spine fusion? What does pain feel like to you?

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magnetlady45

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Hi Tomorrow:

The first surgery I had in May 97 was trimming back disc at level 3-4 & 4-5. The second surgery was in Noveraber 2001 and they trimmed back disc at level 4-5 I believe and cleaned up a lot of scar tissue. This doctor said that it was like having to use a dremmel to clean up the scar tissue that was wrapped around the nerve. Three surgeries, three different doctors. First one was neurosurgeon. He moved away to another state. My insurance changed and second doctor was orthopaedic. Second doctor wouldn't touch me this time. He recommended my present orthopedic doctor as he said he couldn't do the surgery that I would probably need. I wish that since my back was so unstable that they would have done this surgery the first time.

Tomorrow, I don't know about you but I have been praying a lot about this and trusting that the Lord will see me through this.
 
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 All.

I had posterior 360 lurabar fusion on May 1, 03 and for the first 6 weeks I thought I was not getting better. I started PT at 5 weeks and I to have pain in my buttocks area, and extreme spasms! I was dreading my decision, but at about 7 weeks I started to feel better. I am now doing more physical therapy, and getting more strength in my legs and the pain is going away. I am not even taking pain pills anymore!! Give it time, but make sure you walk as much as you can. That is the best thing for it.

Good luck
Renee
 
Hello Magnetlady,
I sure can understand your frustration on all these surgery's. I really don't think I could handle another one. I don't think I will ever agree to cervical fusion surgery, not unless I can no longer hold my head up.
I to have been praying a lot. I think I have said, "Lord Why Me" about 20 times this last month.
Well Tomorrow I go for my check up with neuro and Do I have so many Questions. Bet I won't get a chance to ask half of them. I wonder what he will say when I walk in their without my back brace. I will keep you posted.

------------------
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
 
magnetlady45

sorry,, duplicate

[This message has been edited by BadBoy1 (edited 08-12-2003).]
 
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 does 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.

------------------
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
 
I had posterior lurabar fusion Level 4-5. They took bone out of pelvis and grafted titanium roRAB & screws. It has been 4.5 weeks since surgery. Just started physical therapy. I have to walk normal pace twice a day for 10minutes. Also tighten stomach muscles. Since starting this I seem to feel more pain in lower back. It almost feels like screws digging into back. I also still have a lot of pain in left buttock & lower leg which I had prior to surgery. This was my 3rd surgery and I am very frustrated. Please some responses to my question. I need encouragement

Christi
 
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 Renee,
I am so happy that you are feeling better. You have just giving me hope. Thank You so very much!!!!
All I have been saying to myself is "I think I made the biggest mistake of my life, having this surgery". I would be so happy not to take pain pills anymore. Not only do they make me sick at times but I am also having so many problems with my reflux from them. I do try and walk as much as I can, and by back does feel ok when I am walking. It's just the darn leg starts acting up. And also I do not have the brace and I am very afraid of falling. Again, I am happy that your recovery is going well...

------------------
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 Magnetlady,
I feel as if I have a broken back. The worst is when I am lieing down and I move the wrong way. I then get a very sharp shooting pain. Walking does make me feel a little better. But I can not walk for to long as then my right leg pain starts. I did have sciatica before surgery and it is recently returning. I also had therapy in the beginning but only toe and leg exercises. My nights are the worst with pain. I still have so much buttock pain. Prior to surgery I had the buttock pain only in right side. Well, I now have it in both sides but the right is worse. I can not even touch the buttock area. As for feeling the screws, I am not sure if that is what I am feeling. I try to push that thought from my mind. I have 4 roRAB and 6 screws. I have seen my x-rays and seen how large the screws are. I wish I never looked.
I still have so much hope that things are going to get better. The fusion surgery has a very long recovery period. Also nerves take a long time to heal.
Good Luck To You!!!


------------------
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:

I don't go back to the doctors till mid Noveraber. I start more physical therapy treatments tomorrow. She said that we will be building me up more. I will see tomorrow what that means.

I am having a much better day today. I had a rough night. I guess I am so used to my husband falling asleep on the couch. Last night he came to be and I didn't feel comfortable with whatever postion I was sleeping in. When he snores I can't stand sleeping on my right side which is facing him. Ha Ha

I do pretty good when I am walking but if I sit too long it bothers me. My back is so tender to touch at times. My pt. says I need more meat back there. Oh well that's the way I am. Do you work outside the home? and what do you do? I am a car salesperson so I don't have to do hardly any lifting there. I am hoping to go back to work soon. Let me know how you are doing. Have a great day.
 
magnetlady45

sorry duplicate

[This message has been edited by BadBoy1 (edited 08-12-2003).]
 
