One day at a time...wish there was a better answer.

Angela,

I can certainly relate to having to wait and the pain coming back after a injection. Can you talk to your doctors about possibly trying some types of nerve meds to help hold you over. While they may not take away all the pain it just might be enough relief to get you through. Also what about some oral steroids to help. While you don't want to be on them for long term a quick dose may help. Can you afford to try accupuncture or massage therapy some other good choices that are not a fix but just getting you through till surgery. I know with myself i went through the whole process trying to stay out of surgery because of deductible issues. Also some heat and ice do wonders.

Try and explain your situation to your doctors and see whatelse they can do to help you get through to the time you need to, with the least amount of pain as possible. Hope you get some relief.

Did you only get one? My first set came as a set of 3, and he said the first alone wouldn't do much.

that you can't manage to take the time off now? Some things just won't wait. Are you having pain and numbness down your legs? If you have nerve compression, it could get worse or become permanent before next year. Trying to function on a heavy load of narcotics is not fun (ask me how I know).

your still working ..that's a good thing ..i have not been able to work for more years than i can remember .if you are going to embark on spinal operation .especially a fusion then allow your self at least a year off work .you will see optimistic people saying that 3 weeks and i was recovered ...i dont think so ..my surgeon {one of the best in the uk} says that a fusion especially a multilevel will take 3 years top recover from ..then there's the expectation of what am i going to be like afterwards ..dont fool yourself that you will be totally pain free it rarely happens and fusions almost certainly require maintenance over the years so be warned .any spinal surgery carries many risks .i speak from experience {15 years} unfortunately i have not done well some do better ,,but should it come to surgery make sure that you get at least 3 opinions and make sure that your surgeon is highly recommended ..its your spine and you will pay with pain worse that you can imagine if he/she fxxx it up .if you can get by on epidurals and pain killers then give the operating room a swerve for now .i have gone from a fit healthy sexually active {with my wife!} walk the dog 3 miles a day swim 4 time a week man{i lost sexual function on the last operation } to pain 24/7 2 hours sleep and spending time in my recliner i am only 44 my 79 year old mother in law is more active than me .i have no job due to health and life is hard financially i am waiting for a discography 23 sept to see if i am suitable for a multilevel fusion ..my doctor have just raise my pain level to intractable ..thats one down from terminal and one up from chronic i take a lot of oxycontin a day and my life has changed in so many ways .please think long and hard about surgery
STRAKER

it is more important than your job. Yes, I fully understand the implications of being out of work and potentially losing income.

But, if in fact, surgery is your only answer, then putting it off will only make things worse in the future. What could be a few months out of work now, could be a long sentence of pain later.

I would talk to your doctor about all the options.
Surgery is always the last solution. There are so many conservative treatments that can be done to help with spinal problems.

Angela, so sorry to hear that the epidural didn't help you. I've been down that road with epidurals, medicines, and a previous surgery. What works will vary so much from person to person, and with each person that may vary from hour to hour. I wish there were some magic wand I could wave over us all and we'd all be heal, lol, I really do.

I really feel bad for you because I can totally get where you're coming from. It is so hard to know what to do when you are stuck between chronic pain and the job that you must do to provide the resourses to pay for the treatments for that chronic pain. The stress associated with that alone is enough to drive anybody crazy.

I can tell you from my personal experience that I struggle with chronic pain daily. I have learned that in order for me to be able to function without it getting the best of me, I have to be able to redirect my mind, or distract it, some kind of way, every day. It is extrememly hard most days. Especially now that I'm post op and I've just started PT. I use music via the iPod, and I pray- A LOT! I can't lie to you though, it doesn't always work, but I continue to try. And I will continue to try, because if I give up on me, no one else will do it for me. No one can tell you when it will be the right time to quit your job or have a surgery. That decision can only be made by you. But just know that you do have support out here whatever decision you do decide.

i myself am suffering some of the worst pain i have ever had in my life .but as my doctor says ..its unlikely to kill you! just ruin you quality of life i have found that the only thing to do is rest and take pain killers ..there comes a time when fighting is just going to hurt you more ..your body knows better than you think it does so listen to it ! hope that you are feeling better
tony