[Wish I was paifree]

to start off I hurt my back in Oct 2008, pain is in lower back and down left leg. Dr said I had a herniated disc. I went through pt the injections and still didnt help. so first surgery was in March 2009, it didn't help at all so Dr sent me to pain management to try different things, so by then I got tired of the way surgeon wasnt doing nothing but brushing me off I switched. Second surgery was June 2010 which he did a fusion again didn't help but relieve leg pain for two weeks, found out on MRI that fusion didn't fuse so here we go again trying everything in the mean time, my mother said get away from these county drs and go further out so that's what I did now I have two surgeons working with me a neoro and ortho. So third surgery was July 2011 which they did a revision of the second surgery they removed hard wear and compressed the disc for the third time and did a interbody graft cage. Ok so again didn't help so CT scan was done in March which stated another incomplete fusion. So back to trying more things while drs think more injections, water therephy, still no relieve. Surgeon is talking about doing a anterior and posterior fusion now so he sent me to a higher dr for a second opion on it since its a difficult surgery, oh and not to mention I have a spacer buried under all the scar tissue. Well he said go ahead with it. I went to my surgeon two weeks ago and signed the ok for surgery my surgery date is August 2012. So went to surgeons office again today to talk to dr about surgery he said he thought bout the surgery and wants to change it he now wants to go back in the back clean some of he scar tissue up and put bigger screws in and see if it fuses then, but he also wants me to talk to pain management about getting the epidural stemulator done first. Please someone what should I do am so confused right now. Am tired of being in pain and taking all this medication can't do the stuff I use to do because of all this. I do collect SSI now and Medicare starts in August I feel so old not to mention am not even 40 yet

[Darlene]

Hello and welcome each of you to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Here are a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Click on to the following forum for some assistance:

Spinal Disorders & Back Pain
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

[tamiloo]

Just wanted to say welcome to Neuro Talk I personally know hard it can be to go through your days in so much pain. Hope that the pump and surgery will be the right thing for you!! Look forward to getting to know you...please keep us updated.

[ginnie]

I can hear how upset you are. I am so sorry you are going through all this with multipal surgeries. I have had two, the last one was C3-7. They re-did C6-7. Please go for another opinion before you do more. I am not sure for myself anyway, that I would do another fusion. Has your doctor mentioned an SCS pump? The epidural, even one that is continous, isn't that just for a week or so? Please be extra careful with doing more surgery. If you are not healing properly, not fusing, I would be concerned about putting bigger screws in, just how is that suppose to help you? Have you done any research? My pain level isn't great, but it is tolerable, as the arm and hand pain is gone. However I know there is more trouble above and below the fusion site. Not sure I would ever consider more. Please do get another opinion, maybe big city.
There will be people in your area, that may be able to direct you to another specialist. I also know how difficult it is going from doctor to doctor. Consider pain management. I have taken some medications of some kind or another for 6 years now. Not the way I want to go through life, but at least the pain is kept at bay. I wish you all the best. ginnie

[Wish I was paifree]

Thanks Ginnia for responding I already had I guess you would say a third opion about another surgery and he did agree that I do need another one to fix the incomplete fusion. But like you said how are bigger screws going to fix the problem for some reason my back won't fuse so they need find a way to make that happen. And I do see pain management every month and take medication for the pain which only helps some what. My ortho surgeon wants to do the stimulator, my nuro surgeon and pain management says no that they feel it won't help me. Not only do I have back issues I have chronic nervere damage in my leg. So am really not sure what to do they have me scheduled for surgery on Aug 14th

Originally Posted by ginnie

I can hear how upset you are. I am so sorry you are going through all this with multipal surgeries. I have had two, the last one was C3-7. They re-did C6-7. Please go for another opinion before you do more. I am not sure for myself anyway, that I would do another fusion. Has your doctor mentioned an SCS pump? The epidural, even one that is continous, isn't that just for a week or so? Please be extra careful with doing more surgery. If you are not healing properly, not fusing, I would be concerned about putting bigger screws in, just how is that suppose to help you? Have you done any research? My pain level isn't great, but it is tolerable, as the arm and hand pain is gone. However I know there is more trouble above and below the fusion site. Not sure I would ever consider more. Please do get another opinion, maybe big city.
There will be people in your area, that may be able to direct you to another specialist. I also know how difficult it is going from doctor to doctor. Consider pain management. I have taken some medications of some kind or another for 6 years now. Not the way I want to go through life, but at least the pain is kept at bay. I wish you all the best. ginnie

[ginnie]

I sure do hear your frustration. I am sorry your doctors do not agree on just what would help. Ortho and pain doc. should agree before doing anything I think. Just my opinion. Did you ask your surgeon how another surgery was going to solve the issue of you Not fusing properly? Get an exact answer if you can. If you didn't fuse before, I still wonder how more hardware will solve that. If you are not getting enough pain control, don't hesitate to ask for a bit more. Good grief, they can tell by your MRI about the pain in your legs etc. I really hope what ever you decide to do, works out just fine. Did you have any kind of donar bone, or graft put in? It is the hardware that isn't fusing to the bone correct? Keep in touch. I do care. ginnie