Not much could really be done to make it worse. Right now, I can't work because if I spend too long standing or sitting, I lose strength and feeling in my leg. Even trying to clean my apartment takes a hell of a lot longer than it should, cause I can only do a little at a time. Fortunately my son is old enough and understanding enough to know that he has to do the lion's share of the work to keep the place clean. Plus I lose quite a bit of sleep due to the constant pain/pressure on my lower back.

Ah, sleep-induced insomnia. I'll get back to you after I manage to avoid this myself.

Glad you're getting your MRI, hopefully, that will tell the neurosurgeon what needs doing.

Actually had the MRI yesterday, and made sure they were giving me the contrast dye too (which, after the gave me a shot of it, made me want to puke although that never happened the other times I've had it). And the neurosurgeon requires an updated MRI before making the appointment, which is good since he is an hour and a half drive away from me.

Last time I went to see him for a possible (which became definite) surgery, they forgot the contrast dye and I made a wasted trip because he couldn't tell for sure what was going on because of the scar tissue from the first surgery.

I'm just hoping that they won't have to fuse my back yet, but I'm afraid sooner or later that that is going to happen.

Blech. Yeah, here's hoping the spinal fusion won't be necessary.

Ok, I saw the neurosurgeon today. After looking at my MRI, he told me he can see some degradation in the disc that was last operated on (in 2005) and the disc above it (which hasn't had any surgery) BUT nothing stood out as any cause of my current problems. So now I have to go in for a nerve induction test (which is what I had to do the last time, since the disc was bulging into the spinal cord and causing the problems. Unfortunately, his schedule is pretty tight right now (since he is going to be gone all of December) and since I don't want to have to make two trips back out to the city where his office is located, the soonest I could get in for both the nerve induction test AND to see him (doing both the same day) is January 10th. That means almost 2 more months of suffering (and me probably going back to my family doctor to see if he can give me anything for the really really bad days, as today has turned into) before I can get any specific answer.

However, he said (depending on the result of the test) that it could go one of two ways:
1). Physical therapy and meds, if the tests show no specific problem. Personally, I don't think this is probably going to work, but if that's what the tests say, I'll try it.
2) A partial fusion of my lower back, which may or may not get me back to what my current (or the current before the back went) normal.

So I get another 2 months of stressing over this before I can get a definite solution.

Tough call.

My brother had a fusion 20 years ago, and has not been quite 100% since, but it's a lot better than the pain he was in.

Yeah, the surgeon said that I would probably about 2/3 of what I was before my back went out this time, but since I can't really do much of anything for very long, I figure that's good enough. But we'll see, in just under 2 months

My mother had her lower back fused a few months ago. While at first she was sore and very tired, she was for the most pain free. However, the pain has started coming back gradually. From what I understand from listening to her, it's a 50/50 shot as to whether or not it cures your problem.

yeah, the surgeon mentioned that too, but considering that most days I very quickly get to a point where I can't do much at all (including walking without a cane), I'm almost ready top take the 50/50 shot.

My mother's original problem was basically and internal blister on her spine which put pressure on her spinal cord causing intense pain. She had that surgically removed, but then started having other back pain ending with her having her lower back fused. Unfortunately because of the fusion the discs that are just above and below the fusion have started to squish. If you do decide to get it done, I wish you the best of luck.

What you really need, SF is a couple of these: http://tinyurl.com/2a7n7hr .

3 days away from my surgeon visit with nerve induction tests (to help pinpoint the problem) and right now the weather is sounding like I may have to reschedule, which sucks since I'm getting tired of this not able to do much crap. And this is after spending several hours in the Emergency Room on New Year's Day due to the extreme amount of pain I'm in. The only good thing about the ER visit is the fact that the attending doctor gave me a prescription for painkillers, so that I (hopefully) won't have to go back in to the ER before a decision is made on what to do for my back.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit.

