Re: Re:Stenosis ... and other woes...

October 21, 2007

Hello, i am thinking of getting my hardware removed. Can you tell me what is

involved? I suffer from terrible fibromyalgia and assorted new spine pains.

Would appreciate some of your experiences/advice with this. Marsha

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Re:Stenosis ... and other woes...

Hello Debbie, I am Debbie also.

I just had a hardware removal, after a L4-L5 fusion last November. Have you

considered that the hardware might be the problem? Some times it can create the

same symptoms as other back problems.

Now I have other back problems too - paracentral hernation at T7-T8 and central

herniation at T8-T9, and lordosis at C4-C5 (?) if I remember correctly. Also

have DDD (Deg. Disc Disease) and spondylolesthesis. Recently diagnosed with

osteophytes (bone spurs) in the T and C spine (L spine not filmed).

So I have some similar issues to what you have. Plus I have problems with my

hips which we are just now addressing.

As for not having MRIs after a (metal/hardware) fusion, you still can have CTs

and x-rays; if the hardware is removed then MRIs are an option again.

Having second surgeries is a personal decision; only you can decide that

because you know your body best! My concern is that if surgery is put off too

long, in some cases, the condition cannot be corrected because it's

progressed/deteriorated too far. This is especially true if it's nerve damage.

There simply isn't enough medical technology to effectively cure spinal nerve

damage - there is always pain.

If the pain is manageable, great. But if it's not, what do you do then? Hubby

has this problem. He let it go too long and will always be in pain. I look at

him and tell the doc " let's hit my/this back problem head on because I certainly

don't want to end up like him. Besides, if I'm in the same condition, who will

get things done? " But I end up doing too much and then paying the price too.

I've always been a very hard worker - too hard for my own good health, I

suspect, now that I know otherwise. Had I known that there were spine problems

like DDD (which I probably had as a teenager and did not know) then I might have

lived my life differently, not hauling rocks, hay bales, and firewood here on

the farm as much.

This is a very good forum for you to get different opinions on your options.

And from what I've seen, the most successful stories come from people that have

researched their medical conditions and weighed all the options before

proceeding. I can't think of a good doctor that would mind an " informed " patient

to deal with!

Debbie Dahl

Oklahoma

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