[gatorhead]

I am new to the forum, could have probably posted in several sections. I have been reading through quite a few posts. I am not as bad off as some and worse off than other's. I keep my chin up and take it one day at a time.

Not too many people that I can talk to among my family and friends. They simply have no clue as to what I go through. I used to update what the doctors said and/or found on FB to keep everyone in touch but I suppose that was impeding.

I am a 37 yo male. I was involved in a high speed collision with a school bus 6 years ago. I hit the bus in a t-bone type collision with a slight angle to the driver's side. It was the bus driver's fault, a 19 year old first day driving, in the rain and she ran a stop sign and came into the highway right before me. I had no chance. I lived. and I am very grateful for that. I was given up on the scene by a first responder as he told them to check the bus I wasn't going to make it.

As I am typing this you can tell that I did in fact make it. I had my nose basically cut in half and sheered off my face, an open skull fracture to the area top right of my nose where the a pillar bent inwards and my face made contact.I bruised my left lobe. I had to use my fist to plug the hole in my face and I wear an XXL glove! I busted every disc in my neck, and 3 in my low back. My sternum is now distal, or outwards. I didn't break any ribs but I dislocated all of them and tore all of the ligaments and cartilages throughout. Tore both laborum's and my right rotator cuff. I have so many "smaller" injuries they have basically went unaddressed.

From the start I have had nothing but drama from the doctors! They didn't believe what I was telling them, finally got an MRI of the neck and they wanted to do surgery right away. I had 3mm and 4mm left of cord at C4-5 C5-6. They were both also compressing the nerve roots. The lower MRI was ordered after that (same day) and found herniations L3-4, L4-5 L5-S1. L3-4 was to the left and central stenosis. The L4-5 was bilateral nerve compression and spinal cord stenosis and the L5 was s1 radiculopathy.

I went to work making sandwiches from being a Nuclear Electrician and worked with these conditions to feed my family. I went to Pain Management and she prescribed me 1 Lortab 5/500 per day to be taken at bedtime only! I had to throw a fit and go over her head and was raised to 2 Lortabs a day, one in the morning one at bedtime. I jumped through all of their hoops, did the PT, lost weight as if that caused my condition to begin with and I was in great shape when I got into the accident, and I did the injections. No relief. That doctor went on vacation and I had an appointment with another doctor who wrote for percocet 3-4 times per day at 5/500, up to two if needed. I NEVER took two, but I was able to function somewhat with that as opposed to the Lortab that provided no relief whatsoever.

She grew upset about the prescription and told me to have the surgery drugs aren't the answer. I scheduled the surgery and had an ACDF C4-6 on 3/18/10. I woke up felt immediately better. Went off the drugs, started back to work at the sandwich shop and then about 3 months later I felt like I was hit by the bus all over again. So back to the doctors and to make a longer story short I went two years with Pseudoarthrosis at C5-6 and an Extreme grade herniation at C6-7 both midline into the cord and so bad into the nerve root it exited the foraminen! C6-7 was torn and herniated PRIOR to having the ACDF at C4-5, C5-6.

For two long and excruciating years I begged someone to see me or treat me. That pain center included all of the area pain management specialist surgeons etc and since the surgeon said it was all good I didnt get seen or treated and was treated like a dope fiend everywhere I turned for help. I found a doctor who looked into everything I told him and examined me physically that found the Pseudoarthrosis and the problem at C6-7. He got me into a surgeon and on 5/03/12 I had a second ACDF at C6-7 and a redo at C5-6 and it was all strapped together with titanium locking plates.

I had discussed with the surgeon the amount of time that nerve had been entrapped and the possible effects of that and never expected it to fully recover, and so far it hasn't. I have the same pain as I did prior to surgery into the same areas. The only difference being that I can't feel 3 of my 4 fingers on my right hand. Range of motion in the neck is minimal, can't lift right arm above shoulder height.

So PCP ordered new MRI's and still have C2-3 C3-4 herniated but not causing issues, C4-5 IS ROCK SOLID, C5-6 C6-7 is not mature yet and there is residual swelling around the plate. However all of the foraminen are narrowed significantly due to bone spurring and facet and uncovertebral spurring and hypertrophy. I go in for EMG on 11/07/12. He had also ordered new MRI of the lumbar and the surgeon called before I was able to leave the parking lot!

So why am I frustrated....I live in Florida. The new laws regarding prescriptions has left me without. My Surgeon could only write until he released me. My PCP is NOT allowed to write for them under the law. The neurologist I was just referred to doesn't believe in them and has me on neurontin and Lidoderm patches that haven't done anything whatsoever. The pain management center they had me scheduled for was only doing injections and I reluctantly made an appointment with them but cancelled as they are front and center in this bad injection case, they have had 3 die from there! So this law made me have to wait for a NEW pain management doctor for 6 weeks. I have 4 weeks left to go.

I am aggravated that the ones that don't need the prescriptions are still getting them! Yet those that truly need them can't! I have to sit up in agony until I pass out, then I will only get an hour or two worth of sleep and be back up in pain. I just don't get it. I have never had a problem with any tox screens, I have clear and concise etiology yet I have to suffer. I am not sure how much longer I want to suffer for. Whether someone reads this or not is fine. I just wanted to get it off my chest and not be condemned for it.