Since my recent MRIs results are available, my Internist has told me it's time for surgery. They will be most likely be doing 'Decompression Laminectomy' for the central canal spinal stenosis at L5/S1, and possibly artificial discs for the ones in my neck that have collapsed on one side, and maybe a rod. As you can see, I have not been to the surgeon yet. Even if the surgeon says it's not quite time, it is in my near future.
Please share your story with me. Thanks!
The spinal surgery that I had 20 years ago was a 360 spinal fusion in the L5-S1 area and a year later the hardware was removed. This was caused by my injury of internal disc disruption in a car accident. Prior to surgery I had 10-15% range of motion and afterwards had 30%. It was understood that I would always have pain because of the nerve on nerve injury. Over the years since, there has been lots of deterioration,which was expected, and I am now using a wheelchair and the pain is constant. Would I do the surgery again, absolutely! Because it gave years of doing things that without it I would not have had and plus it was found during the surgery that I had a punctured dura and had been leaking spinal fluid for the previous year. Had I fallen, I would have been paralyzed. So I will always feel grateful and blessed for all the help that I received.
Good luck on this journey. I just wanted to add one thing that was drilled in to me prior to my surgery that has proven to be so true. Watch your weight gain as it doesn’t help the pain and you can reinjure yourself. I can always tell if I have gained a little as my pain is worse. Be good to yourself and stay positive! I hope that everything goes very well for you and you feel relief soon.
Thank you so much Lgt! I really value your wisdom!
SK, my computer is dying. If I can't fix it myself I'll have to take it in. I think I'm going to lose you all for a few days, I hope not.
Please know that you are in my prayers every day. I wish you the best on this journey. You are a wonderful friend and I want the best for you.
Thank you. That is very kind of you.
I've had three spinal surgeries that were were all connected. In 1987, I was a Division 1 basketball player getting ready for the pre-season. During the pre-pre-season workouts, I made the choice of participating in free weight dead lifts and squats (the other choice would have been to get thrown off the team for refusal to participate in workouts). I already had a history of bad muscle spasms and cramps in my low back going back to when I was fifteen. I would have been unable to afford to attend college without the full athletic scholarship I had at the time. I saw doctors in Washington DC & Philadelphia and the consensus was that I should go to bed rest. It was for one week at first, then two and then a month. And it kept going and going and not improving. It seemed so simple - I had three discs that were causing problems - herniated from L4-S1 and bulging at L3-L4. It was eventually decided that I had given bed rest enough of a shot, I had missed so much school and at nineteen, I wanted to get on with my life.
Back Surgery #1: November 1988. They removed the disc at L5-S1. It had slipped a few weeks before the surgery and I was unable to stand up straight. They also "shaved" the portions of the other two discs that were either herniated or bulging. Then, they fused L5-S1 and that was that. I spent two days in neurosurgical intensive care and another eight days in a regular room. Recovery was slow and steady. On the fifth day after leaving the hospital, I walked down the driveway up one house and back. The next day it was two houses. Then four. After ten days, I was walking one and a half miles a day without pain.
The surgery was a wild success. Aside from having to wear a full back brace with a leg attachment for NINE MONTHS, I was doing what I wanted. An aside - nine months after my brace came off for good, I was the passenger in a car that got hit head-on at more than 60 miles per hour. It was surely the accident or the back surgery that was responsible for the onset of my fibro. Personally, I think it was the accident but I will never know with any certainty. My fibro came along in 1991, rheumatoid arthritis in 1999 and chronic fatigue syndrome in 2002. In March 2007, more debilitating back pain started. I had an MRI who discovered I had spinal stenosis (and likely foraminal stenosis) that would require a lumbar decompression. the good news was that since I already had a successful back surgery in that area, there was a 96% success rate for me.
Back Surgery #2: May 2007. Lumbar decompression performed by the "best" neurosurgeon in the Wash DC area. Unfortunately, the moment I woke up, I could immediately tell that the pain was still there. Looks like I was in that 4%. This was extremely discouraging.
Many twists and turns occurred between then and my next spinal surgery. In short, doctors like to make that their asses are covered and because I didn't respond the way that 99.8% of patients do, you know...getting better, then there must be something "WRONG" with me...you know...in the head ("didn't you know he has FM? That should have told you what type of person he is. I know you won't make that mistake in the future." - these were all statements made about me by a neurologist to my neurosurgeon. Fortunately, he liked me better than he liked that other doctor. Also, it is fortunate that neither doctor was litigious!).
