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.
*hugs* you got it chicky... I know, I already said that ;)
aww sweetie.. will be sending many good feel better thoughts your way! Sorry you have to deal with this...
as for the epdiural... yu will survive it.. I have had 2 epidural and 1 spinal (in order to give birth to the last 3 babies... sigh.. because they were all C sections, plus I did my oldest with no drugs whatsoever and would never do that again! but I digress...) and If I the queen of fear of needles can handle it, you can handle it. Maybe take a small stuffed animal to hold and squueze while they do it, if they will allow you to do so. I know they will expect you to be very still during the procedure, so somethign to squueze rather than moving might be a helpful thing?
Keep us updated, please... wishing you only painfree times ahead
{{{{{{{bearhugs}}}}}}}
Ariyana
Thank you for all your support and well wishes.
I'll update you guys as soon as I hear more.
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.
I had the epidural surgery in December to good result. The initial numbing needles hurt some but the actual epidural feels like a pressing till it gets to its end point. Within a couple of days you'll feel improvement. In a couple of weeks you'll be feeling better. Just don't go back and screw it up like I did. I shovelled snow during that week of deep stuff and ice. I think I'd be doing better if I hadn't done that. Take care of yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BTW, my prob is in the L3 L4 being crushed. I understand what you're going through. Hang in there kiddo!!!!!!! My prayers will be with you.
oops! should have read all of the post. HUGS!!!! I know you hurt. You're in my prayers!
Well today as my first day back to work. I was in pain due to the fact that I can't take the new med (Valium) and funtion. 2 hours into my shift and I was sitting on the floor to work on a costume jewelry modular and a customer ask me for some help, well as I was trying to get up off the floor My right leg went out from under me and I fell down. The jerk watched me fall then had the nerve to ask me when I would be getting over to help him, here I am sitting on the floor with tears in my eyes due to the pain shooting up my back and I told him I would get up off my floor when I was good and ready. He went over and got one of the managers who is my supervisor and told her I wouldn't help him and She got the keys from me to get what he wanted then they sent me to the office to do paperwork for the office girls.
Then the store manager kept checking on me cause he knows how I get when I'm in pain. They keep reminding me not to push myself. As Ben my store manager says, the Jewelry department doesn't run the same when your not there.
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.
Stupid, callous JERK! >:( How dare he act that way toward you!
HUGS you!
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 monogram test. They stick a needle with a dye contrast in my spinal canel to check for damage inside the spine.
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.
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.
The Dr. didn't raelly 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.
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.
Oh sweetheart I wish I could help in some way. I can offer {{{hugs}} and love.. and will keep my thinking cap on for a way to help you out...
love you
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.
Oh dearie, let me know if you need me to send stuff... Comfy stuff, pampering stuff... name it! I would send a bell for you to ring when you need something but I *know* you've got the bells covered. ;)
I'm having a L4-5 Microhemilumbar Laminectomy & Diskectomy. I have no idea what all that means. All I know is that I will be knocked out for them to do it.
I think I have enough bells for most of the Kentucky Rennie's & the Ohio Rennie's. There are a few reasons I'm worried about my surgery.
Heaven forbid they try to make you feel better by putting all the crap that can go wrong. I know they are working on my spine and the Dr says it is a pretty routine procedure but you just have to love when they say one of the main concerns are nerve damage(like my back pain could be much worst), quadriplegia ,paraplegia or death. Then the send you to Physical Therapy hell and tell you to lose some weight( as if big people are the only ones who have back problems). I know of lots of skinny people with back problems too. Hell my old boss only weight 103 pounds and had back problems.
dear Windchime, me Belle and me are keep'n thee in our prayers, hope all goes well.
OT & B...
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 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.
Yay! I'm so glad the surgery is done and over with. Thinking good thoughts, Windchime, and we'll miss you at ORF!
Ringing a bell for you...
Hugs,
our good Sir Jim and Lady Helen, me Belle and me send healing prayers to our Windchime. we hope for a speed'ee recover'ee. hopes are to see her at R/F Renvasion at OHRF, if not, mayhaps Celtic Fest at KYHRF, and there's always the "Octo, Castleteers Gather'n" in Nov.
the best to you both,
i be the Old Tinker and his Belle...
They did a dye contrast on me on Wed when they gave me the epidurals. (round two and three)
My prayers will be with you my dear child. May GOD carry you through this time of trial. Keep your chin high and remember with the power of prayer all things can be overcome. Besides you must be present at our last Knights Tournement, this saturday.
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.
