So far since 2000, I've had 5 back surgeries..The first was only a bulged disc...

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th one's were for a total fushion surgery on the 3 lower disc's from my tailbone up.....Had them blown out on a job related accident.

Reason for the 4th one was because the 2nd and 3rd ones did not heal correctly and fuse the bone graft together....So in realitly for 3 yers I had the same exact pain from day 1 from the injury. Everything had to be opened up, taken out and put back in twice, with the last one that was done.....The doctor went thru my stomach to get to my spine...Spent 1 week on nothing but liquids getting my insides back to normal before I could eat solid foods again.

I tried everything in the world prior to having the first fushion surgery done, but nothing would stop the sciatic nerve pain i had...From the 2nd surgery, a nerve was hit somewhere in my back. Now I have what you would call a sharp 24/7 pain in my left buttock, like a knife or a ice pick being shoved up my butt cheek. My back is still in pain and my physical limitations are vast....

After the 2nd Re-do of the Fushion surgery...another nerve was cut and not healed correctly that goes to my left leg. From the knee down to my foot...I have no true feelings at all, it tingles to touch and now never sweats, and stays like hot to the touch all the time.....

The weather just plains hell on the pain i have in my back, I try to sleep with a pillow between my legs to keep my spine as straight as possible at night....But most nights I'm lucky to get 3 hours of solid sleep.....

The doctors have told me now that unless a new procedure is discovered, I'm stuck with the way I am for life...Plus the fact that in most cases, 15 years is about all I will get outta the fushion, before the next disc up will fail and have to be fused to the ones already fused.....

I live on Morhpine now taken 3 times per day, with muscles relaxer's, inflamation meds and Lididerm pain patches when needed all for the pain I have constantly.

The doctors said I fell into the 15% of the world's Population where even with a fushion surgery, no help is received from the constant pain.... I held out for as long as I could before I let the doc's do the fushion surgery adn made sure everything they could try to releive the pain was done first. Prior to the surgery being done.....

Srry to go on for so long, but after 5 back surgeries..I think i am somewhat informed on how the entire process works...Hell I even went on line and looked up the surgery...I wanted to know everything there was about the procedure prior to having it done...didn't want any surprises....

Good luck to you on your back problems, all these young kids and adults out in the world should cherish their backs and hope they never go thru my experiences......

BTW... since I have to take so many pain meds...I'm accused of being a junkie, crazy pain med idiot, and other things by some members on this board....Since they think the pain meds keep me from making sound decisions about sports in general while posting on this board......