Treatment Options

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scrappinmaniac

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Ladybug,

I don't think surgery will make you any worse off than you are now, and I think that's what you need to consider when making your decision, so why not appease wc and have the fusion (as long as they agree you should have the surgery, of course)? I think if you choose to have surgery it will also give you assurance that you did everything you could have done and will stop you from always wondering "what-if". The difficult part in deciding whether to have this type of surgery or not is that there are no guarantees...you could walk away from surgery good as new or you could end up being in the same shape you're in now for the rest of your life, unfortunately no one, not even a top-notch neurosurgeon, can make any promises. If you decide to have the fusion, I would HIGHLY recommend finding a good neuro or orthosurgeon (1 that specializes in the spine)...you don't want to be stuck with an arrogant surgeon who is stingy with pain meRAB and discounts any of your post/pre-op concerns.

It doesn't surprise me to hear that you've had doctors try to discourage you from reading online posts from failed back surgery patients...doctors want us to disappear b/c we tarnish their perfect statistics...I've heard all the statistics before...most fusion patients recover and are able to resume life as normal...less than 10% of patients end up as a statistic of failed fusion syndrome, but when you think of how common back problems are and how common fusion surgery is, 10% is a lot of people...like you said in your post, "there sure are a heck of alot of 10%'ers out there".
If wc had worked quickly on your case, I honestly don't think you'd be in this position, you wouldn't have to think about possibly being disabled for the rest of your life. I really think they dropped the ball.

Smoking is extremely hard to give up. I've never been a smoker, but I've known enough people that do to know how tough it is to stop. My dad's girlfriend was hypnotized so she could stop, apparently it's a new technique people are using...she had it done in August and has not smoked since...it cost about $300...she said the cravings were bad for a while after she was hypnotized but so far it's been successful and she hasn't gained any weight either, infact she has lost a few pounRAB.

Keep me updated. I'll continue to pray for you.

Take care,
Scrappi
 
Hey Scrappi,

Im sooo sorry that the office has treated you that way. Sure sounRAB suspicious to me that she suddenly "found" your recorRAB after you making a threat to talk to your attorney! Aint that something! But at least that one dr. is out of that office..not to say that its going to make it any better. Honestly, the way they are doing you over your recorRAB...I personally wouldnt want anything to do with their practice! Im not sure that Id give them til the 30th...Id say next Thursday will have given them a reasonable time frame to get the recorRAB to you. Im considering going ahead with the surgery....what have I really got to lose??? Either way, Im garabling...and given that Im having to give up so much in the condition that Im in now, I know that I would always wonder if I could have/would have gone back to a normal life if I wouldve have it done. Both the 2nd opinion dr and the surgeon did say that if I had the surgery, I stand the chance of living life normal again. Its still very scary....and as they say "you have nothing to fear except fear itself".....and its going to drive me crazy to continue fearing the surgery, and never knowing if I can or ever will return to a normal life again. Im not ready to commit to a date just yet...as Im STILL waiting on therapy appts. but, in the meantime, I started back to walking today. I walked 2 miles (I have a sincere walking buddy now!!)...I HAVE to do something since these fools arent going to...and knowing that my right calf muscle has slightly softened..I cannot afford for it to continue deteriorating. My leg has flared up definitely since walking today....burning...and leg pain. But Im hoping that the philosophy of "no pain, no gain" will be effective in my situation, instead of making me worse. Im going to suffer it out as long as I possibly can, I HAVE to!! these fools are gonna cause me to shrivel up to nothing (muscle wise anyway....weight wise..I have NOTHING to worry about there, apparently...LOL) So up until today...pain level has stayed around 3-4. Now its about a 7-8. but Im hanging in there.

Yes, there is a difference between neurologists and neurosurgeons. Neurologists deals with primarily like seizure disorders, things of that nature.

yeah it does suck about dollywood...but it plainly states in their FAQ's, that they do not have a limited activity ticket, that they do not break it down for people that has disabilities or dont want to ride rides. that really is unfair...but, i dont think i would enjoy it at this time anyway. my girls are very understanding, and even though they told me that its crazy to pay that kind of money knowing we wouldnt get full use out of it, i told them that sometimes, i just HAVE to make those sacrifices..that i cant continue allowing my injury to affect their lives. all i can say is that for the ones that doesnt have back injuries or other injuries.....enjoy EVERYTHING about life that you can...while you can!!! people just have no idea how much of life is taken away from them once they get an injury...and they have no idea WHEN it will happen to them!! but since my last message...we have decided against themed park vacations...and are just gonna do something light..like maybe tour washington dc...never been there...would never have chosen that as a vacation spot...but.....have very little choices out there.

