NeuroTalk Support Groups - Just Saying Hello

I'm a new member here and I would like to say hello to everyone. My name is Ann. I live in Northern, NY and I am 33 years old.
I am here because I have had alot of back problems over the years. My most recent surgery was on my neck ... I had the surgery in November 2006... Levels C 4-5 and C 5-6. I had two badly herniated discs (the dr. said they were torn) he put bone in both levels and a plate. He also took out bone spur that was on my spine in that area. Before the surgery I had alot of pain in my neck, upper back, shoulders, going down the arms and I would get alot of migraines. I would also get numbness and pins and needles feeling in the back of my head.
Just last week I went to see the dr for a follow up because he said back in January that the bone hadn't started fusing yet and he wanted to do x-rays again. According to the x-rays this last time the bone is finally starting to fuse ... he said there is still a gap there but overall he said it looks beautiful! I was so relieved to hear that! I was afraid that the bone wasn't going to fuse because i have an immune deficiency called Common Variable Immunodeficiency and I don't heal as well as other people despite getting monthly infusions of antibodies. I also had another strike against me ... I am a smoker and have smoked for over 20 years. Tried to quit after my surgery because the doctor told me that smoking doesn't help the fusion of the bone but I have had a hard time with it. But despite all of that surprisingly the bone is finally fusing!
I have also had the herniated discs throughout the rest of my spine ... Including the cervical part of my spine I have had a total of around 9 herniations. The doctor had diagnosed me with osteoarthritis and he believes that's why my discs keep on herniating.
I had 2 surgeries on my lower back. The first one was in 2000 ... He removed part of the disc in L5-S1 and again in 2003 he had to do a second surgery on that same level ... more of the disc herniated so he took more of that out. That surgery was a little more difficult. I had some complications with that one. Besides taking out more of that disc ... he also took scar tissue out of there from the surgery in 2000 and he didn't realize that the scar tissue had attached itself to the sac with the spinal fluid ... so the sac tore ... He was able to catch it in time and he sewed it up and to avoid the spinal headaches I could have gotten from it ... he kept me in the hospital on bed rest for 5 days.
Over the years having the back pain they have tried many treatments with me besides the surgery. I've gone to physical therapy, I have a TENS unit, I have a home traction kit for my upper back, I've had numerous cortizone injections in my spine with the epidural block and they have had me on alot of different medications. (narcotics, nsaid's, and muscle relaxers) Because of all the narcotics I've developed an addiction to them and have been struggling with that. I've been to a couple rehabs because of the addiction. I have been doing better with that now ... I only get narcotics if I absolutely need them. The last time I got them was when I had that last surgery in November of 2006 and I did a good job with it. Only took it when the pain was really bad.
I look forward to meeting and talking to everyone!