What was your experience with low back surgery?

Question

i've recently been told i have a herniated disk L5 to S1. i also have three in my mid back and 3 in my neck which are slightly herniated. i have been weighing the good the bad and the ugly facts of having back surgery. sometimes i think i will go ahead with the surgery and than other times i get scared and wonder if it will be worth it. i have many many other things that cause me chronic pain and so i will always be in pain for the rest of my life. but i think at times that if i could cut out just even one cause of my pain, even if it's for just a few years before it gets bad again it would be worth it to me. i've worked in construction for over 20 years and it's a lot more difficult with this back pain. so, i was thinking if i could feel better for even a few years, i could save up some money to go back to college. so, i'm just looking for some input from people who have had back surgery and what you're experience with it was like and is like. thank you in advance for your time.

Answer 1

I had lower back surgery in 2006 and I wish I had it sooner.  The surgery itself was basically painless and recovery the same.  I was amazed.  The doctor even said it was the hardest surgery he has done as one of the disc was just crammed in and he had to chip it out.  But in the end for me it was so easy.  Now the down side or warning...I waited too long to have the surgery and I had to have mine as emergency surgery because I lost feeling from the waist down.  I called and they said get to hospital now.  I was in so much pain prior I cannot even describe.  Because I waited so long..basically I worked up to this surgery by about 4 months (after being told I needed it)  after 5 years of back ailments so now I have nerve damage and my right leg and foot are numb and I have a limp.  Again, this was due to my waiting to see if therapy treatments helped instead of surgery.  I tell everyone now  - do it!!  Best of luck.