Any Advice Appreciated

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SikOfPain

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Hello Everyone,
I am new here and would like to tell my story with hopes of advice, encouragement and feedback.
I am a 40 year old male was employed as a state Corrections Officer for 16 years. In 1998 I fell from a step ladder on a concrete floor approx 5 feet. I was out of work due to pain in low back and right leg for approx 3 weeks I sought medical treatment X-ray showed nothing and returned when pain subsided. at the time of my injury I was in good health and weighed 235lbs at 6'2".
The pain in my Back continued intermitedly and became constant in approx 2002due to pain i was unable to do the activities that I was acustom to and began putting on weight to approx 260lbs. I again sought medical attention. MRI showed degeneratice dic didease L4-L5 and L5-S1, EMG showed abnormal study and was seen by Drs who were orthopedics and nerosurgeons who all seemed to lean toward my weight as cause of my pain. Disgusted with their diagnosis I lost 6olbs and returned to 200lbs and the pain not only continued but worsened.
from 2002-2006 I continued to seek Medical trewatment and recieved Physical therapy, numerous epidural and facet joint injection all with little or no improvement to my pain.
In 2006 I further injured my low back and right hip while at work MRIs now show further deteriation of L4-L5 and L5-S1 discs with bulged disc at L4-L5, EMG shows worsened nerve damage with right radiapathy
I have not reuturned to work since that time and have been in constant pain that radiates to my right leg I expierence weakness in Rt led and walk with the use of a cane
I have have been forced to retire from my work and now recieve a disability retirement and social security diasbilty.
The Pain is to the point that it is unbearable and constant. I have been told that I will need a spinal fusion I was told this approx 3 years earlier but refused to do so. Now I am in so much pain and unable to live a even semi normal life I am considering this
My Dr has also reccomended the possibility of a morhine pump to decrease pain but the idea of any of these surgeries scare the heck out of me as it seems for everyone they have helped I hear of someone else who was not helped by surgery.
If anyone out there has had simular problems to mine that can share there expieriences with me it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

After reading my post I thought I should add a summary of timeline and diagnosis

1998 injury from fall
1998 X-Ray showed normal
1999 MRI- Degenative discs disease and facet disease
2000 Epidural injections
2000 Mylegram normal
2001 Facet Block Injections
2002 X-Ray showing narrowing of L4L5 dics
2003 Physical therapy
2003 MRI showing mild disc bulge L4-L5
2004 Physical therapy
2004 EMG abnormal study
2004 MRI degenitive disc disease L4 L5 L5 S1 mild stenosis
2004 Epidural Injectiions
2005 Physical Therapy
2006 MRI showed narrowing of thecal sac, degenertive disc disease L4-L5 L5-S1 mod stenosis
2006 EMG L4-L5 nerve damage with right radiopathy
2006 MRI Rt Hip bursitus and cranial cysts
2006 Epidural and facet block injections
2007 MRI severe Stenosis wiith L4-L5 and L5-S1 dengenitive disc disease and bulged disc L4-L5

I have been taking locet or percocet for pain since 2006 and using a tens unit ans back brace

thank you again
 
Hi and Welcome to the boarRAB. You will find a lot of information and support here. W I'll try and make this as brief as I can but I too have a long history of back problems. In 1981 I was in a car accident. I didn't think I was injured at the time so I didn't ask for any medical treatment. The next day I woke up and could hardly move. I had to have help getting out of bed. I went to the Army hospital at Fort Knox and was given pain meRAB and muscle relaxers and sent on my way. Fast Forward to 1998, I was injured at work and once again the day after injury I couldn't get out of bed and could barely walk or sit, I was only comfortable lying down. I had a lurabar mri that showed L4-5 degeneration and herniation spinal stenosis and osteoarthritis. I had an emg that showed abnormal nerve function and an Esi was recommended but I didn't do it because I was horribly afraid of the procedure So it was pain meRAB and PT. My doctor said I needed to get into a different line of work. Well I didn't because I knew that all the back stuff would be considered a pre=existing condition and another companies insurance wouldn't cover any back stuff. I became disabled in 2001. My doctors were confused by my worsening symptoms with not much change showing in lurabar spine ( this is after another mri) I suffered with leg pain and nurabness until 2004 when my neck and shoulders and arms started hurting and getting nurab too. I thought I was having a heart attack. Scary stuff. My neurologist ordered an mri of cervical spine and it was a mess. DDD spinal stenosis 3 herniated discs and NO spinal fluid in my neck. Conservative treatment started with bedrest and PT. Of course there was no change and I was sent to a neurosurgeon He said Surgery. I had cervical fusion in June 2004. I woke up feeling better than I had in ages it was great. Unfortunately my lurabar spine started acting up again and I had a fusion in 2006. I had a very hard time deciding to do that surgery. It is a scary surgery but I had spondylosthesis and waiting was just going to make my back get worse. ( Spondy is when vertebrae slip over the top on each other.) I still have issues but I honestly believe if I had not waited so long I might not still have nerve damage in my legs. Walking short distances is difficult both thighs get nurab and burning pain. I think you should read up on this surgery and then it may not seem as scary to you. My experience is this stuff doesn't get better on its own. But it is up to you to decide. Take Care and keep us posted! Dee
 
Hi there welcome........ well your story is just like mine only I'm 2 years younger !! and female and did'nt fall !!

