RE: New to posting and maybe going in to have a fusion on my back done

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I had a fusion done many years ago so my take on the situation isn't the best

because they've changed the surgery so much. I will tell you that I'm glad I

did it, and I was in my 20's when I had it done. That was the only option

for me at the time. Things have changed a lot since then. My fusion is still

intact and I used my own bone to do the graft. My husband had a cervical

fusion done about 7 years ago and his went well also. Actually the site where

they

took the bone (hip) gave me more problems than my spine. I was in a body

cast for 3 months and it was in August when I had it done. The sweating and

itching about drove me crazy! Then I was in a removable brace that was formed

to

me.

The surgery has kept the other discs from blowing out which was one of the

main problems I was having. They were not able to help the sciatic nerve tho.

They told me it looked like a bomb had gone off at the nerve root. I have

some degree of sciatica every day now.

I know what it's like to be cut off from life. A lot of us here understand

that. I have found that what works for me is acceptance. I have accepted that

I will be in some level of pain for the rest of my life. I do what I can to

keep it at a dull roar. I am willing to try most anything and have over the

years. After recuperating from the spinal surgery (fusion and disc) I was able

to get back into " life. " It took a lot of work. Are you taking an

antidepressant? It sounds like you need one. Most of us here use it. You are

not a

weak person! Your someone who has a medical situation and you need to use

what's available to you to deal with it. It all starts with baby steps. First

and foremost you need to take care of yourself medically.

I'm here if you want to talk anytime. I will hold you in my prayers and

thoughts.

Kathleen in NC

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

My name is Donna. I am 61 yrs. old and fractured my back (T12) and my tailbone

13 yrs . ago. Most of my pain is between 6 & 7, but somedays it hits a good

solid 9, especially if the weather is going to change.

I have been to 16 Drs. and only one wanted to touch my spine. The others, like

yours said it was a dangerous spot and would have to be operated on from the

front of my body. Thank God, I got SSD last February and have been able to take

care of myself a little better. I worked in a 1930's sweatshop mostly behind

900 to 1200 degrees. I have developed osteoarthritis from the tools we had to

use to handle the hot parts. So, my back and hands are gone.

I fractured my back on a boat. It was the most horrible pain I have ever felt.

I was paralized when it first happened and had to be towed in the back of the

boat to the hospital. They gave me a shot of demerol and sent me on my way

home. After about 5 months I couldn't stand the pain anymore so I asked my

medical man to have another MRI done. Come to find out, they had not put the

fracture in the report and that is what the Dr. went by.

I had the new MRI and there it was. I spent 5 months with people thinking I was

out of my mine when all the time my back was fractured. I think that hurt most

of all. People used to laugh at me at work cause I couldn't do the jobs I was

assigned.

Unfortunatally, I was going through a nasty divorse at the time and the ortho.

told me the nerves were manafesting in my back, and that was what was causing

the pain. I was pissed to say the least.

I know your pain well. I try to keep a positive attitude, which; is so hard to

do sometimes.

By the way, I will never have a fusion. I am frightened to death that I will be

in a wheel chair or bed ridden. I have had the shot in there that almost killed

me. I live very carefully.

Anytime you would like to write, I am here. Might not be right away cause

sometimes I...like you can't sit for too long at the puter.

Please think real hard about those fusions too.

Warm wishes for you and your day. donna

[Guest guest]

Hello and other newbies

Welcome to the group. I don't have your particular back problem but I do

understand about feeling " weak " etc. Chronic pain isn't about mind over

matter nor simply pulling yourself up by the bootstraps. We wouldn't expect

someone with a broken leg to heal themselves. A diabetic isn't weak and

useless because their pancreas can't produce insulin.

I do know that acceptance is part of living with chronic pain. We all grieve

for the life we should have, would have, could have had. I spent the first

year in the bedroom with the door shut angry with the world and not very

pleasant to be around. I already have fibromyalgia and bipolar disorder it

didn't seem fair to add neuropathy pain!

I found this group and decided that I would simply have to accept my life

for what it is and try to make the best of it. The more we alienate family

and friends the harder we make our lives.

No they won't understand, but I have found that it is pointless to expect

them to. I rarely talk about my pain because I am so much more than that.

Kaylene doesn't equal neuropathy pain. I love to read and write poems, talk

about all kinds of ideas, listen to music and watch movies. I also work very

hard to work on my listening skills. My kids are adults but they call quite

often to talk but they mostly want me to listen. (smile)

Having a spinal fusion is a very big step and you are wise to weigh it

carefully. The folks in the group with that type of problem often say that

back surgery for improved function is often the best choice. Unfortunately

it doesn't always improve pain and each time you have back surgery increases

the probability of developing adhesions etc. You don't have to make this

decision alone. Talk to your husband and get more than one opinion. Make a

list of the pros and cons so you can think about it more clearly. Ask the

surgeon that if his wife or mother had this problem would he still recommend

surgery?