Family wise, I feel in my heart that they do wish that I was "normal" again. For many reasons. My husband finally realized last night just how bad it is for me. For the first time in YEARS, we went to a movie...he hears me say all the time that I cant sit in most chairs....but...he has never witnessed me being in any chair except for at home.....which doesnt affect me near as bad as office chairs, movie theater chairs, etc. at least in my home chairs..i can stand up straight without a hassle. it burns and hurts while im sitting...but i can handle that anyday over the pain that i endure trying to get up out of chairs outside of the house. So because we dont go out like that, he honestly thought that I "am fine"....but after 1.5 hours in the theater....I could not move to get out of that place!!! It was pure torture...it was forget the pain in the back, not able to stand up straight...but it literally feels like it takes extreme effort to move my legs....such baby steps. Its not only painful...but erabarrassing as heck! So, I think he understanRAB it much better now. He has back pain, etc...but its never affected him in the manner that it just totally cripples him to get out of a chair. Sure it hurts him to sit for perioRAB of time, but just the leg pain and aching back and stiffness...thats the extent of his pain. but its like my back just totally locks up, swells up, or whatever...i cant explain it...i just know that i cant stand up straight and its very painful to ease myself into that standing position. if it wouldnt make me drowsy, etc..id load up on anti-inflammatories prior to sitting, to see if that would make a difference. but i obviously cant do that, since its chairs outside the home that makes me stiff like that. i dont understand it....a chair is a chair...but obviously, its not. i need a new recliner...i can sit in the one i have..but we went out one night not long ago to find a new one...but after 5 minutes...i was done...the first one was all that it took to flare things up...so i couldnt tell after that if any would have worked for me or not. so how am i supposed to shop for furniture??? LOL. as far as my girls....lol...yeah they want their "old mommy back"...lol. they were never required to help with housework or cooking before i got hurt. that was the ONLY good thing about this happening...they learned how to clean house!!! lol. i like things done a certain way...and no one can clean the house like i like it....so i never wanted them to help. all they had to do was keep their rooms straight and presentable...i done the rest. but they also hate it for me that my life sucks to where im so very limited. frienRAB....im sure they dont want me to be in pain and would like to see me normal again....but it hasnt affected their lives....so honestly....i dont really think it majorly matters to them. im sure it matters to a point, but not to where they would do anything or give anything to see me normal again. friend wise...i just personally feel that more than anything...they wished that i would never bring up the pain and how its affected my life. i dont know...i just get the feeling that they are thinking "oh boy, here we go again, we get to listen to the back problems again"...so i always TRY to not mention it...but sometimes...it does get hard to keep it out of the picture..you know?? why did you ask that??? now..i will ask you to answer the same questions..lol. as far as Little E...you have one very slight "advantage"....hes so young, that this is what he will know...so he hasnt had to "make changes and adjustments" to your "new life". so im sure he will be perfectly ok with life as he knows it. it will seem "normal" to him. thats just my personal opinion, based upon my situation...with my girls knowing/seeing the changes that ive had to make, and that they have had to make, it has affected them...but then again...it has allowed them to be the "teenagers" that they would like to be...going to movies or bowling or whatever...with their frienRAB without "dear old mom" insisting on chaperoning, etc...lol. but that doesnt mean that they get to be wild and crazy either...lol. im not there to physically watch them...but they have restrictions...who they can go with, and what time they are expected to be home.


the chantix is GREAT!! i was down to 3 a day...didnt really want the 3rd one..so dont know why i had it..lol...just being stupid i guess...lol..but...i had a very bad day on tuesday...just badly depressed.....so was not able to sleep at all that night until 7 the next morning. that threw me off track..and due to sleeping...i forgot to take it when i did get up, and didnt remeraber to take the night pill either....definitely a booo boooo!!! i ended up smoking quite a bit on wednesday....i no longer had that "nasty" taste when i smoked....like i got while taking the meRAB....so i smoked more. im back on track today, as far as meRAB....but, the nasty taste hasnt totally come back yet..getting there...so even though i smoke less than i did yesterday...im not back down to where i was. so that was enough to let me know that i CANT come off the chantix anytime soon..and that it DOES DEFINITELY work!!! i have 2 full packs left..once those are gone...i will NOT buy anymore...i should be at the point by then to HATE them...and not be tempted to buy more.

well....hopefully these sunny warm days will help to brighten your spirits...(i guess you are having those days...lol)...its been sunny and beautiful here the last couple of days..upper 70's! but that was well deserved!!! we had several days of rainy/cool weather....3 inches of rain...in a few days. very much needed rain. well...take care...
 
Hello Ladybug,

How are you? How is your pain? Is most of your pain in your leg or back? I'm doing well, all things considered, but I have had some burning in my left leg that scares me, it scares me b/c my leg has been nurab-like (my left side feels like it is on ice all the time, that's a more accurate way to describe the feeling) since my back problems started 26 mths ago and now my leg feels like it's on fire...it makes me wonder what is causing the burning, is there another damaged disc compressing my left sciatic nerve again...I think things like that, but I dismiss them just as quickly b/c I don't intend to have another MRI anytime soon so there's no use speculating.

Last Tuesday I spoke with my neurosurgeon's assistant, that's when she claimed to have found my medical recorRAB and promised to send me a copy of them asap...as of today I haven't received anything...I am finished dealing with this woman :nono:.

Did you know that blueberries and pineapple are all you need to relieve your back pain? According to the morning show, blueberries help block arthritis, and pineapple decreases inflammation by acting as a natural advil. Now that we know that we can all flush our RX pain meRAB...lol.

