ajj1001 start new thread re: I am so sore.

[Moni]

Ok Alison
I'll give it a go. You've been there done that so I'll trust your expertise. That is what I really like about this site....we newbies can ask people who have experienced what we are just now having to deal with and get sound advise from someone who knows!
The gabapentin is sure an odd drug....my husband has quit raising his eyebrow at me ( 5 and a half months later) now he just very sagely nods his head and says mmhmmmmm.....
Even my 4 year old Grandson says it's Oma's medicine!! I sure hope this isn't a for ever thing....
What is this disco??? thing you speak of?

Take good care of yourself.
mg

[ajj1001]

Ok Alison
I'll give it a go. You've been there done that so I'll trust your expertise. That is what I really like about this site....we newbies can ask people who have experienced what we are just now having to deal with and get sound advise from someone who knows!
The gabapentin is sure an odd drug....my husband has quit raising his eyebrow at me ( 5 and a half months later) now he just very sagely nods his head and says mmhmmmmm.....
Even my 4 year old Grandson says it's Oma's medicine!! I sure hope this isn't a for ever thing....
What is this disco??? thing you speak of?

Take good care of yourself.
mg

Before I had my first spine op I did 5 months of physio which really helped keep me moving, I had it after my adr and it helped restore function. After this fusion it is really slow in progressing with the physio. If your doctor thinks it will help then its worth a try, It can't make you any worse and you could gain from it. Improving your muscles can either prevent the need for surgery or make recovery from any op much easier.

The discogram is a diagnostic test to see what pain is coming from where or if there are any tears or leaks in the disc. They inject the disc and see if you go "ow" from the increased pressure caused in the disc.

[Carmen]

Hi ajj1001, Welcome aboard, a PM to Jason

This is what the doctor has reported after seeing my MRI.

I have what is called degenerative scoliosis. It may have been genetic at one time but it turned degenerative.
• Need to have a 5-6 level fusion (T12 to the sacrum)
• Nerve is exposed and is slipping to the right
• Needs fluid to surround the vertebrae so it can be used as a shock absorber
• Arthritic degenerative spinal stenosis is pinching the nerve at L4 and L5
• Shopping cart syndrome
• Save the nerve by nerve decompression.
• Need surgery to give the nerve space.
• Nerve needs to be preserved and the spine needs to be strengthened
• 4 hours of surgery and 5 to 6 days in the hospital.
• Doctor thinks I will heal fast because of all the vitamins and minerals I have been taking
• Risks of surgery 1% infection and 1% anesthesia
• Other risks are blood clot and nerve injury (Dr. said nerve damage is rare.)
• Spinal fluid leakage will be addressed in surgery but hospital stay will be prolonged
• Will be wearing a brace for three months.
• Complicated surgery after seeing the X-ray that was taken at Rush.
Carmen

[Moni]

Before I had my first spine op I did 5 months of physio which really helped keep me moving, I had it after my adr and it helped restore function. After this fusion it is really slow in progressing with the physio. If your doctor thinks it will help then its worth a try, It can't make you any worse and you could gain from it. Improving your muscles can either prevent the need for surgery or make recovery from any op much easier.
I can definitely see where keeping moving is an asset. Seizing up is scarier than the fear of doing further injury by moving. I wonder however that as the pain has been ongoing for so long in my case if there is really any benefit from trying to "treat it" with PT, as they say to try conservative measures first.
I am at the stage where I am waiting to see a second Neuro for a full assessment ( the first one, I was in his office for about 10 minutes and that was mostly being told no, no and no.Loose weight and wait and it may fuse on it's own)
While I wait to get in to see him I will do it. I will call it preventive maintenance but like you said it is TORTURE!!! I wouldn't want to repeat what my nerves, butt, thighs and feet are saying....even through the gabapentin!!

The discogram is a diagnostic test to see what pain is coming from where or if there are any tears or leaks in the disc. They inject the disc and see if you go "ow" from the increased pressure caused in the disc.

This does not sound like a fun procedure!!! .......judging from "see if you go ow"...means you are wide awake!
I was awake for my knee surgery in April of 09. I had an epidural and it was sheer bliss....for the first time in three years I could not feel my hurting legs. I don't think this is quite the same though.

Sorry to ask so many questions but you are almost me!!
The first Neuro I went to said he would NOT do a fusion at L5S1 as it would cause a domino effect of weakening and messing up the next levels up ( funny that is happening anyhow with his wait and see if it fuses on its own approach) and he would most definitely not consider adr as in his opinion (and he has the right to have it) they are not durable enough and I would be setting myself up for continuous operations....I just wonder how you decided to try the adr. Was it mobility or pain or a combo?? What did your drs tell you was its lifetime? I have read up to thirty years and for me that sounds pretty darn durable! I'd be in my 80's!!
Did you have leg pain before the adr as your main issue?
I would really rather not have surgery but when one disc is gone completely and the next one up is now bulging and all this thecal sac contact and nerve contact is kinda pointing at "something" needing be done...the sclerosis of the endplates doesn't exactly sound all that good either! Sheesh how did you manage with a load of info like that? I have good days and some not so good but it really has been a lot better since soming to this site and finding out I am not exactly alone! Thank you again Alison for your encouraging and enlightening words.
Cheers
mg

[Moni]

This is what the doctor has reported after seeing my MRI.
Good grief woman!!! I cannot even imagine!

I send you hugs...but gentle ones...you must be in so much pain! I Cannot even imagine.
mg

[ajj1001]

I am waiting to see a second Neuro for a full assessment ( the first one, I was in his office for about 10 minutes and that was mostly being told no, no and no.Loose weight and wait and it may fuse on it's own)
While I wait to get in to see him I will do it. I will call it preventive maintenance but like you said it is TORTURE!!! I wouldn't want to repeat what my nerves, butt, thighs and feet are saying....even through the gabapentin!!

It'll be interesting to see what the 2nd neuro says. Will it be a long wait?
Has the previous one given you a timescale for "leaving it see if it fuses".

.I just wonder how you decided to try the adr. Was it mobility or pain or a combo?? What did your drs tell you was its lifetime?
Did you have leg pain before the adr as your main issue?

I was considered too young to have a fusion (i started having back problems at 34) and the recovery from a big fusion was going to be long one. My surgeon had been doing adr for a number of years and I was considered a good candidate as I had no previous surgeries and no other issues apart from the disc prolapses.

I had only leg pain, problems walking and straightening up. I started losing bladder and bowel control so the op was done as an emergency procedure to stop any further damage. Both came back though I had some numbness.
Its only since 2008 and especially this fusion that I have had any pain in my back.Its still mainly leg pain though.

Certainly not an expert just a little further down the road than you. Am so glad that you are finding being able to share about your condition helpful, it certainly helps me knowng I'm not alone.

[Moni]

It'll be interesting to see what the 2nd neuro says. Will it be a long wait? My drs office says three to six weeks...Katie says it could take up to six months. On Ratemd's it says it can be quite a wait to see him but he is worth waiting to see. So I dont really know.....
Has the previous one given you a timescale for "leaving it see if it fuses". No he did not say...I did tell him it had been getting progressively worse over the past three years .....he seemed very preoccupied with I'm not sure what and just wanted to make sure I was aware of how horrible back surgery is and that he did not want me to come asking him to do surgery on me. It was odd. It seemed like he was put out that my dr had asked him about that? I think I was in his office for about 10 minutes....came out more confused than when I went in!