Well I feel kinda funny talking about myself but,
I am the type of person who will ignore my pain and try to suck it up because I don't want people to think I'm weak.
I've been have sever back pain since January of 2009. I have been getting numbness in both legs and that of so fun pins and needles feeling to go along with the pain. I finally broke down and went to the Dr. last month. She sent me for a x-ray and to a specialist. The specialist put me on a 7 day steroid pack and sent me for a MRI on 4/2/09. The steroid didn't help. I went to the Dr. yesterday for my results and they were not so good.
T12-L1 is some very minimal disc bulge
L1-L2 is some very minimal disc bulge
L2-L3 is some very minimal disc bulge
L3-L4 is some very minimal disc bulge
L4-L5 is a central disc extrusion superimposed on diffuse disc bulge
(the extrusion measures approximately 1cm in transverse dimension & 3mm in AP dimension. results in a moderate spinal stenosis with the central canal measuring approximately 7mm in AP dimension. mild facet hypertrophic changes are present at this level. this results in moderateright & mild left neural foraminal narrowing)
L5-S1 is a central disc protrusion superimposed on diffuse disc bulge
(this does not result in a significant spinal stenosis. facet & ligamentous hypertrophic changes are present which result in mild to moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing.)
Degenerative changes involving the lumbar spine. these are primarily noted at L4-5 & L5-S1. small central disc extrusion is identified at L4-5. this combined with some mild facet & ligamentuos hypertrophic changes results in moderate central canal narrowing.
With these results my back is even to inflamed to do physical therapy. I am now on 2 new meds to try to kill some of the pain.
On 4/27/09 I go in for a Epidural Injection Procedure. This will be the first in a series of three. Hopefully the first 2 work because they do not like to do the third one.
If this doesn't help The Dr. will have to figure out what to do next for she & I have agreed that surgery is the very last option. I don't like the idea of a needle poking me near my spine let alone someone cutting me there.
I'm just tired of hurting all the time between my ankle & my back. None of the meds have really even dulled the pain so far.
So all I'm asking for is some happy thoughts during this time.
dear WindChime,
me Belle and me will keep thee in our thoughts and prayers. Please keep a positive attitude towards the results of thy procedures, fore we are also.
may thee have good fortune with thy health,
Old Tinker and his Belle...
Oh, dear Windchime! I'm so sorry to hear all of this. No one should have to be in pain, much less constant pain. You can count on healing thoughts and prayers from me. I hope, for your sake and comfort, all the procedures are completed as efficiently as possible, and the resolution to your pain comes as rapidly as it can. I'm rootin' for ya.
Oh Cher! I'm so sorry to hear that! I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, and if you need anything please let me know.
Thank you for all your support and well wishes.
I'll update you guys as soon as I hear more.
Donna has back problems herself we know how hard it can be ,you are in our thoughts.
I got my shots this morning. they did 2 one on each side of the spine by the S1 disc. I slept the rest of the day away. I left the office in more pain then I went in with. the dr said it could feel better tomorrow or up to a week from now.
I go in May 11 for the next set , then I go back to my dr and decide what to do next if the shots don't help.
I have had steroid injections in before for my back as well. They did hurt much more when I left and I too slept the whole day. I felt better over the next day or two after the shot. I hope it brings you the relief that you need.
I know what your going thru as i have degenerative disc disease in my neck and spine, neck being the worst. Any excessive bouncing or side to side motion as in a vehicle causes pain. Also have pinched nerves in neck affecting both arms which feel numb all the time with a constant headache. No feeling in left arm with weakness in left hand. Doc says only cure is surgery but have to wait till cleared by cardio doc as have had 2 heart attacks in 3 yrs. Pain is no fun as the only thing I can take is Tylenol so as not to counteract the cardio meds. Just hang in there cause sooner or later it will get better, hopefully sooner.
