Treating back pain

I had a fusion in L-4 L-5 s-1 last september. It has failed and to make a long storey shrt, no doctors around here will touch me and I am in a ton of pain. Any suggestions??

What was the name of the doctor mentioned in the report? It was Fabian something, I believe. Thank you.
DM

Hello
Where can I write this Dr. ? I have seen a lot of Doctors for my lower back.
Thank You
Mark

I have a Wilkes-Selby Pedicle Screw System and cadaver bone implanted in my lower back in 1997.
I still have extreme back pain.
Any hope for new treatment for me? (I am 75 years
of age.)

Can I recieve update information on the above matter of back trouble?

Dr. Johnson,
I would like, to introduce you to my wife. Her name is Susan Sweeney Pogue. She is a gentle, kind and severely strong woman, who lives with a degree of back pain that most would not bear. She has had 3 surgeries on her back. These were due to an inflight injury while working for Pan Am and the late onset of scoliosis. She may have to endure another. because the rods supporting her spine may not continue to due so.
No matter what the surgeons choose, her life will be put at risk, or she will continue to live with worsening pain as her spine tries to twist aganst the rods.
Some may complain of back pain, they should meet my wife as well.
GC Pogue

On the evening news it said there was a story about treating back pain using stem-cells on the web site. I have looked but can’t find it. Would you please point me in the right direction?
Thank you,
Jim

Hi, I would like to know if you had any information on upper back pinch? It is L6 and L7 herniation. Also, what do you recommend on a operation?

I have suffered with back pain for years. I am a 57 year old white female. I have a small frame. I have had two back surgeries. The first was to fuse the C5-6 & 6-7. I have also had the L4-5 & 5-6. The last mentioned fusions are anchored from the T11 down to the S1. I had talked with orthopedic doctors but was never comfortable. There is no way I would allow an orthopedic doctore to operate on my spine. I have gone to neurosurgeons both times and will continue to do so. As far as this anterior back surgery…the danger of infection is much higher. A good neurosurgeon would advise against it.

I had a back injury in 1990 and my L3,L4 disc bulged. I still am in pain and wonder if this would help me?
Thanks

This is a question for Dr. Johnson. I’ve been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. L4 and L5 have already fused together. I’m in pain because L3 is rubbing against L4. Would I be a good candidate for your artificial disc? I am 61 years old and in otherwise good health.

I’m 24 years old and have suffered from chronic back pain for 4 years. Three major and unsuccessful surgeries, countless epidural/steroid injections, God knows how many MRIs and other miscellaneous tests later, I’m still stuck in this position, with my pain getting progressively worse every day, and with my doctors at a loss for what to do with me. Since I’m so young, they don’t want to try the conventional treatments, especially a fusion, since it could put me back in the exact same situation in 5 years or less. I’m on more medications than most people will take in their entire lifetimes.
The Artificial Disc Replacement is my only hope for a future right now. I’ve been waiting at least 2 years for it to be approved for multiple level use, but the FDA is, as per usual, dragging their feet. My surgeons hope that it will be approved within the next 2 years, but that doesn’t help me right now. I’ve been fighting for the past 4 years to finish up the last of my college credits so that I have a chance for a life, and honestly, it gives me something to do, so that I don’t lie in bed all day.
I wish that they would add on to this story something about the chronic pain these spinal injuries create and what effect that pain has on the sufferer’s life. Also, that a story like that would cover all age brackets, not just people 40 and above. There are some of us who are struck by this nightmare situation at young ages and are fighting to have a life.
Ken: I think my only concern would be the aftercare situation. Do you have a doctor in the US who will treat you if you need it once you get back? I’ve heard of some doctors refusing to treat people who have crossed the big blue ocean to have the ADR done. (It’s stupid in my mind. If you’re a true doctor, you should only care about your patient getting better, not that they didn’t allow you to do the procedure). Beyond the after care, I would make sure that you know every detail of everything they are going to do. I’d say, go over there, check it out. I think it’s worth the trip to possibly help you out of this situation.
Nancy: I would go back to an orthopedic doctor and see what situation your discs are in now. A lot can change in 16 years. I’d find a doctor you trust and get their opinion to see what condition those discs are in, and what they think is the best option for you.
Synette: The best thing I have found to guide me to doctors is finding other people in a similar position and see who they see. There are numerous support groups out there for those in this situation and they tend to have people who can point you in the direction of a good doctor. Unfortunately, choosing a doctor is a very subjective decision. A doc that one person likes, another may completely hate. I think it’s a trial and error situation. Once you find some names, just go and meet with them to get their opinions; hopefully you’ll find one who will give you the treatment you need and deserve.
Sheila: I’d do some internet searches for “artificial disc replacement” and that should pop up some sites that can give you some great information. I’d found a site where it actually shows an animation of the surgery from beginning to end, but unfortunately, I forgot to save the site. Also, WebMD has some information and can lead you to other sites about the procedure.
I’m not a doctor or anything, just someone who has spent awhile talking to others in similar situations and researching this condition, and I love to pass on any information I have to others in the off chance that it may help them. Any questions, feel free to email me.

Please let me have the doctors name and address or
phone number so I may contact him,I have had one back operation and it was great went back skiing and was doing fine until we had an accident in 98 and then another bad one in 02.I am taking pain meds which I hate. I am also going to pain manigment but that only works for a short time, I am truley getting to where I can not take much more so any advise you can forward will be greatly appreciated.

My husband has lower back pain and a degenerated disk. Been to chiropractor, steroid shots, heat wand treatments nothing helps. Everyone says loose weight! But i dont think this is the root of the problem. I have seen his x-rays and MRI and he was told it is a disk. Please we would like Dr. Betons address and phone number. THanks!!! ANN in KY.

I have been looking at the artificial discs for some time. Why is the US so slow in approving them? I have a co-worker who was in a 2004 study of the artificials. He is pain free and has been since the surgery! I too went to see the Dr in Spokane, Washington to see if he could help me. He said he could not yet. I need a fusion at L5-S1 because it is bone on bone, and there is no room for an artificial there. However he also said I need replacement discs at l3-L4 and L4-L5. However, you can not stack discs yet in the US!!! He had a photo of an X-ray from Europe showing a stack of 4 artificials! This was in 2004! What is taking so long in getting this approved in the US??? I have put up with pain for over 30 years and refuse to have a fusion done due to the problems it causes for the “healthy” discs which adjoin the fused area. Will we ever be able to have this surgery or will I be forced to go to Europe for my medical care?

These are all TMS symptoms.Read Dr. Sarno’s book The MindBody Connection:Healing Back Pain.

Wrong title: The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain.
by Dr. Sarno

PRAYER It works!! It works for me. I have been to Many Dr’s each telling me the same Since I don’t like taking med’s (as they can do even more damage on healthy organs)even though I had to take them—- and I have already been through the epideral shots and lots of MRI’s the last resort is operate according to the orthopedic and Neurosurgeons I have went to but than again I have had three different Dr’s telling me three different opinions and so I decided to put it in Prayer and right now that is working for me! I do one day at a time and as far as this is not a life because I have alot of pain–well, the alternative is Death and I’m not ready for that yet as I’m only 53 years young. I have degeneraive disk disease with arthritis in my vertebra with mild spinal stenosis. God Bless you all and keep it in Prayer even if you have to have an operation.

I had the ADR on 4/18/06 on L5-S1, and can highly recommend it from my experience. Quite a bit different from the experience of the young woman on the video, my surgery required an 8 inch incision in abdomen, 4 hours, and no way was I ready to do a little dance after two days. As of this point I am doing very well, the nerve pain is gone and only healing remains–miracle or not, this surgery is still a TOUGHIE to recuperate from. I was initially turned down for the surgery, the insurance wanted me to have a fusion instead. I have not heard many ‘happy’ fusion stories so really did not want to go that route. The doctor wrote a strong appeal and Blue Cross approved it, their first! I have heard that prospective fusion patients are being told that if they wait 6-12 months insurance companies will be routinely covering the ADR which we also heard from a friend in the field. We found information on Charite trained doctors at the Charite web site, doctors from all over the country. I was delighted to find my wonderful neurosurgeon, Dr. Jonathan Paine of Melbourne, FL, listed as one of those trained by Charite, the maker of the disc. An approach surgeon is also used, making the initial incision to get to the spine and it is important that surgeon also be highly skilled.

I am a 39 yr old female and I am having back surgery in 3 days. I have tried the spinal injections and they only made it worse. My doctor is wonderful (he did not do the injections) he did several tests including myelogram and that dreaded discogram. I have degenerative disc disease in L3, L4, L5, S1. The L3 is mildly leaking and he said that disc looks pretty good. His is doing a discectomy on L4,L5, S1 and doing the spinal fusion. I didn’t have a sudden injury like a car wreck or anything. I have had back problems for years but never bad enough to even see a doctor about it. Then on January 1st, after a horse show (where nothing happened to cause me any pain) I could not move. The first doctor on January 2, went off of an old MRI that was dated November of 2005, went ahead and did 3 sets of injections and a set into the sacral joints. Each time I got worse and worse. And he never did any other tests. I tried physical therapy and couldn’t make it through the evaluation because of the pain. They now have me semi comfortable with the pain management doctor and his meds, but they make me sleepy. But, after reading all of these messages, I am now scared to death. Can anyone tell me any success stories of have this type of surgery.

