[Maria]

Hi Kelly!
I've been told this long ago after my L4 discectomy failed leaving me in horredous pain that I didn't have before my surgery (it was episodic pain and not so diffuse and then became chronic low back and nerve burning pain thru buttocks and bilaterally lower extremites) which lasted strongly for 5 years post 2nd discectomy.

The surgeon who did the surgery didn't say it was all in my head but the buddy OSS he referred me to did!

8 years later I really started actively looking into potential surgery to correct my pain and I had many opinions. In 2000 I was told I should have a 3 level global fusion by several surgeons (I didn't) and in 2003-2005 thanks to Mark M. I got at least 3 more opinions that thought I might be able to have a 2 level ADR (I didn't) and in 2005/6 I was told it would be better to do a fusion at L5S1 and ADR at L4 (still did nothing).

But you see... it wasn't all in my head which I think is more of a statement when a doctor isn't going to take the time to figure it out himself or has no desire to or even to help. That's a good way to get the patient to scoot so to speak/go elsewhere (depending on the doctor says it because if he goes over your films and does a very thorough assessment/exam/diagnostics and then says that along with explaining how pain is processed thru the brain (central nervous system) then I can hear someone saying that to me in that manner but not bluntly and rudely/dismissively.

So what this guy did for you is to "push" you forward into getting a 2nd and maybe 3rd/4th or however many opinions you can get.

Don't settle for what one person tells you and esp. if it's something like that and you are still feeling horredous pain. It's quite possible the pain is truly "in your head" in terms of how pain is processed thru the central nervous system however even then there are medications that can help with that and a Pain Management Specialist could be recommended if there isn't anything obvious that needs surgical attention.

I'm sorry you're in so much pain however for what it's worth I do welcome you to the forum and hope you will find some answers here. Good luck.