New to the Boards and SO glad to have found them!

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Baybreeze

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Blue, that is sooo true. It just seems so much easier to post all your feelings and such anonymously rather than telling frienRAB & family. Plus the spiney's all know what each other is going through, whereas frienRAB & family usually dont (unless they've also gone through it).
 
Hello! I am 29 yr. old and have been suffering from a severely herniated L5-S1 disk with 24/7 pain since last July. I have been through the PT, MRI, and just had my 3rd epidural steroid shot yesterday in L5-S1 and they have also been treating L4-L5 since I also have a moderately herniated disk there. I have been having pain in the left buttock that then travels down into the outer calf and now the top of my foot (the foot just since Christmas). I have 2 children who are 4 and 1 and obviously it's been difficult trying to heal with them. Most likely, I will be having a discetomy (sp?) in the next few months, as the epidural steroid shots haven't had much success.

I have been hunting online for forums and just happened to stubble accross this message board a week ago! I am SO thankful! This is just the place that I need - people who are going through similar situations that understand! It is very helpful and I wish I had found you guys 7 months ago!
 
:wave: and Welcome to our group! Please feel free to chime in on any of the threaRAB and know that we are here for your 24/7 365 days a week for you. Many of us are up thru the night because of that nasty main monster interferring with our sleep and are more than willing to chat to get our mind off of things.

Two things I would like to point out to you:

*Remeraber that we are spinney patients just like you and are not doctors. However, we can provide you with a wealth of information because frankly many of us have been thru the procedures once or twice. We will give you valuable information on the recovery phases that sometimes doctors do understate just a tad.

*Remeraber that on any board that the individuals who remain on the board are often complicated cases (like mine) that have required multiple surgeries and tests. We are generally the unsuccessful cases and are the complicated cases. There are many surgeries which are successful but keep in mind that the successful surgical patients don't remain on the board. They are out there living there life to to the fullest and not chatting on some board. Do you blame them after all the pain and things that they were not able to participate in during their spinney journey?

Anyway, hopefully I have helped you in some way and I pray that you will feel free to post away and start chatting with us!
 
Yes as the others have said;WELCOME HOME...

WE are always looking to meet new people and share our stories with each other...


The people here are the BEST OF THE BEST it is that simple. WE have developed relationships that will stand the test of time.


You will be treated with respect and genuine concern in the time that you post here. I hope that your pain is minimal...

AND PEPPER I still do post here and will always post here;
I might not reply to a lot of posts - but be ware I am reading and learning from all of the posts..:):) .LOL..

I am one of the success stories S1-L4-L5 2 roRAB 6 screws and 2 cages... My surgery was on Feb. 12 2007.



roy47
Best of luck
roy47-48
 
Hi Travelbel,
Welcome, as everyone has said you will love it here. I'm sorry you are suffering so much for so long. I'm one of the unlucky ones that are here because of the difficulty of my case. I have had 4 fusion attempts from 2003-2005 all for levels L4-S1, the fusions all failed to fuse. I presently have a grade 2-3 splondy with 2 roRAB, 5 screws & 2 cages. I have pemenanent nerve damage in my left leg & foot and tons of scar tissue that is creating complications.

My nerve damage was caused from my diagnosis taking from 1998-2003, that long term nerve compression caused the nerve damage and unfortunatly nerves cannot be fixed once they are damamge too much.

I encourage you to act on treatment that will relieve your pain that is traveling down your leg, it is nerve pain from your back. I was told that nerve pain that extenRAB below the knee should have treatment asap. Not all treatments mean surgery, there are many things to try that involve no surgery as you have said you have had some of them already.

I hope you find help here which I'm sure you will. I echo the other post about finding a Spine specialist, also get second opinions, I can't stress that enough. If your spine dr. is confident in his decisions he should encourage second opinions. You should probably make sure your spine dr. has a fellowship in the spine and only treats spine patients, this gives him better experience and more practice if he only treats spines.

Good Luck

God Bless

Carol
 
Welcome to the boarRAB!!! I have had 3 back surgeries, and am awaiting the fourth one soon. I started with a micro-diseckectomy at L4-5. Then a diseckectomy, foraminatomy,laminectomy at levels L4-5 and S1. Then finally a 2 level lurabar fusion with instrumentation in 2006. I now have permanent nerve damage in my left leg., and only one side of the spine has fused. I have been seeing a Spine Specialist; which I highly recommend that you see as well.

