im getting ready to go to a surgeon, i need to have some of my discs removed and a rod put in

I think you may have misunderstood what Dr. Lasich meant when she said that degenerative disc disease is not a disease.  Technically, that's correct.  It would be more accurately defined as a condition rather than a disease.  But it very definitely does exist.  In fact, DDD is one of the most common causes of low back pain. 

I haven't had the surgery you're going to have, so I can't give you any personal experience, but hopefully others here who have had the surgery will share their experiences with you.

I wish you the best with your surgery.  I hope you'll keep us updated and let us know how you're doing.

Dear tracie127 To begin with always remember that the rate of recovery is also affected by you frame of mind and willingness to take care of your self and get up and go. If your a depressed person you will take longer to heal. I have a rod running from the middle of my spine to practiccally the tail bone which had to be removed. This operation was done several years ago and it took me a month to be reabilitated enough to where I could do it myself. I was walk ing talking and going about my usual. With a few exceptions because  of the rod I cam not flex my back and bend over all the way it doen't hurt the rod prevents me from doing it. I had to use narcotic pain pills 10/325 percoset for two months and then I threw the remaining  pills away. I tried all the fancy new pills like ultrim and another one that has a simular name and others I can't remember. I also used things like a shock belt that shocked my back while in pain but didn't work. So I absalutly had to use opoid pain killer like percoset 10/325. You want to remember that if you are given opieds percoset or oxycodon that they are very habit forming so you will want to get off of them asap. They also cause constapation which is exstreamly unpleasent. Hydrcodone will have the same effect stay away from oxycoton you don't need that strong of mediction. You may experiance a small pain after yoy start walking and sitting for about the first week but it goes away. If you start having sharp pain intamition shooting down you leg  or legs after the operation that could mean the doctor during surgery may have brused, or the rod is touching the nurrve. I do't know what the weather conditions are in your area cold weather effects the rod and when it rains you may get stiff a little until your body gets use to it. I hope what I have writen is of some help. Good luck on your surgery. Before you go getting that rod put in your back ask you doctor about the latest thing metal toggles that replace the rod and are lockated at each area where the bad or old disc was the toggles are not hookeed together and will give you a wide rage of bending ability and cut down on stifness.

Have a good day and good luck on the operation.

While I did not have any discs removed, I did have degenerated discs that became so bad, that it became adult onset scoliosis.  I had two rods (ea. about 15" long) put into my back, a steel cage wrapped around my spine and a whole lot of (somewhere around 26+) bolts attaching the cage to the rods and to my tailbone.  Before the surgery I was getting what felt like electric shocks down my legs and butt all day and night.  After I woke up from the 9 hr. surgery, there was instant relief.  One of the first things I noticed was there was no more jumping, or electric shocks.  It took about 3 months before I could return to work and considerably longer to feel somewhat normal again.    I had a wonderrul neurosurgeon and I would, and have recommended doing it to others.  There are things you must remember to be careful of afterward (no lifting anything over the weight of a milk carton, no bending, no twisting), but on the whole it was well worth it.   There is still some achy manageable pain but nothing like before.

DEAR TRACIE, I WOULD REALLY THINK THIS OVER!!!  I HAD THIS DONE AND THE PAIN NEVER WENT AWAY I FEEL WORSE THEN BEFORE I HAD THE OPERATION AND ITS BEEN 7 YEARS  I WISH TO GOD I NEVER HAD THIS DONE AND TO BE HONEST I MAVE MET 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO SAY THE EXACT SAME THING AS ME AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE UNDONE  MY HONEST  ANSWER IS I WOULD NOT DO IT YOU NEED TO RESEARCH THIS TILL THERE IS NO MORE TO READ ON IT I THINK YOU WILL FIND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT FEEL THE SAME AS I DO  AS FOR RECOVERY TIME I DONT FEEL THAT PERTAINS FOR I HAVE HAD MORE PAIN THEN BEFORE AND SHOOTING STABBING NON STOP PAIN DOWN MY RIGHT LEG IT HURTS TO STAND SIT LAY YOU NAME IT I AM NOT SAYING THIS TO SCARE YOU I AM JUST BEING 100% HONEST I SWEAR TO GOD ON THAT  YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION JUST MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A 2ND AND EVEN 3RD OPINON  BEFORE YOU DO GO THROUGH THIS!!!!  SORRY I WILL NOT SUGARCOAT THIS OR LIE TO YOU OR TELL YOU WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO HEAR JUST TELLING YOU WHAT I AND 4 OTHER FRIENDS/FAMILY ALL AGREE ON .

I haven't had any surgery yet. I take percocet and that doesn't totally relieve the pain and what pain it does relieve, it isn't for long. I'm considering Kyphoplasty. That's less invasive than implants (so I Hear). They inplant small balloons between your discs and it supposedly straightens your spine and relieves the pain because it takes the pressure off.  I will report to you what happens---GOOD LUCK with yours.

I am a 50 year old woman of small stature and structure.  I was diagnosed with DDD almost 5 years ago.  Since that time I have had 3 cervical neck surgeries.  First one was a 2 level fusion.  Second was to repair damage done by a chiropractor and also stabilize the neck as there was none at that time.  The first surgery was an ACDF, second was a posterior operation installing rods to stabilize the neck area that was previously "fused".  Then the disc above the "fused" area became herniated and pressing on the spinal cord.  They did a 360 operation this time, going anteriorly first, removing the larger plate and replacing it with a smaller plate as fusion had occurred in the front portion of the neck.  In the posterior, they removed the old rods and replaced them with longer rods to provide stabilization of the entire C4 - C7 area.

Now I have a slipped disc at L5-S1.  I refuse to have another surgery unless I'm wheelchair bound.  It's been 12 weeks post op and ever since my second surgery in April of 08, I have been in chronic pain.  I take medications (OxyContin, Percocet, and Soma) for the pain but it isn't enough.  I live in constant pain.

Before I would have a "rod surgery", I'd have a 2nd opinion, a third opinion and maybe even a 4th. 

This is major surgery we're talking about here.  Not a walk in the park.  During my 2nd surgery I developed a staph infection at the operative site.  Not a pleasant experience. 

I'm not trying to alarm you.  I'm simply trying to be as honest and as truthful as I can about the experience "I" had.  Your results may be different.  But I would think long and hard before making this decision.  That's all.

Trisha

After 2 unsucessful back surgeries for disc problems, I had one disc removed and what was called a titanium ladder put in the discs place.

That was in 1997...it was sucessful.

I have DDD, C5-7.  Have had 2 laminectomies w/titanium rod.  Pain level down from 9-10 to 2-4, depending on whether or not I do something to aggravate my neck.  I didn't want to live before the 1st surgery.  Would do again.

My sister had low back surgery with rod.  Got staph infection; rod had to be removed.  Pain going down leg after surgery was unbearable and no pain med worked until she was put on Avinza (morphine time release).  Pain level went from 8-9 to 2-3.  She says she has gotten her life back.

Best wishes to you in your decision and outcome.