I’m taking a small dose of gabapentin and seems to help. They made it a controlled substance and I was like WTH? I only 300 mg so that’s why. Doc said most take a lot bigger dosage than that. It helps take the edge off. A friend actually recommended it. He had a cage installed and hurt worse. Doc put him on gabapentin and helped him.


I went to see one of our local orthopedic surgeons and he wanted to out 2 rods and 2 screws in. Told him I wanted possible options and he snarled back that evidently I didn’t need his services then. I could barely walk from the parking lot to in the door at that time.

I’d flipped a 4 wheeler on a fire lane and blew out the disk. Evidently already had stenosis and scoliosis.

I never realized how much back muscle I used getting out of a chair until I had this done. Good luck with your recovery. Hope it goes as well as mine did.

I do not have any experience with that procedure. i just went through surgery for a torn rotator cuff and it was the same thing you describe. I had months of unbearable pain. Once I had the surgery I was almost pain free and it is getting better every day.

I will keep you in my prayers. I hope that you get some relief soon.

I've had two neck surgeries with hardware installed and two lower back surgeries. The lower back neurosurgeon gave me my life back. It is a tremendous relief.

I've got L4-L5 spondy, stenosis. Neuro-foraminal narrowing...I think playing college sport put 10+years on my back. Most days I have a dull burn/ache that wraps around my leg, down the front of my shin and into may 2-3 toes on the right side of my right foot. Lot of times it makes my hip super super tight too. Getting old is not fun.

Sleep on the floor.
I had two herniated disc when I was 23. Dr. Ryan in Montgomery performed the surgery to correct them. I was fine for a few years but eventually had to go back to the chiropractor. Pain was unbearable before the surgery.
The only thing that has helped me since is an inversion table.
It was painful at first but eventually let enough pressure off my spine so that it would pop. Small poops and then big pops. I would talk to a neurosurgeon before I used the inversion table.

" Dr. Ryan". Did all four of mine. I could not walk anymore and he fixed me up.

I have had surgery on L4 and L5, worked fine, got hurt again and had a spinal stimulator implanted, it's not perfect but does help.
good luck, hope it works well for you.

Back surgery and procedures aren’t linear,different patients, different problems,different outcomes.Far from “one size fits all” and following standard procedures.Dr Patrick Ryan was the first of three that worked on me,way back in ‘91.Partial discectomy was really a waste of time,and money.But he made his.
Good luck with yours Squeaky…

I had it done in 2001 and then injured again in 2003. My neurosurgeon has told me I need fusion because of degenerative disc (duh they cut part of it off on both sides) but I do manual labor so that ain't happening. I had another epidural a week ago so with all that said, evaluate your life and life style and see what you can live with.

I just got home from Surgery. They sent me home 24 hours early due to how well recovery went. They cut large pieces of L5 away at the bottom, releasing the pressure on the nerves. He said the disk and other materials just fell out after, so it was in pretty bad shape but it saved an hour off the surgery. Fused L5 to Sacrum, removed the debris. Sent to recovery. Checked in at 5:30am, Out and home at 4:40pm. Grandview was by far the best hospital experience I've ever had. Not even a close second, and I've seen a lot in the Birmingham region. Super impressed.

Good deal

Glad to har that it went well//

Great news and continuing recovery.

Prayers that the surgery does the trick for you Squeaky. My wife had a discectomy over 20 years ago and it fixed that problem. Now she has a new problem. Degenerative disc disease ain't no joke.

On Dec. 12th, she will be having 3 level fusion with spacers and a rod connected to the vertebrae. 8 to 12 week recovery and 6 to 8 months until she will be glad she did it. She is in so much pain these days, and it breaks my heart. Prayers for Donna would be appreciated.

I’m 15 days post operation and I’ve really turned the corner. Still a little weak and sore but able to walk chickens and check my farm over the last week. I feel as each day gets better. Starting back to work on 12/4 at second job. God is good and answers prayers. Stay positive, keep moving, and guard your mind/heart with prayer. I don’t know any of you but I’m praying for your recovery also.

I have had 2 back surgeries and need another 1 now. They told me thats pretty much what I would have to look forward if I was to have another 1. I told them I would just deal with it as long as I could. Dont sleep much at night and sucks having to roll out of the bed lol. Hope it helps you auman and prayers for squeaky and donna

Can you update us Squeaky?