L4/L5 Nuvasive XL TDR next month in Spokane, WA

**Katie** · 09-27-2010, 11:03 AM

Absolutely get the epidural!!!

I was on 340 mg + of morphine/day and pain control is very difficult with me, and Kathy too if I remember correctly. People with the genes for red hair often have problems...the meds either do not work, or metabolize very quickly.

I had a discogram last August, a year ago, and the twilight cocktail of pain meds had no effect on me whatsoever. I was in the worst pain I've ever been, including childbirth. I have to add that it wasn't a simple discogram...the surgeon also injected Methylene Blue into each disc. It was a new procedure he had learned about at a conference that often worked to reduce or eliminate pain in the lumbar, but it didn't work with me. So I had extra fluid injected=extra pressure. They wouldn't give me any extra meds because of the fear that I would stop breathing.

The three level surgery in Brazil with the epidural, on the other hand, was a cakewalk compared to the above. It completely controlled my pain, and even after it was removed the following day, my pain levels did not spike, except for some distraction pain in my legs.

Some may give you a hard time for requesting it, but after my experiences I would not go ahead without it. Just my humble opinion of course

**mike m** · 09-28-2010, 01:18 AM

Originally Posted by Katie

Absolutely get the epidural!!!

I was on 340 mg + of morphine/day and pain control is very difficult with me, and Kathy too if I remember correctly. People with the genes for red hair often have problems...the meds either do not work, or metabolize very quickly.

I had a discogram last August, a year ago, and the twilight cocktail of pain meds had no effect on me whatsoever. I was in the worst pain I've ever been, including childbirth. I have to add that it wasn't a simple discogram...the surgeon also injected Methylene Blue into each disc. It was a new procedure he had learned about at a conference that often worked to reduce or eliminate pain in the lumbar, but it didn't work with me. So I had extra fluid injected=extra pressure. They wouldn't give me any extra meds because of the fear that I would stop breathing.

The three level surgery in Brazil with the epidural, on the other hand, was a cakewalk compared to the above. It completely controlled my pain, and even after it was removed the following day, my pain levels did not spike, except for some distraction pain in my legs.

Some may give you a hard time for requesting it, but after my experiences I would not go ahead without it. Just my humble opinion of course

The red head thing makes sense of the pain control issues I have had. My yougest son Sean has red hair , my sister and a little myself. Epidural will be topic of next visit. Thanks Again for the info

**Justin** · 11-17-2010, 11:31 AM

Hi Mike,

How did your surgery go? Please let us know how you are doing when you have a chance.

**mike m** · 11-21-2010, 09:21 PM

They had to re schedule surgery for December 17th, I found out two days before pre op. Pretty disapointing i was ready to go.

**Justin** · 11-21-2010, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by mike m

They had to re schedule surgery for December 17th, I found out two days before pre op. Pretty disapointing i was ready to go.

Eh, that's a bummer Mike. We'll be thinking of you on 12/17. Keep us posted!

**Katie** · 11-22-2010, 04:31 AM

Good luck with it Mike, and I'm sorry it had to be rescheduled. How did the chat about the epidural go with your doctor?

**mike m** · 11-28-2010, 05:24 PM

doc seemed suprised i would want to get epidural. He said we can discuss this with anasthesiologist closer to surgery date but he thinks that it wont be needed. He claims he had one patient get surgery on Friday and be back at work Monday with no pain meds.

**Justin** · 11-28-2010, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by mike m

doc seemed suprised i would want to get epidural. He said we can discuss this with anasthesiologist closer to surgery date but he thinks that it wont be needed. He claims he had one patient get surgery on Friday and be back at work Monday with no pain meds.

Hey Mike, the Spine Patient that had surgery on Friday and returned to work on Monday without pain meds is the exception. Just to be safe, plan on some time off from work--your body needs time to heal. Keep us posted.

**KBear** · 11-28-2010, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by Justin

Hey Mike, the Spine Patient that had surgery on Friday and returned to work on Monday without pain meds is the exception. Just to be safe, plan on some time off from work--your body needs time to heal. Keep us posted.

I second that, I was praying for death for 2 days and wasn't anywhere close to productive for a good 8 weeks. I had a hard time just staying awake, always tired. I took so many naps, it was like a newborn who sleeps all the time. Best of Luck, Kathy

**Katie** · 11-29-2010, 11:01 AM

Note that the good doctor said he had 'one patient' who did that well

It sure doesn't hurt to get the epidural, especially considering the alternative. It was the best thing I did.

And like Kathy said, I spent almost two weeks sleeping about eighteen hours a day after we got home. My body just plain gave out. The docs always like to give you the good stories, unless they are trying to talk you out of something. The truth lies somewhere in the middle....