I’ve suffered from lower back pain for years, was diagnosed with DDD and arthritis, gone the PT route, chiro, epidurals, etc. None of them helped much. I had agonizing spasms that would leave me bedridden for a week. It became a terrible cycle of pain > fear of pain > more pain. The single best treatment I have found is my ATTITUDE. Please read about the work of Dr. John Sarno, it really helps. In the past year alone I’ve been to Vegas, Florida, and DC, where as before I could barely sit in a chair for an hour. Don’t suffer needlessly.

Susan don’t be afraid. Every person I have spoken to, who had fusion surgery is doing great.
I am now getting medical clearance for this same surgery to be performed in early June. My doctor is a spine surgeon. This is the only surgery he performs. I have been in pain for three years. I woorkd with a wonderful pain management specialist for one year. I was doing extremely well. I fell at work. Now I need the surgery.
Good luck to you!

My sister is only 55 years old but walks and acts like an old lady. She has degenerative disc disease and says that her doctor (2nd opinion) says there is nothing she can do except take pain pills and do exercises. She has been slowly deteriorating to the point where she cannot travel if she cannot lay down. Even on short trips, she has to lay in the back of the van while her husband drives. She won’t even think about flying because she cannot sit in one position for any length of time. She’s very cautious walking, getting in and out of cars, up and down stairs, etc. It upsets me to think that she is so young and that there is nothing that can be done. When I saw the segment about the doctor who inserts artificial discs, it gave me some hope for her. Would she be a candidate with the degenerative disc disease? Is this procedure done only in his city? She is in the Kansas City area.

I hope in the newscast you will (tho I doubt it) touch on the negative aspects of back surgery. From the other posts here already, and from a recent study published, most back surgery either flat out fails or causes the need for further surgery above and below the originally affected area. Surgery itself exposes the patient to the risk of becoming one of the one million per year infected by a hospital borne Staff infection that kills over 80,000 each and every year.
This is probably just one more way for the news programs to increase ratings and raise false hopes in the masses with incomplete research.
I too have backpain from an injury almost three years ago, but I have been lucky to have been involved in healthcare and know people who know and know how to do the research myself. When the back is injured, if the disk is damaged and epidural injections do not help the pain level and are not done immediately new inervation will begin (growth of nerves in the affected area) and the pain source will grow. So after a time span that varies by individual (around 6 to 18 weeks) the source of pain will become the affected level and the levels above and below as well as all of the muscles and ligaments around those levels. Even the disk that nomally does not contain many nerves can become densely riddled with nerves by the body’s natural healing process.
Most doctors that are not seeking financial gain from your injury that will be honest with you will say to avoid surgery at all costs and put it off until the last possible moment because the real risks are far too high for them.
Have you had PT and done the logical things they recommend like losing weight, starting an exercise program of your own, taking vitamins so your body can more easily heal itself? Smoking reduces disk height and decreases circulation, have you stopped? Have you tried gravity inversion tables or cold laser treatments? Have you sought a Chiropractor that does not try to make a deal with you for specific lengths of care but instead treats you and takes the time with you (15 min or so) doing flexion and distraction or Applied Kenesiology? Have you changed your lifestyle and began reducing srtess in your life or stopped the recreation that will make your injury worse?
Most lay persons do not understand the big business backpain really is. Most of your insurance companies will pay a major portion of the $40K to 100K for the surgery, medication and hospital bills associated with a surgical intervention for backpain, but will not pay for more than 12 visits (less than $1500) per year for preventative PT or Chiropractic care so you can spot problems in advance and learn to prevent injury instead of fixing them. Nor will the pharmacies tell you that the Federal law only makes the generic drug makers only be 85% as effective as the original name brand drug. The US performs three times (per the same # of population) as many back surgeries than any other country in the world, why?
Before opting for surgery, check the history, malpractice history, training, and positive outcomes for your specific surgery and doctor who will be performing it. Check the history of the facility where you will be having it done as well for infection rates. 300 successful surgeries recently means nothing. Watch the Discovery medical channel and see the stories daily like the 17,000 hip replacement devices that were recalled due to contamination that caused them to fail and the hundreds of patients to have “negative outcomes” because of it. The medical industry has been doing hip replacements for over 40 years and they messed those up don’t get your hopes up for something they have only been doing for a few hundred.

If you are suffering with pain, PLEASE read Dr. John Sarno’s books, “Healing Back Pain”, “Mindbody Prescription” and his latest, “The Divided Mind”. I was told to have a hip replacement 2 years ago due to mild arthritis. I read the books, followed the advice, and am running again, completing a half marathon just 6 months ago. I am in ZERO pain, and before I couldn’t walk around the block. No painkillers, no surgery, no doctors. John Stossel of ABC did a segment on 20/20 a few years back on Dr. Sarno, who cured him of back pain that lasted 15+ years.
I just attended a talk on the women of Tanzania, from a doctor who lives there and works for a hospital in Nebraska. These women do back-breaking labor all day, mostly bent over in the fields, and carry heavy loads on their heads. The doctor said they see very, very little back problems, but here in the U.S., back problems are epidemic. Think about it!! Read the books!!

Can anyone tell me what insurance companies are covering ADR? Mine has denied me twice because they say there aren’t long-term studies, so I am wondering who paid for this woman that Dr. Johnson interviewed. If anyone can advise on this issue I would appreciate it.

After a traumatic work injury, I was left with a shattered L5/SI disc and limited mobility. It was my desire to regain my flexibility and former activity levels. Throughout my quest for treatment options I discovered Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR). While gaining state workers’ compensation wasn’t easy, it was definitely worthwhile. My ADR surgery was successful and I am once again hiking, biking, swimming, and sitting without pain!

Hello,
I watched the segment about Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR). I had a 2-level ADR procedure almost three years ago (I had my surgery at 23 years old). I am 100% pain-free and I am working out / lifting weights 5 times a week. I had to go overseas because of the FDA dragging their feet (I was a 2-level case and did not meet the inclusion criteria for clinical trials in the US).
We have a forum for those people contemplating ADR and those who have been through ADR and are on the other side of surgery. There is a lot of useful information about ADR, and it is a great support system for those living with spine problems.

I was reading everyone’s post, and I noticed only 1 person commented about chiropractic care. I would recommend Chiropractic to anyone. I work for the best chiropractor in Staten Island. I started going to a chiropractor even though I had to pain, because I wanted optimum health. I can tell you all of the people that have come in with severe pain in their backs that now have little or no pain. The first thing when understanding chiropractic care is to research it. There are so many different types of care. I personaly like CBP.

Yes, Back surgery WHY SO MANY PEOPLE GETTING MORE THAN ONE????? If anyone would like to learn more about this, and if your in back pain now without having surgery..wait til you have one. You could end up with spinal cord disease called ARACHNOIDITIS OF THE CAUDA EQUINA…BUT NOW SINCE DIAGNOSED WITH THIS SINCE 1995….I HAVE FOUND A CURE AND LIVING WITH THIS MORE COMFORTABLE….BUT HAVE HAD BOWEL AND BLADDER PROBLEMS ALSO…SO YOUR BACK HURTS JUST WAIT…..I WAS HOPING THAT THE NEWS WOULD DO A STORY ON ME WITH THIS DISEASE AND ALSO BRING IN ABOUT THE ANTI-SEIZURE MED I AM TAKING THAT IS WORKING SO GREATLY…I WANT TO HELP OTHERS SO MUCH.

20 years ago, I had a very bad fall that injured my leg and after which I began developing increasing back pain that eventually went to my legs. I have seen soome of the best doctors all over the country. MRIS and scans have been done of my lower back and we found that disks have been injured (possibly fractured all through the many accidents in my early life when we only had rudimentary X-rays. Now I know I have degenerative disk disease, stenosis and severe arthritis as well as other problems in S1 through L5. My most recent ENGs show that I am losing control of my legs. They won’t always go where or how I want them to or think they are and I fall. Since there are 2 disks that are suspected of causing this, I am wondering if this new replacement disk can be done on more than 1 disk and if there is a chance it may help. I work everyday (after 17 years on disability because who can live on $600.00 a month) in a job where I have to walk around in all kinds of weather. Does anyone know the name of the doctor featured who does this disk replacement? I would like to contact the docotr for information before I am ina wheelchair and before the pain is so bad that the dose of medication needed to quiet the pain a little would be dangerous. I hate the meds almost as much as I hate the pain, and more i hate the stigma that goes with having to take them to survive and to live within my own, extremely painful body. Thanks

I had the steroid injection on the top and bottom.I have three dices push on my spine.And on the bottom.the doctor said that there are three on the bottom also. I life on pain killer.Some time ,I can not get out of bed!If it wasn’t for pain pill.I could not get around. I have 8 month old and a three year old.It very hard to help my wife.With the two girls.So do you think ,I need to have the surgery?