I honestly don't think you have anything to lose by going ahead with surgery...there's a small chance you'll walk away from surgery worse off, but there's a bigger chance you'll walk away better off...surgery is a garable, but you have to look at the quality of your life now versus what it could be if you opt to have surgery and it turns out to be even the tiniest bit successful...there is no one that can make you any promises about the outcome but I do think it's fair to say that you will always have back problems, even if this surgery fixes the problems you have now...I think you would have had a descent chance of avoiding permanent nerve damage, as well as having lifetime back problems, if w/c had done their job properly from day 1...you may live 2, 3, 5 or 10 years without back problems, or with less pain than you're in now, but I think eventually they will creep back into your life...BUT you shouldn't let that sway your decision to have surgery or not b/c you just never know, fortunately God did not create us to be psychic, on purpose, so we would trust in Him...depend on Him to take care of you and He will :angel:.

I'm so glad to hear that you're down to 3 a day! That's GREAT! It's okay that you had a bad day, when we diet, we have bad days, we forgive ourselves and start over again the next day, right? Don't be so hard on yourself...I think you should be very proud of yourself, several people in my family are smokers so I know first hand how difficult it is to just try to stop...I think you have come a long way in a short amount of time, and on top of it you're still trying to lose weight...no one, except you, could do both...lol.

I think you and your family will enjoy Washington DC...my hubby wanted to go there after he graduated from college, so we did...we had fun...there's so much to see and do.

You are right about Little E. I guess I've never thought of it that way, instead I've spent all of my time thinking about what I'm going to do when he's old enough to question our life and how abnormal it is. I have always thought he shows more compassion towarRAB me and my 'boo-boo's" than most doctors and their staff...he's smart, he can tell you exactly where my boo-boo is, and the amazing thing is he never questions why him and I don't go "bye-bye's" very often during the day without someone else's help, everyday he seems perfectly content hanging out with me at home, but as soon as my husband comes home Little E is ready to go "bye'bye's"...he is amazing, even though he's so young, I believe he understanRAB much more than we are aware of.

Yes, the weather here is improving...last week we had a lot of rain and a lot of sunshine...lol...the weatherman is calling for 70's with sun later in the week, which will be such a blessing...there's not a better natural cure for depression than sunshine :cool:.

Take care Ladybug. I'll continue to keep you at the top of my prayer list :angel:.

Scrappi'
 
Hey Scrappi,

I just looked at my recorRAB to be sure that I had the spelling/procedures done. I was recommended to have BOTH lurabar laminotomy and right L5-S1 discectomy. Does that help you any? lol. My pain is back and right leg pain...with occassional left side pain. Which the neurosurgeon said he didnt see anything on the MRI that would cause the left side to hurt. But at times I get the pins/needles/severe prickling feeling in BOTH feet. So I dont know..lol. I am going to focus on losing weight, quitting smoking, and physical therapy for now...and see how all of that goes before making a final decision. As me and my attorney discussed today, since the surgeon said that he cant guarantee that I wont get worse with therapy....I might need it more then, than I do now, if it does make it worse. So, for now...Im just going to quit focusing on whether or not to do it, and stop driving myself insane over it..LOL...and just focus on the other things for now.

how have you been doing?
 
Hey Scrappi,

Im sooo sorry to hear about your rough days. :( I completely understand how you feel. I feel deserted too by most of my frienRAB. Some dont even want me discussing my back issues.....they are tired of hearing about it...(like im not tired of living it!!!)..but its times like this when you find out who your real frienRAB are....but it also makes you afraid to mention it to anyone...so you just start keeping everything to yourself and pretend that you are doing ok. So I definitely understand where you are coming from. I know what you mean about adjusting to medications and dealing with their side effects. Im doing quite well on the Chantix....been on it for almost 2 full weeks now....just hate/dread taking them. The nausea is rough....but have learned to not take them until I am capable of laying down immediately and being able to lay still for at least 1.5 hours til it passes. I take one in the am and one at night....so imagine...getting up....eating something to coat your stomach....then taking meRAB...then going straight back to laying down so that you dont get sick! lol. But...it is working/helping. Im smoking an average of 4 a day...have been doing that for about 3 days now.....compared to 1/2 pack to 1 pack a day. (I go outside to smoke...so depending on the weather, depenRAB on how much I smoke in a day). I was hoping that tomorrow would be my quit date...but it was closer than I thought...so I didnt allow myself that much time. If I stay on this route though, I feel pretty good that within a couple of weeks...I will be done...maybe sooner than that.


I hope you dont have another bad disc!!! Bless your heart!! You just cant seem to catch a break can you?? I have been doing ok....ups and downs...but the worst of the last week was the other morning...when I woke up, I found that I had layed flat on my back..and could not move to turn over...it hurt like heck to move....I was stuck!!!! I just about had to holler for my hubby to come roll me over...but I kept working with it until I was able to roll over. I got a letter in the mail last Friday....they had scheduled my surgery for June 5th!! But I called and cancelled....for one...Im not ready...and for two...my girls will not get out of school until the 9th. If I do it, I want it to be near the end of summer break so that we can have time to do family things. My hubby told me to go ahead and schedule it, since I pretty much wont have a choice in the matter. But Im gonna hold off as long as wc will allow me to! Im gonna make them wait like they made me!! haha.

Well...I hope the days ahead will start looking up for you!! I think about you everyday...and I worry when I dont hear from you!! Just try to keep hanging in there..I know its hard..I really understand your pain, your frustration, your loneliness..I really do. But Little E makes life worth living....so you gotta keep hangin in there for that little guy! He loves his mommy and neeRAB her. I hope to hear from you soon. Take care....and my prayers are with you.
 
