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Spinal Disorders & Back Pain For discussion of all spinal cord injuries, spinal issues, back-related pain or problems. |
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10-28-2012, 05:34 AM | #11 | ||
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10-28-2012, 12:37 PM | #12 | ||
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Hope all turns out well for you. Just make sure you go for that second opinion. I am West coast Fla. Have a great neuro-surgeon. Lessa is right, if you do the surgery, give yourself a long healing time. Much more than what they are telling you. Yes, check out and make sure the verterbre above and below the site are strong enough for the hardware. I wish you all the best in this. None of it is fun, but you can have good results. ginnie
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10-30-2012, 10:05 PM | #13 | |||
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Sorry I haven't checked back in to let you know how things went. I'm a horrible correspondent!
I did get a second opinion which confirmed the first and also discussed "the domino effect" with the surgeon. He said that there are no guarantees, esp with extensive DDD, but he believes I should be able to get 5+ years before I have to have another. I'm not sure that's great, but decided the risk was worth it because the pain and weekness were getting worse. I had the first surgery on the thoracic spine on 4 Sept and it seems to have gone well. While I woke up in horrible pain right after the surgery (I felt like I'd been hit by a Mac truck), the pain in my arm and neck were immediately gone (although I didn't notice it right away because of the other pain!). The first week was the worst, but I've made steady progress since. The surgeon decided to put the second (lumbar) surgery off until after he could judge my progress at 6 weeks. It's now scheduled for 13 November. The most suprising change was that right after the surgery, the tingling/numbness/burning that I've had in my face and head for 2 1/2 yrs disappeared for about 3 weeks. It started to come back, but has since gotten better again. The neuro said that was a unexpected bonus. I still have the pain in my chest. It seems to be getting better, but then I'm not doing anything strenuous, so I'm waiting to see how it all goes in the long run. With the progress and delay in scheduling the next surgery, I've been able to go back to work part-time for about 16 hours a week. It's mostly computer work and the office has been very supportive. I'm being careful not to overdo things nonetheless. I'm a little more concerned about the lumbar surgery because the weekness in my legs is getting worse and I'm concerned the recovery will be harder. Nevertheless, I'm staying positive and remaining grateful for the the wonderful support network I have (including you all!). I'll be sure to write sooner next time and let you know how the next surgery goes. Thanks again for all your interest and I hope you are doing well or at least better |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | ginnie (10-31-2012) |
10-31-2012, 04:47 AM | #14 | ||
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My recovery from the operation itself was quite quick and relatively painless but I have seen accounts of some who had a much more difficult time. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | ginnie (10-31-2012) |
11-02-2012, 02:10 AM | #15 | |||
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Thanks, Colin. I'm sorry you haven't seen real improvement with the decompression, but glad to hear things haven't gotten worse after 6 years. I'm hoping that will be the case with me, too! The increasing weakness in my left leg has started allowing my knee to buckle and I've fallen twice in the last week, with one straining the ligaments/tendons in the knee. They've given me some exercises to help strenghten the supporting leg muscles and I'm hopeful that will help in time, esp after the next surgery. Thanks for the reassuring post. I wish you well!
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Colin Street (11-04-2012) |
11-03-2012, 08:09 AM | #16 | ||
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11-03-2012, 08:32 AM | #17 | ||
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Loved your post, and others that say they don't take crap off of any doctor. I am going to be 61 in a few days. I did the same to a neurologist, who demanded I do something without adequate explaination of why. I didn't even bother responding I was so angry, I just flipped my hand up and waved very meaningfully goodbye and walked out. I refuse to be treated in a poor fashion. He also would not acknowledge that a sugery he did, didn't work.
Since then I have discovered great doctors, who actually try to heal! ginnie |
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11-03-2012, 03:07 PM | #18 | |||
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Good for you Spiney !! I was younger when I had my surgeries, and had gotten my "senior guts" yet. LOL If I had the chance now, I'd tell that quack a thing or two! That bum disabled me -- I don't care what anyone says. He did SOMETHING wrong. How do I know? Cause the 3rd time I saw him, he looked at the latest MRI, and then he couldn't do ENOUGH for me -- said he'd do ANYTHING for me, just NAME it. Hmmm. Should have asked for a whole lot of money!!!
Ahhh well, such is life.
__________________
recovering alcoholic, sober since 7-29-93;severe depression; 2 open spinal surgeries; severe sciatica since 1986; epidurals; trigger points; myelograms; Rhizotomy; Racz procedure; spinal cord stimulator implant (and later removal); morphine pump trial (didn't work);now inoperable; lumpectomy; radiation; breast cancer survivor; heart attack; fibromyalgia; on disability. Often the test of courage is not to die, but to live.. .................................................. ...............Orestes |
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11-03-2012, 04:58 PM | #19 | ||
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We were both quite a bit younger and less bold when the "slice and dice" boys got a hold of our backs. My serious issues began with my first cage that was put in at the infamous and ever popular L5-S1.............without support. It was the surgery du jour back then and we were all getting cages, some with support, some without. Most of us that had no support lived to regret it. My cage rotated and tilted by three months post op and the surgeon DENIED it happened. There was all sorts of nerve damage.
I am feeling pretty secure about the scs implant although I am told it will be more complicated than ususal. The surgeon does nothing but brain and spinal implants and I trust Pain Man's judgement after 13 years. This is his surgeon of choice. Fingers crossed. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Leesa (11-06-2012) |
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