Elizabeth Vargas said something about a new surgery to block the pain signal.It would be addressed on the abcnews website: I can’t find it. Where is it?

where can i find the info about the surgery that blocks the pain from traveling to the brain

hi, I too would like to introduce you to my spouse, he is a 35 yr old electrician. He not only has back pain that radiates to his side, he grew up w/ scoleosis and osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease). we have an appt 5/24 w/ his spine specialist to discuss the device that blocks the pain signal as well as the surgery to open the spine holes to releive the pinched nerves in his back. The major surgery requires them to go through the front of his body, move his lung and diaphram amoung whatever else to get to his spine due to the curve and twist in his spine. We live in Maine and are very nervous about either. As I said, he is only 35 yrs old. The docs wanted him to take permanent social security disability, which is very hard to take. Can you please email me w/ any info that might help us decide what our best options may be and/or a name of a specialist in the U.S. that might be willing to talk to us. We have been told by so many times that the doctors that he has treated with, they can’t believe he is an electrician working on commercial properties. He is afraid he will end up in a wheel chair long before his time and would really like additional info.
Sorry this is so long, but I am writing to get more info as we have a lot to consider.
Thank you for your time. Kelly

I just so happens that i am sched to see a spinal surgon tomorrow (23may at 10am)..the pain is all
the way down the the arch of my foot…walking and
sitting is very difficult…how do i know if this
is something that maybe physical therapy can take
care of..what questions shld i be asking this Dr.
and can i trust what is told to me…thx

I have read all of the posts and I FEEL your pain. I am 38 and have had a personal trainer for years. I love to snowski, jet ski, run, etc. I sit at a desk for 8 hours each day. I developed low back pain due to a bulging disk at L5-S1 5 years ago. I had nerve blocks, physical therapy and pain medication. When I could nott feel my right leg and an ambulance had to pick me up from the floor in my house, I had a diskectomy in 2004. My disk is now bulging to the left instead of the right. I am told I need an anterior spinal fusion by my neurosurgeon. My bone that surrounds the disk is irritated as evidenced on the MRI. Although I no longer participate in sports I am reading Dr. Sarno’s book and changing my attitude. I have also enrolled in physical therapy in the form of pilates to strengthen my core. This past weekend I washed my car, cleaned all the outdoor furniture, polished the stainless steel BBQ grill, washed all the house windows, etc. without further pain. Meanwhile I have an appointment scheduled for June 7th with another surgeon at UAB. I really believe that we have to keep a POSITIVE attitude and treat our body better than we treat our car. I would take my car to another mechanic for a costly repair…we need to do the same for our bodies and not feel guilty about it.

I have had two surgeries on my lower back. One 8 years to release spinal stenosis, the other 1 year ago, a cage procedure. My question is there someone who can help with the constant pain that the spinal stenosis has caused to the nerves. They just keep sending the message of pain.

It’s so ironic; the doctor told me a few weeks ago that I have degenerative disc disease and bone spur(s) on L4 & 5. However, I have a major knee injury for the past 13 years that I’ve left untreated (just working out and keeping the muscles strong). On the pain-o-meter, my back bothers more than my knee even though, medically, the knee is in worse condition. Back pain is misery. I’ve read your post and empathsize. I saw the report on disc replacement surgery and will probably investigate this if the physical therapy doesn’t work. As I write this, I’m lying in bed recovering from PCL and MCL surgery of the right knee. Oy vey!

Dr. Sarno’s proposition that pain is mostly from one’s psyche is an intellectual insult to those with positive discograms, non-stop back pain, sciatica, and MRIs that show structural derangement. It’s a one size fit’s all paradigmn that ignores anatomical fact and physiological process specific to pain, dermatomes, and other scientifically based evidence.
It it works, great. My neightbor has been bugging me about Sarno for years and tells me to go ahead, lift as much weight as you want (( used to be a weight lifter) and start running: it’s in your pained psyche.
Best Regards,
Allan

I was just wondering. I had eight back surgerys and I have a lot of scar tissue. I am in alot of pain. Could the scat tissue be causing my pain? What can be done about scar tissue? Is there any way of getting rid of it. I have degenerated disc disease, bulding discs, herniated disc plus other problems. I have two titanium cages and battery and a morphine pump in me. Please help me by answering my questions. My doctor does not want me to have anymore surgeries. He is trying everything possible to help me. He suggested that I go to John Hopkins to go through a spine surgery replacement. What is your suggestion?

Any news on the FDA approval for the ProDisc? I was so excited when the FDA approved the clinical part in January. Why is it taking so long for the site approval. I am already precertified for Prodisc ADR but I need surgergy within the next 3 weeks due to the progression of neurological symptoms. Any inside story on the ProDisc?

I had back surgery in 1982 at the age of 28. Everything was great for years, except for the fact when I was pregnant in 1986 my daughter laid on the sciatica in my left leg.
I started experiencing great pain in my left leg again a little over 2 years ago.
I finally went to my regular md a couple of weeks ago and he had 3 options for me. (1) do an MRI and he said they don’t like to do back surgeries anymore. (2) go see a chiro (3) have physical therapy.
I opted at the suggestion of a chiro. After 5 adjustments I feel absolutely wonderful! My chiro said my back was like crunched together and she would do her best at opening it up. Today I am pain free and also no numbness! I finally can do my walking each day, usually getting in at least 4 miles!!! So to everyone..chiros do work!!! I now have renewed faith in them.

I had a herniation in my lumbar spine at L4 and L5. Had the MRI and was told that I would need to take a conservative approach. Also- I had a sciatic nerve problem that was so bad I felt as if someone just cut my Achilles tendon. The pain shot down from my lumbar into my toes. I refused to take any epidural and/or cortisone shots. I was lucky enough to discover MAT (Muscle Activation Technique) and this was the miracle I needed to get me back to the proper health that I needed. I am 98% free of any type of pain. It frustrates me to see that there are a lot of people with back pain. I urge you to look into MAT. I became such a believer that I joined the internship to help other people. MAT is all about biomechanics and the restoration of the muscular system. Please look into this as an option.

My husband has lived with DDD for years. The 3 lower disc are completely gone. He was being treated by a doctor in Mt. Pleasant, SC. He had surgery in 2000 due to the sciatic nerve being completely smashed from his condition and causing severe pain in his right leg & hip. At that time he was told there was nothing that could be done medically for his back but hopefully the nerve had not been to severely damaged. He still suffers from hip and leg pain on his right side and sometimes has problems getting the right leg to function. He has severe cramping in his calves, thighs and hip on the right side. He lives in constant pain from DDD and the damage done to the sciatic nerve. Is there anything that can be done for him. Any responce would be appreciated.

I had total discectomies at L4-L5-S1 ten months ago (July 20, 2005). I missed eight weeks of work and spent 16 weeks in a back brace. Before the surgery I suffered from low back pain for nine years following a bad fall on black ice.
I underwent the nerve block injections, PT and two epidurals. No improvement. I had two MRI’s. The MRI’s showed DDD and a bulging disk at L5-S1. Two neurologists advised against my having surgery. They said it probably wouldn’t help.
In December 2004, I went to an orthopedic spinal specialist here in Phoenix, AZ. His name is Louis Rappoport. Last April, he had me undergo a discogram. Take it from me, it hurts. However, the pain was worth it. The test showed that I had a torn disk at L4-L5. The neurosurgeons could have had this test performed several years ago. They couldn’t be bothered.
In June, when I got the news about the torn disk, I made the decision to have the operation. Dr. Rappoport used bone from my left hip and built two cages which were inserted between the vertebrae. He also installed pins and screws. My surgery lasted more than 8 hours. I was in the hospital for a week. They got me up walking two days after surgery. Four days post-surgery I was able to walk (with a walker) down the hallway in the surgical wing.
My surgeon waited until I was completely out of the brace and there was sufficient evidence the fusion was taking before starting me on PT. I had 10 weeks of PT (2 x week). I still have tightness in my back, but I have more mobility and range of motion than I’ve had in the past 10 years, thanks to this surgery and Dr. Rappoport.
Sure, I have three incision scars (one abdomenal, one for the graft, and one for the installation of the pins and screws), but I don’t mind. I have a desk job where I sit 10 hours a day, four days a week. Before my surgery, I couldn’t sit 15 minutes without pain. Today, less than a year afterward, I can sit an hour or longer.

