Surgery is now scheduled!!
I am now sheduled for surgery this Friday 9/3/10. I had another MRI on 8/3/2010 and it showed more deteriation. Surgery is now my only option for hopes of pain relief and getting my life back to a more normal place. I know that there is no guarantee and 100% inprovement will not happen. My doctor is saying hopefully 60 to 80% pain and mobility improvement. I also got a 2nd opinion from another Nueroligist who agreed with my primary Doctors assement of needing surgery. My Doctor wrote down for me what the surgery will be. It is: unilateral-facectomy, L4 & L5 decompression laminectomy and fusion unilaterally of L4 & L5 with pedicle screw. I am looking at a 4 to 7 day stay in the Hospital and several months of intense physical rehabilation.
The decision to have surgery is one that I came too after 8 months of pain, physical therapy and spinal decompression therapy. I have tried it all and am so ready for this surgery and to improve my condition and try to get some quality of life back!!
Any input or last words of advice??? I am on the countdown!! 4 more days left!!
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26 Responses
Good luck with your surgery. I avery in tested to find out how it goes, I am looking to get a surgical consult in the next couple of weeks, and am hoping it can help get my life back...
I wish I was able to talk to you!! I had my fusion and about the same spot. Pattie please look at my started discussion.. failed back surgeries are the percentages right go to the last couple pages and look at my posts. You looked young in the pictures you might have an easier than me I am 49. You're in for the toughest three days of your life. Imagine your worst pain ever in your life. I'm six weeks out exactly on Thursday I feel relief on my spinal cord I think. My pain levels still very high . I can't do anything other in physical therapy. I can drive now but that's even hard. Are you on a lot of pain meds allready? I was on a lot of pain meds presurgery. They claim that was a reason why I was in so much pain postsurgery. What I've been through so far would I do it again.? Yes. I would like my life back without surgery the chance would be zero. With this surgery we have a low percentage chance of being fixed to start with. good luck Sam
ozarkoattie I too hope you get some answers from those who have been there!! I have many of the same questions!! good luck to you !!
Let us know how you feel when you can? Take double pain meds a couple a days at home. You should have extra from ur hospital stay. Ice as much as you can. If you can find a used lift chair it was helpful for me. At furniture stores you can find a new one for about 700. I still raise myself up with it two months postop. I also sleep on it daily. I'm 49 years old I had a real tough postsurgery and still do. My heart goes out to you. Best of luck Sam /
Id get a "grabber tool" to help with picking things up off the floor along with a shower chair and id have someone there with u for the first several weeks. And takeur stool softener RELIGIOUSLY!!!!! I realize its past the third, but these things are crucial, at least they were for me. Take care hun *hugs*
Thank you all so very very much!! I appreciate all the comments..suggestions and exp. you have all had. I will write you all as soon as I can after I come home!! If you think of anything else please tell me as my surgery is not until the 20th!!
Barb
You'll be in my thoughts, just be assured that while in the hospital, u WON'T break any rods or screws u may have by rolling over in bed lol. It hurt so bad anyway and when I had to be repositioned, it took 2 nurses and my daughter to help becuz it hurt so bad and I was scared id break something. Just know u won't.
Thank you Squirt!! I have all of you in my thoughts as well.. I never thought I could get so much help and insight from complete strangers!! I feel as though I know you all better than I do most friends,, maybe becuz we share our deepedt fears and thoughts here at Spine Universe. Anyway I do appreciate all feedback about surgery.. days in shopital.. potty secrects.. Drive HOME,,,, pain meds,,, days in hospital .. etc. Damn I admit I have nerer been so afraid of surgery and I have had 6 operations under ansethia and NEVER have i fely as scared as I do about this Back Surgery Business!!
Barb
Osark patty Are you doing ok? We need to no are you at home....? My heart is with you ! Sam
Hello everyone,
I am fairly new to this site,but i get on it everyday,mostly because i am in bed so much and in pain .One and a half years dealing with this pain.Work injury in June 2009,severe DDD, with IDD L5/S1,and two cervical herniated disks.Anyhow i am so tired of dealing with work comp,three times to court already ,fighting for every bit of my care.My ortho has now requested my lumbar fusion for L5/S1,and what did i get,you guessed it denial !I am waiting for the second surgery opinion consult that i had last week.So much delay it is not even funny,in the mean time i get worse.I was very active before this accident and now everything as changed!I have exhausted every conservative measure i can ,as well as epidurals,nerve ablation ,you name it.I never wanted surgery ,i am a 50 year old nurse and have only had a tubal ligation my whole life.I hate surgery,am scared to death of the knife,and as most nurses know we are better nurses than we are patients.I trust my doctor and have a strong faith in God,so i am praying for direction.Anyway ,i need you guys for support as i feel i do not want to burden my family and friends anymore.Anyway any input would be helpful.
nurseinpain.
I am almost ready to get work done on my l4,l5 and S1, with fuision. I have been in a bad way for a long time.Numb arms and legs, very bad low back pain and way to many medications that bring littel relief. I look forward to some relief.The worst pain I get is shooting ankel pain, like electric shooks threw my ankel and upwards, it makes me freeze up and I have even driven through 2 stops signs. I never sleep well and have to move arround a lot. I am 60 years old and hope my life improves. I wish you all lots of luck.
Yes ,i understand the driving thing.I got two traffic violations in one month and it was probably just from the pain,don't know ,all i know is that i went 22 years without getting one .Best of luck on your surgery,it is a bit scary but i guess a chance we have to take.I am so tired of the pain and not being able to be very active.I have gotten those shooting pains in the ankle and heal too,they are awful.I have found vitamin B12 sublingual to help.I am applying for social security seeing that work comp disability runs out soon,they only pay for 2 years now and i still have a possible two surgeries ahead of me,lumbar then neck.Wish me luck !
