For the past 2 years I have suffered with constant lower back pain.
At first I went to my doctor and he prescribed some anti inflammatory medication, thinking that I had a pulled muscle and that the pain would eventually just go away on its own.
Well after a couple weeks and no relief I went and had a cat scan done on my lower back.
The scan came back showing I had a herniated disk.
My doctor suggested a few courses of treatment that we could try to relieve the pain.
The first treatment I tried was shots in my back to try an relieve the pain.
After a few days the pain subsided quite a bit and I was feeling great.
But after a few months the pain came back.
So we tried another round of shots but with the same results.
The thought of having surgery scared me.
So I decided just to live with the pain and I did for over a year.
Anytime you suffer with chronic pain you would have good days, bad days and terrible days.
Many nights it took 4 advil gel caps just for me to get to sleep, and if I rolled or tried to get out of bed the pain was excruciating.
For me to get out of bed was a real ordeal.
I could not just pop up and get out of bed I had to roll off the edge of the mattress and grab the top of the dresser and push myself up.
I was always hoping that the pain would go away on it's own.
But I finally realized it is not going to happen and it is time to see a back specialist.
At this point I had tried medication, shots and therapy and nothing worked so after a couple consultations the doctor basically gave me 2 choices, live with the pain or have surgery.
Up to this point the thought of having surgery was not even an option.
But after 2 years and no sign of the pain going away I told him "lets go with the surgery".
I had endoscopic surgery (which is a minimal invasive type of surgery) done 8 days before Christmas.
I had to wear a back brace for about 2 months and with stretching exercises, and riding my stationary bike at home it took about 5 months and I was pain free.
At first I went to my doctor and he prescribed some anti inflammatory medication, thinking that I had a pulled muscle and that the pain would eventually just go away on its own.
Well after a couple weeks and no relief I went and had a cat scan done on my lower back.
The scan came back showing I had a herniated disk.
My doctor suggested a few courses of treatment that we could try to relieve the pain.
The first treatment I tried was shots in my back to try an relieve the pain.
After a few days the pain subsided quite a bit and I was feeling great.
But after a few months the pain came back.
So we tried another round of shots but with the same results.
The thought of having surgery scared me.
So I decided just to live with the pain and I did for over a year.
Anytime you suffer with chronic pain you would have good days, bad days and terrible days.
Many nights it took 4 advil gel caps just for me to get to sleep, and if I rolled or tried to get out of bed the pain was excruciating.
For me to get out of bed was a real ordeal.
I could not just pop up and get out of bed I had to roll off the edge of the mattress and grab the top of the dresser and push myself up.
I was always hoping that the pain would go away on it's own.
But I finally realized it is not going to happen and it is time to see a back specialist.
At this point I had tried medication, shots and therapy and nothing worked so after a couple consultations the doctor basically gave me 2 choices, live with the pain or have surgery.
Up to this point the thought of having surgery was not even an option.
But after 2 years and no sign of the pain going away I told him "lets go with the surgery".
I had endoscopic surgery (which is a minimal invasive type of surgery) done 8 days before Christmas.
I had to wear a back brace for about 2 months and with stretching exercises, and riding my stationary bike at home it took about 5 months and I was pain free.
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