Back Surgery #3: December 31, 2007. this was a "what did we miss" surgery. I was told that this is the last back surgery I would ever have. there comes a point where doing back surgery after back surgery becomes less and less effective. Having my surgery was on December 31 was a blessing. It turns out not many people schedule elective surgeries on Dec 31 so that gave my surgeon extra time to poke around. He fused L4-L5 using the titanium alloy they use nowadays. The reason this is important is that it doesn't distort MRI images like the steel alloy plates and screws they used on me in 1988. My doctor decided he would remove the old L5-S1 fusion for just that reason. If it needed to be refused, he was right there. Upon removing the old plates and screws, the problem was immediately evident. I had nineteen-year old scar tissue compressing (and in one place, even piercing) nerves. This was never scene on the MRI due to the fact that the old plates and screws distorted the images. He cleaned up the area and decided against another fusion.
The minute I woke up from this surgery, I could feel that the pain was gone.
Were that the end of the story, I'd put "Battle Hymn of the Republic" on in the background. But last March, I woke up barely able to stand and definitely not able to walk. True to his word, my neuro surgeon will not operate, even if he saw something that could given me a fix. I've gained over one hundred pounds in the thirteen-months since this all started and even my 6'7" frame can't hide that much weight. I did have a surgical procedure to put a intrathecal pain pump under my skin that is connected to a catheter that goes directly into my spinal chord. Micro amounts of medications including narcotics are given to me constantly throughout the day. During the trial last June, my pin reduced from a 9 to a 3 in less than 24 hours. It was a wild success. However, once they turned on the pump and filled it with the same medication, the 9 stayed at a 9 and here I am eight and half months later - I am no longer on micro amounts morphine. I am now on micro dosages of dilaudid.
THE HUNT TO FEEL BETTER CONTINUES..............
Thank you, Marc. This is not the first story of it's kind that I have heard. Believe me when I tell you that I am very apprehensive.
Praying for you Marc!
My heart goes out to you. I hope you get several Neuro Surgeons to give you opinions. Make sure you get the best Surgeon out there. I went to three different Neuro Surgeons before I finally found one that I knew was going to be the right one for me. I had two spinal fusions. C4-C6 and then C6-C7 in 2008 and 2010. I am doing much better now however I have to really watch what I do. The second fusion left me with fibromyalgia. I have a titanium plate inside of me with four screws. I have a herniated disc at L5-S1 as well and do not need surgery yet but I am sure some day I will. The problem with fusions are that it creates more pressure on the disc above and below the fusion which creates another herniation eventually and thus another surgery. I use to be real active and now I am like an old lady in a 52 year old body. It is hard for me and every day is a struggle. I hope your surgery goes well and remember you will never be the same person again. Physically that is. Good Luck to you.
I started down this path when I was fifteen and had my first muscle pull in my back. It happened at a basketball camp. Believe it or not, I was okay with it because I was infatuated with the student nurse whose job it was to rub down my back with a single piece of ice...until...it...melted. I'd then flip over and talk with her putting whatever adolescent moves I had. Nothing ever "happened" other than me being introduced to sensuality...with ice.
The problem is that was so many years ago.
I do not know what to tell you other than this - the way my first ortho surgeon explained it to me was that he'd "opt for the fusion instead of a straight laminectomy because the plates and screws provide support for the spine so that there is not a domino effect with the discs and you wind up needing a new surgery every twenty years." I do not know what they theory is today. Since my Dec 2007 surgery, I know another back surgery is out of the question. I guess I have no choice left but to wait and see if the interthecal pain pump is eventually going to work. This Wednesday, I go in to have the pump refilled. But here is the thing. I am trying something counter-interuitive. Rather than refilling the pump and then either increasing the amount of meds that get fed to me, the doctor is going to REDUCE the amount. This will be the first time in nine months that they have tried this. they are hoping it will shock my system into accepting the benefit of the medications. I am so scared, so very scared.
