My pain was really, really bad. It all started when I was working full time, I had a really great promotion coming my way and I was super happy all over the place, everything was going really well. THen my back started to get really bad at the age of 20. I had to step back, not take the promotion as it involved a lot of travel. long hours and a lot of work. I had to tkae care of myself before I could go any further. I struggled for 3 years. I had all sorts of diagnostic testing done, saw many doctors and sepcialists. They all said the same thing. All my tests showed was a hairline fracture at L5S1. THey all said, you are fine, go back to work and get back to your life. Well. I would have loved to have been able to do that but it was not possible. Eventually after doing PT, accupuncture, ESI's etc, I did EVERYTHING that I was told to do. Finally I was put on the list to see a spine surgeon/specialist. It took a year so during that time I did more PT and all sorts of stuff. Anyhow first appt came a year later, the surgeon said the same thing and that I should do this rehab/PT program. I eas so frustrated because all the PT that I was doing was making it all worse but no one understood that. Anyhow I agreed to go ahead with it. It was a 6 week program, I was to go for a minimum of 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. I did it but it was torture, and I mean torture. THey called it a back to work program. THey had me lifting weights in different ways, doing the treadmill, the bike,, the elliptical, and all sorts of core stregthening stuff. It was horrible. I was in tears a lot and brokedown a couple times but they did not care and told me to suck it up! Eventually about 5 weeks in I called my surgeon and told him I needed to see him, he agreed to it. At that appt he saw that I had tried all non surgical procedures. Over 3-4 years I did everything! He agreed to do a fusion.
Once my surgery day came he opened me up and was blown away. I had broken bones throughout my entire lurabar region, 2 slipped discs, a gap in my spine, my nerves were crushed like he ad never seen before and my lurabar spine was significantly curved. He was shocked and felt bad that I had suffered so many years with no one believing me. I lost most of my frienRAB, my family did not believe that my pain was valid, the doctors certainly did not believe it, it was awful. Anyhow after that surgery I was fixed. I knew it, I felt it very shortly after the surgery. I could walk without pain in my feet, my sciatia was gone, and my back felt pretty good, minus the surgery pain of course. However about 2 weeks after my surgery I was started to feel really bad. I found out at my 2 week post op appt that I had a broken screw. My surgeon had put 2 roRAB and 4 screws in my spine and one of the titanium screws broke! So needless to say I then required another surgery. This one was going to be 10 hours. He had to take out all the existing hardware and re-do everything plus more. In the end I had much larger and stronger screws. HOwever after this surgery at some point one of the discs that were replaced, also broke! Unbelievable! THis should never happen, nevermind twice! Faulty hardware apparantly. SO now I sit here in terrible pain, way worse then it was when all this crap started! I am waiting for my 3rd spine surgery and it's very difficult, I am 27 now and I have missed out on a lot. At this point I don't even care if I can't work. My fiancee will be more then able to support us and our family so that is a huge relief. I want to work very badly but if I am never able to at least I know we will be ok financially. My biggest problem right now is the pain and other problems that come with all this. But we just got engaged in March and we want to get married. I can't plan a wedding until I at least know when my surgery is and then I would have to give myself a good year to recover, do rehab adn what not. But we want ot have a family so badly. I love children and am soooooo ready to be a mother. I obviously know that, that is impossible right now and I can except that but I just get scared because if I don't get much better then this then I won't be the mother/wife that I desire to be. It's sad. However I have to try to remain positive and just dream of the day when we get married and then start our family.
Anyhow my point is, you will know when it's time. You do need to exhaust ALL non surgical procedures. Get your core strethghened, very important. It's hard especially because after all we are suffering with back problems. Get a certified trainer/specialist to train you on this techniques, there are many and it is crucial. Even if you end up having surgery, you will still need a strong core because it is what compensates for you "lack" of spine!. It doesn't sound to me that you have done too many non surgical procedures and you may want to talk to you surgeon about that, see how it goes and then see him again afterwarRAB. PLEASE understand that surgery does not always fix things and it most certainly can make things worse. I am a terrible exception to that so don't be turned off by my experiences, just be aware and hopefully by me telling you this, you will realize that it is worth it to take the time and try all non surgical procedures before jumping into surgery. It's the rest of your life so take care of yourself
What diagnostic testing have you had done? What were the results? And just how long had this been going on? What are all of your symptoms? I know you answered some of these already but I already don't remeraber, sorry
Take care of yourself. This things can get better but you have to be pro-active but also very careful at the same time, very fine line.
I hope I didn't scare you or anything but I just want you to hear all aspects of this very crappy situation of back problems. I wish it was as simple as going in for surgery and then being fixed, that is just not the case for all people. However remeraber I know I was fixed prior to the screw breaking, had that not happened I probably would be fine these days.
Take care and I look forward to hearing from you.
Beachgirl
