Spinal fusion

[Jainarayan]

I wish you a quick recovery.

If you don't mind me asking you though, what happened to your intervertebral discs ? Why did they quit ? No annual leaves ?

Thanks.

I guess they weren't getting paid enough, and upped and left. Seriously, no known reason. The first herniations about 5 years ago were due to shoveling snow. I should have known better than to twist with a full load of ice and snow on the shovel. But it may have been coming on before that, and that just pushed it over the edge. The first surgery was just a stop-gap. This was inevitable.

 

[Jainarayan]

Your gym workouts are unusual too....

I never tire of that gif.

There's a joke in there somewhere... give me a moment.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

And here I thought it was because you keep throwing Thor's Hammer around

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

Thanks.

I guess they weren't getting paid enough, and upped and left. Seriously, no known reason. The first herniations about 5 years ago were due to shoveling snow. I should have known better than to twist with a full load of ice and snow on the shovel. But it may have been coming on before that, and that just pushed it over the edge. The first surgery was just a stop-gap. This was inevitable.

Like mine. I used to have good healthy discs, then they started to herniate, putting pressure on the nerve and creating scar tissue to make matters worse. Eventually, I had the unmitigated gall to turn in my chair to throw some paper in the garbage can next to my desk. They had to take me out on a stretcher. My MD tells me the odds of the surgery working--really ending the pain, etc., is about 50-50 in my case, and since I only have major flareups once in a great while, the advice is to wait--I'm hoping they've improved the odds for you, @Thorbjorn

 

[Jainarayan]

Thanks. When I had the first operation, the microdiscectomies the surgeon at the time said there was a 15-20% chance it would be successful. So there was a small margin for error. But surgery is usually the last resort. I might very well have scar tissue in there. He'll find out when he goes in. Years ago my boss did the same thing as you... he turned around in his desk chair and heard a snap. It was a blown disc.

 

[Jainarayan]

I got medical clearance last week, disability papers are in to HR benefits dept. Today's my last day at work for the next 4 months, until Mar. 2016. The next 3 days are actually my remaining personal time I'll use to do some last minute stuff before Monday, and just kick back. The pain is getting to the point that whereas I was taking a pain pill once every few days, then once a day, now it's twice a day. Because of the way I'm walking, leaning forward to take weight off my spine, my legs and butt muscles are beginning to hurt.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

I got medical clearance last week, disability papers are in to HR benefits dept. Today's my last day at work for the next 4 months, until Mar. 2016. The next 3 days are actually my remaining personal time I'll use to do some last minute stuff before Monday, and just kick back. The pain is getting to the point that whereas I was taking a pain pill once every few days, then once a day, now it's twice a day. Because of the way I'm walking, leaning forward to take weight off my spine, my legs and butt muscles are beginning to hurt.

Good luck, and take it easy! And keep us posted when you can!

 

[1137]

I assume you've made up your mind, but are you sure? It's been about 1.5 years since my L4/5 fusion and I still suffer from insane chronic pain, worse than before. Plus the anterior part I had cause damage to the nerves in my abdomen. Nothing went wrong, mind you. My fusion is a perfect success, except for the whole pain thing. Do you know how long it takes to find a cane suitable for a 23 year old? Haha, madness I say. You didn't mention your age, but the have been doing work with disc replacement. My doctor wanted me to have it, but my young age would make it pointless. Guess the future fusions I need are somehow better than repeated disc replacements? I'm not a doctor, but I trust mine.

 

[Nietzsche]

I got medical clearance last week, disability papers are in to HR benefits dept. Today's my last day at work for the next 4 months, until Mar. 2016. The next 3 days are actually my remaining personal time I'll use to do some last minute stuff before Monday, and just kick back. The pain is getting to the point that whereas I was taking a pain pill once every few days, then once a day, now it's twice a day. Because of the way I'm walking, leaning forward to take weight off my spine, my legs and butt muscles are beginning to hurt.

Welcome to my world. Wait til they start giving you 300mg of morphine sulfate ER a day and that does little more than make it so you don't strangle the nearest person to death.

 

[Jainarayan]

I hear you, it's no fun. I'm about 8 hours away from this party. I have to be at the hospital by 05:30. Surgery is 07:30, and will be about 5-6 hours. I just want this over and done with.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

I hear you, it's no fun. I'm about 8 hours away from this party. I have to be at the hospital by 05:30. Surgery is 07:30, and will be about 5-6 hours. I just want this over and done with.

Again, best of luck! We're all rooting for you!

 

[BSM1]

I hear you, it's no fun. I'm about 8 hours away from this party. I have to be at the hospital by 05:30. Surgery is 07:30, and will be about 5-6 hours. I just want this over and done with.

Hang in there.

 

[Smart_Guy]

Hey buddy, hang in there.
Prayers and thought for ya

 

[1137]

Welcome to my world. Wait til they start giving you 300mg of morphine sulfate ER a day and that does little more than make it so you don't strangle the nearest person to death.

I was on a pump for 1 mg of morphine every 6 minutes and it didn't help, lol. I was in so much pain I very literally thought I was paralyzed.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

On Nov. 9 I am having a spinal fusion at L4/L5 and L5/S1.

I'm looking at an L4-5 fusion in the not so distant future. In fact, I go in tomorrow for my first pain shot.

I wish you all the best ...

 

[4consideration]

I just saw this. Keeping you in my thoughts and sending good vibes your way. Best wishes.

 

[Quagmire]

Hope everything went well Frank.

 

[Jainarayan]

I'm looking at an L4-5 fusion in the not so distant future. In fact, I go in tomorrow for my first pain shot.

I wish you all the best ...

Thanks. I am being discharged now. Two words: IT HURTS. Best of luck. I hope you can put it off.

 

[Jainarayan]

Hope everything went well Frank.

It freakin' hurts! But the surgeon, nurses and pt say I'm doing very well. Getting up and down is the hardest part.

 

[Jainarayan]

I just saw this. Keeping you in my thoughts and sending good vibes your way. Best wishes.

So far so good.