Hey Ladybug I don't know why they won't try the Topomax because I am not taking Xanax or any other medicine on the list that recomenRAB not mixing. I guess I will have to wait and talk to him next week. Right now I am hoping the nerve pain does not come back now that I am weaning myself off the Neurontin. The nurse with Home Health couldn't understand just reducing the Neurontin first and see if the swelling would come down. My feet and ankles are swollen so bad and they don't even go down after being off of them when I am sleeping. I told them I was willing to drop down to one or two pills but the PA at my doctor's office said NO. I am just saying my prayers the nerve pain doesn't come back because it hurt so bad but the swelling was also starting to hurt, too.

I really wish you the best of luck with the Chantix and I know you can do it. You can also go over to the health board on Smoking Cessation and get some help there. Hope you have a good and pain free day and weekend.

Linda:angel:
 
Hey Scrappi.

Im doing pretty good. After sitting at Easter dinner at my in-laws, I was hurting pretty bad, but, I got through it. Other than that, Easter weekend was pretty good! Its so exciting to have little ones excited about the holidays, to see the joy on their cute little faces! Oh, those were the days! Noodles and cheese, huh? wow. lol. Thats a good thing though...at least the sugar bugs will stay away and not bring him cavities....and he wont get as hyper..lol. Im glad to hear that your Easter was nice.

Yes, with the surgery procedure, they will go in and clean up and the mess, and shave the part of the disc thats pressing on the nerve. Theres nothing in my report that shows anything pressing on the other nerve. But from day 1 of the injury, every so often, Ive had sciatic pain in the left leg...it just wasnt nearly as bad, or as often as the right leg...so who knows??!!

As far as losing weight and quitting smoking.....the Chantix is SUPPOSED to do all the work for me on the smoking issue. Everyone says that after 2 weeks, you just no longer want to smoke, that the taste is very nasty, etc. So, hopefully, it will be that simple. I had quit in Feb. 06 using the Wellbutrin, it done just that...made them soooo nasty!! I wasnt able to stay on it that long because it caused me to go into a very bad depressive state...along with the fact that I had dealt with my daRAB death 9 months prior, and in Jan 06 learning that my sister had colon cancer....so between the 2, I was already sad and depressed (just not severely). But a few weeks of the Wellbutrin..Lord...I hated myself and everyone around me...so I knew I had to come off the meRAB....but luckily, I had been on them long enough that it worked as far as the smoking. But, when I went to work in May, I was around smokers ALOT...and they always wanted me to go with them while they smoked....so by June...I caved in to the temptation to have ONE social smoke....and thats all it took! So, if the Chantix works just as well...I know I can quit.....that will be easy. The hardest is losing the weight. My dr has me on a plan, which I think will work....but its still VERY hard! And she laughed as well, and told me that shes never had any of her patients to work on quitting smoking and losing weight at the same time...lol. But if you are desperate enough ...you can accomplish anything! But knowing that quitting smoking causes you to gain weight...I cannot afford to gain any more weight........so Ive GOT to work on it!! the only time in my life that Ive been this heavy is when I was pg with my girls...lol. I hate every second of it too!! I dont wanna be 110 pounRAB.....130-140 will be good for me! But weight wise...I KNOW I can do it.....smoking wise...it all depenRAB on the Chantix! Theres no way I can do that on my own. I have anxiety really bad..so I have to take something to help me quit.

Im really glad that your pain meRAB are working so that you can enjoy life, and enjoy Little E during his childhood stages. :D Im sooooooooo happy for you!! I know all too well what you mean about meRAB making you so drowsy. Thats one of the biggest reasons why I suffer through pain. I either hurt, or Im so groggy that I cant function...so either way...I dont function....so whats the point? And alot of the times, I just cant afford to be groggy! Well, take care and I look forward to hearing from you again!
 
Hey Ladybug,
You go girl!! You can do it and we'll be your cheerleaders to cheer you on!!:bouncing: I had the exact surgery that has been recommended for you on the same L5-S1. My surgery was actually a success and not a bad surgery at all. I did well actually. My problem now is the scar tissue and permanent nerve damage, both contributing to nerve pain. I also have pain on the left even though my injury is on the right. They can't tell me why I hurt on the left either! Weird??!! Have a good week-end girlfriend and hang in there!

Deb
 
Hey Deb,

Thanks!! lol. I need all the cheerleaders I can get..lol. My dr laughed and said that shes never seen anyone attempt to lose weight AND quit smoking at the same time....lol. So we will see how well it goes...lol

Im glad to hear that your surgery was a success..but..just as I am afraid of....the scar tissue...thats another downer to having it done. You are pretty much trading one problem in for another....as well as arthritis...of which I already have...and if I have the surgery...that will probably worsen..but then again..it will probably worsen with time anyway..lol. Im just doomed! ha!

Yeah, that is very strange as to why it is affecting our left side and yet, no reason for it to be?? Thats just quite odd! When the surgeon told me that, it made me wonder if he would have any "surprises" when he opens me up.

