Quality of life terrible at 20years. Please help

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midget6423

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Hey guys, new to the board here!

I just need... to know if other's are going through/have been through this because no one I talk to understand how much back problems ruin your life.

I am 20 years old, up until nearly 3 years ago I was an assisting Tae Kwondo instructor, I played in banRAB (I am a drummer, bassist etc) and was basically a healthy teenage girl.
I then started having all the back pains etc, and eventually found out I had Spondilolysthesis. I had my spinal fusion done at 19 (L5-S1), on the 18th March 2007, and was promised I would be able to return to Tae Kwondo and so on.
So here we are, little over a year later, and I find out one of the titanium screws has broken, I found this out on Friday (14th March 2008) and am now waiting for the surgeon to tell me what is happening.

I know there are far worse situations I can be in, and I know that chances are this can easily be sorted out. But the thing is, I'm a University student, I've missed at least 60% of my time in lectures because my back hurts too much to go in, my social life is going downhill because I always turn down nights out because my back won't last for the whole night, and when I do go out it is literally for 2-3 hours if that. I'm losing money because my part time job is in a real ale pub (or bar if you like), my room is constantly a mess because I can't bend down to pick things up and worst of all I get really paranoid about my boyfriend seeing other people because...well you get the picture!

This is really ruining my life, my 2 hobbies are now impossible and there is nothing left. People without ever experiencing this tell me to just forget about it, but as most of you will know it is impossible.

My quality of life is terrible at 20 years old, if you can relate PLEASE get in touch and tell me how you deal with it because after this long I am losing faith that (at least some of) the pain will ever go away. Any advice on the screw breaking as well is gladly appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!
 
Midget,
my concern is: how come your Dr told you can go back to your Tae Kwando after fusion with hardware?
I used to exsercise 4-5 times a day: cardio, weights and boot camp classes.
Before my furst fusion surgery my Dr told me i will be allowed to swim and walking. Not even weights for my apper body! No bending, twisting, llifting.
Even if he would say this to me, I know i will not be able to go to what i used to do.
I understand you are only 20, you are so young still. But fusion is fusion and it has to heal and be taken care of no matter how old you really are.
I am so sorry, you still have so much to achieve in your life and you will, I am pretty sure you will be eventually OK.
But make sure you taking easy and check with your Dr all activities you are planning to do.
Best wishes to you, girl!:angel:
 
Hi midge and welcome to the forum .:cool: Sorry about your situation . SounRAB like your goin through what I did .. I broke a pedical screw too .
I'm sure your surgeon will want to replace it. When they did mine , my surgeon found out my fusion never healed ( nonunion) so he opened me back up and replaced all hardware with new. Not sure about your case and not sure what your Dr. will do . But it's probably safe to say they will want to remove that screw .


As far as not being able to do the stuff you used to , I understand. I was 37 when I inured my spine ( spondlolisthesis) but mine was caused from heavy lifting. Your very young yet so you will have a great chance of healing back to normal . It sure does take a long time to heal tho . Don't get any hopes of returning to any ruff sports for atleast 2-3 years. just my opinion , some folks heal faster tho . Give it time , things will get better for you .
Please keep us posted on what your Dr. says...

Shawley
 
Moldova,

Yeah I thought it was weird that he said I could return to everything I used to do, but when I really questioned him was when I wasn't referred to PT or any pain management. The first time I had physio on my back following the operation started February this year, which I had to request through my GP.

Fortunately I didn't return to Tae Kwondo, I only started doing light swimming and VERY light gym training, for no longer than half an hour at a time. I can't imagine what would've happened if I'd have gone back to teaching and everything else that I did!

