Hello from new person (MVA 2008, bilateral pars defect and spondylolisthesis L5/S1)

[Catherine]

Hello! I'm a new person hoping to find some answers to questions about this thing that has taken over my life! Seems to be lots of helpful people here. Thankyou.

Catherine

[KBear]

Welcome to the forums!

[Catherine]

Thank you very much Kbear! It must be really wonderful to be pain (and med) free! After everything I read I'm beginning to wonder if once you have these spinal problems you are never pain free again? But I see you have made it to the other side. I've never been on a forum before and not sure how to, or where to ask questions, so sorry if I put things in the wrong places. Again, thanks. Oh yes, I am originally from the Houston area.

[KBear]

Thank you very much Kbear! It must be really wonderful to be pain (and med) free! After everything I read I'm beginning to wonder if once you have these spinal problems you are never pain free again? But I see you have made it to the other side.

It's a mixed bag on that one, some become pain free, others close to it, others a bit better, some the same and some worse after surgery. That's why you will hear over and over to get multiple opinions and research. I feel very lucky to be pain free, I never thought this day would come. It was scary to go into surgery, but the payoff for me has been excellent- got to have a baby and have my life back, it's better than winning the lottery.

I've never been on a forum before and not sure how to, or where to ask questions, so sorry if I put things in the wrong places. Again, thanks. Oh yes, I am originally from the Houston area.

Before spine problems I had never been on a forum and thought that people who used forums were weird and just couldn't make friends in real life Boy was I wrong. I think the majority on here had never used forums and found this through an internet search looking for answers. After reading on other forums, I can say that everyone here is helpful, strong bonds (too finally have people who actually get what you are going through is PRICELESS) and are here to help.

As far as where to post, just pick which topic is the best fit for your questions and post. No one will be upset or angry if it isn't in the right place, it's not a big deal. They can also move a post if it would be better in another area. Ask any questions you may have, there are not any dumb questions- none of us started this journey with spine knowledge, we learned because we had to. In the early days I asked what ADR was, as I was looking at Charite and didn't know the acronym... LOL No one laughed though and they answered and even gave me other common acronyms on here.

Best of Luck,
Kathy

[Gilbert P]

Catherine

Have you seen any spine surgeons?

Ask away we can help answer your questions,

Gil

[Catherine]

Hi Gilbert,

Thanks for the welcome. Yes, I've seen a NS, Joseph Sramak in Casper. He had me do the ESI last week. I really don't think I would let anyone here in WY cut on me though. Is there anyone on here that has had a successful repair of a spondylolisthesis. I also saw an Ortho. with Gem City Ortho. but I changed to the NS. I was in a previous auto wreck in the early 90's and had to have an ACDF at C5-6 and it was done by a NS in Cincinatti who was with the university there. He did a great job and I've never had any other issues with it, as long as my stress level stays down, that is. But that was just a fusion and everything I read tells me that to fix me now, it takes instrumentation. So, I'm wondering about the success rate. Is there one?

Catherine

[Justin]

Thank you very much Kbear! It must be really wonderful to be pain (and med) free! After everything I read I'm beginning to wonder if once you have these spinal problems you are never pain free again? But I see you have made it to the other side. I've never been on a forum before and not sure how to, or where to ask questions, so sorry if I put things in the wrong places. Again, thanks. Oh yes, I am originally from the Houston area.

Hi Catherine,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

Like Kathy, I never imagined that I would join a Forum, much less be the Administrator of one . The support from other Spine Patients facing similar issues and not knowing where to turn for support, really sparked my interest in online Forums. After helping many Spine Patients online through the better part of the last 10 years, it prompted me to finally make things "official" and create the Spine Patient Society in 2009.

In regard to posting on the Forum, you are doing everything right!

How are things for you day to day? Pain? Quality of life? Are you able to work? Have you tried any conservative therapy (physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.)? Are there any specific questions that we can help answer? As Gil mentioned, have you seen any spine surgeons?

Sorry for the 20 questions...once again, welcome to SPS and please make yourself at home!

[Catherine]

Hi Justin,

Thanks for the welcome. I'm certainly happy you started this forum. And it's nice to read through people's history and see "pain-free" for a while at least.
As to my day to day. I haven't had a day free of pain since the accident. It took months to ever even figure out what the problem was. I did work up until 9/09 and then I filed for disability. Sitting is difficult, standing in one spot for long, and lying on my back has become unbearable now. I take 4 7.5/325 mg norco daily. I have a script for gabapentin but the side effects of that have frightened me enough that I haven't taken it. I was able to do core strenghtening exercises up until a few months ago. No actual PT, just on my own. And my job was very physical so that kept me strong until I had to stop. Now I'm just starting to wonder about surgical repair. Does it work? Does it last?

Catherine