Any Dr.'s in the house

[DTLB58]

Update:
I seen the surgeon this morning and after about a hour consultation, looking at the MRI, reading the report, conducting some physical tests and talking it over he recommended surgery.

He thought after 6 years and all the other things I have tried it was fair at this point to consider it. He just gave his opinion and totally left it up to me. So I scheduled it for 2 weeks from today.

One of the other things I have to take into consideration with this, is that the company dr. told me if I try and return to work without surgery they are placing permanent restrictions on me. Only 8 hour work days and no repititive bending,lifting or twisting. If I have the surgery and it is succesful they would let me return without those restrictions. That is important because with the restrictions, it will one limit my ability to make more money and two, retrict me to move throughout the factory to other jobs if I so desire. The union also warned me with permanent restrictions the company could just tell me they don't have a job for me any longer.

Thanks for all the replies and info, it was much appreciated.


Had an MRI done on my back on Tuesday. See a surgeon Tomorrow.

I got the report from the MRI back today so I can take it to my appointment.

Here's where I was looking for some insight. My main problem is at the L4-L5.

The report reads: "Posterior left paramedian disc herniation and the herniated disc volume is decreased significantly from the previous exam. Specifically, the small extruded fragment has resolved. The remaining protruding disc flattens the ventral margin of the thecal sac and closely approximates the origins of the right and left L5 nerve root sleeves.

Is the decreasing volume good or bad? And that the extruded fragment resolved good or bad?

Me and my wife are reading it two different ways.

Just a little anxious, have been sitting around the house for 2 weeks now cause the comapny dr. won't let me go back to work until I see the surgeon.