Well...have a great weekend yourself and thank you!...Im off now to go roast hotdogs and marshmallows..lol
 
hey scrappi..

i think its getting close for a new thread..lol

how am i??? lol. getting OLD!!! thats how i am! UGH! strugglin to lose a pound, still workin on quitting smoking...havent done as well as i did before my stress level went up last week...but am getting there again. started walking with my new "walk buddy" last week...only walked twice last week, 2 miles each day. first day was a bummer. horrible leg pain/back burning. so i was afraid that i wouldnt be able to get back to walking....but i have sucked it up and keepin on a movin!! this week we are walking twice a day 2 miles each time...4 miles a day...WHEW!!! but have to go back to once a week after this week cause my 'buddy' has to go back to work next week...he took a week off this week. so...we are gonna TRY to do 4 miles tomorrow in one trip...(LOL..yeah can you hear me laughin!!) to see if we can do it at once....or i will have to continue to do it twice a day somehow next week. my daughter is gonna walk with me, but am hoping that i can do the 4 miles so that i can stop wasting gas driving 24 miles a day total to go walk. the absolute worst is trying to get in the car after walking...my back goes into bad spasms. ive been dealing with more back pain/burning/leg pain since i started walking...but im sucking it up because i WANT/NEED to lose weight and gain my muscles back. OH....AND...to add to my problems.......UGH!! my wrist had been hurting really bad for over a week...i just ignored it, thought it would go away. but then, it started swelling..hmmm??....it kept me awake sat. nite, so i went to urgent care place on sunday....i now have tendonitis in my wrist!! (from sleepin on the couch all this time, no place to put my arm/hand except bent under my face....great job!!...all thanks to wc for procrastinating on my treatment!!...but not sure that i can add that to my claim, since theres no proof that ive been sleepin on the couch and they didnt make me..lol).


the burning that you are experiencing doesnt sound good! :( its possible that you have moved the wrong way, or sneezed or something, and just caused the existing disc to slip out even further...so it doesnt necessarily mean that another disc if protruding, causing a problem. idk though.

what are you gonna do now about your medical recorRAB? i think id show up there personally and say that you arent leaving until you get them....and if you have to leave...you WILL be contacting your attorney! UGH!!

i actually did see that report on the morning show!! lol. but i HATE blueberries...and not too crazy about the pineapple...i can tolerate it here and there..but not everyday! im like that with fruits and veggies..if i eat them too often...(i have very sensitive taste buRAB/stomach)..so it takes nothing for me to gag...lol.

im gonna keep attempting to lose weight...am down to eating 300-400 calories a day...i began at 500-600 (what my dr told me to do, and done that for 2 weeks...NOTHING!!!).....so..i have been at the 300-400 for 2 weeks now....NOTHING!!!! so HOPEFULLY walking will jumpstart things..and i can maybe??? slowly??? start losing weight...and if i see that im losing it too fast...then i will pick up on my caloric intake. dr said calories dont matter...as long as i get proper fiber/protein and take vitamins...i can eat as little as need be. yeah..it does sound like im starving my body to death..but the dr told me that given my condition, and since i cant exercise and be active...my body doesnt need that many calories..that i just have to find where i need to be....which isnt easy!! you would think that breathing and talking and doing small jobs like cooking, etc..that id burn at least 300 a day...but apparently not. if walking doesnt help...guess i'll get my thyroid checked..although i had it checked last year and it was fine. so while working on losing weight...im also doing my own "physical therapy" since no one seems to be interested in getting the appt made....then i will be scheduling the surgery.....i think im ready to see if it will improve my life...cause this is getting old now!! i think we will enjoy washington dc as well. im in the process now of waiting to hear if we get approved to tour the white house....wont know for a few weeks though. :(

im glad that i helped you realize that Little E has no idea that he's "missing out" on things...this is just gonna seem normal to him, because he doesnt know that theres a difference.

the weather has been really good...sun mon and tues were cool and cloudy...but starting today...we are on an uphill clirab...no cool days ahead for the next 10 days!! and YES that helps with my feeling so down...and having a committed walking buddy that wont let me down in that manner...helped tremendously...cause its keeping me motivated..and gets me out of the house, and gives me something to look forward to daily....i KNEW i could beat it without going on depression meRAB!! haha. im just tough like that...lol.

well am gonna go for now. hope to hear from you soon..and i wanna hear some good news too!! ;) love and prayers...your back buddy!
 
Hey Scrappi,

Let me start by saying...you have me confused with someone else..lol. Im not going to have a fusion done. If I elect to do the surgery...its laminectomy and microdiscetomy. Does that make it easier for you to encourage me, knowing that fusions are much more complicated surgery? lol. Sorry...just wanted to get that in there, so that you will more as to how to help me. He told me that if I didnt stop smoking, that he couldnt guarantee that it wouldnt lead to fusions down the line.

I went to my primary dr today to get my anxiety meRAB, and.....to prescribe chantix for me. ;) Ive quit before, so I know I can do it...I just have to be ready...and not feel forced by others...lol. She is also helping me with my weight....she gave me excellent ideas on things. Since I cant be active, cant exercise....the only way she knew to help me was to tell me how she stays thin. I had been misled all these years that if you go below 1000 calories a day, that you will be a very unhealthy person...she told me that that is just not true...as I had told her that I was down to 800 a day and still gaining. She told me that being inactive, and not being able to exercise, that I dont need that many calories a day, just to be certain to keep my protein and fiber amounts up. So am going to give that a try for a month to see how it goes......if its successful, that will help my back problems as well.

Yeah, I fully agree, that if wc hadnt been such slackarRAB on getting me the proper care in the right amount of time...i dont think i would be facing surgery. But....nothing i can do about that now.

