Hi Dr. Rynne, Thank you for being available. I know that I need to go in for my back surgery at L4-L5. This summer I tripped and pulled hamstrings in both legs. Hurt has lasted since May 1, 2014. Finally in 9-1 I could walk again. I was excited but easily re=injured when I started to try to organize my apartment set up my music equipment so that I would have something to think about after my surgery.. My 89 year old
Dad is dying of lung cancer in Iowa but I could not go to visit him due to intense pain. Sitting causes hamstrings and ear end muscles to spasm. Over the summer it felt as if my pelvis was caving in at times.
Then in late October I began to feel total right leg pain wrapping from hip around the foot. Now I know that it is sciatica. I had scheduled a plane trip to see my Dad on 12-8-14. Had to cancel because I could not walk sit etc. Have re-scheduled plane trip for 1-9-14. Trying to do nothing with my legs but easy walking. Often I cannot bend down, pain while sitting walking... don't know if I will be able to take a trip. Unfortunately it may be that I have to go for surgery rather than see my Dad. I am afraid that the plane trip might make my condition worseL4-L5 are already bad and problem may involve S1. I am so tired of being in constant debilitating pain. Will be a set back if it gets worse by flying to Iowa. Lately I have had stomach pain and nausea and vomited. I think that is related to so much pain and medicine that was not able to stop pain. ibuprophen, aspirin, vicodin. I stopped taking everything because it hardly works.
Is it better to just have the surgery and now travel at this time? Hard question. what is true?