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Thank you for your well wishes. Yes, they did steroid shots then nerve blocks and finally the ablation. Something that does concern me is, with my line of work, if pain management did help, would it be giving me a false sense of security. My wife says the pain is there to let me know not to be doing whatever is causing it. If the pain is masked and I continue with the lifting and bending am I only hurting myself more?
Replies to "Thank you for your well wishes. Yes, they did steroid shots then nerve blocks and finally..."
Am not a proponent of nerve blocks or ablation. I won't let docs even inject steroids because those are band-aid solutions to an underlying problem - a problem that can likely be fixed. Yes, it will give you a false sense of security; your wife is 100% correct. Pain occurs for a reason: and yours is the wear and tear on your back due to your profession/active lifestyle.
Yes, if you mask the pain and continue to lift, twist, work, it just further deteriorates your already deteriorated back.
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Apply for disability now.
From my own experience, and I too did NOT want to be labeled "disabled" and loved working.
1) It takes two years of being on disability to get Medicare, which you will need because your back is not likely going to get better anytime soon, regardless of what treatment path you choose.
2) Getting on disability at your present age is not terribly difficult considering your medical history and attempts to fix this. However, whatever amount they give you for disability will be what your SS check will be for the rest of your life - unless your spouse has higher SS when she retires than you have when you go on disability.
3) I also attempted work at something other than my chosen career field to stay afloat financially, but it was very difficult;
4) When you ARE on disability the SSA will allow you to work if you choose to, and they also have retraining programs you will be eligible for;
Are you a veteran? Got some pointers there, also, if so.
As far as the options, from what I have read (and although I am in the medical field I am not a spine doc) you have done everything possible to work and fix your issues.
If your spine is already bulging into the sac surrounding the spinal cord, something is going to have to be done before it gets worse. You do not want long term impingement of any nerves in your back - nerve damage can be permanent if you do not fix the issue.
My Dad, more than 30 years ago had back surgery. He was a firefighter and hunter/fisherman type person and chose to have back surgery to relieve pain. He did really well and said afterwards "I wish I'd have done it sooner"....
I have had several surgeries - skeletal type and have never had an issue and am about to have cervical spine surgery, after I get done with a total rt shoulder replacement. I just got done with hand surgery and nerve surgery (ulnar nerve release) and it is one week post op and am doing great.
I am 70. After 50+ years in the medical profession - in several roles, to include being an ICU nurse - my philosophy is to do it now rather than later. First because of your age - you will recover faster and second, you will be able to get through it, then be retrained - thanks to SSA - for a new career to support that family of yours.
A VERY important question: do you smoke?
Are you at a reasonable weight for your height?