I still dont know how I feel about surgery....I felt a touch more encouraged by my doctor I talked to today....and then hearing you....Im going to try to not be so negative.....now......just gotta convince hubby to not be so negative....and look at the options and weigh them out.
 
Ladybug I just want to give you some encouragement on the Chantix. I took it last May and only for 2 months and I have been quit since then after 40 years of smoking. I won't say it is easy because it wasn't but I finally set my mind to it and I knew I would probably be having back surgery in my near future and I didn't want the doctor to use that as an excuse if I didn't recover. I will admit that I have had more trouble since my last surgery March 5th but I am so close to the year anniversary that I won't let MYSELF down. I would appreciate you telling me how your diet goes because I am having a terrible time with my weight. I have gained 9 lbs in 1 week with the Neurontin and I know that is it and I asked them to switch me to Topomax but they won't even though I have heard other people say it helps with nerve pain and they lose weight.

Anyway good luck with the Chantix and also any pain that you are dealing with because most people do not understand what chronic pain sufferers go through except another pain sufferer.

Linda:)
 
Hi Ladybug,

I'm sorry. I wasn't aware if you elected to have surgery you would not be having a fusion. I guess I made that assumption on my own. Which procedure will you have done, a laminectomy or a microdiscectomy, if you choose surgery? Is most of your pain in your back or in your leg/foot?

Take care,
Scrappin
 
kyma....thank you for the encouragement. i started on the chantix today...so we will see how it goes. im doing it for my health, as well as in case i do the surgery...then as you said...that will leave no room for the dr to say it was my fault that it failed..if it does..lol.

as far as the topomax...have you read up on it? the medications you cannot take with it?? some medications, (the one i know of off the top of my head) like xanax...its a deadly corabination. so that might be why they are hesitant to put you on it?? otherwise, i wouldnt know why they wouldnt try it. did you explain to them that one of the things its used for is for nerve pain? some drs dont even know that. so id go to the website, and print out the info for your dr to see, to show him that thats one of the uses for it. as far as the weight...i totally understand. i have gained 30+ pounRAB since i got hurt 18 months ago...most of it was gained in the last year though. so, now im 30+ pounRAB overweight. i will let you know if the suggestions that my dr gave me helps. i should think that i would see results within at least 2 weeks anyway. (I hope so anyway!!)

you are right....people that have never experienced back troubles certainly do not understand..and cant understand until they go through it. my hubby has been a back pain sufferer for 20+ years, (ruptured discs, surgery, arthritis)...and i NEVER understood the pain he went through...because he would complain and tell me...you just dont understand!!! lol. but once i experienced a ruptured disc myself...buddy it didnt take me long to tell him how much admiration i have for him for working as hard as he does. theres just no possible way that i could do all of the things that he does!!

thanks again for the encouragement....;)
 
Hi Ladybug :wave:,

How are you? How was your Easter weekend? Mine was nice and relaxing. It's great now that Little E is old enough to understand the fun holidays. Saturday night my husband and I explained to E what Easter was, including the easter bunny and an easter basket...we told him if he went to bed Saturday evening and went to sleep quickly like a good boy then the easter bunny would come and fill his basket with all his favorite goodies...E looked at us and said, "and noodles and cheese too?"...LOL...it's those moments that make parenthood so worthwhile, even on the bad days...E doesn't eat much candy, he doesn't seem to care for it but he LOVES cheese and noodles and wanted to make sure the easter bunny wasn't going to forget...lol.

I just looked at my recorRAB to be sure that I had the spelling/procedures done. I was recommended to have BOTH lurabar laminotomy and right L5-S1 discectomy.

If I understand a lurabar laminotomy and discectomy correctly, it sounRAB like if you agree to have surgery, your surgeon will go in and clean up your ruptured disc and the mess it made when it ruptured, without fusing the disc site, L5-S1...if I'm wrong in my assumption, I would appreciate you, or anyone else, correcting me please...I believe this is the same surgery my uncle had several years ago when a disc in his back ruptured and he had to have emergency surgery.

My pain is back and right leg pain...with occassional left side pain. Which the neurosurgeon said he didnt see anything on the MRI that would cause the left side to hurt. But at times I get the pins/needles/severe prickling feeling in BOTH feet.

Do you have a copy of the written MRI results from your most recent MRI? You may want to read it again to make sure another disc that is bulging or herniated isn't pinching your left sciatic nerve. Just a few months ago I was re-reading my MRI's and discovered that my right sciatic nerve was also being pinched by one of my bulging discs, which explained why sometimes I would have pain in my right leg and foot.

I am going to focus on losing weight, quitting smoking, and physical therapy for now...and see how all of that goes before making a final decision.

I don't think there's anything wrong with focusing on those three things, but I do think it might be tough to focus both on losing weight and quitting smoking...maybe you should be easier on yourself, after all, you deserve it :).

How have you been doing?