For all those of you in chronic pain that don’t think Dr. Sarno can do anything for you because your pain is “real,” I challenge you to go to:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446392308 and read some of the hundreds of reviews by grateful readers of his book, Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection. You’ll find sufferers with symptoms as bad or worse than your own who became pain free by following Dr. Sarno’s treatment plan. All you’ve got to lose is your pain.

I was diagnosed through MRI with a ruptured disk. The MRI summary stated that my L5 disk rute is obliterated. I also have two other disks that are degenerating and are bulging. I have opted for surgery on the ruptured disk, is this my best option?

How come Chiropractors were not mentioned in your report?

hello!! in my situation all started when I fell from a ladder 3 years ago(at work) my doctor took me out of work for 3 months on wich I spend most of the time in bed I couldn’t move to much the pain was growing everyday more it started on my lower back and then went all the way down to my right leg even breath is until now something that causes pain to do sometimes… so I started getting theraphy from a chiro wich really help but just for a couple days until pain comes back and that’s when they told me that my problem was that my fourth dics was moving to the right side punching one of my nerves and that’s where the pain came from I think is call Herniated Disc…I have opinions from doctors around town (lumberton,nc) and almost all the answered that I heard were HAVE YOU CONSIDER SURGERY?? wich until now scared me a lot..long story short is been 3 years and since the day that I saw that report from abc something change I see a light maybe a solution the one that I been waiting all this years…Im 28 years old but sometimes when pain gets really bad I look like 60… and I really need help about this because I don’t understand very much who do I have to see and what do I have to do.. questions like price of the surgery..and what can happens next I will be able to walk “normal” do all the things that I used to do before like run and sit for more than an hour because when pain gets here like now in this moment i just can’t do nothing normal..and I dont have children but Im planning to have someday if I have surgery that will cause any complication to my pregnancy??
thanks so much you were like angel send from heaven to me…

Has anyone tried/considered having a chiropractor help them? I realize that chiropractic treatment isn’t the answer for every back problem, but going to a chiropractor for low back pain first, or at least as a last option/opinion before surgery, just makes sense. Chiropractic treatment has helped millions of people get out of back pain and is AN option (not THE option). There are cases in which surgery is needed. But, instead of shoving a lot of pills down your throat for years, causing additional health problems and addictions, or undergoing expensive back surgery that may or may not work (as testified by many people with multiple surgeries), at least give chiropractic a try. Even if your MD or surgeon dissagrees, it is YOUR BODY, not theirs. Find what is right FOR YOU….NOT THEM!

I had a fractured disk in 1990 and let it heal
by itself which took ten months. In 2002, I had
another fractured disk and a slipped vertrabra.
Three surgeons recommend three fusions and a
decompression of a disk with two rods, six screws,
bone graft and rehab after surgery. I have had
physical therapy, but yet can’t walk a block or
stand for ten minutes without the bone one bone
severe pain. Have put off surgery for nearly four
years now due to fear. Live alone. Comments, please. Thank you. Mary Ellen

Try Chiropractic before surgery!
Chiropractors are the Back Doctors!
It works, try it, what do you have to lose? If it doesn’t work, then go get the surgery.

I am a 22 y/o male, 6 years post operation to repair L4/L5 degenerative disc disease. The surgery consisted of a discectomy and subsequent fusion with an ISOLA implemented for stabilization. The ISOLA consisted of two vertical rods secured by four screws and one horizontal connecting rod. I am pleased to report that I currently am in no pain or discomfort, and furthermore am in excellent physical condition. Moreover, 9 months after my surgery, I went undefeated in the 110 meter high hurdles during my senior year track season and won my district track meet. I went on to compete at the Division I collegiate level. I’m not trying to rub my success in anyone’s face, but am merely providing testament that the procedure can work if done correctly and followed by proper therapy. My doctor was Dr. Fred Hess at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.

In 1990 I had a reputured disk and let it heal
by itself in ten months. In 2002 I had another
reputured disk and a slipped vertrabra. Three
surgeons (neurologist & orthopedic) told me I
must have surgery of three fusions and a decom-
pression of a disk along with bone graft and
rehab after since I live alone. I have put it off
for nearly four years due to fear yet I can’t
walk one block or stand ten minutes without
bone one bone severe pain. I’m 67 and they tell
me to do it soon as I will heal quicker than
when I am in my seventies. Comments, please.
Thank you. Mary Ellen

Dr. Tim: Would you comment on spinal stenosis? After being thrown from horse in my 30′s, the problems started in my 40′s and all down-hill from there. By the time in my 60′s, pain was so bad could hardly walk without sitting down every 20 steps or so. Ortho. said I had verterbra that had shattered pieces that were rubbing against spinal cord & he feared paralysis if not corrected. Had 2 surgeries between 2001 & 2004, resulting in 6 verterbra fused from waist down and rod and 6 pins inserted. Recovery was very painful for 1 mo. Pain is gone but now have curvature of spine (genetic) which has caused my left hip to protrude out further than right. My gait is noticeably stiff but I guess I should be glad pain is gone except clothes really fit poorly now. I always wonder if there could have been some other recourse? Had all the usual “befores”, i.e., P/T, injections, more P/T, swimming…

What can be done for spinal stenosis? Not shots or surgery. Anything else/

At least we know we are not alone…In response to questions and comments regarding when to have surgery, it really should depend on your individual condition. There is no one answer for everyone. However, in my case, by my orthopedic surgeon (Dr. John Peloza, Dallas) being conservative (with much common sense)I was able to postpone surgery for several years. A great physical therapist is just as essential as a great physician. Only then try pain management in pill form or injections, sparingly. If DDD or stenosis continues to progress, then and only then consider surgery. I have had two separate cervical fusions and a two level lumbar ADR surgery. I have had wonderful success with all three surgeries. The pain level became non-existent after surgery recovery. Because of DDD, and the nature of fusions, the discs have herniated above both surgeries. I chose to have a spinal cord stimulator implanted in the cervical area rather than have more surgery. Dr. John Peloza supported my decision. Find a surgeon that will be your partner in facing this type of health problem. Back problems are onging so you need someone that will talk straight with you, be honest even if it is something you don’t want to hear, and be supportive when there is an end to what can be done. You have to also be honest with yourself and do what your doctor advises like exercise, get the extra weight off or face the problems it causes, etc. I do aquatic therapy every week. I take control of all that I can in doing what I can to exercise, maintain proper body mechanics, eat as best I can, get rest, etc. Just remember that doctors are not GOD. Take as much responsibility as possible in helping yourself. I have had to fight to take back my life. I pray for strength to get throught every day and some days are more difficult than others but I am making it. I give much of the credit to my surgeon, Dr. John Peloza, Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, Tx. He would not let me give up.

I injured my L5 S1 over a year ago. Have had 3 outpatient surgeries in the last year. 1 side injection, 1 caudal catheter injection, 1 bi-lateral. Originally my bladder and bowel function was sluggish, but has improved as long as I don’t overdo. I still cannot sit without pain (it’s not healing up). I am suspicious that I have a tear in tissue near the ruptured disk site that makes it impossible to sit without pain. I am 53, and have an osteoporosis history. I got a new back brace that not only supports the lumbar, but also the sacro-iliac, last week, which seems to help somewhat. What do you think?

Dr. Tim,
Reading through many of the posts on your website, I notice very little mention of another non-surgical option for management of back pain…
Interventional Pain Management.
The truth is, as you state, most young healthy people with non-work-related back pain will resolve without intervention. 20-30% of back surgeries result in continued or worsened back pain. This percentage worsens with repeat surgery or when certain “red-flag” indicators are present (i.e. work-related injuries, litigation, untreated psychologic conditions such as depression/anxiety, or current untreated substance abuse). The chance of good surgical outcomes are highly dependent on the skill of the surgeon to carefully select his surgical candidates. Based on outcomes studies, surgeons have had a difficult time doing this historically. Why? Because reimbursement by government and private payors is extremely poor when it comes to time spent talking to patients and coordinating care rather than time spent operating.
This is where the Pain Specialist comes in. These are highly trained and highly skilled physicians who can not only perform pain limiting diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, but also have the specific skill set required to identify and find treatment for these underlying conditions associated with poor outcome. The skills they provide can help identify good surgical candidates and separate them from those who either need additional non-surgical therapies first or those who simply would not benefit from repeat surgery. They can also help to localize “pain generators” to ensure appropriate surgeries for those who are candidates for surgery. Furthermore, for those who are not good candidates, they can suggest appropriate medical regimens to effectively treat chronic pain.
Pain is best treated from a multi-modal approach. There are true indications for surgery, but it is not the only answer–even for those with chronic debilitating pain. A combination of physical therapy, medical management, psychologic therapies in select cases, and consultation with a trained pain specialist can help patients avoid surgery or increase their chances of a good outcome if surgery is eventually employed.

I’m surprised in all the segments on back pain, chiropractic has not been mentioned. It is one of the leading, non invasive ways to alleviate back and neck pain. In addition to this, the immune and nervous systems are so interconnected, that when the spine is taken care of, one’s health potential in all areas is increased.

