Surgery before school???

nurse4theplanet, RN · Dec 13, 2005

I am scheduled to begin my general classes this Spring, and my clinicals in the fall. I *thought* I had everything worked out.... but no.
I just recently learned that I have a herniated disk in my lower back. It started out about a month ago as a "muscle strain" (or so I thought) and ended with someone calling a squad, because I was unable to get out of my car. Since then, I have been seeing a chiropractor and had an MRI performed.
Here is my problem : I have been told that I am a likely candidate for back surgery. BUT, that I have a choice. They said I can do it now... or wait until later to see if it is still bothersome after physical therapy. Although I am feeling good right now, my doctor is concerned that my back may become worse when I start clinicals, lifting patients, and being on my feet all the time.
What should I do? If I have the surgery, I may or may not still have back problems. I may or may not be able to start school exactly when I wanted, depending on the surgery date & recovery time. BUT, if i don't do it, I may or may not hurt myself during school and face the possibility of having to postpone classes (which would be bad, because I am taking an evening/weekend course which is only offered every 2 years)
What is your opinion? Would you have the surgery, or wait? Has anyone ever been in this situation? Will I even pass my physical to begin clinicals with a disk herniation???
Thanks in advance for any advice!!!!

you need to take care of YOU. I know it is tempting to want to postpone anything so you can get done with school, but your doc is right to warn you that clinicals will involve lots of physical work. Why make the problem worse?

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Dec 13, 2005

I agree, take care of the disk ASAP, and school second. Talk with them, as I am sure they will work something out.

Good luck to you and a speedy recovery from your surgery.:balloons:

madeline9175 · Dec 13, 2005

I have been in spine care for the past few years in Texas. You do not have to have surgery right now and it doesn't sound like it is serious enough to warrant back surgery. Back surgery is something you never fully recover from. Take my advice, get some ESI's, do physical therapy and get on a good anti-inflammatory. Any surgeon will tell you SURGERY now because that is where the dollars are. Problems is, once they do the surgery, YOU have to live with it. Finish the big goals such as school and career and then proceed with surgery.

Still Riding · Dec 13, 2005

I'm in a similar situation, I am in my third year of my program (Canada seems different the the states) and am in the need to having 2 ligaments in my shoulder fixed.

Although I have options of waiting a bit and seeing if with physio I can strengthen the rest of the structures in my shoulder to compensate. the idea with that one is it might need more fixed later.

My shoulder get achy after a certain days but I think it is managable the problem comes with the subluxing and dislocating. My shoulder will dislocate sometimes with certain activities, btu the weirdest part is that it doesn't when it is dislocated, it is just almost useless. put it back into place and I am good to go.

I have decided to wait for a bit at least until the end of this year, but my parents think i should fix it now.

These things are hard to decide.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2005

I hobbled around with a ruptured disc for a number of months. Had problems with the insurance company giving a pre-approval for the surgery, so if you haven't had that to look forward to yet, be prepared. My insurance company contacted me numerous times wanting to know if my "injury" (it was never an injury that I knew of) was caused by an auto accident or work injury. I had a diskectomy and laminectomy which fixed the ruptured disc problem beautifully. I had to be off of work for 3 months--absolutely no heavy lifting. There was a lot of pain for a least a month after the surgery while I healed. The second month was tolerable and when I got into the third month I was feeling really good and wanting to get back to work. Unfortunately, it aggravated another problem in my back that was either ignored or wasn't noted that cropped up in my third month of recovery. I now see a chiropractor on a regular basis which has helped my current particular problem tremendously. What has your chiropractor had to say about this? I know mine is not a big proponent of any surgery on the back. He says that each back surgery weakens the spine. So, if you decide to have the surgery try to do it over your summer break because you'll be ready to go back to school in the fall. If you are having more extensive surgery, like a fusion, you will have to be on lifting restrictions for a lot longer than 3 months and may have to be in a back brace as well. I was told two years ago that I need a spinal fusion, but I really don't want to have it. As I said, my chiropractor has been a really big help with all this. He referred me to a physical trainer who specializes in working with people who have spinal problems and the horrid pain I had been having epidurals for is nearly obliterated after a little over a year of treatment and exercise directed by the chiropractor.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Dec 14, 2005

I agree fullly with Madeline9175 I think I'd put surgery way down the list of things to do to get your back better.