Rick's Back InjuryI am 63 years old, I am a RT , after two months home I went back to work doing homecare setups,while working in a nursing home, one of our Oxygen techs needed a hand with the 180 LB containers, rolling them in to the Nursing home. The following day I could not get out of bed-I went to my family Dr, who thought I had bursitis and gave me a Cortisone shot. The following week I was back and a nerve conductive test showed a pinched nerve. I went to a Qualified Spine Specialist, who gave me an MRI. The following week I was back and was told my back was fine--so for 8 weeks I suffered thinking it was a pulled tendon. After many visits back he admitted that he misread the MRI and I had a broad based bulge at L4 and a mild herniation at L5, infringing the L5 nerve, He wanted to do a Spinal fusion. I went and had three more opinions, found a great orthopedic, who told me it will heal, but it will take months. He told me to get a epidural shot, which I did.So how it changed my life- everything I put in my mouth must have value, eat well, I lost 20 lbs. I exercise every day when it does not hurt- and i appreciate life alot more. Although I am in a great deal of pain as I write this, I truly believe it will heal in time. I forgot to mention that I have Physical therapy twice a week, it has been six months and I do not dwell on the pain anymore. Keep your body strong, keep busy, walk when it does not hurt, join a gym and use the treadmill-- the moral of this story is, some Dr's are not working in your best interests.Find someone you trust and do not jump into surgery until you truly trust the Dr. you have. - Rick
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