Quote:
Originally Posted by HardDrive
I'm 45 and have 2 badly ruptured disks. Before I go further, I think its important to point out that everyone is different, and 2 people with exactly the same scans can have radically different symptoms.
In the past, I have had symptoms so bad that I could barely stand from a sitting position, and terrible pain. Today, its managed pretty well. I keep myself trim, keep my core strength up, do a few physical therapy exercises, and take 400mg of ibuprofen every day. Keeping hydrated also seems to help.
Have you tried yoga? Might seem hippy-dippy, but I would try that before surgery.
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Everyone is indeed different. My back had pretty severe scoliosis and I did things in my youth that no one should ever do to their back. I allowed myself to get soft in my 30s and back pain became unbearable to where I could barely walk in the morning. PT and regular daily exercise to keep my core strong takes the pressure off my spine and was as close to a full cure as anything. Things are pretty good now. I still must be careful lifting though.
My wife is a Radiologic Technologist and sees a lot of spinal images before and after surgery. She said about 50% are better after surgery and 50% are worse. Lousy odds IMO. Her suggestion is until you have Jack Lalanne abs and all forms of PT have been exhausted, avoid the knife. Of the patients who were worse off after surgery, 90% were also overweight.