Hi back again
 

Hi everyone it's been quite some time since I've been here.
Update: L4 L5 Laminectomy followed by L5S1 spinal fusion.
Work cover covered the operations and settled the claim with 27% permanent impairment. Have been back at work one year and fell through a doorway onto my back. Have been off work since August. I've had Caudal a steroid epidural 2 weeks ago with little improvement. Work over want me to return to work in some capacity. They said the claim would have to be settled if the specialist can't do any more. They also told me that since I had settled earlier and because I have aggravated the existing past injury then I could only get a percentage of that.
So basically I won't have enough to live on so I will have to return to work and manage as best I can.

I'm taking 3000 mg gabapentin per day and 200mg of antriptaline
per day. I stutter when trying to explain things due to the gabapentin and have also had a couple of falls.


Sorry for the big story.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Welcome Back, Phil.

I'm from OZ, too......and like Dorothy, I'm glad I'm not in Kansas any more!

So sorry to hear about your back laminectomies and fusion. It sounds as if the surgery was successful until you fell onto your back?

I had a laminectomy on L4, in October, 2016 because I had horrible sciatica. It worked perfectly. I didn't have any fusions, however. Fusions involve "hardware" and are much more complicated.

Did your fall aggravate the area of fusion? L5?

I also fell a year after my surgery, backwards, but landed sitting down hard and suffered a spinal compression at L2. Only rest and waiting needed to recover.

I take 3600 mg of Gabapentin primarily for Small Fiber Neuropathy.

BTW, I fell because I was taking Amitriptyline, added only weeks before my fall.

I had been put on Amitriptyline by my neurology team because Cymbalta had begun to give me very dangerous side effects (Myoclonus and Syncope),

Amitriptyline is highly related to falls. And I did fall, as I said, in a way that I had never done before.

In addition the side effects of Amitriptyline include urinary retention, difficulty with word recall, dry mouth, and of course falling.

I would suggest (I'm not a doctor, of course) that you 'consider' discussing the Amitriptyline with your medical professional, and perhaps changing to another antidepressant.

I take antidepressant for pain, primarily, and am now working to try out Prozac (the old tried and true) instead of the Amitriptyline.

BTW, what does an MRI show about the state of your spine?

Keep us posted on your progress.


Regards, ElaineD

Hey there Phil !
 

Hi Elaine, the scans they took after the fall didn't show any additional damage and that everything was still intact thank goodness. Just started physio yesterday and hopefully will strengthen my back and core muscles. Thanks for the advice ,I will certainly speak with my doctor about the Amitriptyline.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Did they give you a back brace for after your surgery?
 

Welcome back! I had similar surgery to you and slipped and fell onto my side and hip about 3 months after. Luckily it didn't mess up anything with the surgery, but I do believe it shifted the hardware a little bit. Anyway, I had been given a brace to wear after the surgery for 6 weeks that was a hard shell but the inside was softer. When I feel my back is compromised, or if I need to do something that maybe not be the best thing for my back I put the soft shell part on. It helps my alignment but even better it stops me from doing things that are not good for my back. Kinda like an instant reminder.

The physio or PT will be the best thing for you in my opinion. Mine has literally done for me what drugs couldn't. If you have any questions please PM me. It sounds like there are similarities here. :)