Hi MagnetLady,
Happy to hear that you are having a better day. Isn't it strange how one day you feel as you are recovering well and the next the pain starts all over. My night are absolutely the worst. I am the one sleeping on the couch. My bed is to painful to sleep in still. I have a wood board inserted under my cushion. I haven't been able to sleep on my side since surgery. I even tried the pillow under the knees. And still to this day, when I wake in the morning and try to get up I just wanna scream. I tell my legs to move but they won't. I have to grab the fabric on my pants to get my legs to move an inch. After that then they move, but I am so stiff. So needles to say even with all the meRAB I do not take naps as I don't wanna deal with the torture of getting up. And my husband is still not sleeping well without me in the room. He is going to purchase some wood and try to make our bed more comfortable for me.
My back is also tender to touch, although I have more than enough meat on it..lol Years ago I did nursing but had to quit because of my back. Then I worked in the Customer Service Field. I have an ill son with severe migraines, so I had to stay home for him. I then went back to school and took computer courses. I almost landed a nice job working in my school district. I bascially had it until I told them about my son. If my son's school nurse called I would have to pick him up and bring him to my mother. They didn't want to hear of it. My family is more important than any job. My husband is the only one bringing in income for a family of 4. But we are happy.
So how do you like being a car salesperson? You must be a very outgoing type of person. Also you probably know plenty about cars. The only thing I know is mine is falling apart.lol... I have a dodge convertible shadow and it is killing my back. I have the credit to get a SUV, but I would really struggle to make the payment. Ok I am starting to make a post into a story. I don't want to bore the rest of the board...lol
Keep In Touch.

------------------
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
 
Oh My God,
I am so sorry for multiple posts. Everytime that I hit submit reply I was told to reload the page. I had no idea it was actually posting. I am having so many problems with these healtrabroadoarRAB. Most of the time I can not even load the pages. Again, I am sorry for repeating.....
 
Just wanted to let everyone know that it is almost 6 years since my surgery and I am doing very well. I feel better now than before. There is light at the end of the tunnel. As time went by I felt better & better. When doctor's tell you that it can take 18 months or more to heal, they aren't kidding. It is too bad that the 3rd surgery couldn't have been the first one. It would have saved me a lot of pain and loss of time from work.
 
Hi christie it is a sad day when U just think that it is all too much.
I have been there and am now trying to move on with my life as best as can be physically managed and It really is a case of managing the good days and cherishing the bad because its the bad ones that make us so strong even at our lowest point in each and everyday that we have to live the endless journey.
Life is what you make of it and i hope that yours has a happy and positive road forward. Tommorrow is a new day and another challenge to overcome and conquer
like all of us we thrive to survive and this is just what we all need to do. Cheers Judi
 
Hello Magnetlady,
You may have over did it today... Did you do a lot of walking in the stores? I have so much pain when I get in and out of the car. I have a very small car that is pretty low to the ground. And when I go in my husbanRAB van, I have to hold on to the roof and pull myself up to get into it. As for the swelling in the back, I am not sure if mine is swelling as I can't tell.
What were your two previous surgery's? Please let me know what your doctor office says when you call them. I go back to my neuro Tuesday, I let you know my outcome.

------------------
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
 
Hey Tomorrow:

How was your doctor's visit today? Did you get all of your questions answered? What did he say?

Boy I am starting to feel so much better. Oh I still have pain but not constant. I am walking more which must be very important. I am doing my small exercises. Have you started Physical Therapy yet? I also bought a moist heating pad. I put it against my lower back for 20 minutes than wait 20 minutes and then put ice packs. It really seems to help. I am sleeping better at night and am starting to be more like myself again which makes my hubby happy.

Let me know how you are doing.
 
Hi Tomorrow:
You are probably right. I may have overdone it. I think we were in Lowe's & Staples for almost 2 hours, of course walking the whole time, not fast however. My husband walks so much slower than I, even before the surgery. I can't stand walking that slow. I think it hurts less when I walk faster.
When we got home I took a 500mg Tylenol, an hour later I took my half dose of Vicodin ES and rested awhile, and put an ice pack on my back for 20 minutes. The pain diminished considerably. I just came back from taking my 10 to 15 minute walk. I feel a whole lot better now.

Maybe you should try using ice pack too. They say not to use them for more than 20 minutes at a time. I also heard that using heat for 20 minutes can help too unless you are swollen. The heat helps to relax the muscles. I hope you get better. I don't remeraber if you said what kind of meRAB you are taking.
 
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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