So, I appreciate all the great advice and kind words from you all. Let me start by saying... I have tried many things. Chiropractor (tons), Decompression Therapy, Light Therapy, I bought an inversion table and used it many times a day, drugs, steroid injection, physical therapy, and more.
The injection gave me absolutely no relief and may have actually made the pain a little worse. After going back to the pain management doctor and talking about options, he went over my MRI with me. I have a true rupture that is very substantial. He called it gargantuan. I met with a neurosurgeon. He also said the rupture is just too large and too far gone for anything but surgery to work.
I feel like I gave it the college try. It has been almost 4 months and I can't live like this anymore. A week from Thursday (2/12) I will be having a microdiscectomy. As far as back surgeries go, it is fairly easy. It will be out patient but the recovery will be hard for me since I will be so restricted. I will go back to work after 4 weeks off.
I can't believe I am having surgery again. But, I feel positive that I can finally get some relief and get on with my life.
