spine fusion? What does pain feel like to you?

  • Thread starter Thread starter magnetlady45
  • Start date Start date
:( I am new to this forum and reading both of your posts saddened me SOOOOOOOOOOO very much!!! :( When you described all that YOU have gone through, especially, Tomorrow, I was brought to tears.....I will never complain about my piddling chronic lower back and right buttock/hip/thigh pain again! :( You have put my own complaints in perspective, and I thank you!! I will keep you both in my prayers!

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God Bless America!!!
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[This message has been edited by choirlady (edited 08-10-2003).]
 
Hi Renee:

Thanks for responding. It is great to hear that you are doing so well. I needed to hear that. I am afraid I don't know what a 360 is. Can you elaborate a little more for me.

Thanks

P.S. What are they having you do for PT?
 
Hi Magnetlady,
It is great to hear that you had another decent day. Keep up the good work. I bet the walking and exercises that you are doing is really helping you. I awoke today so determined not to let this dam health insurance company aggravate me any longer or slow down my recovery. My doc did not want me walking to much without the brace. In my opinion he should have also made sure everything was approved prior to surgery. The office new that my insurance doe not cover out of network. Six weeks later and the heck with them all. Today I am going to my pain management appointment and then I am going shopping. I am going to walk down every dam isle. At home I am wearing a back support that I wore when I was CNA. I am going to walk down my block every night. I think I will go to Wallmart too and get the moist heating pad. Good Luck with your recovery as I think you are doing very well.
Take Care.
 
Hi Magnetlady.

360 fusion, is where they fuse the bone all the way around your vertebre. My doctor explained that it is fused in three places, so that it is more stable. I have 6 screws, two roRAB and two cages! What a mess. I have a picture and it is really strange to see!

Anyway. At first in PT, they only started me out with message, and ice and heat packs. But now they are giving me stretching exercises, and strengthening exercises.

I am sure you understand how stiff you are after surgery! They are trying to get me some flexibility. I am now 3 months, and 1 week and I rode a stationary bike yesterday for about 10 minutes!! I was a little sore afterward, but I can't tell you how excited I was. AFter I do that for a week, I can try a bicycle outside!!!

Good luck and keep icing and heating! It helps. My milestone was 7 weeks!

I know that everybody progresses at different places. I couldn't stand the brace that I was wearing because it was to hard to move around in, so ironically my husband let me use his motorcycle brace from Mechanix and it worked wonders. Best $40.00 I ever invested. It supported my back without being too bulky.

Take Care
Renee
 
i Magnetlady,
Well, I walked in my neuro surgeon's office today and I noticed that all the staff was like staring at me.
They had several patients in the office. I sat down and 5 minutes later I was called in ahead of everyone else. I can imagine the looks I was probably giving behind my back. Upon speaking to the nurse she informed me that they all could not believe the problems with my insurance company approving the back brace. Then when my neuro came in he told me that by the time they approve the back brace that I will no longer need it. He also said that he does not want me starting physical therapy yet. He was going to send me only for massage therapy but he is concerned about my buttock and my leg pain returning. He also gave me script for another x-ray. He told me they will do one every month. My first x-ray looked good and all the hardware is in place. Another dr. at that office had told me prior to surgey that I was going to have 4 roRAB. Well, my neuro went over the x-ray with me and I only have 2 roRAB. Makes me feel much better with only 2 although I have posted that I have 4. I go back to that same office tomorrow for pain management. Oh and he told me to get the application for handicap parking. I think that may help me a great deal as I don't got out enough.
I have looked in the stores at the moist heating pad but wasn't sure if it would help me. Maybe I purchase it since it gave you some relief. I really wish I could sleep in my bed as I miss it so. Still sleeping on the couch. I don't think that I even move a inch when I sleep. It is great to hear that you are feeling better.
Take Care.

------------------
Lurabar MRI 10/02
Lurabar Lordosis
L5-S1 disc herniation with moderate thecal sac deformity.
L4-5 disc desiccation with bulge which results in mild thecal sac deformity and mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.
L2-3 disc desiccation with Schmorl
 
Hi Tomorrow:

Good for you! When I was referred by the doctor who did my second surgery to another doctor, I checked with my insurance to make sure he was a provided. He wasn't but most of the other doctors at that clinic were. I was told that Dr. M. was a provider and was highly recommended so I chose to go with him. These are things that we as patients must do or we will have problems like you are having with your insurance. I feel bad for you about these things.

My mother had surgery back in mid 70's for her back. They removed her disc. She is the one who originally told me about the heat. I guess her doctor told her to take a bath with water as hot as she could stand it. Stay for 20 minutes. She recovered faster than most and does not have any trouble to this day. She says that all of her frienRAB who had back surgery by other doctors were never told to do this and have suffered with their backs since.

My therapist says heat is great also. I guess if it works for mom and I see that it is helping me out, I will continue to do so. I also find that walking and those small exercises have really made a great improvement. It seems that the less activity that I do the more it bothers me. Take it slow. Try the walking normal for 10 minutes, 2 times a day ( continuous walkig) although that is hard for me sometimes as I live in a small town and someone always wants to stop and talk. Also use that back support you were talking about for a while till your back & stomack muscles get stronger. I was told to wean myself off my corset. I am no longer using it and feel pretty good.

