Ok, I saw the neurosurgeon today. After looking at my MRI, he told me he can see some degradation in the disc that was last operated on (in 2005) and the disc above it (which hasn't had any surgery) BUT nothing stood out as any cause of my current problems. So now I have to go in for a nerve induction test (which is what I had to do the last time, since the disc was bulging into the spinal cord and causing the problems. Unfortunately, his schedule is pretty tight right now (since he is going to be gone all of December) and since I don't want to have to make two trips back out to the city where his office is located, the soonest I could get in for both the nerve induction test AND to see him (doing both the same day) is January 10th. That means almost 2 more months of suffering (and me probably going back to my family doctor to see if he can give me anything for the really really bad days, as today has turned into) before I can get any specific answer.

However, he said (depending on the result of the test) that it could go one of two ways:
1). Physical therapy and meds, if the tests show no specific problem. Personally, I don't think this is probably going to work, but if that's what the tests say, I'll try it.
2) A partial fusion of my lower back, which may or may not get me back to what my current (or the current before the back went) normal.

So I get another 2 months of stressing over this before I can get a definite solution.

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To those that understand, I extend my hand. To the doubtful I demand, take me as I am!