{{{{{{{hugs}}}}
{{{{{{{You}}}}}}}} I'm going through some of the same things. Has the rain and cold
weather been doing to you what it's doing to my back? I hope not. You wanted an update.
Here it is. I had my surgery and it went mostly well, but I'm having pins and needles in thighs too
as well as charlie horses and spasms. I know YOU understand. I'm glad your surgery went so well.
I wish you health as quick as may be.
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.
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!
sigh. I feel for you. Dr. Brannen at Beacon is mine and he's good.
Did you get my email?
hugs!!! Sounds like you are having a terrible time of it!
Sending healing energy and strength to persevere!
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.
{{{hugs}}}} Continuing to keep you in my thoughts and prayers as always... sigh wish this could be better faster and easier for you.
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.
Keeping you in my prayers. Wishing you well.
HUGS!
best of fortune to thee Windchime,
take care dear one,
Tink and Belle...
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.
Lots of love and fast healing wishes.... {{{and bearhugs too}}}}
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.
dear WhindChime, we are glad all went well,
we send our prayers to thee for heal'n.
be well and keep walk'n,
hope to see thee towards the first of next month,
Tink and Belle...
I am so glad to hear you are doing better and that your surgery went so well! You've been in my thoughts.
Hugs!
J
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.
Just take care of yourself and don't put a strain on your heart losing too much. Ok? Thinking of you and praying too.
J
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.
As of 12-3-10 I have lost 101 pounds in almost 7 months. I went to the new spine Dr. on 11-23-10 and he is glad for the weight loss but wants me to lose 50 more pounds which made me sad but I completely understand since as he put it you only get one chance to do the surgery right and heal properly or I can have to get it redone due to the extra pounds and possibly not heal right and be messed up even more then I am now.
Keep hanging in there you are in our thoughts
Carl and Donna
*hug* Don't worry dear, let's get you healed up properly, eh? :)
I found out on 1/21/11 that I ned to have surgery on my left ankle. My screw is backing out and with the weight lost it is now causing me a lot of pain so he said it will have to come out. At least this surgery will only lay me up for 2 weeks.
Thats it honey.. look at the bright side of things! two weeks is alot better than it could be.. your in your thoughts honey!
Had surgery on Feb. 9th to take the screw out. Hurting more today more then usual. Hopefully this will help my back a little bit, since I won't be walking as funny as I have been due to the limp. Now to continue down the road with my weight loss so I can finally get my back surgery and hopefully fell better. 80 pounds left to 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.
Well I have not updated for awhile and I thought I would share what is going on as of now.
1. I have lost 120 lbs in 18 months and have between 40 - 59 more pounds to go.
2. I have to have another foot surgery on Nov. 16 on the left foot again as I have a cyst that is on the bottom of my heel and is causing tons of pain when I walk now.
3.After going to the Social Security court hearing in June and being told to see one of their Doctors that July the judge finally decided that I have to come back in Feb. 2012 to be seen be the judge for hopefully the last time. I really hope they agree that I am disable like 3 different Doctors have said already.
I find it very odd that with this massive weight loss that I have more pain now then I had all the extra weight to carry around. I can at least stand upright, not all hunched over in pain like I use to but I seem to get a lot more muscle spasm now.
Thanks for every ones support and kind thoughts threw all of this.
I have my Social Security Disability Hearing Feb. 6, 2012 which is tomorrow. :-\
I hope they decide in my favor, I'm really worried they will say sorry your back isn't bad enough go find a job some where.
I just don't understand how I have lost so much weight and am still only able to do things for very short periods of time or not at all, I feel like such a burden on my parents some times because there are some things I can't physically do and they understand but I still feel bad, especially with my 2 year old niece who doesn't understand why her favorite aunt can't do things with her or pick her up anymore since she is now almost 40 pounds and way pass my 5 pound limit.
Well I got the times wrong for my court hearing today and I missed it but my lawyer said neither her or the judge had any new questions for me anyway, they were mostly there to discuss the findings from the social security doctor. I think it went my way since she is now arguing about when my back pay should start from since I have been medically not allowed to work since 2009 and the judge wanted to start my back pay from when I saw their doctor last July. The judge said that we would hear something in the next couple of months.
My M.R.I. didn't really show them all that much because of the inflammation in there even with the dye contrast they didn't see a whole lot.
I finally got my letter stating that I won my disability case and they agreed that I should get paid starting from 2009.
Now I wait for the check to show up, at least they will send my lawyer her check so I don't go into shock writing that check.
HURRAH!