Avoid the surgery, IF possible. My wife has had two back surgeries and no telling how many injections and another procedure called the Raczs procedure (had to have been invented by a Turkish torture sadist) and about every kind of pain killer invented.. She needs another surgery, but is trying to avoid it.

I had one rupture a few years ago. Took me about 18 months to recover. It is still sensitive to certain activities but manageable. I never had any surgery. My advice is to stay away from a chiropractor, too.

Brad, good advice about the Chiropractor.

I use to go and I'm sure it had a negative effect on this now!

I ruptured L4/L5 when I was 26. I tried to avoid surgery, but had lots of pain and numbness from the knees down. Then I got to the point where I would lose all feeling in my legs and just fall. This happened twice at work. The second time, the plant nurse was behind me and saw the fall. She walked by my desk a little while later and handed my a note with a doctors appointment. I had surgery with Clarence Watridge from the UT school in Memphis. I'm 57 now and have zero structural back issues since. The one thing I will say is this: If you're going to have surgery, do it now. Your youth should help with the healing and recovery. I'm sure at my age, the results would be different.

If the dr says I need surgery I'm gonna do it. I really hope my age lets me bounce back really well and I don't have any complications! I'm in pretty good shape and 5"10 at 195 so I don't feel like my weight is a problem but I could lose 10 or so pounds.

I second dr Clark he's at st Vincent's with neurosurgical associates I'm 36 & he's done both of mine an l4 l5 discetomy bout 3 years ago & a fusion at same level bout 2 months ago

I had two herniated disc when I was 23. I had surgery and so far so good. Gets a little sore when I do to much bouncing around. It was instant relief after the surgery.

Dr Okor at UAB is the best in the business

I am 46. I ruptured L5-S1 When I was 15 years old playing football in high school. It was awful, I had surgery and was great but still had off and on pain issues for years. 9 years ago I ruptured the disk at the same level but on the other side. Knew it immediately after it happened. Had surgery again. Immediate relief. Everyone has horror stories about back issues and I will say that I have had my share, but I could not function until I had surgery to repair. I would definitely get opinions from a Neurosurgeon instead of Orthopedic surgeons. I haven't had any issues with since other than the occasional tightness etc. Keep in good physical condition and strengthen your core afterwards...

I'm so sorry to hear about your situation especially at your young age. From reading all of your posts, I can see many similarities with my own injuries. First, GET TO THE DR/neurosurgeon ASAP. Carry a copy of your MRI with you. I have had many Dr.s' and many surgeries and from my experience, I would highly recommend Dr. Jeffery Waid at Alabama Orthopedics Center, Bhm. 205/802/6700
I hope this helps and wish you the best of luck.

I think you and I are brothers from different Mothers. Blew mine out last year toting a deer at age 59. Still have problems, but so far I've only done PT. My L3-L5 have little or no disks at all. I went back for a followup appointment on June 13th and he gave me a sample of Duexis. Wow. Stuff works better than Tramadol or Tylenol.

My wife has had 4 ,,she has a disease that breaks the down
With time,,I don't wish that on anyone
Good luck with yours

Thanks everyone! I have an apt with Dr. Wilson July 17th at St. Vincent. I guess we will see what my options are!

Duexis is awesome!!! I take them every day. My L5 S1 is screwd up as well as C5-6

I'll give you my 2 cents. I have a bugling disc that is on my left side. It has caused me trouble off and on for several years. It is currently aggravated now and hurts like a son of gun. My advice would be give physical therapy a try for a few weeks to see if that helps you. If not then surgery may be the only option unless you wanted to try to treat it with pain management. I tried all the shots and nerve blocks and none of that worked for me. I only got relief when I went to PT and it lasted for 3 years until here recently.

As for a surgeon several guys have made some solid recommendations. I personally would recommend Dr. Woodall as he's not a cut happy surgeon. Be careful when selecting a surgeon as they need patients to make money. Without patients they don't make any money. What I liked about Woodall is he has my best interest in mind and not his bank account. He is also a very good surgeon and came highly recommend from people in the know.

Mine doesn't sound that bad, but it does come and go at random times. I don't sleep all that well, but I don't think that is why.

jrs - I can relate. I ruptured one at 19yrs old and waited till I was 20yrs old to have surgery. It was my L5/S1 disk. By that time, my foot was going numb and life was so miserable I didn't think it was worth living with that pain... hoped it would magically get better, silly young niave self.

I had surgery and it took about 9mths-1yr to get feeling back and feel "normal" again then I was good for a solid 5yrs until I was stupid and picked up something way to heavy and slipped another one. This time I did rehab, etc. and waited it out and about 2 yrs later it was almost gone. I'm 35 now and hopefully I'll avoid having another one for another decade but my disks are degerative so its inevitable.

Also in my experience, every orthopedic surgeon will want to operate almost immediately but the neurosurgeons are slower to recommend it. I'm glad I didn't listen to the 3 ortho's I visited or I would have been cut on a cpl yrs earlier after spring training of my Junior yr in high school.... not saying my experience is same for everyone.