that not one of their patients have benefited from the multiple Surgeries they have gone through in the long run.

To add to all of this:

When I am sitting, and especially when lying down, my symtoms are completely manageable. I sleep without any pain.

When walking and moving around the sciatica down both legs öand moderate-to-severe local lumbar pain kicks in almost immediately. I have maybe one good week where I can move completely freely and then there weeks where I hardly can walk.

However when I take a high dose oxycodone I am almost completely functional even when moving

Anyone been in a similar situation?

Not asking for medical advice, I have just not been able to find anyone IRL or online with a similar conundrum

Thanks again!!!

Hi everyone.

First of all - Thank you everyone for this really special community

I am a 41M with degenerative disc disease.

I have had multiple large herniations with slipped discs/sequesters along the whole spine for the last five or so years

The last two years I have mostly issues in my lower back with 3-4 herniations on several levels and a large prolapse in the lower back, with one disc almost completely disintegrated.

I have several pain medications and have had that for the last two years.

Now for my dilemma:

I can undergo a fusion with disc replacement whenever I want. Three separate orthopedic surgeons have recommended me to do this.

At the same time, two extremely knowledgeable and experienced (60 years of experience amongst them two) GPs firmly discourage me from undergoing surgery.

Both of them tell me that not one of their patients have benefited from the multiple Surgeries they have gone through in the long run.

To add to all of this:

When I am sitting, and especially when lying down, my symtoms are completely manageable. I sleep without any pain.

When walking and moving around the sciatica down both legs öand moderate-to-severe local lumbar pain kicks in almost immediately. I have maybe one good week where I can move completely freely and then there weeks where I hardly can walk.

However when I take a high dose oxycodone I am almost completely functional even when moving

Anyone been in a similar situation?

Not asking for medical advice, I have just not been able to find anyone IRL or online with a similar conundrum

Thanks again!!!