At the end of my rope

  • Thread starter Thread starter K1ttykatt
  • Start date Start date
K

K1ttykatt

Guest
Hi everyone, im new to this board, but i'm NOT new to back pain.. i've had 4 back surgeries in 2 years, 2 discetomies, a 2 level spinal fusion, and a removal of hardware all from 1/06 to 5/07, after the removal of hardware, the surgeon said, well.. your spine is still very unstable, i suggest you find a paim management Dr and try to find a way to be as comfortable as possible.. now.. i've been working since i was 15.. i was used to going 100 miles an hour to going.. 2 miles an hour, anyway I digress.. the PM dr did a discogram, it hurt like hell when he hit the L5/S1, he wouldnt touch me after that, sent me to a neurosurgeon, well the neuro surgeon ordered an MRI.. saw that the disc had slipped QUITE a bit.. almost to the point of it tettering on blowing, ordered a mylegram ( THOSE are fun) he gets all my tests results back, and said.. your discs are collapsing, the best thing for you would be a spinal stimulator to keep you comfortable.. he said "I could do a discectomy, but you'll be back here in 2 months with another blown disc" I said, well maybe i should get a 2nd opinion the surgeon said, well you can, but i'm afraid your going to have a hard time finding a Dr that will touch yer back. Uhhhh.. is that even possible??is this is for me?? a spinal stimulator that will only help my leg pain?? I cant bend, i cant squat, i cant even sit at my computer for longer then 15 mins before i cant take the pain anymore, I miss my job so much, I had just gotten into a slot at work that i LOVED, and now im lucky if i can pick up a gallon of milk, i read some things on here about spinal stimulators, but apparently they dont help the lower back pain, I dont want to spend my life on pain pills, muscle relaxers, anti depressants, and sleep meRAB just to get 4-5 hours of decent sleep, I'm so frustrated that all i can do is cry anymore.. i've gone thru the anger, and the depression.. have i come to the acceptance part of this program? can i MAKE him do the discectomy? or is a spinal stimulator the only thing left for me? ANY input is SO welcome!

Thanks!
K1TTYKATT
 
Hi Kitty,
You've been through the wringer in back surgeries. It may be true in dealing with some local surgeons that you might have some difficulty in getting another surgeon to look at you, but then again, you may not either.
I found myself dealing with a post op Cauda Equina Sydrome that my first surgeon missed , and while some surgeons that I consulted didn't want to touch me, I finally found one who would. The 2nd surgeon was also a professor at a Medical college in the area, so you might try someone who is at the upper level in his field.
I was also told to get a spinal cord stimulator put in, and I don't want one. Too many problems with the leaRAB migrating, the units malfunctioning, and I just don't want to go that route now. Someday, maybe, but like you, I have a lot of lower back pain, along with the leg pain, and there is little that can be done about that with scs.....so I refused it.
With the discs in as bad a shape as they appear to be, a fusion might be your best option. Is there compression of the nerves or encasement of the nerves in scar tissue? If there is, then something like neurontin or lyrica might help with that ....there are others as well, that can be tried.
I understand your wanting your life back, I would like mine too, but now I have had to adjust to using wheelchairs most of the time and canes on my good days.
Sandi
 
Hello kittykat,

Welcome to the board, but I am very sorry you have to be here. You have already been through so much and it looks like more is in store for you.

I agree with Sandi. You may have to go to a larger city or even a different state to find a doctor that will help you, but it wll be possible to find someone for a "second opinion."

My situation was very different, but I saw 8 different spinal specialists before I finally decided to have my fusion. It was an interesting experience to see what different docs recommended, how they'd proceed, etc...and no one asked me what another doctor had told me.

I think you'll just need to be up front when making an appointment, telling them you've had previous surgery, you're still in pain and you need another set of eyes to take a look at you. You don't need to mention what your doctor has told you....There are some specialists that make their practice from "failed back syndrome" patients, seeing patients that others will not take. You might try looking for a clinic in a larger city where there are a nuraber of spinal surgeons and spinal specialists --there is a very well-known spinal clinic in Cincinnatti called the Mayfield Clinic. They take patients from all over the world and provide all aspects of treatment. That might be one possibility for you....just to give you an idea of what to look for!

Good luck to you.

xx M:wave:M
 
The hardware was removed due to a Pedicle screw pressing up against a nerve, and I was doing pretty good up until about 2 months ago, then everything started hurting again, leg, lower back, ect. & I dont think im going to have a choice but to see another surgeon.. my husband is like a Pitbull with a steak in his jaws, when it comes to findin me some kind of relife, when im getting to the point of just accepting the pain, and try to move on.
 
I haven't had experience with multiple surgeries but I know some of the "veterans" on the board have, so I hope one of them will chime in to offer some perspective.

I would think that if someone could go in and do something to stabilize your spine again, it would keep those nerve roots from being compressed and causing so much pain. I don't know what all can be done in a revision surgery, but there must be some way to deal with it. For example if the surgeon did a posterior fusion, you could go in from the front and have an anterior fusion...or something like that.

I would look for an orthopedic spinal specialist to get another opinion.
 
LOL.. I am seeing a Dr from the Mayfield clinic.. i live in kentucky, and their office is about 15 mins from me, but i DO appreciate the advice!
 
Hi Kittykatt,

I feel your frustration! I have had my fun with back pain as well. I am almost out of a 2 years out of a 2 level fusion with on going pain issues. Anyway, what I wanted to tell you was I am in the Cincinnati area and there are a couple of places around that you might want to look into. There is the Cincinnati Spine Institute, they have a mix of neuro's and othapaedic surgeons. The place I go to is Riverhills healthcare. Maybe one of these places can help you and shed some light on what is going on with your back. I hope you find some relief soon and get back to doing some of the things you love to do. Don't give up, some great doc out there is going to help you.
 
OOPS -- well, that is very depressing to know. You mean your neurosurgeon said that no one would be able to offer you a revision surgery, or anything but a spinal stimulator? Well, I suggest you go to a spinal clinic that is mostly orthopedic spinal surgeons. I believe everyone at the Mayfield Clinic are neurosurgeons. I would think that Cincinnatti is a big enough city that someone in another practice would be willing to work with you. If not, there are other places.

Why was the hardware removed?
 
I really think you should get a couple more opinions, from doctors from different practices and different sub-specialties within the spinal specialist category, of course! Some docators pride themselves in taking those cases that other docs won't touch. You need to find one like that.

I am in the process of getting all my recorRAB together to go have a consultation with a doctor in California who invented a specialized form of MRI that does a better job of nerve imaging. I know on his website it says much of his practice is comprised of "failed back" patients. There are other practices around the country that do this, too. I'm sure you can find someone near you that will find you a challenge and will want to help you.
 
Back
Top