any idea's or help is appreciated. Thanks

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lconroy

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Hello Everyone. Bless you all. I know we wouldn't all be on here if we didn't have some kind of pain or know someone who is in pain.

If anyone has any idea's to what I may be talking about please a quick response would be great. I had an accident 7 years ago, at 35 . Led to (like most of us) countless injections, PT until I can do it in my sleep and all the anti imflams I could stomache. First surgery was a L4-L5 lami. Then surgery to carve out my tailbone, thinking my pain in my sacral area was due to a crushed tailbone. I also had a torn right labrum in my hip repaired and caught (staff) osteomyolitis during my first back surgery. Doctors didn't listen to my symptoms and blew it off (8 month it sat in my spine) I had to have IV treatment at home for 6 months to get rid of it. It did cause some scarring in my tissues though.

Last surgery was an L4-L5 L-5-S1 Fusion. I have been in pain since. Today I could barely walk and was at the pain clinic for yet another injection. I feel something has changed though lately. Things seem much worse. I have SEVERE cramping in my thighs that will not let up. The doctor looked at my CT scan and said. Well, I'm not saying your surgeon did anything wrong, but it's not right either. You are fused from L4 to S1, but nothing is holding L5. Does that make sense to anyone? I looked at the film and there is a cage that starts (the screws) from L4 and skips 5 and goes down to S1. My pain doctor almost eluded to the fact that it is causing instability. You know how doctors are, they really don't want to say too much. He said I need an MRI, due to the fact I have not had one since my surgery. Guys, I have been in worse pain since the stupid fusion and regret having every day of my life. I just put up with the pain, but this new squeezing type pain in my legs I can't. It's unreal. Sorry to go on and on. I hardly ever come on. I feel it's been something that I guess I'm destined to live with, and know there are worse things in life.... but this new stuff I can't take:dizzy:. Any thoughts. Thanks and so sorry you all have to go through this too. Take care everyone. I appreciate you taking the time to read.
 
I'm sorry to hear you are suffering. I think it is good that your doctor is ordering an mri. I think I would have a copy sent to your surgeon and then go talk to him/her. If not satisfied then go to another surgeon for a second opinion.

I would go back to the pain doctor and tell him that your pain is not being handled. If you don't already have a pain diary then maybe start one and rate your pain on a scale of 1-10 throughout the day. If you feel like going to the ER then write it down. Take it to your doctor appointments.

Something else. If you have coverage to go see a psychologist then maybe consider it. I did it and it was very helpful. I saw one who specialized in seeing pain patients. He was great for advice since he saw pain patients all day. He knew what I was going through. They could suggest an antidepressant or anti-anxiety med. and your doctor could prescribe it. Not many things as depressing as chronic pain.

So I would suggest following through with the mri, get your pain handled so your stress will go down and you will be able to think straight, and maybe try the psychologist. Focus on those few things and then you can focus on your next steps based on what the mri tells. As a last resort go to the E.R. if you can't handle the pain. Best of luck to you, so sorry to hear about your back trouble.
 
Thanks for caring enough to write back. I, having 2 degrees in Psychology myself, am quite aware of what the PHD's have to offer. My coping skills have become top notch. Going to grad school for bereavement counseling, actually that is what we all are doing, grieving for the bodies we all once had, I balance my emotions very well. I was just trying to get some kind of information on my fusion. Communication seems to be a little interesting. I will try again. My screws in my spine are at the top of L4 skipped L5 and only at the bottom of S1. My pain management doctor, whom I visited yesterday, had mentioned this was not the norm. If anyone out there has had this in their double fusion and can explain to me why that would be, please contact me. I am all good on the shrink end. Thanks though, I do appreciate your concern. It is very important for many to ask for help. For me, a small pill that will nurab my emotions will never give me my active life back. It also will never let me stop fighting, striving to get better. The day that happens, personally in my life, God help me. As for depression. I volunteer, I attend church and I function as best as I can. That is not the definition of depressed. I would know I have 2 dregree's. Please be careful who you diagnose on line. I have a physical condition, not mental. If you actually read my post you would have seen I just was at my pain clinic....please it did state I was at my pain clinic. I would like to have anyone's insight to maybe why the screw's were skipped at this level. My one doctor eluded to the fact it may be causing some instability. I really am not being harsh. I just find it very difficult to take when people assume an antidepressant will solve my problems. Fixing my spine, that will solve my problems. Depression is a chemical irabalance in the brain. I will not get into the long drawn out reasons this happens. Seritonon and such.

Thanks all. God bless and pain free days and night to all
 
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