Pam,
I send you a PM...don't know if you got it. What I wanted to tell you that since you said you were going to a surgeon in Denver, that I know of a good pain management doctor in Boulder. I sent via PM his name and website if you wanted to check it out. When I was referred there, I got in to see the doctor within a few days. Actually, I saw the neurosurgeon there within a few days for my initial appointment as well. Send me a PM if you want any more info. Take care of yourself.

Kay

Thanks again for your posts.

We made it back to Denver tonight. My back and RSD are miserable after the long ride but at least we made it.

Dec. 26th was the 3rd anniversary of our daughters suicide and we got through that again.

I see the spinal surgeon on Friday. I don't hold out a lot of hope for much help but I will go anyway. Other Doc's have said nothing could be done.

I hope all of you will have a great new year. I still find myself hoping I won't be here for another one but I got this far so who knows?

I appreciate the PM's I received as well. You are super people. Pam

Pam,
I was glad to see you posting again...sorry that you've had to endure so much. Keep pushing for a doctor to help...there is relief out there! If the doctor you see this week doesn't have an answer, ask him or her for a recommendation for someone else to see. Take your husband to the appointment, and make sure the doctor knows how much pain you are really in, and how it's affected your quality of life.

Everyone here is sending you best wishes and hope for help.

Kay

I'm so glad to hear your still hanging in there! Please don't give up hope. It has been so hard on you and you have already been threw so much. We all still care and encourage you to write when you need someone to talk to. There will be a doctor that will help help you. I have a poster on my wall that say's: LORD HELP ME TO HANG IN THERE!

Ask for help when you need it, and yes, take your hubby along with you. You need each other so much. We are here for you.
Hugs,
Billie

Pam,
I hope the snow didn't keep you from getting to your doctor's appointment. I'm near the foothills not too far from Denver and we've got 10 inches of snow now. On top of the ice that's left from the last 2 storms, driving is awful!

Let us know how things went. And take care!

Kay

Anyone heard from Pam? Just wondering if she's OK and if her appt was helpful.

Sorry, I haven't heard a thing. I've been wondering too! I really care too.
Billie

Hello everyone! I want to start by saying I am so very sorry for your pain. I was searching for answers - anything - that might help my husband and found your site. He too suffers from severe, dibilitating pain and your posts seemed somehow comforting. Please don't take that wrong - I just mean that we aren't alone. None of our friends understand that we can't go out for an evening like we used to and most of them have just stopped calling or coming around. It's been 4 yrs since he was rear-ended at a high speed. He had surgery to repair a bulging disk. It worked for a few days then a fragment broke off and wedged next to the nerve. They re-operated but by that time he had nerve damage. Now he has spinal stenosis due to extreme inflamation of the nerve root, scarring, more bulging of the disks and let's not forget a spinal benign tumor. I can't remember what it's called. It's just something that grows sometimes when there's a trauma.

He tried medicine after medicine. Then we had a medtronic spinal implant put in. It's similar to a tens unit but is implanted. It has reduced his pain 50% and worked great for over a year. He went from being able to not function to doing well enought that he was almost ready to go back to work. Then the scarring around the nerve root got worse and he's miserable again. Now they are talking about a fusion to help with the stenosis.

Pam, this part is for you - Please don't even think about it! My husband has said the same thing and I had to somehow make him understand how much I loved him and what he meant to me and how a large part of me would cease to exist if anything happened to him. He thought he was a burden to me and my life would be better without him. NO WAY! He is my life - he and our children. We are now looking at any information we can get. We are checking out new clinical trials going on around the world that might help. I don't know what is causing your pain but DO NOT GIVE UP. There is something out there - someone that can help you.

I know this is a novel and I hope I didn't tread into a personal matter. You all know each other and I'm new here.

I have had all your husbands problems. Don't give up hope. I have had 6 spinal surgeries including the Medtronics Implant. He probably needs spinal fusion. I have had stenosis too. I also have the nerve damage. I was operated on in September and I am so much better. What keeps happening is I continue to grow a lot of scare tissue and in time it bothers my nerves and has to be removed again. I also had to have my implant taken out in Sept. Mine done no good from day one. I am glad your husband got some relief.

This last surgery has done a world of good. I can't say yet about the scare tissue at this sight tho. Time will tell. never give up hope. I have been fused from L 2 threw S 1. Someone else on here has had the growth you are taking about. I haven't. Hang in there and trust your DR. If not, get a new one.
____________
Fancylady

Hi

I haven't posted because I really don't know anything yet. I certainly appreciate your concern. Thank you so much.

My appointment with the Dr. didn't amount to much. He wants me to have an MRI and return to see him. I am scheduled for Jan 31st to do both. It's taken a long time due to my insurance certification for the procedure running out before they had me on the schedule and then they tried to schedule me at night when there isn't a doctor available. I have RSD in both arms so I need a butterfly needle for the conrast dye and a dr. insert it.

I am feeling better mentally than before. Now that I am totally off pain meds my mind isn't in such a mess. The pain is about the same as it was when I was taking all that junk.

I'm using self hypnosis and learning about meditation for chronic pain. We don't have RX insurance and my meds cost $8,500.00 last year alone. We make too much for any assistance. I spent so much time researching to find a low cost plan but to no avail.

Again, thank you so much for your concern and I will post after I get my results.

Pam