Bullshit, surgery is not the answer for degenerative disc disease in any way, shape or form.

By the way it's called epidural and all that is, is a shot of lidocaine, which numbs everything because the other ingredient of the shot, usually depo-medrol or some other form of steroid that shrinks the tissue, burns a lot going in.

The problem, when it works, and many times it doesn't, the tissue is numbed and the swelling goes away, so the patient thinks their better. Problem, feeling better is not being better. The symptoms have been masked. Symptoms your body gave you to let you know you screwed up and didn't take good care of yourself. It's a mechanical problem. The vertebrae stop moving properly, usually due to some injury, so the disc does not get any fluid imbibed into it, it begins to dry up, or dessicate, (like dessicated dried fruit) it then begins to thin closing the size of the whole where the nerve is, usually ending up causing you pain.

I've been treating conditions just like this non-surgically for 32 years.

Thank you and I know your a chiropractor, right? I have know I have degeneration for about 12 years its just recently started giving me serious trouble.

Let me ask you about something Luv mentioned in a post she said it can affect your bladder, whats that about cause I do have problems with that but I haven't mentioned it to the Dr. Could it be from my back problem?

I hope I have the right person, your the dr right? Floridachief? Same person?

Yes to I'm the doctor, Floridafan and yes it can affect your bladder. A nerve has two types of fibers, motor and sensory. Motor tells the tissue what to do and sensory fibers relate it to its environment. Example, when you shake someones hand, you squeeze their hand, that's the motor portion of the nerve telling the muscles in your arm and hand to contract and squeeze and you feel the persons hand in yours, that's the sensory portion of the nerve doing the feeling and telling the brain your being touched.

How severe is the bladder involvement? You really should tell your doctor.

Personally I would not have surgery for degenerative disc disease but you may be so severe you waited too long and you might need surgery. Tough call without reviewing your MRI and x-rays.

Spinal decompression has helped many people with exactly what your complaining of. Everyone responds differently. Some people follow doctors orders, some don't. Some continue to do the very things that caused the problem others stop and follow directions, everyone is different.

You are completely unique and need to have someone evaluate you. Take your records with you.

I have a CD with my x-rays on it and my MRI is waiting for approval from my insurance co. I have been told by my dr to take them to the neuro surgeon she is referring me to.

As far as my bladder goes, its very hard for me to urinate at times I have to strain really hard and if I stop straining it stops. This doesn't happen all the time, but at least a few times a month.

I will be sure to tell her on my next visit.

Your insurance company should ok an MRI immediately. Keep in mind that the second half of the neurosurgeon's name is surgeon. They usually recommend surgery with symptoms you are describing and it is not in their best interest to refer you elsewhere.

Before anyone posts about their doctor and how wonderful they are and how they would never do that, give me a break. I've been dealing with doctors and sending referrals for 32 years and doctors do what's best for them, trust me.

In fact down here in Florida right now their is a class action suit against a lot of the most well thought of neurosurgeons and spine orthopedic surgeons for doing hundreds of unneeded surgeries on immigrants for $30,000 a pop after car accidents. It's very hush hush but details are beginning to leak out. It was a money making scam. I have heard that one of the doctors on referrals was doing $700,000 a month in services. I have been shocked by the names I've been hearing that are involved. So with that said you need to get advice from someone who does not have a money making vested interest in your condition.

I've heard patients say that they don't won't to offend their doctor by getting their records and seeking another opinion. Think of it this way. If you were told your car needed thousands of dollars worth of work and you weren't 100% sure that it was the way to go, would you not seek another opinion? If a doctor gets mad at a patient for seeking another opinion, you need another doctor. Get a number of opinions and look at different forms of care.

One last thing about surgery, you can't unscramble an egg. Once surgery is done that's it. 70% of all back surgeries fail and the patient is back for another surgery within 2-5 yrs. I believe its because they don't address the cause of the problem, altered mechanics, or improper movement of the bones, and only address the herniated disc or spurs etc.

I hope this helps. God Bless and good luck.

As my doctor described it to me...you wouldn't have control of your bladder. The nerves would be deadened, so you wouldn't be able to sense that you had to go before you went.

Epidural Steriod Injections. Been there. Done that.

Wow, you're old.