I hope you will invite your family back into your life. I don't know how old

your children are but there are many things you can do with them even if you

do have to lie down. You can read together, play games, talk, watch TV, sing

songs. If you can't go shopping at the Mall you can look at catalogues

together. You can order all kinds of free catalogues online. Obviously you

can also shop online.

I am glad you found us. You are no longer alone. Feel free to tell us your

feelings, worries and problems. Folks who don't have chronic pain cannot

understand but we can and do.

Kaylene

>Hello,

>I've been lurking for a while now reading everybody's post. I don't

>write because I am in so much pain I am scared I won't get my point

>across clearly. I empathize with all of you over the pain we are

>all in. I am in so much pain daily that I can't even get off the

>heating pad most days.

>

>I have a back injury at L 4 & 5 " 2 fractures " this happened when I

>was only 15 years old and I am now 37. Over the last 4 1/2 years

>I've gone from a bad back ache to pulling my hair out pain. My pain

>is between 9/10. It's been getting so close to the 10 mark lately

>that I am very scared.

>

>I am on the Duragesic Patch 50 and taking a couple of Lortab for

>brake through pain, I take Bextra 20mg 2 times a day, about 3

>Zanaflex, 1 800mg of Nuraton and Trazadone to sleep at night. I've

>taken all of this today and I am still in a lot of pain plus I am

>awake. I hate taking all this medication it makes me feel like a

>very weak person.

>

>I am still in pain a lot of pain as I write this and I am sitting

>with my back on a heating pad. I can't do anything without my

>heating pad. My back is so discolored and it looks dead at the

>bottom from me using it daily.

>

>This new doctor I am seeing now thinks I will benefit from have a

>fusion done. He has made me retake many test that I've already taken

>to make sure this is what I need. I will see him this Thursday for

>his review of the test results and his answer on what to do.

>

>I am really scared and I don't know what to do. I think I want the

>fusion if it will help. I mean I am willing to do anything if it

>will make the pain go away, but at the same time I don't want to do

>the wrong thing.

>

>Two other doctors have told me my injury is in a very dangerous spot

>and that they were worried to do any type of surgery. Plus they

>always say I am so young to do any type of cutting on my back just

>yet. But they don't live in the pain or hell I do. I am missing out

>on my kids life due to this pain.

>

>If anyone of you have gone through this sort of thing could you

>please write me and tell me your story? I don't have anyone to talk

>to about this. I have no friends anymore I mean none! I've cut

>myself off from the world because I can't concentrate and I get

>frustrated very easily due to the pain. I just don't want to be seen

>like this. I can't keep a straight face and act like I am fine when

>I am wanting to pull my hair out and scream at the top of my lungs.

>

>I use to be a musician/singer/songwriter who was out playing in

>public and I enjoyed it very much. I've not played music for almost 2

>years now. It's very depressing it hurts to sit and play and forget

>about standing and playing that's even worse. I feel weird in front

>of people now, just going to the grocery store is very frightening

>for me.

>

>Thanks for this site it's nice to see there are other people who are

>going through this hell also.

>

>Wishing everyone a pain free future

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi, my name is Debra. I am 37 and have had excruciating back pain for about 10

years. For the last 5 years I have been going to pain management. I have had

numerous procedures on my back. But, my opinion was I was too young to have

surgery on my back so that I would wait until I had exhausted all other

avenues....this past May I wanted to pull my hair out...so I went to a

neurosurgeon...this was the best move I ever made. I have rheumatoid

arthritis.....and my back I have complete degeneration of the disc at L4-L5 and

L5-S1, I had severe stenosis and a ruptured disc with herniation. Well to make

a long story short...the doctor told me I needed to have a fusion..which I

refused. I did have on 8-26-04 a lumbar laminectomy with decompression in hopes

of relieving the butt and leg pain. I went back to work last night for the

first time after the surgery. I work 12 hour shifts I am a nurse. So, if they

tell you surgery will help..I would do it in a heartbeart. Also if they give you

more then one option...I would probably try the least invasive surgery first.

Also my doc said that they are supposed to be coming out with an artificial disc

in the next 6 months and this is preferable to doing a fusion. A fusion is

major surgery. And a concern for you is the narcotic use and post op pain

control. I was on the durgesic patch 100 before sugery...after surgery they

added a 50 mg patch in addition...and I increased the dilaudid I take from 4mg

to 16 mg....prn. The surgery was not nearly as bad as I thought. Let me know

if I can answer anything for you...I am in St Louis mo. Have you been to a pain

management doc? Debra