Axialif Procedure/Trans 1 procedure

  • Thread starter Thread starter tjdobbs
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Hi John, thats the point, I can not get a 2nd opinion because there are only an handful of surgeons who perform this in the UK.
I have tried, but I get told, shes one of the best.......
I have add a little time to reflect after posting this, and I am convinced, there is a trapped nerve somewhere, and will point this out on the 26th Fev, but I am no expert, so if she dismisses this , Well I give up......

Thanks for taking the time to reply
 
Hi Jdon,

I agree with Grundy56 that you should explore all options outside of surgery. I did try many options to no avail. I tried physiotherapy, chiropractor, accupunture, Steriod Injections, Nerve Block Injections. None of these helped me. I was not willing to do the surgery until it was my final choice to get better. Which I desperately needed having three young children. I did have the surgery and do feel better than I did but I am still battling the sciatica down the left leg and constantly wake in the night from back spasms. This is a life long change and should not be jumped into.
 
Grundy, how did your appt on 6/23 go? Any encouraging news from the dr. I am doing pretty good, but still having low back pain that I describe as pressure. Before surgery I had right hip and leg pain. Thankfully that was gone after surgery. For the last three days I have had LEFT leg pain, burning down the back of my leg. Worse when I lay down. Right now late at night waiting for a pain pill to kick in so I can sleep. I don't see my doctor for 4 more weeks. I am very anxious to talk to him. Keep me posted.
saberthiaume I would also like to hear how you are doing.
 
Hey Peeps and Grundy,
Yes its been a while since I updated on my condition, and If totally honest forgot all about it.
Since the op to try and correct the problem, I to feel a little better but in no way am I right. Before the 2nd Op I had 2 different sorts of pains, one was the shooting pain which was horrid and the constant dull pain in my lower back felk like someone was sitting on my back.
Well after everything settled back down I was no longer feeling the dull pain, but the shooting pain is still horrific. Everytime I simply put 1 foot in front of the other I cringe in dread that this could be the step that senRAB the shooting pain straight threw me. Its really really horrid and no-one knows why......
Since then I have continued to go downhill and now suffer from severe depression and with all the pain medication I take, which is now the top of the range in OxyContin and OxyNorm I take a total of 7 different types of medication working out at 20 pills a day. The OxyNorm is a quick release pain killer and it is good and does the trick and now whenever I feel a pain starting to come through I just take the OxyNorm.
The downside is horrific side effects, constant nightmares screaming out and only this week give the Mrs a swift kick to the head :dizzy:. Also I sweat really loaRAB and constanly wake up soaked and all the beding soak. That is when I do sleep, which again is another problem often still awake when the birRAB start churping, but then when I do sleep I can not wake up and find it very difficult even after 10 hours deep sleep, so the sleep pattern is all over the place. I have really bad spasams and my legs are always twitching every 30 seconRAB or so etc etc. But the main one is the dependence that my body is now addicted to them and I go through the same withdrawals a drug user goes through when he has not had the fix........ The OxyContin is the slow release which is good for 12 hours, and boy do I know when the 12 hours are up. The shakes start and goosebumps on top of Goosebumps appear. But I wouldnt get rid of the pain killers because its the only thing that has worked for me ever.
I have been to London after the GP was concerned for me after I was told there was nothing else that could be done for me regarding further Op's, so she made sure something else was done, and I was referred to a Chronic Pain specialist. After seeing him I am now to be considered for a brand new Operation and some of you might of seen it on the TV. Its called Spinal Cord Stimulation, which means having a op to have something fitted to the Spinal Cord and its suppose to mimic the pain and give you a pleasant feeling instead of the pain. The cost of this he told me is 25k, so you have to have a 2 week trail in hospital were a temp is placed in you and your connected to some power source, if you tick all the boxes during the 2 weeks you then have a battery fitted inside you for the power which is good for 4 years and is the main expense of 25k. I am still waiting for the next appointment and thats to see a pain Psychologist and I think its his decision if I have the 2 week trail or not.
Thats basically were I am at now. The works accident claim is almost complete now and by 14th Feb 2011 it will one way or the other be settled. I will on most counts never work again now and even the slightest twist or movement can result in the shooting pain.
Would I have the op again if I could back in time? Yes would be the answer because it needed to be done because I was getting worse. I still dont blame anyone for the way it turned out, but I have to try like Grundy and live with it to the best I can. I wouldnt wish what me or Grundy have gone through on anyone, but even a forum like this and speaking to others helps you through the day when you know your not alone.
 
