On 11/23/2011 9:15 AM, Steve Freides wrote:
> Cheryl wrote:
>> So it seems I will have to have back surgery. The second opinion
>> diagnosis today by a neurosurgeon is spondylolisthesis. A dislocation
>> at L5-S1. And a cyst. And nerve compression and failure of lumbar
>> disks and joints due to the instability of my spine. No frickin
>> wonder I'm in such pain. Just sort of venting and thinking and
>> planning. I get an epidural on Friday and on a neuralpathic med for
>> now until I can do the surgery. *heavy sigh*
>
> I'm not at all suggesting our situations are similar since I don't know
> yours more than the few words you've used above, but short story - if
> you make your back stronger, you stand a chance of relieving your
> symptoms to the point of not needing surgery insofar as the "instability
> of ... [the] spine" and "failure of lumbar disks" goes.

I've been in PT for stretching and core strengthening and plan to
continue. It isn't helping yet, but I am sure that both the surgery and
the core strengthening combined is going to be best long term. Dr said
that, too.

The cyst is,
> I'm guessing, essentially a separate complication that might need
> surgery, anyway, but that's a different surgery.
>
He didn't tell me what kind of cyst but he said it was fluid build up
and causing a lot of pressure on the nerve roots.

> Don't want to bore the newsgroup but if you want to chat via email,
> please drop a line. I was about as bad as one can be and still avoid
> surgery but my doctor, who would have been my surgeon, told me to avoid
> it if I could. It was a long, hard road that I'm still on but I'm very
> glad for the choice I made.
>
> Good luck, whatever happens.

Thank you for the chat offer and the helpful replies.