I was injured a year and a half ago while at work. I broke the fall off the van of an elderly lady. I held all her weight….and I have been in “PAIN!!!!!!!” ever since. I was sent to PT, MRI’s Tens Unit and a plethora of pain medicine.MRI confirmed two bulging discs…L4/L5.I have continous pain from my back with spasms down my left side including… .butt..leg..heel..big toe.My condition has caused havoc with every aspect of my life.I have been treated conservatively…….Do you have any other suggestion????? I cannot sleep on my left side nor can I step or walk barefoot…..THANK YOU…

But what if you need back surgery and cannot get it ,I hurt my back at work 12 years a go when i slipped lifting a foof top heating & ac unit,i spent 2 years going to doctors,physical therapist, and chiropractics, they all said i have to live with it. Nothing worked so i got a different type of job then was fired after 3 weeks because of my back pain.I got another job in a factory, it was better for my back.But 10 years later i started having more back pain, i find out i have a ruptured disk and can not work.Workers comp insurance IWIF is denying medical treatment and the case is still open.I still pay week to week at the place were i worked for my healthcare and thay are denying medical treatment because the workers comp case is still open.To make it worse no lawyers will take my case,there is no money to by made.This injury has severely crippled me my finances my happiness it tears my life apart.Last Thanksgiving was in the Washington County hospital for 5 days, for major Depression i was planing suicide,I take antidepressions go to support groups. i sent workers comp a letter,somethings got to give,i am so tired and frustrated this is a night mare,all i want is to go back to work.

If you are considering ADR or would like to gather more information visit the ADR Forum:
http://www.adrsupport.org

I recommend you read two very important books on this topic, both by John E. Sarno, MD.
1) Healing Back Pain- which is not only about back pain
2) The MindBody Prescription
You have nothing to lose but your pain.

hi I am a 30 yearsold and have four herniations in my lower back. my surgeon Dr. balderston of 3B ORTHOPEDICS through the university of pa. has been doing total disc replacement on patients with multiple levels oh herniation. Each case is presented to the FDA for aproval. He uses the pro disc. Anyway last auguest i under went my secon discagram and he said i would neeed three or four replacements. He has replaced three discs in many patients. I have been suffering from this problem since 1999. The first time I saw the doctor he told I COULD GO TO fRANCE OR gERMANY to have it done. SInce this was a caraccident/workercomp case. I did not have money to persue that. He then told that in the near future he could help me. I am 30 and collectimg social security and medicare. Now that I qualify as a perfect canidate . the surgury cost over 60,000 dollers and medicare and etnat will not pay for it. I have been on very strong narcotics for almost 7 years. Now I am on methadone abd there less side affects then other drugs like morphine. Can you give me some adivce on finding on of the surgeons who do multiple replacements. I want my life back.
i FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY LIFE SENTENCE WITH OUT A CRIME TO BE PUNISHED FOR.
alyssa

WOW, THERE SHOULD BE SUPPORT GROUPS FOR PEOPLE IN BACK PAIN OR NEEDING SURGERY. MY NAME IS MISTY AND I’M 26 YEARS OLD. I WAS IN A CAR WRECK ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO AND THEN HAD A BAD FALL AT WORK ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. WHEN I FELL I WAS 5 WEEKS PREGNANT SO NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTILL I DELIVERED MY BABY. I HAVE HAD 2 BACK SURGERIES IN A YEAR AND A HALF AND BOTH FAILED. MY DOCTOR IS NOW WANTING TO DO A FUSION OF L4 AND L5. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. EVERYONE HAS BEEN SAYING THAT IF I DO A FUSION IT WILL GET WORSE LATER BUT IS THE BEST FOR A QUICK FIX. I DON’T EVEN WANT TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER SURGERY BUT THE PAIN IS HORRIBLE. AND THEN SOME DAYS IT’S MANAGABLE. I NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF MY CHILDREN 22 MONTHS, 5 YEARS, AND 8. MY 8 YEAR OLD HAS DOWN SYNDROME AND IS A HAND FULL. PLEASE ANY ADVICE WOULD BE HELPFULL.

I had a discetomy in January, 2005 which failed–8 months later I had a fusion, L-5, s-1. I am in more pain now than ever. The latter surgery has also created drop foot which I have to wear a leg brace to compensate walking. The leg brace is now causing me to have a knee problem because of over compensating. X-rays were taken on my last office visit and bone graft has began forming, so my surgeon has suggested because of my thin built that removal of the rods and screws may help some of my pain and help with mobility. My question, after a fusion, it is possible to have artificial disc and should I proceed with removal of the hardware? Is there any physician willing to give me proper advice as I am desperate!!
Nancy

I’m 46 years old and have been fighting chronic back pain for 2 years. I’m one of the lucky ones after reading some of the postings.
I have been diagnosed as having chronic back pain caused by, slight scoliosis, spinal stenosis and facet syndrome in the L4 and L5. I’m 5’7″, 185 pounds. When 1st starting having pain I weighed 205.
About 3 years ago I started noticing pain in my back. I’m a manager in an industrial environmental. I have to wear safety shoes and stand on concrete the majority of the day. My first thoughts were I bought a bad pair shoes. As the pain level and duration of pain increased I sought medical advice.
I have seen a neurosurgeon you made the diagnosis, told me they couldn’t do any thing for me then referred me to a pain management clinic. The neurosurgeon was definitely against any form of major surgery which I consider myself lucky to have found a doctor that didn’t rush the knife.
I’ve done and/or am doing the following: Physical Therapy, Yoga, RS simulator, Pain Counseling, weight loss, exercise, inversion table, steroid injections, an RF nerve severing, a new bed, and a steady diet of narcotic pain killers.
Of these the Yoga, the new bed (firm Sealy Posturepedic), pain counseling, and the nerve severing have given the best relief although the nerve serving in only lasted 4 months.
My questions and frustrations:
My pain level has been increasing for three years is it going to stop increasing? At 40 I had no back pain at 46 it’s controlling my life. Do I have a degenerative condition?
My MRI is now 2 years old should I have another MRI done?
With the state of health care in the US and my insurance I’ve not found any doctor willing to help me through the multiple aspect of my condition. Instead I get pass from specialist to specialist. Each one orders expensive test only to tell me that they can’t help me. I don’t have any medical professional steering my ship. There is no one doctor that can say that I’ve been monitoring your progress and this should be you’re next step. I sure others are in the same position of managing their condition with out professional medical counseling. Do you have any recommendations?
I work in a high stress environment, we’re understaffed and threaten with annually termination through forced ranking. I’ve been working for this company for 10 years and have an excellent record of demonstrate work ethic and accomplishment. The company expects 60 hour work weeks out of its professional staff. It is extremely difficult to work in a few hours of physical therapy, a few hours for exercise and to practice the pacing and stress reduction techniques that I have been taught by my pain counselor. I have found little empathy for chronic pain suffers from my management. I hate to say this but if I was officially label handicapped the company would make considerable efforts to accommodate my needs. Instead I get if you can’t cut it we’ll get somebody that can. Any thought on how to raise corporate America’s level of compassion for pain suffers? Ironically most of our company’s senior management are over 50 surely a large percentage of them have experience acute or chronic pain.
Thank you running the series and making this forum available.
To my fellow pain suffers, even with pain life is a precious commodity. Don’t let what you can’t do keep you from enjoying what can. Keeping a positive outlook will lower your pain level a notch or two.
Good luck with your treatment.

My son is 17 years old and sustained a lower back injury while playing football. When he was hit, he said there was a popping sound. He experienced pain down the legs and spasms. We took him to get an MRI and it showed that he had a slight bulging disk. So, he rested(no workouts or running of any kind) for 8 weeks. The pain got better, but did not go away completely. While resting he also took naproxen and had physical therapy. This has been since November of 2005. I finally took him to get injections for the pain. Well, he is not in as much pain, but there is still some. It is more of a constant soreness on the lower left part of his back(where the muscle is). He also complains of a stinging in that area. Any suggestions? I am at my wits end and do not know what to do for him anymore. He wants to go on and play college ball. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Hello I have had lower back surgey on my (L5-S1) almost 4 year’s ago the disc was herniated disc and sicne then i have been to so many doctor’s because of the server pain I am in .It’s worse pain then befor the surgey I’ve also had epidural’s and they have’nt worked either WHAT MORE CAN I DO!!! I see a doctor in New Jersey and he is going to try on June 9th to do the back burning of the nerves that you have on your sight.I also have arithists and fiboymigila do you think this will help? I am 36 a mother of 6 and a wife and I need some help PLEASE REPLY

Can this be done on the upper back? I had a fusion of the c5,c6 Dec. of 2004 and I am still in alot of pain.