No worries Grundy, I understand time wise......

Well I dont know if its good news or what, but I went for the MRI on Monday and I was told I might have to have a scar tissue scan as well if they were not happy with the 1st scan.
Well I was told after the 1st scan that the radiographer was happy with the scan.
Maybe I might be looking too much into this , me thinking hes found the problem so no need to the scar tissue scan.
I hope this is the case. But the pain is getting worse, the last 2 weeks have been the worst since the op, and I have done nothing different :confused:
I have the doctor not wanting to give me anymore Diazepan instead to try and book me into a pain management clinic. Not being funny, but I cant see how controlling the awesome pain can be controlled without the drugs.
I know its not funny, but someone even mentioned have I tried drinking......
I tell you what, if nothing else seems to be working, it might be worth a try.....
Once I know about the results of the MRI I will of course let you know.
 
itawes:

I, too, was unable to exercise before the surgery. One reason was most exercises aggravated the back. A second reason was my own fear that I would make it worse to the point where I would no longer be a candidate for the Axialif.

My exercising now focuses on my core and legs. Besides walking and stretching, I use equipment at the fitness center. I use the elliptical machine the most, the exercise bike, leg presses, hamstring curls, some upper body weights, and whatever moves me. I also focus on balance exercises. I stay away, at least for now, from any machines that focus directly on the back. I expect I may get to them in the future. Everything I do is pain free. And, other than fatigue, I have no discomfort after the exercising. I was advised to ease into, which I did with a PT person to oversee what I did. Now, I do it on my own.

All the best.

Johnwr
 
It's a few weeks since we exchanged messages, so I thought I would update you. It turns out that all the pain from doing the exercises is at the level above. i.e. l4/l5. This is a worry becasue I had understood from the MRI scan that this level appeared to be fine, or I would not have been a suitable candidate for single level axialif. Anyway, I have stopped doing anything other than walking and doing stretch exercises, and things are gradually simmering down, but I have been feeling very disabled and at times in a lot of pain. My next appt with the surgeon is 23 June, by which time I really hope that I am making progress! Speaking personally, I think my own expectations for a speedy recovery were far too high, and I'll only know in time with feedback from others whether my recovery, and associated problems, are fairly typical or not.
Thank you for all your news. How are you coping now? I am amused by the "has it worked?" comments....I have had similar questions, and I have given up explaining and just say that I'm fine! It saves time having to explain. One thing is for sure, and that is that it does take quite a long time for your body to heal. Two steps forward, and nearly two back! I look forward to your news. Best wishes,
 
Thanks so much for the reply. I am scheduled for the end of April. My reasoning sounRAB pretty close to yours. One questions I have is if you had a discogram? I have not and the surgeon said it is really my choice. (My other neurosurgeon said that I have NO choice.) I am really interested in if you had one.
 
Have you considered the Laser Spine Institute? I have been reading about their treatments and their testimonials have been positive. May be all sales propaganda but sounRAB real.
 
itawes:

Yes, I had the procedure done. If you go back in the posts, I left a message on July 18, talking about the experience to that date, which was 17 days post surgery. Bottom line, things continue to go well. I'm now 12 weeks post surgery, and I'm heading out to play my first round of golf today. I have no pain in the back or legs. My feet still hurt, but I'm not sure of the cause. My leg strength is slowly coming back, but I do walk alot and do PT at a fitness center 3 times a week.

I'm doing well. All the best to you in both your decision (a tough one) and the ultimate outcome.

