If it wasn't for bad luck......

[zachary78]

Is this the beginning of the end?

I had a microdiscectomy on L4-L5 back in Aug this year (07). After several months of recovery and a whole month of PT, I felt really good and was sent back to work on very light duty (walking and desk duty mostly). About 2 weeks into my return, I was having a whole lot of trouble walking and standing without needing to sit immediately when the pain hit. Pain, coldness, stiffness and tingling in my right leg and foot.

Went back to the doctor last week, was sent for an MRI and then this week it was confirmed.....

Herniation in the disc above the one that was operated on ---> L3-L4

The MRI showed a textbook heal on L4-L5 and limited scar tissue. Doc said he had seen this happen in someone once every 4-5 years. Its very visible on the imaging, and he pointed out the differences in them both.

Now he wants to send me for an epidural injection. I had one of these the prior to surgery and the result was nada.

I'm 29, was in fairly good shape prior to surgery(i've put on tons of weight from the immobility so far)and had next to no back problems my whole life up until now. *my other thread is "had a microdiscectomy....need some positive reinforcement"*

Is this the beginning of the end?

 

[ms_west]

Zach - Dang!! I am so sorry but what happened to you is fairly common unfortunately. I really thought as I was reading this that it was going to be the same disc but you suprised me it was the level above which is fairly common. Urghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Okay, as hard as this is, I am going to give you some unsolicited advice.....GREAT......... and I pray that you do not take offense to what I am going to post. You said you have put on a ton of weight and I want to recommend that you take off at least half of that ton of weight you have put on. I know how hard this is especially with spinney problems. You see I recently took off 35 lbs. myself and M&D have moved in my home to help run the household and take care of my family during my recovery - Mom is a fabulous cook and I have put on 5 lbs so I understand your pain. My concern is that extra weight is an added stresss on the old backbone which is not what you need. Okay I am done.....and hope you are not offended.

Please know that we are here for you 24/7. I pray that this is the end to your problems and that this injection will be all that is needed to settle down your spinal pain. Good luck!!

 

[carol632]

Zach, I am so sorry to read this. It's very frustrating, I know, but as Pepper says, it's not uncommon at all... The micro d took out a piece of your disc which of course can make that disc unstable. Most often, you have a re-herniation which is to say that the same disc acts up, but for you it's the disc above and a whole new ball game.

It would seem to me, that another micro-d might not be the answer as that would leave you with 2 areas weakened. I think, no matter what your surgeon recommenRAB, that you get another opinion from someone who isn't affiliated with your surgeon in any way. If the 2nd opinion differs from your doc's, then a 3rd opinion may be needed.

I want to encourage you to try to lose a bit of that weight. I've managed to take off 38 pounRAB since Feb. and have held steady for 3 months now. I simply quit snacking ever time I turned around and when I do snack, its on a piece of fruit or soda crackers....low to no-fat and not too high in calories. Your choices are somewhat limited, but you can control what you eat; I do know that the weight loss has made a big difference in that I can move more quickly and easily now.

I'll cross my fingers and toes and say a prayer for you. Please keep us posted.

Carol

 

[zachary78]

After several posts to this board over the past few months I suddenly felt the need to give back some of the positive reinforcement that the good folks on this board gave to me. As was indicated in my first ever post, that was what I needed more than anything.

I have been battling back issues that suddenly occurred June 07. Following my untimely injury(are any of them timely??)I had a microdiscectomy on the disc between the vertebrae L4-L5. This worked. For a while......

I returned to work several months after surgery and during that time was involved in a physical therapy program that was too rigorous and caused another herniation, only this time in the disc above the location where I had my first and only surgery 3 months prior.

At the the beginning of Deceraber I was in the same place I was when I went in for surgery but could manage to walk with limited, yet persistent, pain. This is the good part.....

I tried epidurals for the original problem, but they provided no relief. My neurosurgeon said that this could be an option this time, as my injury this time around was not as severe.

So here we are January 27, 2008. A full 7 months to the day after my first injury.

The epidurals worked.

Don't get me wrong. There is still some reoccurring coldness from time to time and my leg tightens up on occasion as well. But overall, I feel pretty dang good.

The moral of the story.....

Keep your chin up. Talk to people that will listen. Take each day with a positive outlook and a fair amount of caution. If medication works, then swell. Use it to your full advantage, but all things in moderation. Don't let anyone tell you what you're capable of and what you're not. Part of being strong is knowing your limitations. The other part is knowing what makes you strong. Doesn't have to be your physical prowess. Maybe its your voice or your laugh. Perhaps its the way you NEVER look like you've been hit with a left hook, even when what they just said caught you square in the jaw. Or maybe, just maybe, its the fact that you're still trying.

I heard someone say once that "being insane is trying the same thing, the same way, over and over again but expecting different results."

I think whoever thought that up never had any back problems, and THEY are insane for even considering giving up.

Thanks everybody for all your support. I appreciate it more than you will ever know....

ZAC

 

[deb53]

Zach,
What a wonderful, uplifting, positive post! Thank you so much for sharing with us! You are obviously a very special person yourself and your attitude is astounding! I'm so glad that you have found relief for your pain and I will pray that you will continue to remain "almost" pain free as you are now. Zach, please visit us from time to time and keep us updated on your progress. God bless :angel:

Deb