Symptoms are getting worse

M

Megss

New member
Hey guys- Thanks for your responses.

Letty, I should clarify a little what is going on. My L5-S1 fusion did not heal, but I have another major problem at L4-L5 that requires surgery. It was there before my first surgery but was left alone and has gotten worse. I have had new tests done in the last couple of months, a CT and a discogram. L4-L5 has DDD, a full thickness tear, and is compressing my nerve. It caused 10/10 pain during the discogram. My old fusion has halos around the screws, meaning there is empty space from where the screws are grinding against my bones when I move. I am with a different surgeon (my 4th opinion), and I am at the best clinic in the Twin Cities. Even people on here from out of state have recommended them. I was lucky to get in. He is going to re do the fusion at L5-S1 and inject something in there that he says will heal it 95% of the time.

I really don't feel like I have any other options. I tried working with a PM clinic for awhile after my first surgery and did PT as well as a third injection, but am not getting better. I have done all conservative treatments to no avail. I am desperate to get over this. I am only 28, and am married and have an awesome little 2 year old girl. She is the light of my life and I stink at being a mom because I never feel well. I would also love to have more children but will never get to do that in this mess I am in. If I decide against the surgery this clinic will no longer prescribe the meRAB that I am allowed to take, so I don't want to do that.

I can't go to a PM doctor right now because I have no insurance. I guess I will in a couple of weeks so that is something to think about. One thing I am concerned about is that surgeons around here only prescribe pain meRAB for 6 weeks post op. Most people I know still really need them then, and do for awhile. I should maybe get in with a PM doc so I don't have to worry about that after surgery.
 
I am 8 months post op L5-S1 anterior/ posterior fusion with laminectomy and removal of some bone. I never got better and am now going to have a second surgery: L4-S1 fusion (he is going to repair my failed fusion).

For the past few weeks my pain level and nurabness has been out of control. I have almost gone to the ER so many times, but never have. I really don't want any dilaudid or morphine before an operation. Both feet go nurab so many times every day, and the pain wakes me from sleep in the middle of the night. Today I have been up since 4 am. I could not lay in bed any longer, getting and moving made it feel a little better. The pain in my back is radiating up higher than ever. They are not allowing me to take very much medication, and to make matters worse they reduced it again yesterday. I am allowed 300 mg Gapapentin 3x daily, and 1 vicodin every 8 hours. I know this is important before a major operation so you can control your pain afterwarRAB, but man am I miserable right now. I have talked with the nurse about this but she doesn't really seem to care that much and wont do anything accept say "go to the ER if it is that bad".

The most frustrating part is my surgery is not even scheduled yet so who knows how much longer I have to suffer like this. I temporarily lost insurance at midnight on Nov 30th, and will get insurance through my company with a new plan on Jan 1. They won't schedule until I have insurance, and then it will be 4-6 weeks. Because of having no insurance, I did however qualify for this program through one hospital chain. All costs would be covered if I needed to go (and they will then cover whatever insurance doesn't once I have insurance). So if something bad happened I would have an option.

Should I be concerned about this? Any ideas on what I can do to relieve some of my discomfort? I am also taking Ibuprofen but that does nothing. I do stretching, and try not to sit/ stand/ lay too long at one time. I really don't do that much as far as activity goes because I work from home, but I do walk walk walk around my house as much as possible. I am worried that some morning I am going to wake up and the nurabness will have spread all the way up my legs!
 
I just wanted to add that my right toes and left foot had been nurab all morning. The nurabness on the left started up my leg. I am home alone and had decided that if my whole leg went nurab I was calling an arabulance LOL! Luckily it all of a sudden just stopped.
 
You should seek enough pre-op pain management to get adequate relief. There are some physicians who believe meRAB need to be lessened before surgery but other doctors who do not see it that way. Luckily my PM and my Orthopedic Spine Surgeon want me to have as much relief as possible prior to my February surgery so I'm on a full pain management regimen. Do you have a pain management physician you see and can work with?
 
Meggs:

Did you have the option to take COBRA between the two insurance policies? You can elect it for a limited time if that will help you get the pain management you need. I think you may also need a good Pain Management plan for post-op if you undergo a second surgery.
 
