Tough Times

**larae** · 06-09-2011, 01:21 AM

hi- have not been on here 4 a long time. went through a horrible bout of lyme treatment...
which left my brain mushy. I wish I cld decipher if the annular tears are causing THIS much pain still?
I am not sure if this ? shld even be posted under this title...in lieu of family issues ppl are
writing abt.

but, if anyone has any advice as to whether black discs and annular tears are as painful as
i feel they are, it wld be great. The surgeon will not do surgery until my body is in better
condition. but, i say...just do the hybrid... if i die in the table, then @ least i did it trying!

have 90% just decided to go w/ the hybrid. both surgeons say they wld have the two level, "if they
we rich"", but the hybrid will be just as good.

oye vey. Hey, when u get off the pain pills,
what starts to change? Yeah 4 Kbear...still pain free~! congrats on the baby.

b

**Justin** · 06-09-2011, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by larae

hi- have not been on here 4 a long time. went through a horrible bout of lyme treatment...
which left my brain mushy. I wish I cld decipher if the annular tears are causing THIS much pain still?
I am not sure if this ? shld even be posted under this title...in lieu of family issues ppl are
writing abt.

but, if anyone has any advice as to whether black discs and annular tears are as painful as
i feel they are, it wld be great. The surgeon will not do surgery until my body is in better
condition. but, i say...just do the hybrid... if i die in the table, then @ least i did it trying!

In regard to how discs look on films: not all discs that are black are pain generators, and not all discs that look "good" on films are free of problems.

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of condition is your body in from the lyme disease? It sounds as if there was a delay in the treatment of your lyme disease. Also, why do you think you would "die in the table?" Yes, death is a risk of surgery, but a rare risk at that.

Originally Posted by larae

have 90% just decided to go w/ the hybrid. both surgeons say they wld have the two level, "if they
we rich"", but the hybrid will be just as good.

oye vey. Hey, when u get off the pain pills,
what starts to change? Yeah 4 Kbear...still pain free~! congrats on the baby.

b

Many things "change" when a patient steps off of narcotics. Long-term use of narcotics can cause chronic constipation, decreased respiratory drive (breathing), small pupils, and alternation of many hormones to name a few side effects. These side effects are usually no longer present when narcotics are stopped (and when the medication is no longer in your system). Some of the hormonal changes take time to return to "baseline" functioning.

**larae** · 06-09-2011, 09:49 PM

I have a large degree of annular tears. from what I have heard and read, can be the most painful for back issues (CAN be). I realize, some ppl have no pain w/ + screens or have immense pain w/ minor showings. I have both. I'm banking on the surgeon's advice (doogie

), he and I went to pre-med school together.
uhm. I have late stage lyme disease, causing severe dysautonia, POTS, central nervous system issues...the obviouse pain, disability. meningitis a few yrs back. But boy, this back! I am so glad I did the discogram. why were u curious?
"die on the table"...not from surgery. that wld never cross my mind. I had a day surgery 2 yrs ago that sent me to the ICU because of my fragility. my HR was 148 @ rest for 2 hours and I desaturated significantly. They either want me to have more treatment (next apt is in October), or pursue stem cell treatment. After 4 yrs of this journey (yes, they diagnosed me so late...west coast MD's!), ready for @ least my back pain to be better.
I only take limited narcotics now (2 neurontin and 1 -2 vicodin a day... for the back pain...but it helps w/ some of the fibro involved. answer some of your ?'s. so glad u guys give such great info on here!
Barb