This surgeon is meant to be one of the best over here, and yet I wasn't given the proper follow up treatment at all. In fact, I don't know how long anyone else stayed in hospital but for me it was 3 days. They were trying to get me walking just 24 hours after the operation. Is it just me or is this all very very wrong? At the time I was grateful for the speedy "recovery", but now I see that it can't be right... :mad:
 
After my first fusion surgery i was 6 days in a hospital, second time 2 weeks (I had some complications this time).
They want you to get up 24 hours later, but only based on your condition. They let me get up only 48 hours later and only with 3 therapist holding me by my arms.
I was so lucky second time. At Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC they give A MUST clasess before surgery, they demonstrate everything right there in a class how you have to get up from bed (like a log), how to seat, what pillows to use, etc.
Than they gave all of us a book with every possible instraction in it: how to eat and what, what to do if constipations; when, how and what poses you should use while having sex (yes, believe or not), what excersices you are allowed to do and what not.
They are very careful with suggestions when can you go to normal life, only based on your own body and on your recovery, they don't go by the book telling you that at 3 month you are OK to do this or that.
Take it easy, do a lot of research on Internet, they have good information for us.
Best of luck!
 
Hi Midge,
SounRAB like you have a positive outlook as you said you know there are worse things. Yeah, there are, but you aren't going through those worse things! I have some issues with pain, but the main thing is keeping my mind occupied so I do not dwell on it. The body follows mind no matter what. The mind can keep you going and at your young age, you have a super-great chance of healing faster. That's terrific. Hope your docs aren't depressing you too much. I know mine do, but when I go to see my physical therapist, he makes the world seem better as the whole crew who works there knows that if you think you can do something, you probably can. After you went through all that surgery, seems like the worst should be over. Hope you find the right pt so that you can work through your other issues. I tried 2 others before finding the old school guy I go to now. From now on, there is no way I'll even consider stepping into a chain for physical therapy. Look for one with osteo in their company name. My own docs never recommended the guy I go to now, but they all know him personally -- strange if you ask me. Good luck to ya!
 
Hey, thanks for the reply. Did they tell you what caused the screw to actually break? I am completely in the dark about everything, they haven't told me anything! I know for a fact I was assured that it couldn't happen before I gave consent for them doing the initial operation.

The worst part is on the whole healing thing etc, I was told I could at least return to the gym in August 2007, which i did but rarely due to everything else I had going on. I haven't done anything for this screw to break at all. Do you have any idea what could cause it to break?
 
Midge I'm not sure about you , but mine broke because I never fused . My Dr. kept telling me I was fusing nicely and I started PT and they had me lift a 65 lb wooden pallet. I felt it snap inside me. My surgeon took CT and found that it was broke and said no biggy its not hurting anything go see a pain specialist ! :( I went to a new spine Dr. and he flipped when he seen my CT's he set me up for surgery in 2 weeks , said it has to be replaced ASAP and he was really upset with my other Dr. I have problems fusing . I'm still not completely fused yet , but do show some on one side of my hardware.

This may be your problem as well ?? Not sure so your gonna have to wait until your surgeon looks at you. Sorry about this .

Shawley
 
Hi,nobody would get me up walking if I'm not up to it,heck with that garbage.they act like ya suppose to jump right out of bed.they only rush things along to get you out so they don't deal with the vomiting,the bowel thing and all that great pain you get.all they want to get the job done and get big money.
 
You do have a point, because when they say the fuse has happened they only point to one side. With mine i didn't feel anything snap, its just really started hurting one day.

Aww I hope yours will fuse, sounRAB as though you are having a rough time too. Your operation after the screw had snapped was as major as the first one wasn't it? If you don't mind me asking, is the scarring a lot worse? I know how much i hate the current scars I'm dreading having more, especially as I can't cover them up with tattoos hehe!

I will keep you informed on what the surgeon says as well, unfortunately I will have to wait another 8 days!
 
I have to admit I did feel as if they were trying to get me outta there but in all honesty I was thankful for it. I'm a very active person (when possible) and I absolutely hate laying there doing nothing, so naturally in hospital was the worst thing for me.

I'm at the point now where I am trying my best to think of the questions I need to ask the guy that did the initial operation, if anyone can help with this i'd be grateful, cos at the moment all I have is "How can this have happened?"
 
Hey guys, thought I'd keep you all updated.

So i've just been back to the hospital, apparently this broken screw isn't causing any problems, but the bone might not have fused even though the x-ray shows that it has. So i've been referred for a CT scan, which I'm going to have to wait a while for, a few weeks at least.

Is it just me or is this just an excuse? How can they say the broken screw is causing a problem and then turn around 3 weeks later and say its not, without further examination.


I'm seriously losing faith in my consultant, this isn't good right?
 
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