[Dynamic Stabilization] Dynamic Stabilization System: DSS™--motion (non-fusion, 5/14/09, Dr. Bertagnoli)

[Justin]

Day 3 of withdrawals (12/7/09) was definitely the worst. I was just plain irritable, achy from head to toe, sweating with chills, headache, sneezing, quadriceps pain (right rectus femoris and vastus intermedius) and poor sleep. Yesterday, was somewhat better. However, I still felt pretty bad.

Today, I feel pretty good. My head feels more clear and I am headed for a massage today just to knock out some of the quad irritation.

The same day I stopped taking my Suboxone I got sick. I had / still have a mild sore throat, stuffy nose and tight chest. It's hard to say how "good" I would have felt without my cold on top of the Suboxone withdrawals. These withdrawals have been MUCH easier than when I went cold-turkey off of 20mg of oxycodone 3 months after my 2-level artificial disc replacement surgery in 2003. Now, that was painful!

I was worried that I would still have some lingering leg pain after coming off of Suboxone completely. However, I have to share with everyone that my preoperative leg pain is completely gone! Thank God. I feel so blessed to have another chance at a "pain-free" life.

Thank you for all of your support and I will continue to update this thread frequently to track exactly how I am feeling.

[Fuzzy]

I m sure you appreciate your new painfree back and think twice about activites that might cause an (re) injury.

Like:

Woman struggles to get her stroller into the train. i am right there but can not help due to my back and neck issues, duh, 6 days post surgery! But others don't know this and get on my case for not helping!!! What do I do, give long explanation?? Wear handicap sign? But better not to take chances on all my hardware. I am someone to help, always, and it is tough to say no to protect myself!

Always be careful, it adds up.

[Justin]

I m sure you appreciate your new painfree back and think twice about activites that might cause an (re) injury.

Fuzzy, this is so very true. I am so thankful to be pain-free again! I am always conscious of my activities in regard to how they will "affect" my spine. Unfortunately, I have had to give up many activities that I enjoy (Note: this was voluntary and a personal decision I made many years ago...there are many activities that are a ton of fun, but they are just not worth the risk of living in chronic pain again).

Like:

Woman struggles to get her stroller into the train. i am right there but can not help due to my back and neck issues, duh, 6 days post surgery! But others don't know this and get on my case for not helping!!! What do I do, give long explanation?? Wear handicap sign? But better not to take chances on all my hardware. I am someone to help, always, and it is tough to say no to protect myself!

Always be careful, it adds up.

Your example is unfortunately the reality for many Spine Patients including myself. There are situations where I have had to explain that "I can't...my back blah blah blah," which I really don't like doing.

Be careful during your travels, Fuzzy.

[Justin]

Well, I had another appointment with my Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) doctor. He said he could just tell by looking at me that I was off all of my medications. He checked leg raising and femoral stretch, which were both negative (the tests did not elicit pain in my legs).

What was really great was that he was surprised by my range of motion (flexion, extension and side-bending). He said to the other doctors in the exam room that "you usually don't see range of motion like this with traditional fusions." DSS is a motion-preserving device and is considered to be a "soft fusion" device.

My PM&R doctor has been instrumental in my recovery, and I will forever be grateful for his expertise and empathy.

[treefrog]

Wow, that is such great news Justin. I am so happy to hear that you do not have leg pain. I expect that I will be able to say the same about myself, no pain after coming off all the pain meds.

Sorry you had to go through withdrawal though. So far, the clonidine has helped me with the extra pain I have been having every time I go down a dose. I'm hopeful that I can get off the pain meds over the next few weeks.

Thanks for the update.

[Dave]

Justin,

So very happy for you.

[KBear]

Justin- That is great that you are doing so well.

I dread the thought of withdrawal. I have been trying to reduce my Vicodin, seems like the first day is smooth sailing, then the second day I am filled with pain and end up taking more Vicodin than usual, trying to get pain free. I am wondering if I am having pain from the Vicodin, you know the pain stuff they talk about, that pain meds can make you more sensitive to pain (which seems really weird, you would think with all the pain we face day in and day out, that we would all have a huge pain tolerance). Anyhow, I am going to keep trying to get off of the meds and see how I will do. I wish I was able to get rid of kids and responsibilities for a few days, to just come off of them, lay in misery and not have to do anything.

