Case Summary  |  Lower back pain

years ago I was working a summer job as a Roofer for a small company in California. After one very long and hot job I was helping the others in the crew offload unused material form the top of a two story room While bringing a roll of roofing material down a tied off ladder the 120 pound roll I miss-stepped and miss a rung of the ladder. Because of my missing the rung the roll on my shoulder slipped down my back and toward the ground. Not thinking better I tightened my grip on the roll and leaned back to keep the material from falling to the ground and possibly damaging the roll, hoses and other supplies that were on the ground. Thankfully there was no one below that could have been hurt and the ladder was tied off to the roof. I felt of if my back had “popped’ and though a little sore I did not think that I had damaged anything. I got the material and myself to the ground and finished up work. The next morning I awoke feeling as if a vice was pressing on either side of my spine. I was not able to walk upright, to shower or even set comfortably. I would lie on the floor trying to get some relief and took some Tylenol thinking that I had just strained my back a bit. After two days of missed work and went to see my doctor who ordered a group of X-rays taken. After he reviewed the imaged I was informed that I was suffering from a herniated disc in my lower back. The doctor recommended a week off of work, heat treatment and given Soma to help with the pain. Though the drugs worked to take the edge and the break from work was nice the pain did not really go away. At a second visit to the same Doctor I was offer a epidural Corticosteroid injection. I was a more then a litter nervous about a needle in my spine but with the pain and the need to return to work I did not see much of a choice and the treatment did work in the short term. The problem was that though I was off my feet as much possible the pain was there. Over the course of 12 years I have seen more then my share of doctors and physical therapists and I do believe that most of them have shown a genuine concern for my injury and tried there very best to help.
Today I am considering a Microdiscectomy. I have been putting this off for a very long time now but the pain killers I am on are no longer effective and I do not wish to continue pumping my body full of drugs any more then I possibly need to. I have taken several very powerful drugs in the past few years including Perocet, Percodan, Loritab and xanax. My relationship with my wife is faltering and I find myself becoming grumpy old man at the age of 35. The pain is there and at time under control. I believe that surgery it a last ditch effort as I do not want to be put under and have my spine played with. I find that concept more frightening then the possible damage and the addiction to the painkillers that I am sure that I have. I also believe that in the long run, after I am able to stop taking the drugs that my life will be normal again and in such helping to save my marriage.
Today I get along by taking 1 10/325 Percocet several times a day and 50Mg of Cymbolta twice a day. I use heating pads at times as well as Ben-Gay back pads that I think have a more mental effect then any physical one.