I'm having a lower spine MRI done tomorrow

[bobthedrummer]

prior to spinal fusion surgery or radio frequency ablation for spondylothesis.
It hurts all the time.

[Warpy]

1. MRIs don't hurt

...but you may want some mild sedation because claustrophobia can be a problem. It will be noisy, loud "clunks" every time the machine cycles.

Good luck, and I hope you won't need surgery. Backs are buggers.

[laruemtt]

2. i had microdiscectomy L5-S1 last summer

and i know what you mean about the pain. moving hurts. sitting or lying still hurts. this went on for months and it was the surgery or i'd probably have gone insane. MUCH better now. good as new in fact. what exactly is wrong with your back? have you gotten a second opinion? get a couple of people to read your MRI. it's scary, but get the best surgeon you can find and stay positive. it can work out great.

[bobthedrummer]

6. It's genetic, spondylosis and spondylothesis around L-3

no doubts about it, glad to hear of your operation's success.

[laruemtt]

9. i work for a pain clinic

doing transcription, which doesn't make me a doctor by any means but i'm REAL familiar with a lot of back problems and things people have had success with. am also a personal fitness trainer. if i can be of any help or check anything out for ya, just pm me. us back pain sufferers need to help each other 'cuz i don't think anybody can understand the grief until they go through it themselves!

[commander bunnypants]

3. Good luck

my friend. Radio Abalation? Sounds like spinal surgery has come a long way since I teched in an operating room.

DDQM

[bobthedrummer]

7. Radio frequency stuff is huge in Wisconsin now.

It is an option today.

[CO Liberal]

4. I Hope It Helps, Bob

I had an MRI done in Late 2001, after months of pain following an accident in March of 2000 (where I was rear-ended on the Interstate). The MRI indicated one herniated disk, putting pressure on the nerves. Subsequent procedures (a fasil block, an SI block and a disc-o-gram) revealed that TWO discs were herniated.

I was given three options - fusion surgery, a IDET (where they seal the discs by passing an electric current through them), and wearing a TENS unit to control the pain. I opted for the TENS unit.

Things were fine until I got rear-ended again about a year ago. Now I have pain every day, even WITH the TENS unit.....

[bobthedrummer]

8. Ouch.

What a drag to be rearended again. It's a real drain on energy, pain.

[villager]

5. good luck to all you back pain sufferers....

...on this thread! Take care! Me, just going through a few rounds of it's-a-real-drag dental work lately...

[Shrek]

10. Will you do me a favor?

Come back a few weeks after your surgery and let me know how you're doing.

My wife is contemplating a similar procedure -- she has scoliosis, spondylosis, and a congenital fusion of C-6 and C-7, and supposedly surgery is the only permanent fix.

But she's concerned that it won't work very well and that she'll have undergone the stress and pain of surgery for no reason. It might comfort her if I could show her someone who had a good experience with it.

Thanks, and good luck! I hope you get some relief.

[ClintonTyree]

11. I had the surgery................

don't do it. Take every bit of physical therapy you can get, it might help. Surgery is the last resort. I had spondylolisthesis, fusion of L4,L5,S1. If you want to know the details, PM me.

[caledesi]

12. Just had one two weeks ago. No problem. Enjoy!

[southerngirlwriter]

13. Open or Closed?

I got pulled out of my last MRI feet-first because my heart rate shot up to 188. Those things are SCARY (the closed ones).

[caledesi]

16. Closed. Yeah, in the coffin. I don't particularly like being in the

old tube, but I would rather have this done, than anything painful.

[laruemtt]

17. just get into

meditative mode and visualize the most beautiful thing on earth you can, like rolling (painlessly!) down a soft, grassy hill into a soft pile of cotton balls or puppy tummies or something...

[thatgemguy]

14. MRI... NO Problem!

So much better than a myelogram. I had one of those in July, Not one of the most pleasurable experiences on the planet. Actually I've had four myelograms since I injured my back in 1989.

I'm fighting workers comp in Ohio for authorization to start epidural steroid injections with the possiblity of another back surgery in the future. (Had laminectomy L4-5 in '91)

Now suffering with other disc herniations, epidural fibrosis, and spondylosis in the lumbar region. At least my pain Dr. has me on morphine while I wait to get through all of the bureaucratic games.

As a matter of fact, when my Dr. took me off work, my employer objected to the BWC saying "He can sit at work, just like he's sitting at home".

When it comes to workers comp the injured worker is way down on the list of priorities for the system. I seems that comp's priorities are to the bureaucracy first, employers second, and the attorneys feeding off of the system.

I have a hearing on Monday... wish me luck.

Best wishes to you and the others here with bum backs... hope you can get the relief you deserve.

[Overkil]

15. Best of luck.....

with the procedure