Advise please........in pain.....new here

[Guest guest]

I just joined this group. I had a spinal fusion with Harrington Rods

in 1989 after wearing a milwalkee back brace for 5 years. I had a

progessive S curve at the time and most of my spine is fused. (I

don't know the exact measurements). I think all of it except for a

small portion at the bottom is fused.

I don't know what to think. I have been pretty much pain free

since my back surgery in 1989 (17 years ago) and now at 35 I can

barely deal with the pain sitting in my chair at work is causing.

Any exercise makes my back hurt, sitting makes it hurt, walking

makes it hurt and I can't sleep more than an hour at a time unless I

take sleep medication and maybe some wine. :-)

My pain is across the top of my back and burning pain near my

tailbone and right hip. The right hip and right buttock is a

burning and shooting pain causing numbness in my right leg and foot.

I begged my way into an appt with Dr. Hanson here in Houston on

August 15th and I am counting the days. I went to him one time a

couple of months ago and they ran some tests and nothing really came

of it. They suggested cortisone shots that I never followed up on

because I couldn't get back into him to discuss pros/cons and a

PLAN. The pain subsided somewhat but now is back with a vengence.

>

> Any suggestions based on what you have been through would be

WONDERFUL. I have no idea if I have flatback or sciatia or what.

Dr. Dickson did my surgery and has since retired. Hanson

apparently trained under him and took over his practice. He also

trained with Dr. Birdwell.

>

> Sorry for the long message but I really need some help and

advice. I am sure my family and friends are tired of hearing me

complain with nothing anyone can really do.

>

> Thanks, Cristl

[Guest guest]

Hi Crystl,

Welcome to our group, but I'm sorry to hear you are in a situation

where you need it.

What kind of tests did your doc run a few months ago? Did he take

regular x-rays and full length standing x-rays from the side? If he

does the latter, and makes certain measurements on it, he should be

able to tell you if your spine is in sagittal balance or if you,

instead, have flatback syndrome. Did he say if the disks below your

current fusion are degenerated? If he's not sure if the hip pain is

all coming from your back, you also might want to consult with a

doctor who specializes in hips.

It's unfortunate that you were not able to follow up with your doc

sooner after your last appt. My advice is that you do whatever it

takes to make YOU a priority from now on. As much as we would love to

just ignore pain and keep functioning at a high level, it's pretty

impossible to do so. Also, don't hesitate to ask Dr. Hanson for

something for pain that would help you sleep as well or better than

the sleep medicine/wine combo. That one sounds like it could be

dangerous! Or you could even call your G.P. and see if he can

prescribe something now to tide you over at least until you get some

answers from Dr. Hanson.

Hope you will stay in touch and let us know how your appointment

goes. Also, feel free to post your appointment date on our Feisty

calendar or let me know if you want me to post it there for you.

loriann

>

> I just joined this group. I had a spinal fusion with Harrington Rods

> in 1989 after wearing a milwalkee back brace for 5 years. I had a

> progessive S curve at the time and most of my spine is fused. (I

> don't know the exact measurements). I think all of it except for a

> small portion at the bottom is fused.

>

> I don't know what to think. I have been pretty much pain free

> since my back surgery in 1989 (17 years ago) and now at 35 I can

> barely deal with the pain sitting in my chair at work is causing.

> Any exercise makes my back hurt, sitting makes it hurt, walking

> makes it hurt and I can't sleep more than an hour at a time unless I

> take sleep medication and maybe some wine. :-)

>

> My pain is across the top of my back and burning pain near my

> tailbone and right hip. The right hip and right buttock is a

> burning and shooting pain causing numbness in my right leg and foot.

>

> I begged my way into an appt with Dr. Hanson here in Houston on

> August 15th and I am counting the days. I went to him one time a

> couple of months ago and they ran some tests and nothing really came

> of it. They suggested cortisone shots that I never followed up on

> because I couldn't get back into him to discuss pros/cons and a

> PLAN. The pain subsided somewhat but now is back with a vengence.

> >

> > Any suggestions based on what you have been through would be

> WONDERFUL. I have no idea if I have flatback or sciatia or what.

> Dr. Dickson did my surgery and has since retired. Hanson

> apparently trained under him and took over his practice. He also

> trained with Dr. Birdwell.

> >

> > Sorry for the long message but I really need some help and

> advice. I am sure my family and friends are tired of hearing me

> complain with nothing anyone can really do.

> >

> > Thanks, Cristl

>