I'm okay...on March 3rd my doctor increased my duragesic patch from 50 to 75 mg's b/c my pain level was too high on 50 mg's...the new dose has been a GoRABend for my pain, my pain level has averaged about a 2-3 since the increase, my doctor prescribes 3 percocet's (10/325 mg) a day for b/t pain and this is the first time in the last few years that I've hardly needed to use any of them...the side effects from the new dose have been really hard to adjust to though, the major side effect from the patch is drowsiness...I can sleep 10 hours at night, get up in the morning and within an hour or two be nodding off on the couch...the drowsiness is worse if I take other meRAB like my b/t meRAB, muscle relaxer's, Topamax...that's why I try not to take anything else unless I HAVE to...I do okay with the drowsiness as long as I'm up doing stuff but the moment I sit down to rest for a minute I'm nodding off...I hate that side effect but I love how well the patch controls my pain...my husband wants me to go back down to the 50 mg patch but I'm holding out, hoping if I wait just a little while longer, my body will get use to the 75 mg patch and I won't be so drowsy all the time.

Please keep me updated on how you're doing.

Take care,
Scrappi
 
Hello Ladybug :wave:,

I'm sorry I've taken too long to reply. I appreciate your support and all of your worRAB of encouragement...you always make me feel so much better, thank you! I hate having days when I feel down, and it seems like I have more down days lately than good days...I just hate it! I think I have many down days b/c reality is setting in...I am sure that I will have back problems and chronic pain for the rest of my life, and I'm pretty sure I will never have another baby...atleast I have 1 happy, healthy child...oh well, I need to get over it and be happy with what God has blessed me with. I do think that someone truly does NOT understand how we feel until they've been where we have...I oftentimes get the feeling people think I'm just lazy and use my bad back as an excuse to get out of a lot of things...I wish that was the case, all my problems would be solved...lol.

I hope I don't have another damaged disc but it wouldn't surprise me if I did...I probably do...I do have DDD and from what I've learned about it, it sounRAB like once it rears its ugly head there's no stopping it...you keep having problem after problem...joy, joy...I'm hoping if I find a good surgeon that I can trust to fuse L1, I'll be able to take a long break before I have to worry about treating any other back problems.

Did wc schedule your surgery for June 5th or was it the neuro's office? Why did they schedule it without talking to you first? That's not very professional, it sounRAB like something wc would try to pull...they sound like they operate alot like my former pain mgmt doctor did - they treat you inhumanely, they act as if they're herding cattle instead of treating patients...hmmm, ya know what? Actually that sounRAB like most doctors...lol.

I think sleeping flat on my back for any amount of time is extremely painful...I just hate it when I wake up and realize I've done it...I know exactly what you mean...it's terrible, you feel like you're going to die right then and there!

Is the Chantix still working well? How is the nausea, has it eased up any? Are you still trying to diet now too? If you manage to stop smoking and lose weight at the same time, you could easily become a bestselling author...lol...then you could really win your wc case b/c it'd make no difference to you if they were still dragging their feet or not, you'd be sitting back, rolling in the money from your book deal...lol...wouldn't that be the life? On a serious note, I do think if you can do both..stop smoking and lose weight..you could do anything, which I already know is possible b/c you live day after day with terrible pain and so far you're still sane.

I don't think the days ahead are going to start looking up for me, atleast anytime soon, but I'm going to take everday one at a time and wish for the best...the good news is I have a toddler who has recently started talking really well, so while I'm waiting for the good days to come along, I'm going to sit back and enjoy all he has to say b/c I know I'll never get the chance to experience toddlerhood again...yes, I am very thankful God gave me Little E :).

How are you doing Ladybug? I hope you've been doing great.

Take care,
Scrappi'
 
Hello Ladybug,

How are you doing? I'm okay, getting down about some things I have no control over but that's nothing new I guess...lol. I don't have much time to post but I wanted to write and let you know I'm still here...I also wanted to make sure you hadn't gone crazy and signed up for any marathons...lol...I really wish we were neigrabroadors, I guess cyber neigrabroadors will have to do...lol...I have a lot of things to catch you up on so I plan to start a new thread tomorrow when I have more time to post...I'll let you know tomorrow when I post and start the new thread.

I hope walking is getting easier for you. I can't imagine walking as much as you are and having basically no pain meRAB to take once I was done...I know how much you probably hurt afterwarRAB...silly girl, slow down...lol...if you don't cut down on your walking, you're going to be crippled before they have time to do your surgery. I wonder why the delay in scheduling your PT? Times in the past when my doctor has recommended PT, the PT place is calling me before I get home from my doctor's appt...so it looks like the delay is once again caused by wc...I think they should be happy you're requesting more PT but what do I know...lol.

I can't believe you're eating so little calories but not really losing, it has to be your thyroid, doesn't it? Did your GP assure you it's safe to eat so few calories? I want to make sure you're not harming yourself. I'm glad you're having success with the Chantix...your dad must be so proud of you :angel:.
I really think something has changed in my back b/c the burning has increased to stabbing, intense burning pain...great, that's all I need...lol...what a life.

I'll talk to you tomorrow. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Take care,
Scrappi'


 
Hello Ladybug,

How was your day today? Mine was fine, I was nauseous, as usual, but other than that it was great. It was beautiful here today...bright, sunny and low 50's.

Another TERRIBLE side effect of the patch, atleast for me, is nausea and sometimes vomiting...on March 3rd, when my doctor increased the patch, she gave me a generous script for phenergan...I'm not sure if you know what phenergan is or not so I'll explain...it's a miracle drug to me...in my opinion, it's a real GoRABend...it stops me from feeling nauseous and from throwing up...I lived on it throughout my entire pregnancy b/c I was so sick, I had hypermesis during my pregnancy...pregnancy was the best weight loss plan I have ever came across...lol. The only downside to phenergan is it makes me drowsy...yeah, I know, I don't need any other meRAB to make me more drowsy...I break the pills in half and pray a half a pill will take my nausea away, most of the time, especially when I'm alone with Little E, I try to tough it out and not take any phenergan but when naptime rolls around I give in and have a good nap.

