Enough Already!

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opleeeeze

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I can not take this pain in my lower back and legs any longer. The pain is constant and unforgiving. All I can do is sit all day long and even sitting bothers my legs. I try to go to the pool in the mornings to loosen up but an hour later the pain is at its' worse.
Since the surgeon does not want to operate because he feels it would put too much stress on the other discs, I have become a nonfunctioning person.
I can't exercise too much so weight is not coming off. I need to lose a bunch.
I am popping pain meRAB like I am crazy and it still doesn't work.
I am at my wits end and do not know what to do any longer.
This pain is wearing me out! It rules my life.
I am opened to any suggestions.
 
Hello, "op"...I can feel your pain! My neurosurgeon also wants to leave a spinal fusion as a "last resort" because he also feels that it would only weaken the discs above it. Have you tried any medication(s) for nerve pain? I tried Cyrabalta for a month, and the only thing(s) that medication offered me was severe withdrawals...although I am grateful to know that it does help many merabers with their nerve pain! I am going to ask my doctor about trying something else for the severe nerve pain. I pray that you will find relief soon and please keep us all updated!
 
thank you all for your suggestions.
I am currently seeing a neurosurgeon (Dr. William White) and a neurologist (Dr. Robert White)
I forgot to mention that I have multiple sclerosis too.

My weight is a big factor why the neurosurgeon doesn't want to operate on me, although he never came right out and said so... he is much too respectful. He also did a fusion on Cspine in 2006 which has turned out ok.

I have had a history of spinal problems forever it feels like. He said my spine is just a mess along with scolosis too.

I have been thinking a PM dr. might be a good thing for me to try.

DEB... who do you see in Richmond?

Thanks all
anymore suggestions I am all ears.;)
 
Hey neigrabroador! :wave:

Have you gotten any other opinions? I go to Dr. Van at Tuckahoe Orthopedics through St. Mary's. Dr. Simpson, in his group, has a background in both orthopedics and neurology. He's very respected and has a good reputation with both staff and patients.

What about PT? Have you tried that, and did it make any difference? I had an excellent physical therapist who understood my problems better than any of the many other therapists I've been to over the years. She has done a fellowship and also had extra training in orthopedics. She was so helpful after my surgery, not only in helping me regain strength, but also troubleshooting particular pains and problems I was having. She amazed me! I'd recommend her to anyone. She owns Progress Physical Therapy in Glen Allen and her name is Myra Pumphrey. I don't know if she's in the phone book yet, as she just branched off last year from another independent physical therapy center that she owns with her husband, who is also a PTist. I'm sure you could get her nuraber from information.

I think my PM is good, but I wouldn't recommend him just because his office is so inefficient. I've never waited less than an hour for any appt, even if I was the first one of the day or the first one after lunch. And ironically, they have a policy that if you're 15 minutes late, they can cancel your appt! A bit hypocritical in my book!

Too bad we Richmonders can't meet up someplace for lunch. That would be such an encouraging time! Oh well... At least we have the board.

Take care,
Emily
 
ANOTHER RICHMONDER! I'm starting to think our orthos and neuros must not be very good in this city! We are all suffering! Hey opleeeze...I'm so sorry you are feeling so bad. I wish I had answers for everyone on this board with pain. Like you said it is so unforgiving!
What is your story/history? What surgeon are you seeing?
I feel for you girl, hang in there, This is a great place to vent and talk to others.

Deb
 
Hi guys/fellow sufferers. You are not alone. There are so many things to try. I have quite a collection of meRAB that I have tried and found they didn't work for me. I have the fusion at L4-S1 and I am one of the "lucky" ones in that I am worse than pre fusion and I didn't think that was even possible. Pardon the sarcasm, I'm a bit angry about that right now.

Anyway, Pain Management is the way to go in the interim. This doc will provide all of your meRAB scripts and try different variations to find what works best for you. It is really important that you like and feel you can trust this doctor because your life is really in their hanRAB. They can perform injections as mentioned above and there are many different types. Nerve pain wasn't much of a problem pre-fusion but in the last year (1 year after surgery) I got so much nerve pain I just couldn't stand it. I got a new PM doc and he changed all of my meRAB and believe it or not, they work better than anything I have tried.