Dr. Tim please email me concerning your information/comments on a particular and unsual surgery I am to have soon. I have had back surgery and now am being told that all of my pain coming down my left side from the hip to my toes is from Piriformis Muscle that is causing pressure on a nerve. The pain is soooo bad in my left hip, ankel and last three toes (as if they are broken).
I have been told by my surgeon that it is a very unusual medical condition and most physicians are have not performed but maybe a couple or so.
Please tell me anything you know about this condition for I am so hoping they can fix the condition.
Thank you very much.

my husband has a tethered cord.he was told by a surgeon it will only get worse as he ages. he decided against the surgery at that time but when the pain was soo great he rethought the surgery but the doctor now will not see him because he rejected the surgery. he was referred to anther doctor who did not think the surgery would be the best option sending him for injections. when he went for first injection that doctor told him he should not be letting anyone put needles in his spine unless he is in such severe pain that he is in tears. now he does not know what to do .he is taking over the counter pain pills constantly only relieving the pain to tolerate it. he has a very physical job which does not help to get any relief. can you give him any guideance? please

I’m 56 and have had cervical pain since my 30′s, but never had lower back/leg/foot problems until after I took a fall and injured my knee a year and a half ago. From reading these posts, I don’t have to share my details. Many of us appear to be in this struggle together.
Like several others, I was looking for the story regarding stopping pain messages before they reach the brain. I’m wondering if it might be the radiofrequency procedure mentioned to me by my (third) pain management specialist. I’ve had 3 lumber epidurals, which didn’t help at all, 2 courses of PT, and am now like many of you on pain meds. Last week I had my first SI joint injection which helped some, and my M.D. (a physiatrist and interventional radiologist) said if two injections didn’t last, he’d “injure” the sensory nerve so it didn’t transmit pain messages to the brain. He also gave me the following website to consult for info:
http://www.spineuniverse.com
Dr. Tim, if you read these posts, could you post a text story about the technique mentioned re: interrupting pain messages to the brain? I’ve had difficulty downloading the video stories.
If anyone has had this radiofrequency procedure, I’d love to hear your experience.
Thanks…and peace to you all.

I am 36 years old, libe in Iowa, and have had severe back pain for years. I had a lumbar diskectomy on L5 S1 in March 2004, and again June 2004. The pain has become extensively worse since my surgeries. I have tried physical therapy, multiple epidural injections, and nothng is helping. I have problems walking & sitting and standing for any period of time is out of the question. I can’t even sleep through out the night because I wake up in severe pain, and my husband has to help me rollover and get out of bed. The surgerion that did my previous surgeries now refuses to see me, so I consulted my family Doctor, who then referred me to another surgeon at another hospital. After yet another MRI they determined that I have scar tissue forming where the previous surgeries were done, and that there are additional bone fragments in the same area, but tell me that surgery will not help. I was told to take anti-inflamatories and learn to deal with the pain. They also found that I had 3 herniated disks in my neck (C5,C6 & C7) and they decided to do surgery on my neck in July 2005. I had a cervical fusion and 2 cadaver disks put in, but once again, I am worse than before surgery. I have consulted with the surgeon that did the fusion, and all he can tell me is to continue with the anti-inflamatories. I had requested another scan to see if there was a problem because the numbness and tingling has returned in my fingers and the pain and nausea is unbearable, but I was told I did not need another scan and to give it time. Forgive me for being upset, but I am very frustrated and at a total loss at what to do. I can no longer work because of the pain and nausea, which in turn makes me depressed! I cry everyday because of the pain and frustration. I keep hoping that there will be something that someone can do so I can try to get some quality of life back. I am 36 years old and I do not want to live the rest of my life like this. I would appreciate any suggestions that anyone might have.

Tonya, I really feel for you. I suffered from very bad pain and tried everything but surgery, even though 2 Surgeons claimed I needed it immediately. What finally helped me was reading Dr. Sarno and listening to his audio book, which I downloaded from audible.com. He has help hundreds of thousands of people who have tried everything else. I recently had a relapse and it took me a month to get better, but this time I knew exactly what was going on, and that I would soon be better.

I don’t know how many times I said, “I just want my life back,” while I suffered from chronic upped body pain. I’ve seen that phrase here so many times too.
I hope that somebody reading this post does the same thing I did when reading a similar post three years ago and that is read The Mindbody Prescription by Dr. John Sarno.
I know there is a tendency to feel insulted and incredulous when someone first mentions Sarno’s work to you when you are in pain. I know because in 2001, the first time somebody told me about his patients’ amazing recoveries, I said, “That’s great but he can’t help me. My pain is real, physical, the result of a documented car accident.”
It took me another year and a half of suffering and trying everything: PT, chiro, accupuncture, myotherapy, drugs, more drugs, surgery to deaden nerves in the affected areas etc.
I experienced continous increasing pain after a “rear-ender” car crash in 1998; by 2002 I was suffering from what I thought to be a full-blown case of fibromyalgia triggered by the soft tissue damage from the accident.
In the fall of 2002 I read Sarno’s books and by the spring of 2002 after doing some basic exercises, I was pain free and doing everything I had done before the accident and more. I took up downhill skiing at the age of 33.
I would have been pain free sooner had I let go of the fear that the cure was too good and too “easy” to be true.
I have been pain free for over three years. On top of that, I no longer have the mild knee pain I had before the accident.
It is so tragic that we are willing to take drugs with dangerous and chronic side effects or to subject ourselves to lasers and scalpels yet we are afraid to take a look at the cause beneath the very real physical pain that our very powerful psyches are capable of generating.
The pain is real; Sarno knows that. He never says “it’s in your head,” what he does is explain how the mind and the body are intricately connected and how the nervous system makes pain.
What he says is that many, many people have “structural abnormalities,” and that they only appear to be the cause of the pain.
What he offers is a way to get free of it.
What do you have to lose to find out if he’s right? Only your money and your life, wasted years of your life. The thing that spoke to me the most clearly about Dr Sarno’s intentions, is this, he doesn’t want your money.
He’s too busy to see you, really, there’s too many patients who think they need to see him in the flesh for the cure to work – I never have met him but if I ever do I’ll shake his hand for saving my life.
What he says on his website is to read the books (available at your local library for free) and to buy the CDs only if you really think you need them. Compare that to the thousands of dollars you’ve already spent on practicioners and doctors who can’t help you but won’t tell you that.
I know this sounds like Dr. Sarno is paying me – he’s not, for the record – but I just want to save somebody from spending unnecessary years in pain like I did. I feel it’s the best way to repay the good Doctor for his services.

Hi,
I have severe thoracic spine pain that feels like my spine is locking out of place. I have to be extremely careful of every move I make or it will lock. This pain has gotten so unbearable, and I have tried every treatment-chiropractic, facet blocks, rhizotomies, prolotherapy. No doctor can do anything, because all of my tests are normal. This pain has gotten to be unmanageable. I don’t know why imaging is so antiquated. I know there is something horribly wrong.

I HAVE SUFFERED WITH BACK PAIN SINCE 2001. AT THAT TIME I COULDN’T SIT. THE SCIATIC NERVE WAS BOTHERING ME. I HAD P/T, WAS ON CELEBREX, BEXTRA ETC. INJECTIONS AND NOTHING HELPED. I WAS REFERRED TO A SURGEON HE PERFORMED A DISCECTOMY ON MY L3 & L4. I STILL HAD PAIN. HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO FOR ME. NOW I AM SUFFERING WITH STENOSIS OF THE SPINE. I HAVE HERNIATED, BULGING, DEHYDRATED DISCS AND I HAVE BONE SPURS PRESSING ON MY SPINAL CORD. I HAVE A BONE SPUR PRESSING ON A NERVE ROOT IN MY LUMBAR SPINE. HERE IT IS 2006 AND I CAN’T SIT STAND OR WALK. I CAN’T SLEEP. THE PAIN RADIATES FROM MY BUDDOCKS TO MY GROIN TO MY KNEE DOWN MY LEG. I AM SO MISERABLE…I CAN’T FUNCTION. I HAVE NO QUALITY OF LIFE. I CAN’T DO THINGS WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN. LIKE TAKING MY GRANDDAUGHTER TO THE MALL. SHOOT BASKETS WITH MY GRANDSON. I’D GIVE ANYTHING TO BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS I LOVE TO DO. I LOVE TO BAKE….. I CAN’T EVEN DO THAT. I CAN’T SHOP OR CLEAN THE HOUSE. I’VE EVEN BEEN IN SO MUCH PAIN..THAT I ASKED MY LORD AND SAVIOR TO TAKE ME. I HAVE NO QUALITY OF LIFE. I CAN’T HAVE COMPANY AND I LOVE TO HAVE PEOPLE OVER. I HAVE HAD EPIDUALS AND A NERVE BLOCK. THAT DIDN’T HELP. I AM PRESENTLY IN P/T AND THAT IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX.