Have you started the Chantix yet? Does it just take away your craving? Do you still smoke when you first start taking Chantix? I can understand why you stopped taking the Wellbutrin...taking a medicine that curbs cigarette cravings and also being an antidepressant is tricky...before I became pregnant with Little E, I experienced years of severe depression and took Wellbutrin...I really liked it, I think it worked well. Keep me updated on how you're doing on the Chantix.

I think I might start looking once again for a surgeon. I know it's only a matter of time until the patch is no longer going to provide the great pain relief it does now...joy, joy.

Take care,
Scrappi
 
Hey Scrappi!!

LOL...i love readin your posts!! i really wish we were neigrabroadors too!! no i havent gone crazy and signed up for a marathon yet. :D but, instead of goin to the park twice a day now to walk....we are walkin the 4 miles all at once..double WHEW!!!! it does hurt in my back...oh i get soooooooooo stiff to where i have to stop quite often and just lean forward. and go into spasms getting back into the van....but, im alive....im gettin out of the house....and im building up my muscles. im now SLOWLY started to lose some weight....have lost about 4 pounRAB now. so thats encouraging. i had my thyroid checked last year and it was fine. but i didnt start losing until we started doing the 4 miles at once....so who knows! but yeah, my dr told me that as long as i got my fiber and protein, calories dont matter. i dont feel weak or anything, so i guess im doin alright. haha.

i have been down and depressed for a few months now....but i have decided that im going to start living life again and quit driving myself and everyone else insane. pain or not...i have to get out of the house and be a human again...or im just gonna waste the last half of my life if i continue to give in to the pain and not do the things that i enjoy doing.

i got the call from my attorneys office on wed that wc has approved therapy....but STILL waiting for someone to call and get it set up. yeah, the surgeons office gave me an rx for therapy to take to them, and told me that they would get me an appt within 24 hours of me calling them...but i told them that it was wc that i cant set the appt myself that they have to go through wc.........so yeah...its wc thats causing the delay....but i got tired of waiting on them to do anything for me...thats why i took the approach to start walking myself....so by the time they actually do get to me....i will have had a month head start on getting my muscles ready.

im still doing really good with the chantix...and yeah, i think my dad is smilin!
i havent quit yet, but really dont think im too far from accomplishin that goal.

im soooooo sorry to hear that the burning and all has been really bad for you. that just really bums me out to hear that. what are you gonna do??? im really sad for you.......i wish i could offer worRAB of encouragement...but i dont know what to say! it seems no matter what....you are getting the raw end here. its not fair at all. we are all here for you to vent to...just always remeraber that. take care and may God bless you.
 
Hey Scrappi,

My day was actually pretty good. I done some house cleaning today..and the only problem Im experiencing right now is burning in my leg/foot. But its tolerable. Today was gorgeous here.....low 70's... sunny and breezy..lol. (sorry, just had to gloat about it..lol)...its gonna be in the low 80's on Friday. lol. (just had to gloat some more..lol)

Sorry to hear about your nausea. Yeah, Ive heard of phernergan. Alot of people praise that drug..but thankfully...Ive never had to use it myself. LOL...thats funny about losing weight while pg...lol...quite the opposite with me!!! I gained 60 pounRAB with both of my girls!! With my first, it was understandable, cause I ate everything in site....but with my second...I dont know what happened!! I didnt want to gain as I done with my first, so I tried to eat "normal"..lol.

Yes, I have been taking the Chantix. They say that you wont notice anything until you have been on it for at least 2 weeks. Its been 7 days for me, since I started taking it. Yeah, I still smoke while on it (its safe to do so, unlike with nicorette, etc). I dont have as much urge to smoke....it is lessening some...not a whole lot yet, though. So too soon to know if its going to work for me....It did cause nausea around the 3rd day.....but Ive learned that if I go lay down shortly after taking it, it doesnt hit me too bad. I liked the wellbutrin too, until it caused me to "go insane"..lol. It really did cause me to hate myself and everyone around me. But luckily, I knew the signs of depression, and once I realized what was happening to me, I knew to come off of them. Within a few days, I was back to my bubbly self again. But it really did help with making me not want to smoke..sure wish i could tolerate it!!

I hate that you are going through all of this. I really do. On one hand, I wanna say to try to not be so negative about the patch, but then again, I know that after time, your body becomes immune to the drugs, and you either need more and more, or something new.....so I know how helpless/hopeless you just have to be feeling. thats why I try so hard to fight the pain when I can, and only give in and take them when Im tired of fighting the pain. I really feel for you....stories like yours is why Im so against having the surgery done for myself. Its just so scary. I havent heard a word yet about if wc has or will approve the therapy...been over a week now! Thats nothing new though...lol. Im hoping that it will work and that it will "cure" me so that I can end this nightmare with wc and feeling pressured about surgery. Well...take care....and keep me posted on what you decide to do. I will let you know the day that I think the Chantix is working...lol. hopefully by the end of next week I will notice a total difference in my urges to smoke.
 
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