removal of hardware L4-5

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apartipilo

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I had this done 2 yrs ago because I thought it was causing the pain and the 2nd opinion doctor said it was a fairly simple operation and that the hardware was totally useless once the fusion was solid ( which it was ). I ended up going back to my surgeon and begged him to remove the screws and roRAB, even though he didn't think it would work. He did it for me. In the end, he was right-- it didn't work. I shouldn't have listened to the 2nd opinion doctor. I'll probably regret this for the rest of my life. Anyhow, they're out now and the fusion is still solid so what could be causing this severe pain? After 4 different spine surgeon consults, no one can tell me. They just call it failed back surgery syndrome. Their suggestion-- live with it or try a spinal cord stimulator / morphine pump / biacuplasty. I have to try something-- I'll do the biacuplasty 1st since this sounRAB the least invasive. Any thoughts? One thing I can tell you. I live with regret everyday,wishing I never let anyone touch my back in the 1st place. It's the toughest thing, living with regret. You feel you ruined your life because you've been basically told you'll likely be living with chronic pain your whole life. Sorry to be such a downer but it's extremely hard getting thru each day with this pain. Anger, frustration, suicidal levels of depression often consume you. I pray for someone to REALLY help me and I try my best to make myself better but either one is happening. I feel like I'm in a prison of pain, a life sentence, with no escape.
 
What kinRAB of symptoms do you have since the hardware removal? What pain do you live with every day?
 
Hi,

I so had to respond to your post. You sound like you are going thru what I have since the first of the year. I don't know if you know my story but here is the short version:

Surgery 1 - 1982 fusion w/o hardware s1/s2
Surgery 2 - May 2006 Laminectomy L5/S1
Surgery 3 - Feb 2007 Fusion w/ hardware L5/s1
Surgery 4 - Hardware Removal on Right side only, hardware laying on nerve, laminectomy/decompression L4 and L3, repacking of fusion material L5/s1 and more decompression of the nerves.

Surgery #4 appears to have alleviated part of my leg pain; however, I still have severe leg cramps which we recently found out was due to my thyroid so I consider Surgery #4 semi-successful. It did relieve part of my sciatica pain in the thigh. I still have it in the foot.

In January, they told there is no hope, you have failed back syndrome. Go home, live your life, and take your meRAB. I fell into a deep, deep depression.
In June, I went on vacation. The biggest mistake in my life. I thought I could be a normal person and play on the beach. I came back and after being in bed for two weeks, vomiting every time I got out of bed, I finally went back to my doctors. They increased my pain meRAB and sent me to the surgeon. My surgeon then saw the state I was in and believe it or not what upset him more than anything was that I am now walking hunched over like a 90 year old. I can't stand straight. So he has ordered a slew of tests and as the tests trickle in it appears that removing hardware on one side has caused the fusion to fall apart creating a nonunion of l5/s1 or l5/l6. No wonder I hurt!! They believe due to the motion of l5/s1 and L4 has now deteroriated due to the domino effect. Therefore, they are now talking about Surgery #5.

They are thinking about removing the remaining hardware. Going thru the stomach and back adding new hardware from L4 to S2 and anchoring everything down.

Why am I sharing this with you? I want to provide you with HOPE. I lost hope last January and now they are saying they may be able to fix me. Am I excited? Not really thrilled about facing another major surgery but I now have HOPE. I might be able to be fixed. So no matter how bleak things look, I highly recommend that you cling to hope. We don't know what tomorrow will bring.

Realistically, do I think I will be 100%. Absolutely NOT but heck if I am even 25% to 30% better, it is better then my current position.

I hope this has helped some. You are erabarking on a new journey and we are not sure where you going to end up but hang on to hope and if you ever feel like chatting a group of us are chatting on the chronic pain board under the pain mgmt board. We talk about acceptance and dealing with everyday pain.
 
Thanks Dietdrpepper. These are very helpful, kind worRAB you share. I must say I slip or waver between absolute hopelessness to glimmers of hope. I am realistic. I know I can never be 100%. I think what we all want is to do the things that most people take for granted-- sitting thru a meal without pain, watching a movie without pain, taking a walk without pain or doing meaningful work without pain. I don't expect that I'll ever be able to do heavy lifting or playing competitive sports without pain. Life is meant to be enjoyed and chronic severe pain doesn't allow for that- period. Anyhow, this biacuplasty is on the disc below the fusion-- apparently, there's a split in that disc and the pain nerves inside that disc can be destroyed with radiofrequency from this biacuplasty. That's the goal-- if it helps, that's great. If not, I may need to consider this spinal cord stim. The one thing that doesn't sit well with me regarding the spinal cord stim is that it's a pain blocker-- it doesn't treat the source-- the source remains- they're just having these electrical signals attempting to overpower the pain sensation. Eventually, even if it works ( which they say happens with only 50% of patients ), your body will get used to it. Like you said though so eloquently, hope can never be lost-- you never know what tommorow brings.
 
I am glad I helped a little. I also want to ask if you pain is being adequately treated. I did not realize the depth of how undertreated my pain was until I was referred to a new doctor. She previewed my medical recorRAB and one month of pain logs before she would commit to seeing me and my phone rang on a Friday afternoon and she asked me to come over right away. I told her I could not because of transportation since I was not driving these days and she met me Monday morning at 7:00. When I walked in/hobbled in, she immediately apologized to me for the lack of pain mgmt I have received to date. Daily for the last year, I have lived with 7, 8, and 9's and thought this was normal.

I am pleased to say, I now sit at 2, 3, and 4's with an occassional 5 now. Now that my meRAB have been adjusted, I can go out to eat with the family and sit down for 1 hour to eat a meal. I can also walk a mall but believe me I suffer the next day for it. However, prior to this adjustment I could not walk a mall. So it is progress but the underlying problem is there and may always be there but I have HOPE that surgery #5 may be the magic one.

So make sure your pain is being properly treated because it does affect your outlook on life tremendously. My hubby says he has seen a glimmer of his old wife and he prays that once we get the thyroid under control and surgery #5 done that he might see a little more of my fiestyness return.

(((Hugs)))
 
I do not know where you live but have you gone to the major medical centers? Have you had a neuro consult? Can't believe you have to live with this? If you live in the LA area I have 2 referrals for you.
 
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