[LoriAlabamaRN]

Hi guys,

I'm so stressed out. Six years ago I broke my back in a car accident- between L4-5 and L5-S1. Since then I have been doing everything possible to avoid back surgery. I've had massive amounts of steroids, manual realignments under fluoroscopy, three epidurals, over three dozen steroid disc injections... Nothing has worked and I am in pain every single day. I won't take pain meds when I work, only when I get home (otherwise I hurt too badly to sleep). I have been told that I have to have surgery. Pretty extensive surgery. I have four herniated discs two of which are stenotic, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease. The surgery they have proposed involves frontal and dorsal incisions, removal/replacement of the four discs, a plate, rod, and 12-18 screws. Guys, I am only 29 years old. I am so terrified that I am going to end up in worse pain or paralyzed. I have been desperately trying to put off the surgery, but lately the pain has increased dramatically, and I have large baseball-sized lumps in my lower back where the muscles are in permanent spasm. I am going to go to the Hughston Clinic in Columbus Georgia for an evaluation, and I am terrified. Has anyone had spinal surgery- and what was your experience like? Did it help? How about recovery time?

I have never been so frightened in my life.
Please pray for me.

Lori

[smelltheroses]

I had a disc removed L5 L4.I dont remember. I was 18, could not feel my feet, back and leg hurt so bad I cried daily. I wanted to either die or be fixed I just didn't care. They did not give me an option on treatment. I had the surgery w/out insurance. I was discharged following day. I was sore don't get me wrong, but woke from surgery already better. I think it took me about a month to go completely normal. Few weeks of resting and healing. I have a little bit of nerve damage because I waited so long, I ache a little bit from time to time, I will even have a day every so often where I need a heating pad to relax my back, but still so much better than before. I am 26 now and I truely feel for me the surgery saved my life. I would have ended my life if it were not for surgery. The pain was the worst I have ever had and wouldn't wish on anyone. I hope this helps; I know its a bit different from what yours is. My sympathy and empathy is with you and your pain. GOOD LUCK!!!!

[sanctuary]

Not mine, but 2 friends have had rather extensive surgery (one when her boat capsized and pitched her on her head-broke 5 vertebra) and even though she has occassional discomfort, she is able to work full time. the other one popped a disc at work, so had a simpler surgery, with complete recovery. Would suggest a neurologist do the surgery, vs, an orthopod. Have seen better results when the surgeon is focused on the nerves, vs the bones.

[Pose]

I hope that's a neurosurgeon! I can't say I'd want a neurologist to be wielding a blade.

Anyway, I really do feel for you, and I'll keep you in my thoughts. I'm 19 (as of a week) and I have two herniated discs at L4-5, L5-S1. I have terrible back aches, and continuous numbness in my R lower leg. I've had this for 3 years now. I finally got insurance, and went to a surgeon for evaluation, and his decision is dependent on my EMG in 2 weeks. I just started working in the health care field, my dream, and I'm terrified of worsening the injury, or putting an end to the dream. Everything about a back injury is terrifying.

Keep us updated!

[tvccrn]

No advice as to the outcomes as the only person I know of having experience with spinal surgery was my exMIL. But, I can tell you what NOT to do. Don't rush your recovery, yes it may take a long time, but it's definitely worth the wait. Don't think you know better than you doctor, they are the doctors for a reason. Don't think you can do it on your own, have help and don't be afraid to use it.

My exMIL had such a bad outcome because the day after she was released from her surgery decided she should rearrange her living room by herself. When we found her on the floor she was saying that she thought the hide-a-bed sofa would be ok for her to move know that she had rods in her spine.

[pannie]

Lori, DH is 71 and had a similar surgery the end of Nov. at Baylor in Dallas. They implanted cages, rods, plates, screws. We just returned from a 2 week vacation and he's doing remarkably well. He did have an ortho (but they call him the "ortho of last resort"). I was extremely apprehensive but, DH was about to lose his mind due to pain. They removed all old instrumentation that hadn't healed (he's diabetic). I couldn't believe that by the next morning he was refusing all pain medication but po meds and standing completely straight again. He has taken remarkable care of himself and his great vessels were flexible enough that they could implant two cages. At your age, that shouldn't be a problem. He does take Advil at night and occasionally during the day but the difference is just unbelievable.
I wish you the very best! It is definitely possible with the right doctor.

[Marie_LPN, RN]

I also recommend the neurosurgeon over the orthopod for this procedure, in general that is.

However, i'd also get second and even third opinions from orthos or neoros, and decide then who would be best to do this for me.

[pannie]

That's why I was so apprehensive. But there was a neurosurgeon and a thoracic surgeon, too. I guess a neuro doesn't "do" all the instrumentation that was needed? The thoracic is responsible for moving the great vessels and organs in order to place the cages. At least that's this frantic, scared, stressed spouse's understanding.

[rach_nc_03]

I have to second (or third) the opinion that a neurosurgeon needs to be involved. And please, don't put this off any longer- yes, you're far too young to have all this bad stuff happening to you and to need extensive surgery, but you're WAY too young to end up paralyzed.

Do you have a surgeon who routinely does artificial disc replacements? I don't think they're that common yet; my neurosurgeon told me I'll need either an ADR or spinal fusion within the next few years- I'm going in for a discectomy next week, though, as I have severe nerve compression causing early stage paralysis in my right leg. (My herniation is actually L5-L6, and the NS thinks my unusual anatomy, combined with standing for 13 hours a day, caused the herniation and early stages of spondylolisthesis.)

I see by your sig that you work in LTC...have you thought about doing QA or Staff Development while you recover? I left my ICU job back in november before an unsuccessful hip surgery, and recently took a position as SDC at a rehab/sub-acute facility. Even with my relatively simple surgery next week, the NS said I would be out for 2-3 months if I still did bedside nursing.

I would encourage you to look at the neurology boards to ask posters for their opinions on the surgery that's been recommended to you- braintalk.org is one I visit frequently. And, as MarieLPN said, get a second (and third) opinion- I went through four ortho specialists before finally settling on an OS for my hip surgery last fall, which didn't fix half of my problems- then three more opinions that finally led me to my current NS. Especially if your surgeon is talking about ADRs for you- I'd want to make completely sure that he/she has adequate experience with this relatively new technology.

Please PM me if you ever need to talk- like I said, my surgery won't be as extensive as yours (unless they find I have no disc material at all when they get in- if that happens, I may wake up with a fusion), but I'll certainly give you my views on how recovery is going. And PLEASE take care of yourself! Had I taken my symptoms seriously last year when they started- and made the doctors LISTEN when I said I had extreme paresthesias in my right leg- I might not be facing the possibility of permanent disability. Do everything you have to do to get yourself fixed- I'll be thinking of you!

[HHW2006]

Lori - I had a laminectomy seven years ago - not as extensive as your surgery, but spinal surgery none the less. I had my surgery done as an emergency by a doctor I had never met because one too many doctors had told me that the pain was in my head. (I was on my third opinion) I woke up one morning unable to get out of bed-my legs wouldn't work. Had the surgery and am happy to report that I am just fine. I will have a day where I am achy, but for the most part am pain free. Get a second opinion from a neurosurgeon (not an ortho!), but don't wait too long if they all reccommend surgery!

Best of luck - you are in my prayers
Heather