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 hear your pain and I can also feel it. I was on disability with a bad back for 5 years. I was very desparate to get back to work and Drs. kept saying that there is only a 50% chance of any improvement. I let that way my decision until I couldn't take it anymore. I tried another specialist, explained it to him and he told me "if my patients only had a 50% chance of any improvement, I would not be in business." I knew right then and there that I was going to risk the surgery. I ended up with a spinal fusion with rods, plates and screws and in 4 months I was taking on-call and making a few visits, and now I have been working for two years. I still have some aches and pains, good days and bad days, but I am not using a walker or cane to walk and I don't have to be pushed around in a wheelchair. What a blessing.
Keep doing your research and you will know when it is time.
I hear your pain and I can also feel it. I was on disability with a bad back for 5 years. I was very desparate to get back to work and Drs. kept saying that there is only a 50% chance of any improvement. I let that way my decision until I couldn't take it anymore. I tried another specialist, explained it to him and he told me "if my patients only had a 50% chance of any improvement, I would not be in business." I knew right then and there that I was going to risk the surgery. I ended up with a spinal fusion with rods, plates and screws and in 4 months I was taking on-call and making a few visits, and now I have been working for two years. I still have some aches and pains, good days and bad days, but I am not using a walker or cane to walk and I don't have to be pushed around in a wheelchair. What a blessing.
Keep doing your research and you will know when it is time.
Seven years ago I had my L2 and L4 broken & damage to my spinal cord in a car accident. (I was wearing just a lap belt-basically the bottom half of me stayed put & the top half keep going upon impact). I had a metal rod put in my spinal cord & had bone removed from my hip to be fused into my back bones. Doctors could not tell me if I would ever walk again. But thank God my nerves regenerated & had wonderful doctors, therapists, & of course nurses! I fully recovered & very seldom have pain related to the accident. Recovery & a pain free life is an option.
i'm 2 yr post L3-S1 PLIF, active active active, it's not too bad when it's not too humid or cold. if BODY weight is an issue-it's got to be beat, or as we all know our bodies will compensate throwing something else out of whack. SURE GIVE YOUR EMPATHY LEVEL A CHARGE
Nursetobejmm
16 Posts
Good Luck to you, I will be praying for you!