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Been struggling through this spine stuff to long, want my life back.
Hi, I am a 36 year old female. I am having major problems and really want to find relief. My injury began 17 years ago,giving birth to my son, herniated L4L5 S1. Was bad off couldn't walk etc. Neurosurgeon refused surgery, said I was to young (19) I went through extensive therapy, work hardening and after a few years, got back to being able to manage. For all these years would have bouts of "back being out" muscle spasms etc. -Always been very active worked out etc always been right weight.
About two years ago it all changed, extreme back pain sciatica left leg. Had no medical insurance, doctor sent me to pain managment had LESI and a CODL nothing changed at all. Physical therapy, nothing changed. Began vicodin and could manage through the day, pain best in morning and as day goes on, back pain worse and worse. Vicodin helped me keep going. Never sat around, kept going. Two surgeons recommended artifical disc replacement, diagnosed me as degenerative disc disease. But wasn't approved yet, and they said I want the surgeons to have practice. They both said no to fusion, and told me most surgeons would just fuse me. I continued on, walking four miles a day at one point, no back pain relief. Finally in feb of this year, I couldn't continue. My general doctor told me I needed to quit working..dog groomer...and I felt like I was going to die. Sitting kills me, lifting kills me etc. Left leg etc.- Since being off work sciatica a little relieved at times. Finally approved for state medicaid. Vicodin has quit working.
Now left leg is still killing me back and now the right leg is started to occasionally do the same thing and somethimes sharp pain in vaginal area. Dr ordered new MRI, it states severe degenerative disc disease, minimal retrolisthesis of L5 on S1. Associated broad based bulging annulus/disc protrusion as well as spur. Completely flattening the anterior thecal sac. inferior aspect of the neural formina are slightly narrowed especially on left. Mild fact arthropathy is present with small amount of fluid within joint as well as hypertrophic spurring and minimal buclling of ligament flavum..
Went to ER when started having pains in vaginal/groin area. They got me into see neurologist, she said she didn't think I needed surgery, she said my right leg has delayed reflexes and i probably need physical therapy and injections again. But did refer me to neurosurgeon which isn't for a month.
I don't understand why two surgeons told me I need artifical disc, and neurologist says no surgery. My family doctor said not to listen to neurologist that i need to be seen by surgeon, that there is a big difference between the two doctors.
I don't WANT back surgery, but I want my life back. I am trying to walk atleast a mile a day again. Combination of regular sciatica and shooting pains, needles, numbness, burning in left leg, and burning on back etc. The weird thing is it never stays the same, it seems like its shifting or something.
I am at the point of just someone please fix it. i have been researching and it seems that injections only offer tempory relief, but haven't given me any. By my stuff, what do you think?
I know this is long-winded, just trying to be specific. I am going to be attending the teaching hospital truman medical center in kansas city. I am very afraid of being blown off and want my life back.
Help!!! Yvette
Answer:
Been struggling through this spine stuff to long, want my life back.
Hi Yvette, thanks for posting your question. Dr. Sinuhe has answered it on the main site, here's the link:
Keep us posted on developments!
Answer:
Been struggling through this spine stuff to long, want my life back.
Thank you for the detailed response. I am making a list of things to talk about with the neurosurgeon. Your reply is very enlightening.
I do still wonder a few things, like how was I to young at 19 to fix this and still to young at 36? That I don't understand, as in my opinion it has been taking away from my life living like this. My first neuro explained that fusion causes no motion which causes other discs to herniate. So maybe thats the answer. It is very hard to find what the success rates are for fusion. I have went to spine forums and I think the only people who talk on them are the ones who have not had success.
The neurologist did say I have a problem with S1. Although she also said I don't need surgery in her opinion. Its really weird, you could do all those tests now and everything be different than later today etc.
Sorry for rambling, my other question is, What is the difference in a neurologist and a neurosurgeon when evaluating the spine, discs and nerves? I understand one does surgery of course, however I was wondering why my primary care doctor would say not to listen to one and wait for the other?
Thank you again, Yvette
Answer:
Been struggling through this spine stuff to long, want my life back.
Hello, I finally made it to the neurosurgeon at the teaching hospital. And like your reply, he is checking for instability. Today I am going for flexion/extension lumbar series xrays and catscan with contrast.
Just thought I'd follow up. Thanks yvette
Answer:
Been struggling through this spine stuff to long, want my life back.
Great! Keep us posted
Answer:
Been struggling through this spine stuff to long, want my life back.
Yvette, here's the link to my answer regarding your question on minimally invasive spine surgery:
Answer:
Been struggling through this spine stuff to long, want my life back.
Thank you, once again for your very detailed answer. You really are very nice to go to such length. This is a very complex and very upsetting situation to be in. It seems that there are alot of new promising surgerys out there to help people, like the artificial disc, however most people aren't able to get them because their insurance won't pay for it, or they don't have the financial ability to finance it or pay for it.
I am just really scared of making a bad decision and when trying to research stuff on the internet find alot of things that seem wrong or untrue. Thank you for all of the information.
I am only 36 and have applied for social security, haven't worked in almost a year. Social security is the last thing I want. I want my life back. I want to be able to work. I loved my job, and I believe regaurdless of whatever happens I probably won't be able to go back to it. Thats ok, if I can just work somewhere, doing something.
Sometimes when going to see a Neurosurgeon such as yourself, it can be very intimidating. Sometimes I feel stupid because my symptoms vary so much, its hard to explain. And ofcourse so many people are drug seekers, and that puts us all at a disadvantage where alot of doctors think your trying to get drugs.
Luckily for me, I have had very nice doctors and I really liked the neurosugeon that I recently seen at the teaching hospital. So, we'll see what he says.
Thank you so much. Yvette
PS I hope you have a Merry Christmas.
Answer:
Been struggling through this spine stuff to long, want my life back.
Well got to see the surgeon at the Truman Medical Center today. Very upsetting. He said he saw no fracture in the vertabrae or pars affect so there was nothing he could do surgically to help me. He said that he didn't see any nerve impingment or nerve problems....when even my mri says I have that. Told me I should get more pain managment and physical therapy.
I told him I had been advised twice to have artificial disc replacement, and he said there are alot of FADS out, that don't show the test of time. They have been doing ADR in germany for ten years. Oh how frustrating, he sent me away acting as if my problem wasn't a big deal.
He said he's a surgeon, and thats all surgeons do...and the sucess of fusion over risk were to high.
Blah blah blah....so once again at another dead end. Been through it all before, can't get physical therapy with no insurace. Already had the shots in the spine did nothing.
Signed up for a second opinion with a doctor who does adr in hopes that he atleast believes in it, to see if I am a canidate or if someone somewhere on this earth can help me.