I'm not broken enough for surgery

B

B Dawgg

New member
So, I went to a spinal orthopedic surgeon today, and it turns out I'm not broken enough or old enough for back surgery. That's not so bad, really. What's bad is that at least once a week, my lower back hurts so bad I can't make it out of bed, with their only advice being, DEAL WITH IT... Here's a quick rundown;

My first vertebrae is "scalpulated" or connected to my left hip, which is bad

My whole spine starts off at a wonky angle, due to the first vertebrae

My second and third vertebrae don't move independently of each other, but aren't totally fused... yet

I have arthritis starting at my 4th vertebrae, because of the first three

I had a spinal development issue called "Scheuermann's Disease" while I was growing up, this causes wedge shaped vertabrae and sometimes causes people to become humpbacks

I have one extra vertebra...

So, after the doctor, chiropractor, spinal surgeon, I'm off to physical therapy. I've tried to maintain a semi-active lifestyle, but even an hour walk at a relaxed pace screws me up for a few days. I've been in terrible pain for two days so far, and the only thing I can take is ibuprophen, which helps, but is bad for my already fragile kidneys (even more weird medical crap about me.)

I'm thinking of finding a doctor that will prescribe pot... since no other real doctor has offered me anything besides over-the-counter painkillers and false sympathy.:mad:
 
I agree get a second opinion, for exercise I would sugest swimming instead of walking. Swimming is the best exercise out there it's great for the heart musicles and it is little to no impact which is great for bad backs and joints.

Best of luck to you.
 
Fuck. If they won't do surgery on you, then I don't have a snowball's chance in hell of having surgery after Sorsha is born.

32 degree sideways bend in my spine (scolimotherfuckinosis), and they discovered it when I was 17. They told me I had to wait until I was in my thirties, or whenever it got to 40 degrees.

I'm sorry hon....that fucking sucks.
 
I can feel your pain, somewhat--I have almost zero cartilage in my left knee, owing to being hit by a car at 13 which destroyed most of what was there--and I've been told the same damn thing...you're too young for surgery. It's ridiculous, it's easier for a 20-something (hell, a 30-something) to get past a surgery like that, regardless of the joint or part of the body, than a 50 or 60 year old. I'd much rather be able to walk with only minor twinges here and there, than feel the grinding of my bones on dry days, and the associated pain. But, I can live with it, for now--what you're describing, I can't quite imagine...a second opinion (or, hell, a lawsuit) might get things going in the right direction for ya.
 
I don't know about shamiqua's situation, but for aeternitas, if you're talking about joint replacement surgery, there's a very good reason why they won't perform such surgery on young people. artificial joints only hold up for about 15 to 20 years, and they can't re-do it after they fail. If you're in your 20's and they did a knee replacement now, your knee would work great until you were in your 40s, and then you'd never walk again. They figure it's better for you to deal with some pain and wait till you're closer to the end of your life to do joint replacement surgery.
 
I know that from my experiences, a surgery would make me officially "handicapped" and I would most likely be able to collect money for disability.

I see why they might want me to wait it out, so that I can somewhat enjoy my life until surgery is the only option. I just wish there was an 'in-between' solution besides poisoning my kidneys with regular doses of anti-inflamatories. The best options I have now are physical therapy, and losing 30-40 pounds. This will help strengthen my back and abdominal muscles, relieving the strain on my spine. I've considered swimming before, and I suppose now is the time to get over the fact that I'm white as a ghost and just do it. Now that exercise isn't purely for the sake of fitting into a size 6 pants, I may be more willing to stick with something.

I just can't believe I'm this broken, and I'm not even 30 yet. On the plus side, the surgeon told me that if I were to start a family, my back wouldn't get suddenly worse. It will just degenerate at a slightly faster rate for 9 months...
 
That's what has happened to mine I believe. Of course, my idiot OB/GYN said that my back would not have an affect on my pregnancy. They just failed to mention that my pregnancy would have an affect on my back.
 
I have known several people who have had back surgery and every single one of them has said it made it worse and was not worth it. So maybe it's a blessing in disguise?

I am sorry you are going through this Shami, :hug2:

For pain try acupuncture.
 
There is aggressive repair therapy..It worked wonders on my knee. Weight loss followed by extensive weightlifting helped my uncle who had a few fragged disks from a ladder fall. I would go see a second doctor, you're too young for surgery.


Weed and vicodin do wonders for pain, btw.
 
That sucks dude. Also the painkiller double edge thing blows. But that physical therapy sounds good, I would go with that if I were you. But it would also be fucking painful, wouldn't it?

Man, fucked up.
 
That's what pisses me off about our ailing health-care system. People who are genuinely messed up are shoved to the wayside because they're not screwed up enough to "qualify" for medical attention. I'm even more pissed off at the ones who have somehow figured out how to manipulate the system to get powerful narcotic painkillers just so they can be bombed out on them all the time. Meanwhile, I can't even afford to see a doctor about my laundry list of valid medical complaints. I've even had to forgo a trip to the hospital in lieu of my own first-aid. My worst fear at this point would be a problem with my appendix. I don't have insurance, and there's no way I could pay medical bills with what I get right now.

Incidentally, have you checked into a condition called VACTERL? It involves Vertebral infirmities, digestive difficulties, cardiac deformities, Tracheal/Esophageal deformities, Renal problems, and/or Limb deformities. It could involve problems from one or more of these problem areas. I'm not a doctor, obviously, but I know someone with this condition, and your description reminded me of this (vertebral and renal/kidneys).
 
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