Hey Spine-

My former company let me go exactly a year ago because I was going to have to miss way too much work. They let me continue with benefits until March. After that we paid for Cobra for a few months until we could no longer afford it. After lots of applications I was finally accepted for Medical Aid. There was a long period over the summer and into the fall where I had no benefits, and had to stop my PT and everything. So the insurance I just lost was medical aid, so cobra is not an option. I lost MA because I have started working part time from home, and I make too much money to qualify. I can't get benefits with my current company until Jan 1st. So right now there is nothing I can do, but Jan 1 is coming up quick. The problem is I have to go full time after Christmas to get the benefits, and I am not sure if I can handle it. I can barely handle part time.
I am seriously considering the ER. I can go there for free because I qualified for a program with a certain hospital chain. I can't go to a doctor for free.
 
Meg, You had laminect0my L5 , S1 eight months ago and it didn't help your back problem...You claimed that you are still in great pain...even with the medications...And you also considering another surgery soon with the same problem...What's makes you think, the second surgery will correct the problem, if your surgeon didn't do the right surgery the first time?.....If I were you Meg, don't rush into going for another corrective surgery,,,...Go and have a second opinion from a Neurologist, to find out, how far the nerve damages in your back...that's why you still feel nurabness in your leg.. still impingent into the nerve....then go to the Neurosurgeon for another opinion,and he can send you for Mylegram to detect farther, what causing your continuing back. pain? .This test are much better than a Cat Scan or MRI....I was in your situation fifteen months ago..I was scheduled Sept. 2nd to have a minimal invasive Microscopic surgery Hemilaminectory , and then my Dr. for the last minute, while I was already in the surgery room, he told me, he's going to do an implant..I was 'nt able to ask him any questions or ,I have no idea or whatsoever, what he meant.., Had no relatives to speak for me, because I went into the hospital knowing, it will be a simple procedure, and I'll be out the next day..My friend, I was deceived by my surgeon and he did a major surgery that required rod and metal screws and bone graft and the operations took over six hours...I'm still in great pain now than before..I can't hardly walk, sit or stand too long. nurabness in my left leg, sharp electrical shooting pain to my four toes, side of the foot, heal , bottom foot and sometimes, goes up to my ankle..I do take Percoset 3 times a day, Lyrica 3 times a day, Celebrex once a day...Cyrabalta once a day...I cannot functions daily without taking all this medications..I also had Epidural injections 4 months after the surgery...and had taken 3 injections in a year..Meg. I hope you think it over, that surgery is not always the answer to releive your back rpoblem..Stay with the medications and avoid another surgery...
 
I'm sorry about the pain you're experiencing. But, you shouldn't be left to suffer like that this inevitably (until your surgery is scheduled). That seems like an awful lot to deal with. At this point I would definitely look for a pain management specialist that can take over your pain management until your surgery. This Doctor will also able to work with your surgeon to ensure your given the right post-operative pain management care (medication strengths, amount, etc.) and then the right care, once you're released from the hospital. This will ensure your pain is managed all the way through the process. Because, there is no way it's right that you are left in so many right now. You shouldn't have to suffer with pain that isn't being managed at all.

I hope you find a Pain Managed Doctor that can help you. :angel:

Keep us posted on how you're doing.

~ Fiona Jo :wave:
 
I went to the ER this afternoon. They gave me toradol and dilaudid through an IV, and then 2 vicodin before I went home. I feel much much better. He also gave me scripts for more vicodin, flexeril, and prednisone. He said to take more vicodin, and called what I was allowed to take by my surgeon "a half dose". He said that, as long as they have me taking it, they should let me take a real dose and agreed that 1 every 8 hours is not enough. I am not sure if I will take the prednisone because I hate the side effects and I have already tried it for my back at least 3 times with no relief. He also wants me to see my surgeon within a week, but I know for a fact I will never get in, and now I am afraid of getting in trouble. I know that is ridiculous, but I have a feeling he will be mad at me for taking more vicodin.
 
Meggs;

Be sure to alert your surgeon as to your ER visit and any pain meRAB you will be filling at the pharmacy. You can also contact the hospital where you went to the ER and ask then for a report of your visit (whatever the doctor dictated, etc). This is good to have.
 
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