This is a discussion on Distraction pain within the Rehabilitation Support & Postoperative Questions forums, part of the Surgical Outcomes category; Originally Posted by dagmountain Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences with distraction pain. Alerts of your posts were not ...
Re: Distraction pain Dagmountain,Originally Posted by dagmountain
What are your pain levels now? Are they better or worse than before ADR surgery.
How is your activity level? Are you walking and doing mild home physical therapy exercises? Are your pushing it or taking it easy? I ask because even at amost 11 weeks, if I push it ... I sure pay for it in terms of higher pain levels. I find that it is hard to find a good balance, especially when I want to do more than I really can at this point.
I have never tried Lyrica, but I understand it treats nerve pain. I wonder how 150 mg compares with 1800 mg of Gabapentin. Does anyone know?
I also experience the "pins and needles" feeling throughout my legs as well as mild numbness, especially in my left leg but also in my right. It definitely increases in intensity with my activity level. I attribute it to "angry" spinal nerves and feel that they willl all calm down within the year. BUT, I am not a medical professional and I would like to confirm that everything is as it should be ... if for no other reason than for my own peace of mind! I plan to ask for a lumbar x-ray next week during my appointment to make sure my artificial discs and vertebrae are positioned exactly where they should be. Besides, an x-ray is one of the easiest tests one could have done ... so why not?
I hope your pain levels improve quickly!
K
Diagnosis
L3/L4 M6-L ADR; severe bilateral facet joint arthropathy - sclerotic; moderate foraminal stenosis (r)
L4/L5 M6-L ADR; severe bilateral facet joint arthropathy - sclerotic; posterior decompression
L5/S1 bilateral hemisacralized
Procedures or Diagnostics
3/09 L3/L4 - L4/L5 Laminectomy; L4/L5 w Disectomy
7/09 Facet Joint Inj, Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation: 4Left
4/10 Discogram
6/10 L3/L4 - L4/L5 M6-L ADR
8/11 L5 Epidural Steriod Inj: 1Left
10/11 CT Myleogram
Re: Distraction pain My pain levels are probably the same as before the surgery and my activity levels are high. I think I've been pushing it to much and I should take a little easier. As far as comparing Gabapentin to Lyrica I have no idea. Thank you for the response.
Re: Distraction pain I do hope you start feeling better. Things do fall in place. During my recovery, it was key to remember the "small victories." Keep us posted.
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997, 17 years old: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003, 23 years old: 2-Level ProDiscฎ L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009, 29 years old: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
Re: Distraction pain Very good point Justin....remembering the small victories.
January 2000 MVA passenger, used jaws of life to retrieve me, neck injury and months of PT
June 2001 Bicycle accident, 2 compression fractures at T12/L1, Vertebroplasty Sept. 2001
April 2006 right hip, labral tear and repair
April 2007 3 level ProDisc @ L3/4, L4/5 & L5/6✷ ✷Lumbosacral transitional vertebra; Dr. Rudolph Bertagnoli
July 2, 2008 ALIF & Laminectomy @ L6/S1
July 30, 2008 re-opened 28 days later to remove bone cement that had leaked onto S1 nerve root
August 2008 Pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, re-hospitalized 1 week
March 10, 2009 Right SI Joint Fusion
April 27, 2010 2nd right hip arthroscopy to remove adhesions and release psoas muscle
September 30, 2010 lumbar facet rhizotomy
December 9, 2010 12 bilateral lumbar trigger point and steroid injections
December 23, 2010 12 more bilateral trigger point injections w/o steroid
February 15, 2011 ESI bilaterally in lower lumbar...relief only for few days. Considering 1 more.
Did Spinal Cord Stimulator trial from 5/11/11-5/17/11 with excellent results; Spinal Cord Stimulator surgery is Monday,
July 18, 2011
Re: Distraction pain Easy to do (push our limits) and often easier said then done (take it easy)!
I like how KBear puts it, "Slow and steady wins the race!"