Johnwr
 
Hello Johnr,
I just received news of your post by email, and wanted to say how pleased I am that things are working out for you thus far. It certainly sounRAB as though you are making good progress, and I know that everyone subscribing to this board will be rooting for you.
I fully support all your observations re surgery being the last option, and also finding the best possible person to do it. You might only get one shot. All the best, and please keep us posted with updates. I hope that the last one will be when you finally return to your golfing passion, which is when your life will finally feel back on track!
In haste, Grundy56
 
Well, change in plans...

At the last minute my surgeon had another look at my images and concluded that Axialif was probably not the best option. He suggested either a ALIF or PLIF. After considering that for a day I decided to postpone doing any surgery for the time being. What a rollercoaster ride!
 
Hi Stay,
Thank you for your news. I believe the leg pain, even though it is now down a different leg, will eventually go. I had brief growlings down the "wrong" leg, and have had pain, tinglings, and nurabness in my right leg, and buttock, , but these are gradually diminishing, which is good. It has taken nearly 5 months though, and they are not completely gone. I know it is tough, and awful if you can't sleep! It is particulalry worrying if it is a new pain, but this seems to be par for the course in this recovery process!
My meeting with the surgeon was very disappointing. I had another X ray, which shows that I have broken one of the pedicle screws. I have no idea how this has happened. He has booked another MRI, which is scheduled for 16 July, and won't commit himself to any prognosis until he can see what is "going on", and what is causing the pain I am still in. Apparently the broken enRAB of the screw are still facing each other, and it may be that the facet joint will simply fuse itself and stabilise in its own good time.
He says everyone else he has done this procedure on is doing well by this stage, so I guess I'm not helping the statistics!
I have to say I feel pretty flat, and can't wait to get a better idea of what my sentence is likely to be. I'll let you know.
Some things are improving. I can go for spells with no pain, and that can be a relief, even though it is transient. I am not fit for anything. I am still doing the exercises, but hardly walking at all. I have a hydrotherapy appt on Wednesday.
I sense that you are weary and struggling too, and I wish you well.
Best wishes to both of you.
 
Thanks to you both for the reply. I'm sorry to hear you are both having such a hard time still. Seems like there should be more solutions for folks out there. I hope everyone here can find something to help them.

My dad's issue started with nerve pain down his legs and his feet. If he walked too long, they would go nurab. The Dr's told him that if he waited too long it could cause nerve damage as they said a disk had been damaged and was likely pressing on a nerve, although they couldn't say for certain. He had the axilif surgery in March. So it has been 7 months. Now his pain is far far worse in his legs and feet. His back now has pain where he never had it before. He can't twist his back without major pain. The axialif surgeon has essentially shrugged his shoulders, said sorry and sent us on our way. The pain management Dr has said it is likely permanent nerve damage. I have a hard time believing this as his pain is worse in his legs and feet than before the surgery and now there is new pain. I could potentially accept this answer if the pain was exactly the same.

MRI's have shown that the screws are stable, although I don't know what kind of screws were used. I will try to find the answer to that. The MRI also show no reason at all why he would have the pain. Everything looks normal. I have read a few folks saying that the screw(s) could be touching a nerve or perhaps there is internal scar tissue. Would an MRI show that?

That is about all I can tell you about the situation from the medical perspective. I know I don't need to tell you about the emotional side as you are all living it. We just want to see him better and happy.

Thanks!
 
No Probs, and if you need to ask anything, just write it in here and me or Grundy will tell you how it is cos we both been there.
I too was in much more pain than before the Op, and again they dont know why, I think the MRI cant pick up scar tissues or the really small nerve endings, so yes it is obv to me that there could be nerve damage, but my surgeon told me the AxiaLif goes nowhere near the nerves to cause such effect with the amount of pain I experienced after, and I guess your father to. It is obv to me that something is touching the nerves somewhere hence the shooting pain, but she could not see anything when I went for the 2nd Op to try and correct it. So its got to be something smaller thats not being picked up on the MRI's, But hey ho, we try and carry on.
The only gripe is the constant hassle from the benefit people who seem to think there is Jack all wrong with me, and stop the benefits for that reason, even though I have a million people looking after me and countless pill taking.
But thats me moaning, and slightly off topic.............

So if you need anything Jadenback just hollow :wave:
 
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