It started snowing yesterday afternoon, and was still snowing when I got up this morning, so my ride cancelled and I won't be going to my doctor's appointment today, unfortunately. And it will be at least a week before my ride can take me (I can drive, but the limit on how far I can drive before it's too much for my back is about 1/2 hour, the neurosurgeon is 1 1/2 hours away, so I have to have a ride), and who knows how long before the doctor can fit me in

Ok, got everything rescheduled, now I have to wait til Feb. 10th, another month of this not knowing crap. Hopefully the weather cooperates this time

...and meanwhile, you just get to sit around and hurt.

*(&#*($&#^&#$*%(R**#Q&$*#%#&_$&#*($U*@#&$*

Either hurt or be in a pain killer haze. And when my small supply of pain killers runs out, I'll probably go and talk to my family doctor, just as soon not have to go to the ER again, though the Demarol shot did give me better sleep than I usually get :rofl:

But, truthfully, I've been in constant pain ever since the back first went out in 2002, but my pain tolerance went way up because of that. It's just now, that amount of pain that I get to "enjoy" is way higher than my tolerance

I'm a little surprised if the doctor is aware of your condition that he won't go ahead and at least prescribe enough pain killers to get you through until your visit. Did you ask?

I actually have an appointment with my family doctor on Tuesday to discuss that, so hopefully he will. But considering what the ER doctor did, and the fact that a copy of that visit was forwarded to my family doctor, chances are I'll probably be given something

It's still a Catch-22. And that sucks.

I saw my family doctor, and he had no problem prescribing me pain killers, as he knows the condition of my back and the pain I'm usually in. And he also had no problem giving me "official" verification that I can't work (I knew this, and the person I directly deal with for the program I'm on could see this, but she had to have something official for the records).


AND he was very happy to help me with an attempt to stop smoking, although with the day I had yesterday, it won't be an easy chore, since I tend to smoke a lot more when stressed, and yesterday was an extremely stressful day

Gonna do Chantix?

That was what his first suggested. But because of the chance of side effects that include depression and increase in suicidal thoughts (which a friend of mine did get when she attempted to quit smoking with Chantix), I decided against using that as I experience enough depression and sucidal thoughts on my own. I'm not exactly sure what the help is going to be, but I'm going through my state's quit smoking help line, just waiting on them to get in touch with me. My doctor thought that maybe they'd help with nicotine patches.

And if they don't get in touch soon, I'll go back to my doctor, as one of the other suggestions he had was Zyban (aka Wellbutrin). I've heard a lot of people were able too successfully quit with that.

Of course, there's always the cold turkey method. Which might work currently since I'm so zoney on my current pain medication (which are just a bit stronger than the ones I was put on via the ER on New Years Day) that all I relly want to do is sleep. Not even getting my normal nic fits, or nicotine headaches. Currently this is the route I'm going until I hear from the quit line, but only cause I have no choice, no money to get cigarettes :rofl:

But the main thing is, I think I am finally ready to quit, and that is the most important thing. It was completely my decision, not due to nagging from my doctor or surgeon or family members, but one that I decided to do for myself. But my son is extremely happy with the decision, he hates the fact that I smoke(d)

Great to hear. Just hang in there and it'll all work out in the end. Keep in mind that (I'm sure I'm safe saying this) everyone here has your back.

You all can have my back, it's pretty shot with all the problems I have :roflmao:

If you're giving away body parts, can I have your spleen?

Do I even want to know your plans for it? :rofl:

All your spleen are belong to us.

Well, from every forcast I've seen, I'll be able to go in for my torture,....I mean doctor's visit tomorrow. THe fun part is where they stick all those needles into my legs muscles, but hopefully all that will pinpoint the problem and I can get an idea of what exactly is the next step.

Mainstream doctor, or acupuncturist?

(yes, I'm being a smart-ass again).

Smart-ass how? I've had acupuncture before, and may have to do so again.

But a main-stream doctor

Ok, just got back and the news is this: No surgery will help at all. Nothing is bulging into the spinal cord or on a nerve, so surgery won't help at all, I was told it wouldn't make any kind of difference.

The nerve induction test showed the old nerve damage in the left leg (and this is the leg that is causing me the most problmes with weakness and loss of strength). However, apparently there has been some new nerve loss in the right leg, but that leg hasn't caused me any problems.