Diagnosis
L3/L4 M6-L ADR; severe bilateral facet joint arthropathy - sclerotic; moderate foraminal stenosis (r)
L4/L5 M6-L ADR; severe bilateral facet joint arthropathy - sclerotic; posterior decompression
L5/S1 bilateral hemisacralized
Procedures or Diagnostics
3/09 L3/L4 - L4/L5 Laminectomy; L4/L5 w Disectomy
7/09 Facet Joint Inj, Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation: 4Left
4/10 Discogram
6/10 L3/L4 - L4/L5 M6-L ADR
8/11 L5 Epidural Steriod Inj: 1Left
10/11 CT Myleogram
Re: Distraction pain I'm sure I stole that quote somewhere, but don't remember where.....
31 years old-
1/06- In wreck with 18 wheeler at 25 years old; 6/06- Head on collision on Interstate, both wrecks other drivers fault. Numerous MRI's, PT, chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS therapy, massage therapy, facet injections, epidural injections, Nerve study, Discogram, confirms pain in L4/5, IDET, decompression, Bi-lateral neurotomy L3/4/5, denied by insurance twice, in Active L clinical trial, had surgery March 17, 2009 in Miami, FL- received Active L disc at 29 years old. Pain and medication free as of October 2010!
Mommy to Emma- 8 years, Ava- 5.5 years & had baby Eli after ADR, via c-section on March 25, 2011, completely pain free still!
Re: Distraction pain Aesop first said Slow and steady wins the race. We have mostly heard it requoted and repeated from our dear friend Alastair.....and then we all followed suit.
January 2000 MVA passenger, used jaws of life to retrieve me, neck injury and months of PT
June 2001 Bicycle accident, 2 compression fractures at T12/L1, Vertebroplasty Sept. 2001
April 2006 right hip, labral tear and repair
April 2007 3 level ProDisc @ L3/4, L4/5 & L5/6✷ ✷Lumbosacral transitional vertebra; Dr. Rudolph Bertagnoli
July 2, 2008 ALIF & Laminectomy @ L6/S1
July 30, 2008 re-opened 28 days later to remove bone cement that had leaked onto S1 nerve root
August 2008 Pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, re-hospitalized 1 week
March 10, 2009 Right SI Joint Fusion
April 27, 2010 2nd right hip arthroscopy to remove adhesions and release psoas muscle
September 30, 2010 lumbar facet rhizotomy
December 9, 2010 12 bilateral lumbar trigger point and steroid injections
December 23, 2010 12 more bilateral trigger point injections w/o steroid
February 15, 2011 ESI bilaterally in lower lumbar...relief only for few days. Considering 1 more.
Did Spinal Cord Stimulator trial from 5/11/11-5/17/11 with excellent results; Spinal Cord Stimulator surgery is Monday,
July 18, 2011
Re: Distraction pain Thanks CL, I knew I owed someone credit for that!
Re: Distraction pain Could you do me a big favor and post a pic of your MRI you had before surgery? Was all 3 disc you had black from (ddd)? or did you just have real bad tears ect...It would really mean alot to me and help me understand why they did a 3 level surgery on you. Both my L4-5 & L5-S1 are black and i know my lower back does not have much longer left.
How was your Facets?
C4-5: Mild disc height loss with central annular fissure. Small broad-based left paracentral disc protrusion. Moderate central canal stenosis-the disc protrusion abuts and mildly flattens the left ventral surface of the spinal canal.
C5-6: Disc desiccation with mild height loss.Diffuse discosteophyte bulge anduncovertebral joint hypertrophy, moderate central canal stenosis- Severe neuroforaminal stenosis bilaterally, right greater than left
Re: Distraction pain Please Update us...
C4-5: Mild disc height loss with central annular fissure. Small broad-based left paracentral disc protrusion. Moderate central canal stenosis-the disc protrusion abuts and mildly flattens the left ventral surface of the spinal canal.
C5-6: Disc desiccation with mild height loss.Diffuse discosteophyte bulge and
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