Try those two exercises I was talking about. Just pull your stomach muscles in, hold for 5 seconRAB and release. Do this while lying down with knees up. do this 15 times and 2 times a day. It can't hurt you. Also I am now doing leg stretching by propping my leg up on recliner while I am standing and just stretching it, hold for 10 seconRAB. do this 5 times each leg to begin with. Be prepared to use ice pack if this bothers you at first. Doctor says that we can experience swelling for quite some time yet.

Keep in touch.
 
Hey Tomorrow:

I haven't heard from you in the last several days. I hope I didn't offend you.

I have been doing ok, but boy when the humidity is high like 97% does it really affect me. I hurt all day yesterday. I am afraid because of the rain that I sat too long during the day. It takes me all night to recover. Not too bad today but it is a long day. How did it go at your doctor's office?

I wish this would be all gone. I try to be patient but I have always been a very active person and this is really bothering me. I pray everyday that this would hurry up and heal.

I never figured that my back would still get inflamed after 5.5 weeks but it does. So different from previous two surgeries. Let me know how you are all doing.
 
Welcome to the boarRAB Choirlady,
Thank You for the prayers as we all could use them. We all have pain and all try to live one day at a time. Please don't let my post keep you from sharing your story...

------------------
Lurabar MRI 10/02
Lurabar Lordosis
L5-S1 disc herniation with moderate thecal sac deformity.
L4-5 disc desiccation with bulge which results in mild thecal sac deformity and mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.
L2-3 disc desiccation with Schmorl
 
Hello Magnetlady,
Of course you did not offend me. I just keep losing my place on these boarRAB. I actually read your post the other day and when I went to reply my modem shut down. I am having problems with this cable. I also have to learn to stroll down the page. I can not sit at the pc to long and by the time I am done reading the top posts I need to stand up. I hope that I didn't seem inconsiderate to you.
The humidity here is awful. I got my back brace and gosh am I sweating in this. And to think I bascially had to fight my insurance company to get this thing..lol Oh but I do feel so much more stable in this and the back pain is not as bad. Just wish I could get rid of this leg pain. My neuro thinks that it is a problem with a muscle. He will not let me start any physical therapy for at least another month, as he wants to keep an eye on my pain. They also put me back on ES Vicodin as the norco makes me dizzy. They gave me 90 tablets to last a month and told me to try and only take 3 a day.
I am sorry to hear that you to are having so much pain.
The dampness here is really causing me more pain. The heat idea worked. When do you go back to you doctor's? I really hope that you feel better....
 
Hi Magnetlady,
It is great to hear that you had another decent day. Keep up the good work. I bet the walking and exercises that you are doing is really helping you. I awoke today so determined not to let this dam health insurance company aggravate me any longer or slow down my recovery. My doc did not want me walking to much without the brace. In my opinion he should have also made sure everything was approved prior to surgery. The office new that my insurance doe not cover out of network. Six weeks later and the heck with them all. Today I am going to my pain management appointment and then I am going shopping. I am going to walk down every dam isle. At home I am wearing a back support that I wore when I was CNA. I am going to walk down my block every night. I think I will go to Wallmart too and get the moist heating pad. Good Luck with your recovery as I think you are doing very well.
Take Care.
 
Hi Tomorrow:

Well I had another decent day. You really should get a moist heating pad. I got mine at Walmart for under $10.00. It was worth it. Also the small exercises I am doing just started a week ago and it is only strengthening my stomach muscles by pulling them in and also my back muscles by pushing them into a chair. It sounRAB more difficult than it is and doesn't affect the vertebrae at all. At therapy they hook up lead wires to the area that is sore and electrical current stimulates the muscles to relax them. It doesn't hurt but does help. I think all of this is making a big difference.

I don't understand why your insurance wouldn't approve a brace. First day in hospital they measured me for a corset. I was told to only wear it when I was going to be up for a long time. I no longer wear it now. Must be because muscles are stronger. I am now walking 3 times a day for 10 to 15 minutes. I enjoy doing that and I am feeling better probably because of that.

Have they given you any instructions for walking? or making muscles stronger?

Keep in touch.
 
Hi Tomorrow:

Yesterday was better. Today I travelled a half hour to go to church. After an hour in service had to get up and listen to rest of service in foyer. Luckily they have speakers there. We then went to Lowe's and Staples and ate at a chicken restaurant. I am about ready to scream, it hurts so bad. Do you still experience swelling in lower back? I t hink that is what is causing such pain. Maybe I should go back on full dose of vicodin es instead of half. Just didn't want to be too addicted to it.

I am going to call doctor's office and see what they have to say. I know they will tell me that it takes quite a while for recovery but honestly I think this is ridiculous. I never had this much pain with my 2 previous surgeries although they weren't fusions then. I will be thinking of you. Let me know how you progress.
 
magnetlady45
Its no wonder you are in pain.. 4 weeks post op for what you had done and now in PT.. That is way to early. I am 7 weeks and I don;t start until next month. The back brace is a must
 
Hi Magnetlady,
It is great to hear that you had another decent day. Keep up the good work. I bet the walking and exercises that you are doing is really helping you. I awoke today so determined not to let this dam health insurance company aggravate me any longer or slow down my recovery. My doc did not want me walking to much without the brace. In my opinion he should have also made sure everything was approved prior to surgery. The office new that my insurance doe not cover out of network. Six weeks later and the heck with them all. Today I am going to my pain management appointment and then I am going shopping. I am going to walk down every dam isle. At home I am wearing a back support that I wore when I was CNA. I am going to walk down my block every night. I think I will go to Wallmart too and get the moist heating pad. Good Luck with your recovery as I think you are doing very well.
Take Care.
 
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