[Artificial Disc Replacement / Lumbar] L4/L5, Active L, 3/17/09, Dr. Rolando Garcia

[KBear]

Thank you Justin. It does feel great to be off the narcotics, the fuzz is slowly lifting. I knew it was making me fuzzy; but did not realize how bad it was, until now, when I have normal back. I don't forget things so easily. Seriously, before I could get up to go get the kids a drink, make it the 10 feet to the kitchen, and forget what I was there for! It was crazy how impaired all of it was making me. I guess because it was a slow transition, over 4 years, to be on all of those drugs, it didn't seem that bad.

[runagain]

WOOO HOOOOO.....

CONGRATULATIONS Kathy.
It is great that you are off narcotics.
The memory thing is a big deal. Now the fog will lift.
Keep going but remember to pace yourself.

Runagain

[Phylly]

Kathy,
I am so pleased for you! I am somewhat behind you but following in your footsteps. Being able to think better is huge, I know I love it and I am sure it is better for you with little ones. When you feel better it is easier to move forward and take these steps off the meds. It has been great to follow your progress and it amazes me how the year goes by and most everyone feels better. Keep up the posting.
Phylly

[KBear]

I can't believe it; but it has been almost a year since my surgery (8 days is a year)! I had my 1 year post op visit today. Everything is great, dr said it looked great and that I am doing great in weaning from medication. I even got a $100 gift card from the study for 'showing up' for my visit..... sweet!

I have been getting off of the Cymbalta and it is a b!$ch! I feel like I have had the flu for weeks, my legs ache like crazy (which is not a symptom I ever had with my spine) and I just feel like crap. Turns out, I have been weaning too quickly, didn't realize that...oops. I had to go back up on the Cymbalta and take it slower and I am having to take a vicodin here and there for the extra pain. Apparently, this is VERY common with Cymbalta. I googled Cymbalta Withdrawal and found an entire forum dedicated to it. Tons of horror stories and about how hard it is to get off of. Sounds like people who are on it for just depression and not pain, get pain when getting off of it. Was glad to find that and know that this is normal. Looks like this may take a month or so to get off of, so I will have to be patient (which I am not.... just ask hubby).

Here is a picture of my disc from today. Oh and the metal below it is my belly button ring.

[KBear]

I think I am getting over the hump of the cymbalta withdrawal. I still feel achy; but it is much more manageable. I didn't take any vicodin yesterday, just 2 doses of excedrin back and body. I didn't even take anything for several hours this morning after waking.... which is amazing for me. I'm so ready to be done with the withdrawals, it sucks. I'm on 30mg of Cymbalta, down from 120mg; which I definitely did too quickly. Gonna sit at this dose for a few weeks, until my body is totally adjusted, then wean again.

[Cindylou]

Gosh, I'm not remembering what amount of Cymbalta I was on Kathy, must have been lower than yours clearly, because I weaned myself off of Cymbalta about a month or 6 weeks ago with less effort than you are experiencing. Good luck with that. Of course, that said....I am back on my trusty Prozac, because my hubby said my mood swings were terrible. I talked with my new internist about it this week, and she had some great advice for me: She said for those of us that live up in this tundra like weather, winter is NOT the time to try and get off of any anti-depressant. She recommended I give it a go again in the middle of the summer, when there is lots of sunshine around, and my stress levels are low. (like, not when I have a death in the family, am moving, have back and hip pain, and a broken hand! haha!) Yeah, silly me! I'm glad you are getting your life back! And big congrats on the 1 year mark!!

[KBear]

Hey everyone, been awhile since I've been on here. I successfully weaned off of the Cymbalta, then hit a bump in the road. I guess it was helping with aches and pains more than I realized, b/c I began hurting again. I then fell into a major depression, to the point that I couldn't even get dressed and was pretty miserable. I realized a couple of weeks into it that I was depressed (doesn't seem like it would take that long to see what was going on; but denial is amazing). I started on Wellbutrin a week or so ago and can tell a big difference. I'm still not 100% in the mood department, but it's getting better. I see my pain dr. on Friday and am going to ask about a higher dose. I really don't want to go back on the Cymbalta, especially knowing the withdrawals. I'm still in more pain than a month ago, but think once my depression is under control, that it will improve. I have quit Lyrica as well and now just take 2-3 Vicodin a day and muscle relaxers for sleep (which I will quit once my depression is gone... I get where I can't sleep when I am depressed, though a nice side effect was I dropped 10 lbs b/c I also lost my appetite).

[Gilbert P]

Hi KBear

You are strong and have been through plenty. Get on living life you have two beautiful girls a great hubby that supported you all the way , You have a new disc and things will get better, you are young and determined, you have given great support to those who needed it, "Life is not a dress rehearsal"
We love you and support you.

Be positive and positive things will happen

LOL Gil

[Carmen]

I am now 8 weeks post op and my improvement is about 50-60% better than pre-surgery. I started physical therapy 2 weeks ago; but haven't been super faithful about doing it at home, due to pain. The nurse practitioner that I saw at my last visit, cut my medication down considerably. I am not hurting so bad that I can't handle it; but enough where doing anything other than laying on the heating pad hurts. I called and made an appointment today to see my regular pain management dr (the nurse practitioner is his assistant) and am going to discuss the pain meds. I'm either going to tell him to up them back to a decent level, where I can actually do the therapy or I will just quit altogether, suffer through my withdrawls, lay on the couch and wait for the pain to stop in a couple of months. Seems like the nurse practitioner is more concerned with me not being on medication, than whether I heal or not. It's really frustrating me. Unfortunately, it is going to be 2 weeks for his first available appointment, or else I have to see the nurse practitioner. They are going to call and get me in earlier if there is a cancellation, so I'm crossing my fingers.

I'm getting a little freaked out that it has been 8 weeks and I'm not tons better. I'm ready to be healed, yesterday... aren't we all though! I'm trying to stay positive; but have been feeling really overwhelmed and depressed lately.

Kathy

Hi Kathy,
Just to let you know you are not alone, and I have not even had my surgery yet. I want ot have it yesterday. i can't handle this any more either. I am on pretty high narcs and I am sure they are not going to give me any more. I have so much to do before surgery that I just want to curl up and die. I just wanted to tell you that there are others that feel like you do. I am so sorry you are not feeling better. I know you will soon. KNow that YOU ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE. cARMEN

[Cindylou]

Good morning K-Bear! And here I was assuming all was going well because you hadn't been on the boards in a good while.....just goes to show you: don't assume anything. I am truly sorry you hit this bump in the road. I am proud of you though, for getting on an anti-depressant (when you recognized the signs), and also hooking up with your pain management team. Not everyone would take the bull by the horns, but you did. :thumpup: Has anything come of your little tyke relative, his name is escaping me, and the custody battle? Has that all been finalized?

We are here for you honey and I hope each day brings more sunshine into your world. I'm sending lots of cyber hugs your way! (((((((((((((( )))))))))))))) Cindylou xoxo