Quote:
Originally Posted by cerealkurs
I got into a car accident over 3 years ago when I was 18 and I'm suffering from chronic back pain, and since the accident I've gotten anxiety and depression. I've gone through different physical therapies, chiropractor, injections, x-rays, MRI's, massage therapy (which helped a little bit) and finally a discoagraphy. I finally found out that my L3-L4 disc is in bad shape and the only way to fix it would be spinal fusion. I'm very nervous about the surgery. I've read stories from people that have had good and bad experiences with the surgery. I haven't decided to get the surgery yet but I would like alot more information. Every morning I wake up dreading getting out of bed because I hurt so much. Some of the pain was bearable but now it seems like the pain is getting worse every day. I'm currently on pain meds but I'd like to get off of them before I become addicted but if I stopped taking them before I got better I don't think I could deal with the pain alone. If anyone has any information, stories, or anything you think could be helpful, I'd greatly appreciate it.
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Dear Cerealkurs- I was in such a car wreck just over 5 years ago. Afterwards we learned I was concussed, had multiple disc herniations, and both of my arms were severely injured as to the carpal tunnel issue. It was suggested I had held the steering wheel in such a death grip that I had injured both arms. Much medical discernment went into my followon care. Being married, I had the benefit of my wife to accompany me to all of my doctor visits so that important other set of ears was available, as well as the notion that she could offer observations relevant to my issues when the doc would ask... "so, why are you here today?"
One of the other posters suggested you make sure your docs know of the possibility you had a head injury. This is important so any relevant diagnosis may be made and treatment offered. I wound up with brain MRI series and the like to confirm the nature and extent of my injury. It is certainly something about care is important.
Ultimately, among many other surgical interventions, I had the discogram [absolute torture] session to which you alluded. It did confirm without any room for doubt that the intervening physical therapies and such had helped my upper level herniation issues but that my L5-S1 leaked like a sieve. I guess it was awful to behold, as the doc let me know they had 6 folks holding me down on the operating table as the discogram progressed. Talk about sobbing.
So, information in hand, we set about to interview docs about next steps. Before we got too many more months down the road, that portion of my body below the waist began to shut down.... you know, no control of legs, bowel, bladder..... and, of course, I was screaming non-stop due to the pain and spasms. A pillow came in handy to muffle my screams at that time. For these reasons, I was admitted for urgent discectomy, laminectomy and fusion at L5-S1. I wish it had been sooner, and it was for no lack of trying on our part. It just took a while to get "through the system," actually too long.
Post surgically, I was glad to regain bowel and bladder control and I can use my legs, albeit with a cane. Bilateral peripheral neuropathy lingers and I have the burning nerve pain, spasms, and numbness to this day. My surgeon was of the thought the nerve issues continued after surgery because too much time passed before correction of the mechanical issues. My back feels better, although I must continue on the pain meds due to the unrelenting nerve pain. Arghhhhhh!!
So, you will find my posting as well under the SCS and Pain Pump forum as well since I am now in line awaiting a surgical implant of a device to try to help with the nerve pain and lessen the pain med necessity.
I hope for you the best, and you will be in my prayers as you consider your future care.
All the best,
Mark56
