Well... after 10 years since the numbness , burning and pain started and now since my legs are getting weaker and my balance is starting to be effected I guess I am going to let a nerve surgeon cut me up and do some work on my lower back. I don't want to but guess it's worth a try once... In the photo the red arrows are pointing to what the nerves in my back are supposed to look like.... the pink is pointing to smashed nerves...the blue show the vertebrae slipped forward and the green is a cyst starting to grow. I'm full of stenosis and arthritis and now I am told higher up in different spots my back is starting to fuse together. Have some other issues higher up. Man... I sure don't want to keep going under the knife to try to fix everything but looks like I might have to try something at least once. I know many on here have had back trouble and surgeries to try to take care of some problems. Used to be a man of steel.. like superman.... now with patched up shoulders, new knee and hip( other knee and hip is shot), a couple stents... and now going have a fused back with screws , rods and cages.... I really am a man of steel (unfortunately) But just gotta stay active and keep being an outdoors man no matter what !

I feel your pain. I have 15 levels in my back fused and 3 in my neck. Got rid of most of the pain, but lost a lot or of range of motion. Unable to tie my shoes or put socks on as I can't bend far enough. Thankfully there are all kinds of devices to aid in getting dressed. They even make long toe nail clippers. Good luck.

Good luck. I feel your pain. Been through 3 back surgeries. Last one to take out a lot of metal. After a while all those screws, wire etc.. start to loosen up. Hope yours eliminates some of your pain and keeps you walking upright

I have had two back surgeries. First one did not work. Second one did. Have to be careful how I do things. Lots lots better now.

sending prayers ,

Sent with prayers for a successful out come.

I assume you already gave an honest long term effort to extensive physical therapy and that it didn't work? Im sure you already know but for anyone reading that should be the first step and be exhausted before going under the knife. Best of luck to you.

Prayers

Hey ... thanks all !! Yes I did do therapy. Several times over the last 10 years for a few months twice a week and almost daily at home. It helped a lot at first. But gradually the therapy was helping less and less. I really don't want to do the knife/grinder/fusion stuff but i'll give it a try once. Hopefully it will do some good and I'll be able to put up with the other problems higher up the spine and spend my twilight years on this earth still active !

Prayers sent

Back surgery worked for me. The second time. long boring story but I can live a normal life again.

I'm gonna have to get neck surgery and a right shoulder replacement. There is no good time to do it unless I don't want to trap one season. Good luck with your surgery!

Good luck.Lower back surgery done wonders for me about 9 years ago.

I wish you all the luck in the world. I have chronic back pain from abuse when I was young and dumb. Fortunately, for now, it hasn't been debilitating for more than a week at a time, usually from being old and stupid. I jacked up a disc real bad about 30 years ago and my chiropractor looked at the x-ray and said I may need to see Dr Knife. I said I'll wait. He said that the disc may lose the swelling that was going on, and it did. I got lucky.
Looking at your x-ray, with the smashed wiring harness, you definitely need more than a wait and see period of time.

there is nothing like the sharp drop you instantly make you scream out pain tha comes from the lower back. when you can't roll over sit or stand up. having to have your wife bring something for you to pee in because you can't move. I don't want to admit it but at some point in the future I will likely be in the place you are in now. I know jut the remote idea of having someone cutting an working on my spine is terrifying.

dad had some of the soft parts between disk replaced in his neck taken fom a dead person. along with some plates and 4 screws. He said as soon as he woke up the pain running down his arm was gone.

I'm rooting for you prayers inbound and keep up posted.