Worn out facet joints no cure?

[Gunnhild]

I've had Crohn's since I was 20 and am now 61. I have osteoporosis due to (mainly) loosing 90cm of small intestine. Since june I have had back ache which has got worse and worse. It is worse after sitting around and sleeping. I have to get up and use the exercycle. I figured I must have some sort of enteric arthritis. The orthopaedic surgeon told me my disk has degenerated and a facet joint has been rubbing and is now worn. The facet joints have nerves in them. He said there is no successful surgical treatment "I could do xx and you would be back here in 3 years"?. Although I was listening carefully i was so shocked I couldn't take it all in. The surgeon seemed to think he was giving me good news.
I'm not sure which would be worse: hearing you are going to die or hearing you are going to live a semi invalid with bone rubbing on bone?

 

[LindaS]

I would get a second opinion. I have osteoporosis, too, as well as back problems (some related to the osteoporosis, some not). If the disk is gone completely, there is an option for an artificial disc to be added. I'm not completely sure of this, but if your doctor won't discuss this with you at all, perhaps a second opinion could help.

 

[Gunnhild]

Yes when I gather my optimism up I probably will. The orthopaedic surgeon doesn't seem to be aware of the gravity of the message he was giving me. The xray said facet joints "moderate arthropathy".

 

[ce1210]

Don't you just love the way physicians throw around the word moderate...it said "moderate colitis" on my colonoscopy results, but now that I told my doc I don't want to take 6-mp because I'm worried about side effects he says he would really recommend someone with severe illeocolic crohn's, such as myself, take a strong maintenance drug.....:ybatty:

 

[ce1210]

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time Gunnhild....sometimes my arthritis is worse than the crohn's (although I guess the crohn's causes the arthritis so I'm not sure if I worded that well) but I would def get a second opinion, I also started seeing a chiropractor and that seems to be helping me with mobility and whatnot so that may be worth looking into for a little relief maybe?