Fuzzy- I have had the same issues with not being able to help people, when I am usually a helper. In the grocery store, when I have to buy anything big like dog food, cat food, cat litter, ect.... I ask someone else to load it in my cart. I always just say, I just had back surgery and can't lift. That is short and sweet, to the point and people seem more than willing to help. I even ask someone in the parking lot to load it in my car. People are generally very receptive and seem not to mind helping me.

[Justin]

Wow, that is such great news Justin. I am so happy to hear that you do not have leg pain. I expect that I will be able to say the same about myself, no pain after coming off all the pain meds.

Sorry you had to go through withdrawal though. So far, the clonidine has helped me with the extra pain I have been having every time I go down a dose. I'm hopeful that I can get off the pain meds over the next few weeks.

Thanks for the update.

Thanks, Cathy. I do hope you are able to say you have no leg pain as well. Clonidine is great for reducing withdrawals--I do hope it is helping. Good luck over the next few weeks--it is well worth it.

Justin,

So very happy for you.

Dave, thank you for your support over the last year (well, last couple of years). It is most appreciated...I hope you are doing well.

Justin- That is great that you are doing so well.

I dread the thought of withdrawal. I have been trying to reduce my Vicodin, seems like the first day is smooth sailing, then the second day I am filled with pain and end up taking more Vicodin than usual, trying to get pain free. I am wondering if I am having pain from the Vicodin, you know the pain stuff they talk about, that pain meds can make you more sensitive to pain (which seems really weird, you would think with all the pain we face day in and day out, that we would all have a huge pain tolerance). Anyhow, I am going to keep trying to get off of the meds and see how I will do. I wish I was able to get rid of kids and responsibilities for a few days, to just come off of them, lay in misery and not have to do anything.

Thanks, Kathy. I was dreading withdrawal as well, as I had three hellish weeks of withdrawal going cold turkey off of narcotics in 2004 after my two-level artificial disc replacement surgery. The second and third day are usually the worst--this is due to the half-life of the narcotics you are on. I would venture to say that a good majority of Spine Patients on chronic narcotic management do experience increased pain from their medications. Unfortunately, it is just physiology and it catches up with most of us at some point (this is not to say that it is not manifested in different ways from Spine Patient to Spine Patient).

I would suggest giving yourself a good week (week and a half, depending on what dose you are jumping off from) to just stare at the ceiling in misery. Sorry, I wish I could sugarcoat it, but I know you wouldn't appreciate that in the long run. Personally, I just looked at withdrawals this way: OK, I used narcotic medications to help with my preoperative pain and to help bridge the pain induced from surgery...now, it's time to "man up" and face the music. I would also advise you to be away from your kids. You will not be yourself and I don't think I would want my kids (we don't have any yet) to see me withdrawing like a heroin addict.

I will say that if you survived your preoperative pain and the pain from surgery, you will be able to get through the withdrawals with flying colors. Good luck and let me know if you want to talk by phone...I can give you some more "personal" pointers.

Well, it has been 8 days since I stopped taking my Suboxone. I feel fan-FREAKIN'-tastic!!!!

Days 3, 4 and 5 were challenging for me (Suboxone has a long half-life). I am so glad that I committed to stepping off of my medications...I want to get back to the good of life. Narcotics, even though they are warranted and helpful in many situations, still "rob you" of yourself. You don't feel the same while you are on them because you are not the same. It is great to feel clear headed again--I missed myself, and I sure as heck know that my wife did. :thumpup:

I am blessed to be "pain-free" again.

[KBear]

Thanks Justin for the advice. I think after Christmas is over, I am definitely going to give it a whirl. At least then, I will know if I am really in pain, or not. You know, it feels real and hurts; but then I wonder if it is the narcotic effect. The only way to know is to come off of them and then see if it is still there.

[Cindylou]

Really great news Justin! Yay!!! I started weaning myself off of the Neurontin and the Oxycodone. Yesterday, thanks to the new Tens Unit, I only took 1 Oxycodone all day. And I have dropped from 3 to 1 pill a day of the Neurontin. I'll stay at this place for a week and then take the Oxycodone every other day for a week or so. So far so good. I haven't experienced any withdrawals. I can't wait to be off all this crap for good. For the first time, I think I'll be able to exercise, even w/ the Tens Unit on, and start to shake these miserable 20 pounds I put on.