Botched 3 level fusion when will this nightmare end

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MIA67

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I had 3 level lurabar fusion 14 weeks ago after 6 weeks of complaining i had more pain than before surgery they finally listened and i had a catscan which showed the cage on bottom disc had shifted and split bone fragments on the nerve.
after weeks of searching for a new surgeon to clean this mess up i finally got an appointment last week, he now tells me he's somewhat surprised at the procedure i was given so much so he showed it to his colleague who agreed with him that the procedure ive had done is generally for elderly patients not active younger ones. I was told off the first surgeon i had no restrictions after the fusion has fused i could even ride my horses after 5 month, i'm so disillusioned at the moment i feel like ive been neglected and lied too.
Has anyone had a revision surgery after fusion that went well to give me a little bit of hope back, and has anyone had a cage migrate out of place?
I'm booked in for EMG test monday and mylogram on the 19th then hopefully a surgery date, so tired of struggling in pain i would give anything to have the pain level pre-op back, least i could walk without a stick then too!
 
It does sound like the surgeons you have seen for a consultation, especially being in agreement, may be able to help you. It is bizarre for a surgeon to give no restrictions, though many surgeons don't know exactly what to let you do after 6 months....mine just told me to "take care of your spine now and forever"
 
Im sorry to hear this. Ive had 2 different spinal lurabar fusions that has totally ruined my life. what i thought was pain in the past holRAB no candle to theneuropathy nerve pain i experience now. i have been bed ridden since my last 360 spinal fusion 12 weeks ago. I wish i could have a revision, just to rid the pain i live with. now all i want is a med that will help with the debilitating nerve pain that has ruined me and my relationships with family and frienRAB. Its that bad!
 
Hi SpineAZ thanks for your reply, Bizarre is a good word for whats recently happening in my life, I've read other posts on here saying restrictions that they have and i'd say its more realistic even after they have totally fused. I told that first surgeon i had 6 horses and 6 dogs to care for and they mean the world to me he said i'd be fit enough to ride after 5 months and there was an excellent success rate for the procedure which i dont believe now even if the procedure had gone well, heavy saddles and 50lb bags of feed are out of the question too i reckon and all the heavy work that goes with farmwork.
This second surgeon even got his colleague involved after looking at my films and notes so i am hoping that between two of them they can help, i'd be pleased to get to the level of pain before surgery at the moment i've so much more added symptoms going on post-op i would have never guessed it could get so bad i'm more or less a cripple.
Had my EMG yesterday but no result yet it may be next week after the mylogram they ring with both results together then hopefully a surgery date. i'm terrified about another surgery but i can't stay like this either, least i got a new surgeon to do it i'm grateful for that i know they generally do not like going straight in after someone elses work to clean mess up and the new one seems alot nicer he has more time for my questions etc.
 
Hi Tethorpe3 thanks for your reply, I'm sorry your having a bad time too and i hear you about the way it affects your life. I've been in the guest room 15 week tomorrow i think my husband has forgot who i am by now he's had to keep things going round here plus do a 12 hour day on his feet at work i'm useless to do anything too and i'd say you find out who your frienRAB really are at times like these.
I was bedridden for three week i couldn't get to the bathroom even everytime i put any pressure on my left leg it cramped so bad i screamed the house down, it did improve but i'm still useless i can only stand a few minutes and i have dining chairs around the house i use when i need to sit going from room to room its ridiculas really i had low back pain and it radiated a little in the top of my left thigh before surgery now i have nurabness pins and needles burning feet and shins shooting pain down to my big toe my leg gives way and i feel like ive had a hip replacement, i wish too i never had it done.
Have they scanned you again since your surgery? Although things are bad for me i read on the boarRAB all to often that people are left with this degree of pain and they cant find nothing wrong on there scans its very sad, i was lucky my problem lit up like a Christmas tree after i eventually got them to believe me, it can still be nerve damage too though so i cant get to optimistic that this next surgery is going to fix everything either.
They gave me muscle relaxers and savella after surgery but it didn't really help, all i'm taking now is lortab and thats pretty much useless too but it takes the edge off it. If i get prescribed anything that works for nerve pain that works i'll let you know but again reading posts on here i've not seen no amazing drug mentioned that helps.
Have you ever been to a pain management clinic? I've got that in mind to ask to be refferred to if i still have pain after this surgery. Even they sound hit and miss though you have but for some people they get some relief, wish i'd of tried there before surgery now.
 
Hey There..... I must admit, i have never been on any of these message boarRAB. I dont or didnt see the need to publish my woes, but the pain lately i have or will try anything, even if I find someone who knows the life I live.

As I read your post, we really are two peas in a pod. I never thought I would ever find someone who really knows what type of life Im living. I know you do. I also live in a spare bed, cant get up to do much. I soak in my Hot tub atleast 10x a day and then take something hoping that the mix will get me an hour sleep. I might sleep an hour a day if lucky. Last week I went 5 days before my body just shut down and I got 4 hours of sleep. aND THAT IS TAKING ArabIEN AND TYLENOL PM. Its a horrible life.

To answer your question about pain management. Yes.... Ive been going to one for almost a year. As a vetran paramedic for 17 years, I know medical situations very well, the amount of drugs they give me is scary, all be it... Im EXTREMELY difficult to medicate (im taking morphine for breakthrough pain, and oxycotin every 8 hours... But the amount and strength is just un-heard of., I actually woke up during one of my surgeries,and have had very hard times getting put to sleep. I actually had my girlfriend take my pain meRAB away, actually throw them away, when I was at my very worst. Then I had to go 30 days before I could take anything for the pain, Im sure she was concerned that I was just taking tooooo much, but when we hurt the way we do, we do what we have to!!! But in the last month, ive looked for new Neurosurgeons, Pain Dr.s.... Been to maybe 10 new ones looking for someone to give me a ray of hope. No Luck!!!!!! I went to a new Doc today that was a good doc, go tsome meRAB, a massage, and they seem real nice. I think I will stick with this one. I actually had spinal injections on Monday, epidural and steroid. No relief.... So I go back to the drugs and hope that some day the pain will go away. Dosnt look that way... But a prayer and hope can keep me going. There have been times in the past 6 months I thought being dead would be better than live like this. But that isnt the answer and I know that. But to get any reserablance of a life back, to go out to eat with family, to play with my dogs, to sleep in my bed, ANYTHING.... would be nice. Until then, I keep the faith and hope someone comes my way that can help!

As for you.... Try the pain doc. Have you tried spinal injections? If not...PLEASE try. Dont give up after the first one. You should try atleat 3. try anything and everything you can...... Keep asking dr.s and keep reading on cases and medical inventions and try to find docs that are creative and think out of the box.... You cant stop looking and hoping the answer is out there. A pain doc sounRAB like a good avenue for you right now. Depending on what area of country you are in, I can get good leaRAB. Being in the medical field for sooo long I can get info and leaRAB that most people cant. I can say for a pain dr. < edited > you may need a referal.... Let me know if you need help. My pain dr. actually is one of my best frienRAB that lives a couple doors down. Maybe I can helpin some way. If for nothing else. You have a friend who knows what you are going through. I wish you the best, I really do....... < edited >
God luck, keep in touch!!!!

Tom< edited >
 
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