Got my 2 shots for round 2 yesterday. I got a sever pain in my right leg all the way down to my toes during my injection and am still having a lot of pain in the back of my leg. my back is still hurting but they tell me it will still take about a week for this shot to show if it works. When I go to the Dr. on the 26th hopefully I will have either some relief or she can tell me the next step. No Surgery. I have a very strict rule on those. Unless it is life threating I do not have them after Feb. most of my surgeries require 6 months off minimum to heal so that cuts it to close to faire season plus I don't like the idea of a cast during the hot seasons.
well I still haven't returned to work due to the pain in my right leg. Finally called the Dr. like mom said to to yesterday. Her nurse took the info down and called me back in about a hour. They said the pain is a reaction to the steriod shot and that it inflamed the nerve. So now I have a new med to try to calm down the nerve. hopefully this helps.
Went to dr today and she is sending me to physical therapy for 4 weeks. Then I go back to see her in june to decide what to do next.
I've been keeping you in my thoughts, hon. <3
You're on my list for receiving a BIIIIG hug on Saturday.
I finished with P.T. and seen the Dr. She has done all she can do and is sending me to a surgeon. Even my mom's chiropractor said most people show some improvement with P.T. and back treatments from him. He sugested the shots but we told him we already had 2 sets of them and wasn't going for a third after the trouble of the second one did. I haven't been to work in 2 weeks going on three due to the fact that even with all the meds I am still in constint pain and can not even stand up right like every one else does.
Well the Dr's office called today and gave me the dates on the 2 new test he wants done.
On 7/10/09 I get the the EMG test. Basically they put little needles on the right side of my body to find out the severity of nerve damage.
On 07/21/09 I get the CT & myelogram test. They stick a needle with a dye contrast in my spinal canel to check for damage inside the spine , the tese last for 4 to 6 hours.
I'll give you guys more news as I get it.
I had mt CT & Myelogram done on Tuesday. I wasn't in much pain until about 2 or 3 hours after I got home from the hospital. That was when I was convinced my head was gonna explode from the pain, I was warned about possibly getting headaches but I had no clue the meant that much pain. I'm doing a lot better today with the pain from the procedures but I still have the normal everyday back pain.
Still keeping you in my prayers dearie. I hope you get some answers soon! *hug*
I go to the Dr @ 11am today. Hopefully she has some of my results since all of it was sent to the Neurosurgeon. I'm still waiting for the Neurosurgeon to call me back to see what is the next step and to see what his conclusion to all of the test are. I'm hoping for no more test.
I have similar problem that you do. They think fusing my spine might help but the problem is they don't know where to stop. Too many bad discs. I feel your pain love. I live it every day too. I mention it occassionally when I need to explain why Mike helps me with lift and carry and reaching stuff. Afraid people will think I'm lazy when it's really intense pain. HUGS YOU TIGHT. I'm sorry you hurt love. I've been dealing with this for 9 years now and my back has broken twice now. The shots helped me for a while but only for a while. I really feel for you. I wish I could wave a wand and make you better. Truly I do. Email me and we'll exchange phone numbers if you need an ear.
The Dr. didn't really have any answers because for some reason the hospital didn't sent her a copy of the test. I go to the Nuerosurgon on August 6 to see what the results are.
Well, I wish you lots of luck hon~ :)
Went to the Neurosurgeon today for my test results. I have to have surgery on my L4-5. They are doing a Right Microhemilumbar Laminectomy and Diskectomy. I don't have a surgery date yet, but the said once I have surgery it will take 6-8 weeks for recovery. This surgery is mostly to help with the numbness & tingeling sensation I'm haveing. The back pain they are going to work on after with P.T. while I'm healing.
Well I got a call from the Dr's Finacing Department :(.
They told me how much I was estimated at owing them for the Dr and the surgery. :'( (around $1,600)
Then they referred me to a care credit place to get help to pay the bill since I haven't worked since 6/20/09 & haven't received a disability check from my company since 7/27/09. I have no money coming in and have to keep dipping in my savings so I can even make my car payments. Well the place said they couldn't help because they due a 12 month payment plan with no intrest that would cost me about $140 or a 48 month payment $50 plus 13.8% intrest. I'm not eligible for most medical help plans because I earned to much money this year already. I already owe around $1,600 not including the last 2 test I had to have run on me last month to help figure out what is wrong with my spine. The sad thing is I think I gave most of the money I earned this year back to the medical community one way or another, with fees for forms to be filled out, meds to try to help with pain control plus other items I have to get without the help of insurance. I know everyone is having a rough time with the economy but I really don't think I can physically handle very much more. Even if or when I go back to work they are still gonna cut my hours like they did before I went on medical leave. 18 - 25 hours a week is hard to pay the bills on. I also know I should be thankful I have a job willing to hold my place and all but I think I have had my fair share of crappy days. Between surgery last year to take my gallbladder out and my ankle problems that I have learn to just suck it up , but I don't want to any more.