Hi SK, my prayers are you get the best surgeon possible… When my mom needed that same surgery, I insisted she see two surgeons, they both said different things… Same surgery, but different dr’s do things in different ways. I can tell you after working with surgeons for 22 years there are so many different ways to do one type of surgery. Then you have the dr with the great bed side manner, who the patients love, but his technique leaves little to be desired, ( only those who work in surgery with him know this) then you have the surgeon that does everything to fast, and the one that is so careful, mistakes are inevitable. So how does the patient decide ??? If it were me… I would get three perspectives, and talk to as many people as possible, check to see if there are any lawsuits against the one you like, and look up reviews online… What other patients have said. I was fortunate because I worked in surgical services so I was friends with all the OR nurses that worked wirh the Ortho surgeons, as well as the anesthesiologist, so I asked them… Who would you let operate on you ?
I know you will do your Homework, but it’s so amazing how the first Dr. My mom saw , scared her to death, by telling her you have to have this surgery now… He said the nerves are being cut off and he scheduled it the day she was there… I was like oh no… We are getting a second opinion … And thank god we did ! That first dr. Was old school and wanted to do so much more than she actually needed…
You will do great… Remember it’s your body, it’s your decision who you choose and when you choose to do it…
Hugs & blessings
dee
Yes, most likely, and have yet to have recent MRIs of the spine in between. I have a lot of work to do before I get on the surgical table, if I do, yet...
Understandably, Marc. I wish you success, my friend!
Yes two procedures. Two Cervical Fusions. I had to have the second fusion because the first fusion put pressure on the disc below the fusion thus herniating it and causing spinal cord impingement.
Hi SK
Keeping good thoughts for you with the surgery! Just make sure you get a second opinion if possible. Both my husband and daughter have have back surgeries and are doing well. Nothing like what you are having but serious just the same. Keep us posted and sorry I have not been on line much lately. Just a lot going on and not much news till after my MRI results. I am hopefull things will go well with you!
Here's the thing, I guess I'll call it 31 years of back pain experienced first handed. I was a top tiered college athlete. My back failed and I tried every conservative treatment. That meant nineteen months (give or take) on my back, out of life. The top rated doctors in Philadelphia's top three rated hospitals all agreed that the fusion was the best chance at resuming life. I chose life.
Fast forward sixteen years. Life has not been physically wonderful. Fibro in 1991. Rheumatoid Arthritis in 1999. Chronic Fatigue in 2002. 2007 bring spinal stenosis and foraminal stenosis. The top rated nuero-suergeon in the DC area tells me its a fairly simple surgery and while not without risk, there is a 96% success rate. It was pain for relief. I chose 96% and relief.
Dec 31, 2007, I'm told there is a chance and only one chance that I'll get relief via surgery. Otherwise, enjoy the bed and best of luck. I chose life.
HONESTLY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? If I'm going to be bed ridden anyway, why not take the chance that the pain can be relieved? or am I wrong?
So Tuesday I see my DC, the man who knows my back better than anyone, then Thursday, back to the Internist. Both have the reports, so now I take the x-rays, and go through all of the neurological tests again, you know, strength tests, motion tests, yes there is a specific name that of course escapes me at the moment, but we'll see where the dysfunction is, and if the time is now, or in the future, but I'm sure a neuro is on the horizon, probably back to Hopkins or Univ of MD.
Thanks for sharing with me, I appreciate you all bearing your souls for me, I know that this can be difficult to talk about! My heart goes out to you all.
Love and hugs,
SK
The more research I do, the less I understand!
We vent and you call it sharing. If I vent to anyone I know (family, friends, etc.,) they do NOT CALL IT SHARING!!!!!! If anything, we are complaining again. We need to get over it and stop spreading our bad news, ego-centric bullsh*t! Enough already. Stop complaining, get a job/better job, give us more grandchildren. Have you thought that the reason you do not get outside that much may be because you are agoraphobic (you know your great Aunt was agoraphobic, remember? She was the one that killed herself at the age of 42. Poor woman, could never find the right man.).............................
PVB, I can so relate. I have fusion with rods and screws and an artificial disc at L5-S1. I've had to have some physical therapy for L4-L5 because of the added pressure it takes from lack of flexibility. My surgeon told me never to lift over 40 pounds again. That is why.
Now with DDD and bad head and neck pain and really limited range of motion, I don't know what to expect next.
I'm 55. I know we're not in our 30's, but I expected more activity out of the rest of my life, like you.