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You didnt indicate what type of doctors you have been seeing and if their analysis is based on MRIs, X-rays and/or other diagnostic tests.
Also what treatments have you been under and what kind of medications are you on?

The more information we have about a new member the easier it will be for others to try to offer some advice and suggestions.

Degenerative Disc Disease is the most mis understood spinal problem. The words make it sound much worse then it is. Essentially, DDD is the natural aging of our spines. By the time someone reaches 28 years old, they will show some signs of DDD.

It can come on sooner and more advanced due to:
- Trauma, accident
- Prior Spinal Surgeries
- Genetic conditions

The good thing is that almost all cases of DDD can be handled via NSAIDS and an approved exercise program. Only the severe cases required surgical intervention.

I cant speak about your L4/L5, because I am not sure what you were trying to say there. As far as arthritis, again, so much of the aging process.

Still bottom line, all the above can be painful and cause a lot of discomfort. There are so many different conservative treatments that have proven to help in those areas.

I would discuss all of this with your doctor to see what your options are.

Have you seen someone in pain management? There may be some treatments they can offer you for pain relief.

Best wishes,

Marianne

hi and welcome
i have been thru many docs myself..any doc that says you have to live with it and doesn't offer you ideas or options..is not worth your time infact it is docs way of saying they are done with you..
get another doc.
please tell us what you have tried so far alot of ppl have been thru most back and neck issues..
and read alot in here so much info..and great mods to help ya with anything
welcome again
mary

As a man who had three young children I understand the pressure of trying to keep going and carry on as normal when things start to implode, you are doing a good job and many here know what a difficult role and responsibility we all feel when these events happen to us.

We all want and hope for that immediate remedy and evidence here may suggest that any improvement will take time and patience, never easy or simple. Two years is too soon to be accepting anything, you will still be at the evaluation stage and although we feel that impact of imposed change, what is reasonable to endure is always hard when evaluated from a medical practitioner.

Many here live with a developing condition that may initially show little clinical evidence even when the pain level is high, living in this situation is not easy and you should acknowledge the effort you have made and continue to make in providing your roles.

Do you feel anyone understands you pain, who have you to support you and can you make any changes that help ease the pace and management of your collective tasks.

Do they know at work the physical difficulties you have, are they helpful.

Take care and write again.

John

Lester:

Thats what they told me 2-3 years ago when I had L5-S1 and the did a Laminectomy on me , I was 38. Thats I was too young for a fusion. So they did the work and it didn't work, was still in pain and 4 months ago, I went back and at just turned 41 they said well get the fusion you better get it before you get too old. HUH. lol Different doctors of course, so total time Ive been dealing with it 8 years. Also L5-S1 had DDD too from the herniated disk. Why I said enough and had the fusion. Origianlly I went with Neurosurgeons, but my mothers boss was a Orthopedic surgeon whose specailty was backs, so I went with him. Hate to say you might to get another opinion, try a ortho or vice versa. 45 is not too young. Pain is Pain. Just my opinion. Good Luck

So, what exactly is wrong? You mention your L4/5 but then say the doctor will replace two discs. Which ones are they replacing? Are they doing L5/S1 also? And just one more question: did he tell you the name of the surgery, like a TLIF or PLIF or ALIF?

I know how scary it is. I had a TLIF in early January and it was very successful. All of the problems I had before surgery are gone and I now know that the pain I'm having is just a result of healing from the surgery itself. It was so worth it for me. If you choose to have surgery, you'll have days where you'll say to yourself, "Dang, I wish I was having surgery tomorrow!" That'll happen on one of those really painful days. That's when the pain is good because it really can make you look forward to surgery, but I know it's still a scary thing.

Take care and please keep us posted.
Cath

If you were laid off from work did you have Long term disability benefits with your job? That could be a source of income if you need time healing from your injury or from surgery. I have DDD lumber area and recently had an l5-S1 herniation and I'm going for epidural injections for the leg sciatica. Have ou been to a Pain Management Dr. yet? Good luck with your MRI and keep us posted. Take care. Charry