Hi all, I had an ACDF at C5-6 in Jan. 2003, microD at L5-S1 in 03/03 and lami at T7-8 05/04. I am dying in pain because of 2 more neck herniations and I need another ACDF - but I just cannot do it. I am more scared now than I was 3 years ago. Any ideas on how to adapt to my problems? I am on Duragesic 100 patches, oxyIR, muscle relaxers, neurontin, Lyrica, etc.

I feel so stupid being such a chicken.......

Lisa

hi lisa and welcome to bt2.

surgery is a scary thing. i'm sure you will get many replies to help you.

i haven't had any spinal surgeries yet. putting it off myself.

Lisa,

I am like you..You/We are not chickens, just cautious..I decided to have one big fusion because I just knew I could not go through the fusion thing more than once...never did I foresee that there might be problems...I chose the best surgeon I could find..but now I am going for a CT scan because I am in a lot of pain after the surgery. They want to make certain the hardware is not pressing on nerves...I still have terrible pain in my legs and feet and cannot walk very far. I was just at the Pain doc's office crying to him...They are trying to determine what is going on, but I am so disappointed...I have the same pain post op that I did pre-op and I really do not want any more surgery...

Before I had my lumbar fusion I saw the surgeon that did my cervical fusion. He wanted to do a repeat of the lumbar laminectomy. I just did not think a repeat laminectomy would work since it did not work the first time. I cried all the way home from that appointment. I told my husband that the surgeons do not understand the pain of these surgeries. I opted for the fusion because I just felt if the lami failed again I would then be searching for someone to do a fusion...and knew I could not go through it three times...two was more than I wanted to do....

I have had lots of surgeries, but the spinal surgeries are by far the most painful and your fears are justified. You will eventually get tired of the pain or realize you have to just have the surgery to prevent permanent damage...Only you can make that decision, it is a personal decision all of us have made.

A lay person asked me yesterday if I might just have a low pain threshold....Thank God my husband who has been by my side through all of these horrific surgeries, did not even allow me to open my mouth...he said she has a very high tolerance for pain....

I just wanted to edit this to say I had the surgery and am still taking the same drugs as you kiddo...so there is no guarantee even with the surgery that you will be off the drugs...They just took me off Topamax this morning and put me on Lyrica...Very depressing...It is not easy to have these sort of problems or to live with us...

good for your husband for speaking out!!

i had a regular dr say that same type of thing to me. as my jaw dropped my hubby reminded him that i had my son by emergancy c-section before any anesthesia or pain killers were given. yes...i know what pain is and can tolerate ( live through ) a lot.

that dr tried to back track himself. he figured since my injury was at young age and i hadn't sought relief for years...that i was feeling just a new mild pain. umm..no...

gjzh, i hope they find something to do besides surgery.

gentle hugs.

I'm possibly looking at my third cord surgery...I've had 18 surgeries total...and honestly can say that I wasn't afraid of any of them, but this next one looms large. I'm just getting too old for this!

I believe my last round of surgeries left me somewhat traumatized, physically and emotionally. It's taken me a couple of years to recoup from them. And now, since I also had a muscle 'flap' procedure the last time, this next surgery will be even more involved.

So, for what it's worth....I'm afraid too!

Hopefully, that ol' "John Wayne" spirit will creep back up, and we'll both do just fine. Hang in there, cowgirl.

I have had six back surgeries. I don't think unless you have one yourself you can imagine the pain involved.
My last Sept 5 was a bad one. My husband had passed away in July and worse yet I couldn't get anyone relibable to stay with me at home. I did ok in the hospital but the main one to care for me just up and quit before she really started. I had to come home and start calling. It wasn't long till I just took over even tho I couldn't bend to pick up nothing off the floor. It was a job just to fed my cats & a dog let alone me. Worse yet I am still need a surgery Oct. 24 for a hernia. It is bothering me too. I can only walk holding my side. I can't blame you for not wanting the surgery. I am not even healed from the last one and here they say I need this one too.

I am getting ready to move to. I have a double wide trailer bought in town. i can hardly wait to leave this place for tonight my furnace broke down.It is getting colder to since the rain today. If if isn't one thing it's another.
Take care,
Fancy

Ive had 6 back surgeries, one hip replacement. I have a SPS and am now facing a hip replacement on the other side next month. Also need further knee surgery. Am I scared? Yep, I get more terrified evertime I go under the knife that I wont come out of the OR. Im way to young for all the garbage, only 51 but the doc says I have the joints of an 80yr old.

Best of luck in your decision, I hope you find relief soon no matter what your decision.

Doc.

Doc Holiday,

I just asked the pain management doc yesterday if they could possibly replace all of my joints with metal since I seem to be having problems with both shoulders, knees and hips. She did tell me that she has patients with both knees, and hips and I guess you are living testimony...I am so sorry to hear of all of this...

Yup. Not really scared per se, but after all my spinal surgery experiences I think I know better now.


Much love and

Lisa

I have not had any surgeries on my spine and after seeing my newest NS and him telling me I am not a good candidate for a successful surgery to relieve pain, I sort of felt relieved and disappointed at the same time.

He did not go into great detail, but did mention that with my problems, he would recommend a massive fusion but that he thinks there would be only a 40-50% chance of pain relief! So, that makes it easy for me to decide on not having a surgery unless it is totally quality of life issue.

My NS highly recommended that I continue with Pain Management for my treatments and hope for the best.

Of course I have the fear of PM since my RF Abalation complication in April, but have decided to continue with this Doctor's care of my spine and see him today and fully expect him to want to do an ESI or selective nerve root injections in the Thoracic and Lumbar areas...

Like those who fear more surgery, I fear another RF procedure on my Cervical spine and he wants to redo it, but I just cannot foster the courage to say yes, since he said the occipital neuralgia might get worst!

Jyes