I hate feeling useless & crippled. I just want to wake up one day and find out this is just a very bad dream I was having.
Dr's office called to give me my surgery date.
Sept.2 :(
That is so gonna mess up doing ORF this season. I've gotta call the person I'm working for to see if I can at least make them some jewelry to help with their stock.
I'm still going to try to come out and play for a little bit some time if the parents let me since I can't drive right now.
Surgery is at 9 am wednesday sept. 2. I'll try to have dad post some thing so every one knows how it went. :'(
Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers during this time. :D
I'm saying extra prayers for you dearie, you'll be fine! *hug*
I brought WindChime home from her surgery about 3:30 this afternoon. Doctors feel all went well.
She is resting and mostly sleeping now. We are hoping tomorrow will show signs of improvement.
We are wishing her a speedy recovery and she will be missed at faire opening weekend!
Cheers!
Ratman & Bobin
Hey everyone!
I'm alive, Extremely sore but alive. I want to thank every one for there hugs and well wishes. My back is still sore but not as bad as before, my legs are another story. They both still hurt and have the pin and needles feeling in both thights. The right hip mores then before but hopefully that will go away soon. I'm really bored sitting at home, the only real time I leave is to go to the Doctor which isn't even untill the 21st. I still hope to make it out to ORF for the R/F invasion but as it looks so far it will probally only be for 1 of the days. I get tired doing some of the littlest things like walking.
Again Thanks for all of the well wishes.
Went to the Dr on Sept. 21 for my post-op check up.
They are sending me for aquatic therapy to see if that will help me since as of now I am still not showing signs of improvement. I found out my surgery scar is 2 & 1/2 " long. They said the Dr had to take a large piece out to fix the pressure on my nerves. They also said that I have Sciatica. Then she said it would take anywhere between 3 and 6 months to start feeling better.
went to the Dr on December 1 and because I am still having a lot of pain and sever issues with my legs I have to get a MRI on Friday then I don't get any news until January when I can get back into the office for the results and to find out what they plan on doing next. which means I still can not go back to work since I can't stand or walk for more then 10 minutes.
Well I basically got dumped by my Dr. today. He told me that I have a lot of degenerative disc disease and that I would need to get a double fusion then turned around and said that in his opinion my best choice is to go back to the Dr. that sent me to him and go with the plan of pain management instead. What a crock of crap. The whole reason for me to see this guy was because the first Dr. was out of options to help with the pain. Now I'm looking for a new Sipnal Dr. for a second opinion. They also claim that since my disc is no longer herniated that I could go back to work even though I can not even stand longer then 10 minutes before my legs start to go numb. My employer said I couldn't come back unless I can stand for a minimum of 4 hours. I am so frustrated now I don't know what to do.
Hugs girl, keep a happy heart and a song in your soul! Thoughts to you!
Cheers!
Ratman & Bobin
Yeah ;D
After a month of playing phone tag with my short/long term disability company from work and no payments since Dec.15 I finally got the word that they are gonna approve my long term so I can start paying my bills. Of course I would be even happier if I would hear some thing from Social Security but I'll take a win were I can find one.
After going to the pain management Dr. she put me on a new pill and took me off of one of the old ones. I go to the new spine Dr. Feb 9Th so hopefully I will get a better answer then basically "your fat and need to lose weight, If you would have gastric bypass surgery you wouldn't hurt so much because you wouldn't be so fat. I did the surgery and you should be cured of all that is wrong" Mind you he never said it to my face but I got a copy of my file from him and at every visit he would put in my report a comment about my weight like "obese or morbidly obese". The only time this jerk even mentioned my weight was my first visit with him. The man even had the nerve to put in my last report that it was hard to read my MRI with contrast because of my morbidly obese body. WTF!