I’ve suffered for years with back pain and it’s many problems, going back the last 12 years. After several hospitalizations with buldged and herniated discs, I had a posterior lumbar interbody fusion done in 2004 on my L4- L5 disc. This was absolutely totally required due to a total disc collapse that had started some 10 years before. After this operation, I still had pain,and the Dr. who did the Fusion tried everything, with no results for over a year, and then basically gave up on me. I then went to another Dr.(a Orthopedic Surgeon this time)< After a lot of tests he concluded I needed to have a left side sacorilliac joint fusion to my hip.I agreed from the test results, but this operation went hay wire and resulted in permanent pain & nerve damage to my left foot. This Dr.is now not totally convinced that the joint fused very well, because he had to take out the 2 screws/bolts that he installed in place for the bonding process. He somehow ran thru 2 of my nerve roots,at the base of my spine and gave me my damage. He is now talking about wanting to do another 2 levels of fusion on me, at L3-L4, and S1-L5, and re-work and tie into the fusion hardware already in my back at the L4-L5 level. Also he wants to do a right side sacorilliac fusion, and possibly a re-operation of my left side sacorilliac. I stay in a constant high level of pain, and take a lot of medications which only help a little. I've had tons of tests,and seen tons of folks, but I'm worse off now than when I started. Does any one out there know of where I can find a competent Dr, who can actually finally fix my back, or is this wishing too much….Please help me if you can. Thanks, Frank M.

Because of my lack of belief in myself and/or my abilities I have spent most of my adult life working dead end jobs and going nowhere. I never had extra money to just spend, and became a master at only paying enough of my utility bills to keep them from being terminated. More than once I missed my mark and had my power, gas, and/or water cut off for as much as a week at a time.
I have a natural ability to build and fix things. I can use power and hand tools as good as or better than most of the men that I know. In the mid nineties an acquaintance of mine recognized my talents and approached me about going into partnership with her in a home renovation company. After about six months she decided that she did not want to do that kind of work anymore, and left me hanging high and dry.
There I was, within two months of being thirty four, two failed marriages, living in a three room house that my mother owned, and I had no idea where I was going or what I was going to do.
One night I got the classified ads out of the news paper, and looked at every single one. After several hours I kept finding myself looking at the same type of work. I wanted to be a computer/electronics technician. The only trouble with that idea was that I had never even turned on a computer, but something inside of me kept telling me that I could do it.
Within a week somehow I was sitting in a classroom. I made my decisions so fast that I have a hard time remembering details. I do remember asking myself “what did I think I was doing”. More than once I thought about dropping out. I did not do well in high school, and here I was in my thirties starting college.
I graduated in December 1997 and in January 1998 moved to Northern Virginia with a really good job. The pay was excellent, and the benefits were unbelievable. I could afford to live in a three level house, pay my bills, drive a nice SUV, and still buy something extra when I wanted it. I worked there for almost two years, but for personal reasons I decided to move back to my hometown.
It was harder than I thought it would be to find a job. I had thought that coming back home with my degree and experience that it would be easy to find work, but I did not take into consideration the military influence in the Hampton Roads area. There are so many military people that stay here after retirement with electronics experience, and they are the first to be hired. It took me three months to find employment, and it was nowhere near what I had been doing. I kept looking while I was working until I found something that I really wanted.
In May 2001 I landed my dream job. I was a Field Service Engineer for a copy machine company. I had to pinch myself daily because I just could not believe that I had it so good. For the first time in my life I felt smart, and that meant so much more to me than the money. The natural aptitude that I realized that I had was an unbelievable feeling. Most of my life I had not felt very intelligent, but all of the sudden I did. It was not only me, but I overheard more than one conversation whereas other people thought the same. I was considered one of the best technicians that the company had. Within the first six months I had far surpassed my peers that had been working there for years. My job performance reviews were outstanding, and I never ask for a raise that was denied. I was at the point were I could name my price and get it. I had customers that only wanted me to work on their equipment. I even had several customers write to the company because they were so please having me as their representative. Without a doubt it was the best job that I had ever had!
On June 9, 2003 my world fell apart. I was working on a machine, and standing in the same spot for about two hours. When I finished I bent to pick up my tool bag and felt a tremendous pain in my lower back. After the routine of reporting an on the job injury, going to the company recommended doctor, and after several weeks being referred to a back specialist, I was told that I had herniated a disc at the L5-S1 left level. Any procedure and/or test that my doctor felt that I needed was a fight with the workers compensation insurance company, and it would take up to months to approve anything. Finally in February 2004 I had a discectomy/laminectomy. It seemed that the surgery was going to correct my problem, but it did not. In May 2004 I had to have a fusion of the last two vertebras in my back.
The last surgery was slow to heal. My doctor wanted to perform a “hardware pain block injection”, but the insurance company would not approve it. I had not been back to my doctor in three to four months, but was released to go back to work on light duty in November 2004. I went back to the company where the injury occurred, but was unable to perform the job that I had before. It was very hard for me to go from Field Service Engineer to dispatching, not to mention that my pay was cut more than in half. I felt that I had gone from hero to zero in a split second. Even though my immediate supervisor allowed me to leave my desk to walk as needed to rest my back, I was not allowed to speak and/or socialize with any of my coworkers.
The company was bought out in January 2005, and the new company benefits were to go into effect on April 1, 2005. On March 31, 2005 at 4:30PM I was told by the human resources manager that they did not need me anymore, and I was escorted out of the building. She then went to the receptionist and told her not to take and/or forward any calls from me.
Because I was still having some problems from the injury my TTD was reinstated from the workers compensation insurance company. They also hired a vocational rehabilitation specialist to help me obtain work.
On July 18, 2005 I went to work at another company. I was a bench technician working on micro electronics. I felt at first like I had taken a huge step backwards. It did not take me long at all to satisfy myself with the job. I caught on fast, and was able to keep up with my peers. I was the first woman in the history of the company to work in that department. I was treated with kindness and respect by everyone that I had contact with in the company. I still was not making the money that I had made before the injury, but worked 50 to 60 hours a week to compensate my wages. I had all intentions of just staying there and possibly working myself up into management.
After working the long hours that I did, and driving in Hampton Roads rush hour traffic I was exhausted when I arrived home. I usually just worked five days a week, but every once in a while I would work on a Saturday too. I was really enjoying the job and the people that I worked with.
On October 3, 2005 while sitting on the toilet, urinating, I heard a “pop” in my back. Almost immediately I felt pain in my right hip and leg. I called my doctors office and let them know what was going on. I was still on prescribed medications, and was told to “up” my dosage. The nurse kept in contact with me and monitored me by phone everyday. The pain was so terrible by the 6th of October, she told me to come straight to the office. Once again I was getting ready to battle the insurance company.
From December 30, 2005 until present I have and am waiting for the insurance company to approve my having surgery. On April 17, 2006 I went to a hearing before a judge so he can now make the decision on weather I will be allowed to have the surgery and receive workers comp pay from Oct until I can be released to return to work.
It is now June 21, 2006, 2006, and I am still waiting. Since the fall I have broke up with my boyfriend, have had more so called friends turn their backs on me than I care to count, I have lost my job (health insurance), my home, my ability to drive and do other normal day to day activities, and I have put my elderly parents in well over $15k in dept. I can not walk any kind of distance (no more than the length of a standard room). On my good days I can only walk about twenty feet before my leg gives out on me. Most of my time is spent either in my wheelchair or in bed. All of my personal belongings are now being stored in my parent’s garage, and I live in one bedroom in their house.
I have always been a strong independent person, but now I feel like I have been beat down. My attorney has informed me that there is no pain and suffering workers compensation laws in Virginia. I do not want to be rich, but I want to be better so I can go back to work and feel secure again.
I know that there are a lot of people out there that are just out to scam the system and get whatever they can for free. I am not that kind of person. I want more than anything in life to have my surgery and get on with my life.
I can not imagine my depression getting any lower. The insurance company (workers comp) will not approve any antidepressants, but are still paying for a lot of meds like methadone (1200 mg a day), duragesic patch, flexeril, and I still have to take Tylenol PM (4 – 6 three times a day) in order to sleep any at all.
The only reason that I have not already ended my life is because of my parents. I just do not know how they could survive that. Is there any way to get help that is free?