So the surgeon refered me to a physical therapist (apparently a specialized therapist since the choices for where to go didn't involve anything closer to home than the surgeon was). Basically, from what I understand, the PT I'll see is trained in pain management, physical therapy for back problems and the like. It sounds like what I'll have to go through is a combination of physical therapy (wihch is going to kill me, considering how limited my mobility is currently), meds, pain management, and possibly (not sure if the surgeon was serious or not) acupuncture.

Needless to say I'm both relieved and extremely frustrated. I really didn't want to be laid up trying to recover from surgery, but frustrated because surgery would at least provide me a good chance of being able to do more than I currently can in a quicker timeframe than PT likely is. And the therapist I'm likely to see is the same doctor that preformed my needle torture....I mean nerve induction test today.

So, things go along pretty much as they have been for at least the next two weeks, me unable to do much and on painkillers to try and control the pain.

The only real good news I have out of this is the the PT I'll be seeing will be able to definitively saw what my limitations I have, so there is the possibility (provided things don't get a lot better) of having a doctor backing me on disability.

Speaking of disability, the day after I see the PT, I have to go visit another doctor for testing to see if my depression is bad enough to qualify for disability.
I never really wanted to go the disabilty route, but after having so many people last year (including several health care officials) telling me I should apply for it, I did go ahead and do it. Right now, I think the application for the back/physical issues has been put on hold, but the mental issues (or at least, the ones I KNOW I have :rofl:) are what I need further testing on, so I have an appointment for that too.

So, you got tests so that you could go get more tests?

Talk about a runaround. And you can't run.

And not even nice tests either. Needles put into the muscles in both my legs and a few in my lower back. Additionally a little bit of current sent through the nerves in my legs, which really sucked in my right leg, but the left leg I barely felt it (unfortunately, that is all old nerve damage)

New update: Just saw the physical rehabilitator (or whatever his title is :rofl:) and he's put me on physical therapy 2-3 times a week for a month (but, fortunately, I can do that locally, starting this afternoon), and put me on 3 different meds (a new muscle relaxant, a pain killer that specifically targets the nerves, and a tpical analgesic to help with the back pain). Then, in 6 weeks, I get to go back to the doctor to see if we continue with this route, or if we have to try something different for relief.

Keeping up the prayers for you shadowsfate! :thumbs:

Sounds like a plan, at least. Let us know if it works.

Well, I finally got a diagnosis: Degenerative Disc Disease, Sacroilliac irritation, and ridiculitis (a can't spell any of those, so don't hold it against me). To me, that means even if I manage to get through this current round, I'll probably have more problems in the future.

Unfortunately, the government has decided that I'm not bad enough of to be considered disabled, even though I can only stand for maybe 15 minutes without pain, if that.

And add on top of that that I no longer have internet at home, and am not able to check Pixie's at all. I got licky and snuck onto Pixie's while at my parents' place, which means it'll only be a quick visit.

But the current treatment is Voltaren gel on the sore spots, TENS machine use to help with the siatic nerve, and a shot in the scaro-illiac area coming up. Hopefully this will help some, cause Physical Therapy did not.

So, if anyone really needs to get a hold of me, just message Lizzardbits to get my email addy, since I can check that least once a week, but they tend to frown on me checking places like Pixie's at the public library

Degenerative disc disease? That really sucks. Plus some.

Sacroiliac irritation? Taht sucks raw moose cock.

Ridiculitis?

All this ensures is that if you ever do get a break, it will be any one or more of several different major bones in your body.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit.

WEll I was given a shot for the irritation, however, it had no noticable effects. In fact, 4-5 days later, I was again in the ER for extreme pain, early one morning. And, unfortunately, I lose my insurance the beginning of May, so I won't be able to go back to the doctor for anything more.

So, basically it leaves me having to try and find a job in areas I've never worked before (i.e. non-factory, non-landscaping, non-fast food) and hope that I can find some relief long enough to be able to get insurance again so I can go back to the doctor (or, on the other hand, do enough damage to my back while trying to work that I can no longer do even the little my doctor has said I can do, but I'm not hoping for this result, I don't need anymore problems :rofl:)