Keep in mind that once you have one back surgery, chances are that more will follow. Kind of like the dominoe effect. Discs can re-herniate after surgery.

The support that you will find here is terrific, and the information very helpful. I found this forum by accident myself a few years ago. After my last surgery, I kind of just stayed in the background, and have just recently started posting again.

It helps to have someone to talk you, and who understanRAB what you are going thru. The pain that we deal with every day takes its toll on you.

Again, welcome to the boarRAB!!!

Sending you cyber hugs!

Pat
 
Hi Travelbel :wave:
We're glad you found us but sorry you had to look for us because of pain. This forum is wonderful with caring, knowledgeable people. You'll get to know us all and our back issues and how we all keep up with one another.
I had a laminectomy in June 2007 and while the surgery was a success I am dealing with permanent nerve damage and pain from the injury. I injured myself at work catching a falling IV pump...herniated L5-S1 and also broke off a large piece of disc which was on the L5 nerve root. I've done it all... PT, ESI's, nerve blocks, nerve meRAB, TENS unit and am still struggling.
The surgery was not bad at all. I was sore but not in unbearable pain. The main thing is that even though you may feel good you must take it easy...no bending, lifting or twisting. It is very easy to re-herniate after surgery.
Welcome again and keep us posted!

Deb
 
Hiya Travel, welcome to the board! I think you will be happy with this board as there are many very supportive people on here who can offer moral support and share their own experiences.

I had a nerve block done last June also for left sided sciatica down my leg, outer calf, ankle and toes. It turned out most of the problem was coming from L5 area, so thats where I had the block done. I was very lucky in that it helped relieve my pain. However, it seems every few weeks I get a new episode of maybe herniations or bulges pushing my scar tissue into nerves, etc. Im not 100% sure b/c I dont have an MRI every time, but I sure know what it feels like. I had multi level laminectomies done for severe central canal stenosis in Sept 06 and right after surgery I was pain free (well, except for surgical pain). But then 6 months later, I herniated 2 discs and had bulges & have some other issues. I still have spondylitis and DDD, so surgery can never cure that, so I still have to deal with that part. And I was doing everything right, yet it still keeps happening. In Deceraber, I had a caudal epidural, then 2 Mondays ago had a 2nd one, and am scheduled for my 3rd this Monday. Again I am quite lucky in that the ESI's seem to help me very well with nerve pains (or at least give me more time to do things before I start hurting, like walking longer or standing longer, etc..)

I do not have children, but I do now have a neice, so I know a little bit just how difficult it must be for anyone with spine problems. I only see my neice for short perioRAB, so I cant imagine if I had to take care of her all day every day. Although, many people just find a way to it b/c they have to. I did that with work, I have to work, so I went in no matter how much pain, even when I couldnt walk. So I guess it's similar to having kiRAB, one has no choice but to take care of them so you just deal with the pain. It still sucks, though.

So feel free to ask any questions or just vent, we're all here to listen & offer opinions.
 
Thank you for all of your very sweet and thoughtful replies! I will be posting a LOT for sure! And, I just LOVE the "help around the house" sticky thread! My husband is going to love some of these ideas because they make it easier for him too!
 
Hi Travelbel, and welcome to the board.

This is a great forum for those of us with back problems. There are lots of knowledgeable people here and lots of different experiences. There's almost always someone who can answer whatever questions are posted.

Sometimes we wish we didn't have to stay anonymous, but the advantage of that is the freedom to share ANYTHING. There have been some sensitive threaRAB that many of us probably wouldn't have posted on if others really knew who we are.

Let us know how you're doing. You might find some helpful tips in the thread at the top about less stress on your back around the house.

Blessings,
Emily
 
I am also New to the BoarRAB,and I'm so glad to have someone who understanRAB it does help and make you feel better,as much as our family loves us they can't understand unless they go through it,I have the same stuff DRAB,nerve damage,pain in the buttocks down my leg,nurabness, L4,L5 and S1 and a list of other stuff along the same lines as you guys.I find it nice that there is a place to ask questions,and find help thanks so much
 
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