I HAVE SUFFERED FOR GOING ON FIVE YEARS WITH BACK PAIN. IT STARTED WITH A PAIN IN MY LEFT HIP SO MY ORTHOPEDIC DR. SAID I HAD BURSITIS SO HE INJECTED BOTH MY HIPS WITH CORDIZONE. IT HELPED A LITTLE BUT THEN I HAD SHOOTING PAIN DOWN MY LEG THE RIGHT LEG MOSTLY SO I HAD AN MRI OF MY LUMBAR SPINE I HAD DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASES…HERNIATED, BULGING DEHYDRATED AND STENOSIS OF THE SPINE. NOW I HAVE PAIN ABOVE THE BUDDOCKS SOMETHING PRESSING ON A NERVE ROOT TO THE GROIN, TO MY KNEE TO THE RIGHT FOOT. I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I HAD A DISCECTOMY ON MY L3 & L4 AND STILL IN PAIN. IT IS SO BAD NOW THAT I CAN’T SIT, STAND OR WALK. I CAN’T SLEEP BECAUSE IF I PUT PRESSURE ON THE BUDDOCKS IT CAUSES PAIN IN THE GROIN AREA. I’VE BEEN TO A CHIROPRACTOR, I’VE HAD NERVE BLOCKS, EPIDURALS, AND P/T NOTHING WORKS. I’M STILL IN PAIN. I HAVE NO QUALITY OF LIFE. I’VE PUT ICE AND HEAT ON THE HIP AND GROIN AND ON THE BACK. IT HELPS TEMPORARILY. I SYMPATHIZE WITH ANYONE THAT IS HAVING TO BEAR THIS AGONIZING PAIN. WE CAN SEPARATE SIAMESE TWINS BUT WE CAN’T CURE BACK PAIN. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT DOCTORS DO NOT LISTEN TO THEIR PATIENTS. WHO KNOWS OUR BODY BETTER THEN WE DO. THEY LIKE TO PRESCRIBE ALL KINDS OF MEDICATION BUT NOTHING IS WORKING….SO WHAT DO THEY DO PRESCRIBE MORE MEDICATION. I COULD OPEN MY OWN PHARMACY. THE DOCTOR THAT OPERATED ON MY L3 & L4 WON’T EVEN ANSWER MY PHONE CALLS…DOES THAT TELL YOU ANYTHING. SOME DAYS I WANT GOD TO TAKE ME BECAUSE THE PAIN IS SO UNBEARABLE. SITTING TYPING THIS IS SO PAINFUL BUT I HAD TO REACH OUT TO SOMEONE. I’M GOING FOR ANOTHER MRI THE LAST ONE I HAD WAS ALMOST A YEAR AGO AND AS YOU CAN SEE I’M NOT ANY BETTER. I HAVE PLANS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE A DOCTOR IN THE CITY…IF HE HELPS ME….I WILL DEFINITELY LET YOU KNOW. YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

I originally got hurt at work in 2000. Since then I have had three back surgeries. The latest was in June of 2005. I had my L/4 L5 and L/5 S/1 fused anterior and posterior. It has been over a year now and I still have not achieved fusion. Since then I have developed bone spurs in my left big toe. And now my right arm falls asleep or tingles more than half the day. I can make it do this just by leaning my head backwards. So now I walk around stareing at the ground.I have extreme pressure with pain on the very bottom of my spine. I am lucky if I can walk more than 1/2 mile without being in pain the next day. My bladder is still not normal. To this day no one can answer me if this has anything to do with the stolen cadaver tissue/bone that was implanted in my back for the fusion.I should would love to get some answers from some place. Oh by the way I told my surgeon that another operation or another discogram were both out of the question NEVER AGAIN give me morphine first.

PAIN CURED! READ THIS!
I have spinal stenoses. Mega-doses of injections didn’t help, and surgery was in my future. My lower back hurt the worst when I drove my car, causing my legs to ache and my feet to tingle and go numb.
A friend recommended that I read Dr. John Sarno’s books. JUST READING two of his books got rid of my pain. I didn’t have to do anything but READ the books and understand what I was reading. Get your mind off your body (stop going to physical therapy) and READ with your mind. When my pain suddenly disappeared from my lower spine, I experienced intermittent pain in other, unrelated areas of my back for 2 weeks. The pain was “on the run.” I started reading one of the books over again. One-third of the way into the book, ALL PAIN WAS GONE.
All you have to do is (1) have an open mind (WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE?) and (2) read Dr. Sarno’s books. Thousands of people with the same conditions WE have (back, neck, shoulder, knee, or foot pain) do not have pain. Find out why!

8 years ago I had back fusion very succesfully. Out of a wheelchair…to a cane…to normal walking and evntually working as an EMT with minimal pain. (good lifting procedures).
After a car accident 3.5 rollover with 45 minutes upside down seatbelted I’m back to almost where I started. Most of the doctoers say my fusion moved, but x-rays by the doctor who did th fusion show no movement. I tust him implicitly. I argue that it feels that the scar tissue from the surgery is getting bigger and bothering the nerves. It took 3 years before someone listened and we just tries cortisone in the area. Some doctors said that scar tissue wouldn”t start to grow again but I’ve had one surgery and 3 nerve blocks proving differently.
I really hope and pray that this will work.

I had back surgery about three years ago on my back plates and pins were placed, the surgeon who performed my operation said that I had a compressed disk. It was from an accident falling down. Since my operation I have one pin that sticks out and is very uncomfortable when i drive or sit, i have started to have lots of problems with my right arm now it’s always seems to be sore tight and numb at times. I would like to know what options are out there or if anyone has any idea why i feel this pin, should I get this plates removed? The pain has gone away I couldn’t walk or let alone speak cause the pain was too much. After the second day of my surgery that pain went away I never had back problems in the past prior to this accident but after the surgery I always am having back pain there are times that I feel I dont even want to get out of bed cause it hurts so much. Can some one give me some options of what alternatives I have.

5 months ago I went to germany and 3 cervical discs (c3-c7) and L5 S1 repalced also, I have severe left arm pain, nerve pain and bilat tingling and numbness in my ft, I was wondering if anybody knows any mds working in this area, the doctors in my area don’t know what to do with me. thanks marjie

I’ve heard that there’s a doctor in LA that uses a needle to insert a liquid into the disc area.This liquid has a catalyst in the mixture and the liquid turns into a jell in about 20 minutes. This then replaces the old disc with a new. If anyone knows of how to find more information I would be thankful in receiving an answer.

Ive had sciatica for 2 years now, actually knowing the cause of the problem for only several months. I’m 20 years old and health conscious. The pain was so unbearable, starting from the left buttock and going down through to my foot, especially worse on colder days. I used to think it was a muscle related problem since I workout and lift heavier weights, as well as play squash for my university, where Im constantly lunging and twisting. Lately, with physical therapy and the Mckensie technique,the pain has been tolerable and sometimes non-existent, which is a huge step from 3 months ago. My question is, having an epideral injection scheduled for the end of the month, should I go through with it if the pain has subsided, or take it anyway to avoid pain flare-ups altogether, which have had a huge impact on my sleep, causing me to wake up often a dozen times a night in uncomfort.

Life begins at conception, begins at birth – Or come up with another stage and develop a different persuasive speech topic

Public schools have to say, don’t have to say the Pledge of Alliegence

I am a 49 year old women who had a ACDF
surgery @ c5,6,7. Everything has healed fine except at my 6th month check up the dr found one of the screws in the hardware had worked its seld out. He also told me that it could possibly work all the way out and travel. Very upsetting. Has any one else had this happen?
Sue

I had the Artificial Disc replacement at the age of 23 I am now 27 AND still in pain. They said because I was so young(and of course all the problems with my back) I would be their best candidate for one of the first done in USA. I was supposed to be “resilient” and bounce back quickly and heal. Now I find out that the surgery was contraindicated because of the severeness of the L4-L5 and S1 discs. NOW they want to do a fusion. I am in severe pain all day because I refuse to be “doped” up on pain medication. You all know how it feels to be withdrawn from the people you care about and uninterested in the things you once were. I know as well that depression soon follows because you have lost everything that you worked hard for and you now feel guilty as if you could have stopped this. I am there too because I lost my nursing career, real estate license, and used to be so involved in community and sports with my children. I have been dealing with this pain/back problems since July 2003 and have noticed that it is so much easier for a busy and “so far behind today” Doctor to prescribe you Oxycontin, Morphine, Tylox, Lortab, Avinza, Opana, etc and treat the SYMPTOM rather than take the time and research “The problem that is causing that symptom”…I think that if a Doctor would have thoroughly read my MRIs and films and not relied on just the radiologist’s report HE would have known that I was not a candidate for Artificial Disc Replacement. I’m sorry to sound so complaining and I know that there are really good Doctors out there, I just have to find one…which is why I was on this blog, reading about this wonderful Dr. who I believe is taking the time to try and help us…AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. PLEASE everyone and anyone reading this….Do your homework and make sure the Dr. you are seeing is familiar with ADR, fusions, and your specific back problems. Good Luck to everyone and if anyone has any questions you can email me at

My mother has been diagnosed with Arachnoiditis. I unerstand there is no cure. She is in the process of getting an appointment at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. Is there a better place that sh e should try. I know doctors at Shands have performed miracles and I’m not doubting them but I just want her to get the best care. It hurts our family to see her walk so crooked and not be able to enjoy life. She is only 59 years old. Is water therapy a good way to releive her pain? Of course because she cant do very much without being in pain she had put some weight on and I’m sure this is not helping at all. Just send us some ideas. Thank you, Angie in Florida

there are many serious types of back pain and sometimes they create great hassle to patients. .