Blessings to all of you,
Nancy nurse
I'll tell you what bothers me: It's such an emergency that you MUST have a c-section.... but, not until tomorrow afternoon.
Are you at least being offered another NST/AFI prior to the c-section? (I'd demand it regardless)
2 cm is pretty low. Did they just do one check, or did they confirm the measurement? With dehydration I'd want a re-check after rehydrating; I'd personally have been a lot happier if your doc had said "OK, why don't you come back tomorrow for another check, and if your fluid is still this low we need to consider delivering the baby."
It sounds like your inner voice is telling you everything is fine with your baby. When I was having issues with borderline fluid measurements one OB told me that in the absence of something like a true knot, I'd almost certainly have some sense that things weren't quite right. Baby wouldn't be moving as much, something would feel "off." He said if I had that sense, I should go in immediately- but I *always* felt like I was part of the decision-making process, and you should too.
(((hugs))) I'm sorry I don't have any spectacular advice or words of wisdom for you. Make the best decisions you can, and remember that you ARE a part of that decision-making process! KUP!
Hello All,
Sorry I have not signed on since before my surgery back on Septmeber 3rd of 2010. Well, here is the short version of what went on. Surgery was a success. Hospital stay was 4 days. Then was sent home with a hospital bed with overhead lift support bar that absolutely saved me doing recouperation. I had 5 days of rough hard recovery but on the 6th day, it felt like someone turned off a pain switch and I felt 80% better. I recouped quickly and have been doing WONDERFUL and pain free for 5 months and then a feek weeks ago (1st week of february) I started having a brand new problem....... now prior to my surgery, my pain occured only when I stood and then it would pinch a nerve in my left buttock which radiated down my left leg and caused severe muscle pain in my outter calf on my left leg. My NEW problem is I now have the exact same pain but it is caused ONLY WHEN I SIT!!! (Seriously?????) I am very disheartened over this. I am in the middle of Medical/Nursing School in which I sit in class all day and my pain has now caused me to miss class. I am now sitting on a pillow which helps a little but now completely. I have an appt with my Neurologist on Monday 2/28/11 to get an anti-inflammatory shot in my left hip and am hoping this helps. Right now I just pray I do not have to go through surgery again!
I am sorry. What I would do if you feel ok standing just stand. Give the class leader a heads up and just do it. I wish I could say my surgery fixed or helped me a little. I`m really glad you are out doing things maybe people that are fix aren`t here anymore. Good luck Ozarkpattie. from your pain friend Sam
Hey Sam! Thanks for your kindness! I will try to stand as much as I can in class. My Instructor is aware of my history but I am going to bring up up to speed on these latest events. How are you doing??
I`m still in pain just a little different. Now I can sit and drive I always had to stand or lay down before surgery. I`m no better really worse last year could work . Now I don`t think I could do much of anything.My pain levels are still bad pain mangement wants to do nerve blocks again. I really wish I never had my Fusion Back surgery. Just the dr`s mad lots of money and I went through hell. Thanks for asking Sam
So sorry Sam, I will add you to my prayers buddy! Talk to you soon! Hey if you use Facebook at all send me a friend request if you want to. Pattie Main is how I am listed!=)
Hi everyone,My surgery is scheduled for March 25th ,lumbar fusion on L5-S1,i am very nervous and could use your prayers.
Hi Ozarkpattie,
Thats quite the handle!! Anway I just joined SpineUniverse and your the first discusion I seen and my heart REALLY goes out to you. I've been in severe spinal cord pain for over 8 years and honestly I know what you must be dealing with. I know I came in real LATE on your operation and I sincerely hope everything went 100%for you.
Wishing you the BEST,
PainZone
Nurse inpain,
Wishing you the best on your pending surgery!! Keep us all posted on how things go!!
Nurse inpain,
Wishing you the best on your pending surgery!! Keep us all posted on how things go!!
Welcome PainZone!!
So sorry to hear of your pain, what happened??? What have you been through in the past 8 years to help fix this problem? I would be interested to know if you don't mind sharing... :)
I went to my Doctor yesterday and got a 160mg shot of Steroids in my rear for the new pain I have been having the last 2 weeks and WOW!! When I woke up this morning and tried rolling out of bed and walking to the kitchen for coffee I was pain free!!! To bad it is only from the shot but my x-rays showed that I did not damage my bones or my titanium inplant when I fell twice on the ice 2 weeks ago. That was a blessing, They told me if I don't continue to feel better over the next few weeks to come back for an MRI and see if my other disc's have gotten worse which they told me from the get-go they did not look real healthy. He was speaking of the 3 disc's ABOVE the 2 he actually replaced, fused and then the inplant for support........time will tell. Blessings to everyone! =)
Patty the surgeon wants me to get those shots again. I had so many of them I don`t get knocked out when they gave them to me. I`m glad your doing good now. See this is what happens after a fusion the pain just changes but its still pain.I tried to work this week so far 2 hours. So if I make 500$ I can live with my family. This pain stuff is real life changing.
Good luck and happy Birthday Patty .
Your friend Sam
Hi Spine Universe friends,
Please say a prayer for me,i go into surgery tomorrow morning at 10:30 am,i will let you know how it goes.
Blessings,
Nurse Nancy
Hi Spine Universe friends,
Please say a prayer for me,i go into surgery tomorrow morning at 10:30 am,i will let you know how it goes.
Blessings,
Nurse Nancy