First post and a few questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter nosix
  • Start date Start date
hey there,

I suppose it's conceivable that your pain could just go away. That happened in my brother's case. That's the good news. The bad news? It took 5 years.

As to whether you should do the operation, i'd have to ask, why would you not do it? It sounRAB like you are in a lot of pain and it sounRAB like you're not getting better. A micro-D is pretty minor - as far as back surgeries go. A laminectomy would be a bit more time consuming to recover from.

There is always the possibility that the micro-D won't work. They do fail and if that happens you may have to consider something like a fusion. That's what happened in my case.

Reading through this post, I have to say, buddy... it doesn't sound like you have a whole lot of options. I was in a very similar situation - I could not walk at all, I could not stand at all, I could not sit in a chair for more than 10 seconRAB without diving to the floor. I had already had my micro-D that failed. My doc said I could try it again or do the fusion. He said "the question is... how sick of this are you?" And that may be your question as well.

If you are in that much pain, I see no point in putting it off.

As for the pain meRAB, even with the incision, the disc removal, and taking a chunk out of my hip and screwing it into my vertebrae, I still take only half the amount of meRAB I was taking before the op.

My opinion... do it.

Tell us how it goes.

Good Luck,
David
 
Mike it is normal to have some leg pain after surgery because they move around the nerves during surgery. Just be sure to keep ontop of those pain meRAB around the clock so the pain does not get ahead of you because it will take twice as much to bring the pain levels back down. If you pain meRAB are not covering your leg pain, I would call your doctor and let them know. They can prescribe some nerve medicines such as neurotin or lyrica or topomax or cyrabalta to help with the pain.

I assume your surgeon knows that you are traveling so soon after surgery. My recommendations would be to stop every 20 minutes or so to stretch your legs. I know it will take you a long time to do the trip but if you do it all at once, you are going to be a hurting puppy. Also hopefully you are not the driver so you can recline in your seat or lay down in the back seat proped up on pillows.

Yes, you can lie on your side; however, you might want to use a pillow in between the legs to take some pressure off the legs and back.

YOu might also consider using a trash bag under your hips to help you slide easier in bed when turning from side to side. Did anyone show you how to get out of bed using the log roll?

Lastly, don't feel bad for asking alot of questions that is what this board is for to support you during a time of need. Take care and I am praying for you.
 
My back problem is a little different but I can tell you a related story. The type of pain and location of pain sounRAB very similar to what my mom had about 10 years ago. Given the herniated disc and fragmentation she chose surgery and now in her 70's is so glad she did. She has never regretted it and is an avid golfer, etc. It never slowed her down and she tells people she is so glad she didn't live with the pain any longer than she had to as the surgery worked so well for her.

Personally - my thoughts - are when the pain is very limiting and the symptoms expand to include nerve impingement type pain (the pain you are describing) it is very often the time to do surgery. At this time it appears no amount of PT is going to fix what's truly ailing you (but again, my opinion only).
 
First of all - you are intitle to get your reports. I keep all my reports, include app with every Dr i went to, every CT and MRI, ex-rays pictures in my files. This is very important, sometimes they get lost and you need to have picks and report for comparasing.
Second of all - based on what they suggest you have to have surgery? FYI -majority of people after age 25 start to get back problems: DDD, stenosis, some bulging, scoliosis and herniations. And this considers normal.
Not every of this conditions get operated on, all depenRAB on each individual case. For example: do you know that tears, bulging, even mild herniations can heal on it's own? Sometimes PT helps a lot, some home exsercises, yoga , stretches?
Surgery is the last straw, when a lot of nerves involved (should be proofed by tests like discogram, myelogram, CT or MRI) which can be permanently damaged if not taken care of. Or severe scoliosis... In my case it was car accident and I got a lot of damage after.
You must see other opinions, make sure you take all your pictures and reports to another independent Dr in a different group. Even better in another area, because often Drs don't like to say their honest opinion if they know your previous Dr (been there, done that).
Good luck to you!
 
Hello again everyone and thanks again so much for your replies and camperboy your post really did hit the nail on the head what I mean is over the past 8 months (since the herniation was first discovered) the leg pain has kind of come and gone but for the last 4 months things have gone down hill and the last 2 months have been especially painful but a few days ago I ran out of my pain meRAB and had to go for 1 1/2 days without them and thought I would die but it turns out it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be but in the end I did realize that I cant just really live like this anymore even if the pain subsides for a few days it always seems to come back and I just need to have the surgery and move on with my life because as it stanRAB now I might be alive but I definitely not living.

Anyway thanks one and all for your replies and I will keep you all posted as to my progress. I will also post my MRI report(s) when I get them (should be the day after Thanksgiving) which reminRAB me if I don't talk to everyone again before then I wish you all a good Thanksgiving and once again thank you all for your comments and time.

Cheers,
Mike
 
Hello again everyone and thank you for the reply 123DietDrPepper. I am glad to know that it's normal to still have leg pain after the surgery. I was worried that I did all of this for nothing. As far as the trip goes I think I will wait one more day just to give myself a better chance and no I will not be driving so I will be able to lay back in the passangers seat and I will ask them to stop every 20 mins or so like you suggested.

As far as the trasrabroadag thing goes I read about it but did not really know if I needed it or not but I will def ask for someone to put one down on my bed today. As far as the pillow goes I did get a pillow from my couch and have it propped under my legs when I am laying on my back and between them when I roll over on my side.

I don't have alot of support here. Pretty much left to my own devices 99% of the time so I don't really have anyone helping me get in and out of bed and the bed is really low to the floor (no frame just a box springs and matress laying on the floor with a memory foam matress topper on top of that) so I am worried about being so low to the ground and how I should get out of bed. The last thing I want to do is re injure myself because of something so silly.

Thats the reason for going on the trip tomorrow because when I am going I will have someone able to take care of me and the bed is more off the ground so I should have an easier time getting in and out of it.

If you could tho please explain the log roll thing thing as I am sure I will benefit form that as well. What I have been doing so far is placing my arms to my side and just sitting up alittle at a time until I am almost at a sitting position and then pushing myself off the bed with my arms while trying to keep my back as straight as possible. I know it's not how I want to do it but I don't know of any other way and like I said my Dr. did not really give me any advice and I don't have many people here who will help me.

Thanks again for your time and replies I will be thinking of you all and wishing each and everyone of you a happy and painfree day.

Mike.
 
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