My granddaughter, 18, injured her back four years ago and suffered herniated discs at L 4-5 and L5-S1. She has been in almost continual pain since then, but no one wants to operate because of her age. For two or three years now she has had very difficult menstrual periods to the point that she has had to miss many days of school. Consequently, she was put on birth control pills to help with the cramping and heavy flow. The problems continued, so her physician increased her medicine dosage. That has not helped. Is it possible that her problems with menstruation are being caused by her ruptured lumbar discs? If so, what are her options? She has been through two series of physical therapy which has not helped her back.