He later added Lyrica for nerve pain but I didn't notice any benefit from it and had terrible blurred vision and extreme itching. He changed it last week to Neurontin at its lowest dose and an hour after taking it, I was able to walk more normal and sleep through the night (after dose 2) without waking up to that awful nerve pain curling in my foot, spasming in my leg muscles like a monster trying to get out. I also take MS Contin and Flexeril. I am to take the Neurontin 4 times a day but I have only needed it more than 2 times a day once. I take the flexeril 3 times a day but I am finding that 1 or maybe 2 works fine now so I am so glad to have the little relief I do. Some of it is big relief but doesn't always last long so you have to keep tinkering with them as we develop a tolerance to the meRAB. Adjusting to them has been hard. Other than relieving my pain, the rest of my body is screaming no more meRAB!
Injections can be very effective. My last PM doc tried and tried but I only had one successful pain relief from an injection. With this new PM doc, so far so good so don't discount them all together if the doc you are with isn't successful, it is difficult for them to truly pinpoint our pain. We say here and point, but it is also good to tell them what it feels like. If they get ready to do an injection and press on your body and say right about here and it isn't, tell them 2 inches down or a little to the left etc. My doc thanked me over and over for helping him be more precise in where to inject it for me.

I hope this info has been useful to you. :)

Sincerely,
Lisa
 
Hi, Sorry you are in so much pain. I can certainly sympathize with that. I agree that you should give Pain Management a try as there are many different kinRAB of meRAB and other things to try. Do you currently take any meRAB for the MS? Do you think some or alot of your pain is due to the MS? For your spine, do you have a diagnosis or any idea what's wrong in there?
 
I agree with Lisa, find yourself a good pain management doctor and I would find another spinal surgeon to review your case for a second opinion if you have not already. Be sure to be honest and tell them that you can't continue going on like this and that you need help.

Good luck and please keep us posted.
 
Thanks everyone.
I have seen Dr. Simpson for a second opinion. He was referred by my neurosurgeon. In fact, if we go ahead with surgery he will be in the room with the neurosurgeon helping out.
It seems I have scolosis, DDD, spinal stenosis, and herniated disc. I will need a 3 level fusion. Both drs. agree that I will probably be back in surgery after the initial surgery due to the stress that will be put on the rest of my spine.

The problem with the MS and the back is that both can cause pain. Most people want to believe that MS causes no pain but it does and a lot of it also.
Everyone is truly different.

I am on demerol for pain when needed but it really does nothing for the pain. I believe th pain to be nerve related and demerol will not take care of that.
I probably need to be on neurontin, lyrica or topamax for the nerve pain.
I will call the dr. and ask about that.

Right now the pain is in the lower back and goes into the buttocks and into my legs. My feet are even painful. It is hard for me to walk any distance at all without stopping and sitting. I am also currently going to the heated pool for exercise but I might be stirring up something when I go since I am in lots of pain throughout the day when I return from pool.

Thanks for the info on the PT in Richmond I will certainly keep her in mind if I go through the surgery.
 
Hey OP,
Dr. Calibourne Irby did my laminectomy. He is very sweet but I don't think he really likes to deal with "problem patients" like myself who didn't get better! He has an excellent reputation and I think he is a very good surgeon. The PM in his group "Dr. M" is someone I would not recommend at all. If you talk to anyone who has been to him, they tell you not to go back. I am seeing a neurologist who used to be in with Dr. White...Dr. Phillip Davenport. I have only been to him once so I don't have a real opinion of him yet.
I think before all is said and done that I will ask for a 2nd opinion. Emily mentioned Dr. Simpson, he did a laminectomy on my stepson and he has done very well. I also have heard that the two Dr. Whites are excellent,
There has to be a kind, caring and knowledgeable PM in Richmond !! Someone let me know when you find him,her?!!
I'm so sorry you are in so much pain OP. Hang in there! Yea, with 4 of us here in Richmond, too bad we can't get together for lunch.

Deb
 
Dr. Simpson's group has their own PT center now, but they're the ones (Dr. Van, that is) who got me in with Myra. If they want PT for you, they can connect you up with her.

You really have so much that you're dealing with. I hope you feel comfortable with your doctors. It sounRAB like they're trying to keep you well medicated, but you're certainly a complicated case. I was too, and that's one of the things I appreciate so much about Dr. Van. He didn't give up on me when others did. Dr. Simpson assisted on my surgery with him once they came up with a plan for me. You're in good hanRAB!

By the way, nursing care at St. Mary's was pitiful. I wrote them a long letter outlining some very significant things that happened to me as a patient and as a result, they've developed lift teams at all the Bon Secour Hospitals and also started ongoing inservices on basic patient neeRAB, like quiet at night, silencing alarms, and a bunch of other stuff. I was pleased that they called me and told me that they had addressed every issue I brought up at a meeting and were following through to make changes. I hope you'll have a better experience there.

Please let us know how you're doing.

Take care,
Emily
 
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