Artificial Disc with titanium brackets and screws

[garyc5]

As of right now nothing suggested. I'm being told all has been done. but I'm open for suggestions. After 8 procedures or so whats another one? Right? At any rate I have an attorney friend who suggested I get all mt files and medical records to have an independant doctor and an attorney ( he doesn't do malpractice) take a look to see if there were "Uneccessary" surgeries. But that isn't going to help the constant pain thats for sure. I'll write soon. Take care, Gary

[KanRunMo]

As Justin mentioned, it sounds like you had more of a fusion than Disc replacement. I've heard of anyone who had bone chips inserted when they did an Aritificial Disc Replacement. You might put the results of your MRIs in your SPS signature. Pain is pain no matter where it's coming from. I hope you get some relief.

[garyc5]

As soo as I get all the records and results etc... i'll post em.

[Hooch]

Hi Gary, sorry to hear you are in this bind.

There is probably a tolerance to the morphine, just as there is if you inject it. The other 'end of the line' procedure is a spine stimulator, which some people find quite helpful. Along with all the other pain medications. Then there is chronic pain management, dunno if you've done much of that, where they focus on the mental side, basically accpeting limitations and pain forever and pacing your activities to manage it. Emotionally v devestating condition but you can still live a productive and happy life, but life is changed. Keep posting here if you want to talk to people who know that path, if you feel it is helpful to you. People seem to value a good supportive pain clinic too.

Probably a good time to get a second opinion with a doctor out of the loop, just to double check there isn't anything in there that may be surgically rectifiable, eg any remaining nerve impingement, pseudoarthrosis etc. The pain management people have no insight into this, even if some of them pretend they do. If most of your pain is nerve related a lot of people find it can lessen in intensity over the years as the nerves can regenerate a little.

Let us know how things start to pan out.

Chris.

[KBear]

I'm sorry Gary, was really hoping they would find something that was 'fixable'.

[garyc5]

Thanks for the helpful hints on the stimulator, but I took that stim. road prior to the morphine test injection (which worked wonders for a day) so they put the pump in. Afterwards (where I am now) it doesn't work as well as the test did. Not even close. When I get all the test results and procedure file I will post them.

Thanks again, I feel like I am making new friends since I can't "hang" with my old ones too much any longer.

Hi Gary, sorry to hear you are in this bind.

There is probably a tolerance to the morphine, just as there is if you inject it. The other 'end of the line' procedure is a spine stimulator, which some people find quite helpful. Along with all the other pain medications. Then there is chronic pain management, dunno if you've done much of that, where they focus on the mental side, basically accpeting limitations and pain forever and pacing your activities to manage it. Emotionally v devestating condition but you can still live a productive and happy life, but life is changed. Keep posting here if you want to talk to people who know that path, if you feel it is helpful to you. People seem to value a good supportive pain clinic too.

Probably a good time to get a second opinion with a doctor out of the loop, just to double check there isn't anything in there that may be surgically rectifiable, eg any remaining nerve impingement, pseudoarthrosis etc. The pain management people have no insight into this, even if some of them pretend they do. If most of your pain is nerve related a lot of people find it can lessen in intensity over the years as the nerves can regenerate a little.

Let us know how things start to pan out.

Chris.

[Cindylou]

Thanks for the helpful hints on the stimulator, but I took that stim. road prior to the morphine test injection (which worked wonders for a day) so they put the pump in. Afterwards (where I am now) it doesn't work as well as the test did. Not even close. When I get all the test results and procedure file I will post them.

Thanks again, I feel like I am making new friends, since I can't "hang" with my old ones too much any longer.

I bolded what you said above, and so glad to hear it Gary. I hope we can be all of that, and then some. Don't give up. Ever. Again, good luck and I do hope things turn your way soon. Regards, Cindylou