I Need a Backeotomy....

So, today I had a corticosteroid injection in my back.  I am running out of options for treatments that don't lead to surgery, so I decided to give my doc the go-ahead to do it.  It's a simple procedure, only takes a few minutes and there's only a little pain (not from the needle, from the meds going in).  I was numb from waist to toes for about 3 hours, so I took it easy until it wore off.  I'm in a considerable amount of pain now, but I'm hopeful I'll find some relief in a couple of days.

My history of back issues started when I was a kid.  My grandma (yes, THE grandma) had to retire at 53 due to severe back problems, and our family has a history of scoliosis.  When I was 8, I fell of the jungle gym on the playground and landed flat on my back - on concrete.  That earned me a trip to the ER and my first round of x-rays, but they didn't find anything alarming.  I went through two car accidents before I was 11, both times sustaining serious injury to my back.  I was hit by a car while riding my bike at 14, earning yet another trip to the ER and discovery of more damage to my back.  Most recently, I was in a car accident in 2008, where the damage to my car was fairly minor but the seat broke loose from the floor.  I fractured the vertebrae at L4 and L5, and that damage has never really healed.  I went through extensive physical therapy, and dealt with the pain on my own until I just couldn't handle it anymore.

I'm only 37, so I'm not ready to give up and just accept the pain.  With mild narcotics (Norco), I can function well enough to go about day-to-day life.  I don't take muscle relaxers well (except Skelaxin, which is horribly expensive so I can't afford it), and can't take Meloxicam or high doses of Naproxen as it kills my stomach. I have taken Gabapentin in the past, but it has too many side effects.  For now, the shots + Norco are what I'm relying on to put off surgery as long as possible.

I greatly wish for a morning where I can wake up and not be in pain.  I honestly can't remember the last time that happened.  I would love to be able to sit longer than 30 minutes without burning, throbbing nerve pain shooting down the backs of my legs.  I want to be able to have fun.  I really miss it!