I have been in pain since the year 2000 and then got worse 2002 when I was pregnant and after that it got worse and worse and finally last year I spent most of my time either on the floor or in bed ! so I went back to the neuro surgeon who I had been to several times and begged for a spinal fusion. We had spoken about it and he told me to think about it for 6 months and come back I took about 12 months ............. and then when I got to the stage I was just in bed I said yes fusion........... can only help and not make me any worse. What is wrong with my back......... looking at my MRI I should be flying !!! slight bluge and DDD on L4/L5 L5/S1.............. nothing to have me in this constant constant unbearable pain. He told me that fusion wouldnt be a cure it was more a mechanical problem with my spine.
Had the fusion in May..... Am I glad yes..............
has it improved.... yes........
am I 100% better ..... no. I still have pain, I am not able to stay up I get up at 8 and by 12 I need to lye down for an hour, then need to lye down again for an hour in the afternoon............ and then early nights !! but tend to get sore from the bed if I stay to long.
I am glad i had the fusion but I did think after 9months my quality of life would have been better. But it depenRAB how you are going into the fusion aswell.

Can you walk far?
Can you stand for long?
Is your back flexible, are your hamstrings tight, can you squat down.

The above I cant do........... and hadnt been able to do going into surgery so my healing process is slow. It is hard to decision to make but you also have to look at the fact this wont go away on its own either and you have been down every route like myself.
Round1
 
Hi there, just noticed you didnt really get much support from people here on the board. I joined 9 months ago and got great support, but lately have found not many replies to some questions. Please dont give up hope, post again ............. and maybe someone might be able to help.
 
Hi again,
Wanted to thank you Ladies for replying to my post and give you an update Last week Thurs I had another Mri that My Surgeon told me yesterday Monday that it shows that L5 vertabrea has shifted showing increased sign of spondysumthing but he was very concerned at what he said was a great amount of fluid in the area indicating a very large amount of inflamation he suggested another epidural injection to help with the inflamation. This morning I was giving this injection with no imediate relief but am hoping that I will get some within 24 hours as he said that I likely will.
Just to answer some of the questions you asked . I was able to walk with a cane for a good distance before needing to rest and also was able to stand for 20-30 mins before needing to sit. the hamstring in my right leg always seems to be tight and trying to stretch it has always increase and brought on mmore intense pain. I was able to do most activities such as walk, sit, twist but it seemed that too musch of anything would increase my pain and not always immediately sometimes it would be delayed as long as the next day before i felt the ramifications of doing something.
In the last 2 weeks it seems that my pain has been more constant and sharper. From what I understand this is because of the swelling and inflamation what I dont understand is what I did to make it worse I really thought I knew my limitations of what I could do to keep it tolerable but I guess this is now changing.
If this injection does reduce the swelling and makes the pain less I will from here out be very cautious about my activities and do very little that may put me in the state that I have been in for last 2 weeks becuase this is just awfull to have to live everyday with unbearable pain. Well i seem to be rarabling on now so once again thanks for the replies..
 
Hi and welcome to the boarRAB. I have a fusion at 17 in 1982 and led a pain free life until 2004 when I heard a loud pop and was unable to move my leg after playing with the kiddos. I suffered with nerve pain and then had a laminectomy in May 2006 which was followed with a fusion in Feb 2007 then a revision surgery in Noveraber of 2007. So you can see that you can have a pain free life after a fusion but once a spinney always a spinney and you must be careful of the bending, lifting, and twisting.

What I want to say is that please keep in mind as you read the board that most people that post are individuals who are seeking advice about surgery, those with initial back injuries or are ongoing back patients with extremely difficult/complicated cases. Most of those who have had successful surgeries do not stay posting on the boarRAB. They are out there enjoying their life to the fullest and not posting on the board. I must say I don't blame them and would do the same if I was in their shoes?

Please don't hestiate to ask any questions, we discuss everything from constipation to weird sensations. If there is anything that is concerning you re: surgery, ask away and I am sure we will all enjoy chatting and giving you our 2 cents.

Good luck and again WELCOME!!
 
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