I went to a new spine Dr. today and was basically told that I need to have more surgery because of how bad my spine is in the L-3 to S-1 . He said I have a lot of trauma in the lower spine. The down size is before I can have the surgery I have to lose weight and since I have been struggling with that for over 10 years he said it would be best to have it done surgically. I am not thrilled with this but I will do what I am told to get rid of the pain since I am now going back to the way I was and I still can't do half of what I should be able to. So now I go back to the pain management Dr. and we control the pain the best we can and she is going to help me look at the options I have for clinics to go to.
I went to the weight loss doctor and he said I would be a good candidate but I have to go to 2 different classes before the will give me the go ahead with the surgery. I don't think this will be a problem the hard part is that my insurance will not cover any of it because the deem it as a elective procedure.
Social Security just sent me a letter to let me denied my claim again. They say that my condition may prevent me from doing my past job, if any, but it does not prevent me from doing other work which is less demanding. Well if I can not sit for more then 30 minutes without having to shift to a different position, walk for more then a 10 minutes before the pain gets really sever or drive a car for fear of a muscle spasm that causes my leg to go numb. I have a constaint tingling feeling in both of my legs from my waist to my toes that turn into a stabbing feeling that then leads to the numbness that last any where from 30 minutes to a hour or longer. I just can't see anyone wanting to hire me with so many restrictions. Plus if my day job said I couldn't come back unless I could stand for a minimum of 4 hours before they will agree to let me come back.
Got the call on Thursday that I am a canidate for surgery and I will probally have it on May 10. I am happy they said I can have it because then hopefully next year sometime I will be able to have my spinal fusion and start to feel better with hopefully a lot less pain and weight. Then I might be able to return to work if my Dr. deems me able bodied enough.
I will be having my surgery on May 10th at Good Samaritan Hospital at 10 am and will have to stay at least 2 days to make sure every thing is going well. I'll have my dad post something when he he gets home after so you all know how I am doing. I have already lost 13 pounds with the liqiud diet they have me on to get ready for the surgery.
Cher's surgery at Cincinnati Good Samaritan Hospital went well. She got to her room around 2:00 and is resting. She will be in the hospital at least until Wednesday and possibly Thursday.
Thanks for the update! Please give Cher my love!
I got discharged Wednesday May 12Th at around 6pm. I am in a little pain but no where near what I thought it would be like. Sad to say that I was in more pain when they took out my gallbladder 2 years ago compared to about 90% of my stomach this time. I am not having any problems with eating what I am allowed to, But I think if I could get away with it I would take a bite of pizza but I know the down side to eating that kind of food and it is not worth the pain and suffering.
The good thing is I have found several cookbooks that show the fat and sugar contents of the recipes so I will be able to eat the food I want and not suffer in taste or pain wise. I just wish the funny walking I have to do right now wouldn't hurt my back so much. I just keep reminding myself that all the aches and pain will be worth it so I will be able to get my spine fixed, maybe not 100% but enough to stop hurting so severely.
Thanks for all of your well wishes.
I haven't updated in awhile so here is what has happened to me lately. I was put in the hospital on July 21 after not being able to eat for 3 weeks. They let me out July 23 when my potassium level got back to where it should be and they fixed my sever dehydration. As of July 9th when I saw my Dr. last I have lost a total of 72 pounds which is good but the Dr. said I lost the weight way too fast. I lost 6 months of weight in just 2 months due to being so sick.
our WindChime, me Belle and me have not stop'd ask'n for blessings and good health for thee. Hope thee are feeling much better and we may get the chance to see thee at OHRF.
good health and fortune,
your Old Tinker and his Belle...
As of August 19 I no longer have a job. My employer let me go because I have been off for a year do to my back problem and they said if I couldn't come back to work then they would have to let me go.
I thought I would update everyone.
On February 9Th I had to have surgery on my left heel to have my screw removed since it was backing out and causing me a lot of pain when walking. I am healing well and asked the Dr. for my screw so I can make a necklace for myself.
I am now up to 105 pounds lost with about 75 - 85 pounds to lose before my spine Dr. will work on me.
I finally have a court date for my Social Security Disability claim. I go June 7Th. Hopefully everything will work in my favor since neither of my Dr's will let me work or drive since June of 2009.