[martyusa]

Hello all.

Nice informative place you have here and I am seeking some advice, or should I say some information so I can make an educated decision. I apologize if I ramble, but these damn pain meds just seem to make me go on and on. I want off of these things.

Like the header says I am 40 years old. I am a former US Marine, bodybuilder, Martial Artist for over 25 years and a father of 6. And I have a decision to make and need some help.

I have a bulging disc in the L5-S1 area. My disc is torn and I have mild DDD in that disc. I also have a very minor bulge L4-L5 that should be fine in time. I have a lot of pain focused in the lower back area down through the buttocks into the right Hamstring. All of this came to pass from a fall down the steps while holding my youngest Daughter. Both feet came out from under me and all I could do was to hold her tight with both hands. My tail bone hit the steps and I rode the rest of them down. She come out of this unharmed, thank God.

Thus far within the past 12 weeks I have had 3 Epidural injections with little relief and 2 nerve root injection with no relief. The last nerve root injection was a rough one. The Doc hit the nerve with the pin and sent the worse pain I have ever had shoot down my leg. I think the best way I can describe that is a funny bone shot, 10 fold, down the leg.

After all of this the Neurosurgeon has me now going through 6 weeks of PT. The 45 minute ride is enough to send me through the roof, let alone the ride back after we are finished. According to the therapist, she is trying to get the disc to go back in to help with the pain in the leg. When I asked her what are we going to do about the DDD and the tear, she just looked at me as if I had 3 heads. I had to explain to her what could happen in a couple of months when I am back on the mat or in the gym when this disc tears even more. She again looks at me and instructs me to do these meaningless exercises that will do nothing to heal my problem. It is as if MY goals are being ignored.

My doctor is telling me that I am just going to have to deal with this pain and will have to completely change my lifestyle.

Sorry, I'm not ready to quit living yet. I have a very active lifestyle and I need to maintain as much of this as possible to keep my own sanity. It has been 6 months since the original injury that led to all of this and no-one wants to listen. Or maybe it's me that does not want to listen. Or, GIVE UP!

I WILL do a few more bodybuilding comps, I WILL get my 5th degree BlackBelt and I will continue to have a catch with my son and be his coach. I WILL keep this way of life.

I have read everything from Disc replacement to Nucleus replacement to a fusion. With my goals, I feel a fusion is out of the question. Since I have the tear and the FDA has not approved the Dascor product yet, Nucleus Replacement is out. So if I want to maintain that healthy lifestyle it looks like DR is the way to go. I have read that many Doctors have worked with Prodisc II in several athletes and has had great success thus far.

Does anyone have any insight?