Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 107 Location: Tampa, FL
Posted: 10-24-07 08:02am
Dave,
Welcome to our family and congratulations
on making your decision, very well thought
out I'm sure! I'm happy to hear that you
listened to your gut, something that needs
to be heard. We can all testify to that,
I'm sure!
It sounds like you have a very positive
attitude about this which is so wonderful.
Keep that! It will make such a
difference!
Best wishes to you and God bless,
Carrianne
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Posted: 10-24-07 12:31pm
Hello David,
AHHHHhh very good thoughts from Carrianne,
a lady who has been there.
David, we live in Northern Virginia just
south/west of Washington DC.
A thought regarding withdrawing from
Percocet. I totally agree with your
desire to get yourself off of this and for
that matter other pain killers if you can.
Dave, I hope you are doing this very
gradually and not "cold turkey". Going
"cold turkey" is not a good idea from all
that I have read and heard. I was on
hydrocodone for awhile. Good grief, all I
did was sleep in my recliner all day long.
So I gradually got myself off of that
#$%@ medication. Sure wasn't easy. It
took me a few weeks to be able to sleep
and be myself again. I applaud you and
just be patient, you will be able to
overcome it.
Yes, Joe is a fantastic role model, AND we
all hope all who have spine surgery can
"get their life back" as well as Joe has
been able to do.
As you may have read, MJ and Marie will be
having back surgery the first part of
November. And Carrianne is on her way to
recovery.
Many good thoughts from Fran. She,
through her doctor, and his recommendation
that I see Dr W in DC have helped me to
decide to stay away from the knife as long
as I can. Your comment regarding your Dad
also helped, as my spinal surgeon is
talking about an incision a foot long.
WELLLLlll I hope you slept in late today
as you sure were a night owl last night.
LOL
RichT
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MinnesotaDave
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 12
After Surgery Posted: 10-24-07 15:50pm
I know I will be restricted for a while
after sugery but there are definately
things I can't wait to get back to when
healed. My wife has been outstanding
through this whole year and a half. Having
Her has been the difference between being
able to deal with all of the issues or
going to the nut house. I think spouses
and loved ones are the most important part
in "healing and dealing". It has been a
very long time since I have had a complete
nights sleep and I am looking foward to
that. Thank you for all of the kind words
and prayers.
I'm so bummed. My primary Doc forgot to do
an EKG for my pre-op testing so now I have
to go in Friday for that. Unfortunately I
set an appointment up with direct tv to be
installed that morning. If I can't make
the appointment that day I won't be able
to get it installed till the end of
November. I really want more than a few
lousy local channels for the first few
weeks of recovery.
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
the Love of a Supporting Spouse Posted: 10-24-07 16:13pm
Hello Dave,
You are Right ON regarding the importance
of having a wife who understands and
accepts and cares. I'm amazed sometimes
at how well my wife has dealt with my bum
back. She has mowed the lawn every single
time this year because of concern what it
might do to my back. She gives support
and shows concern, and no compalining.
Disappointed that we can't do things
together like she would like? Of course,
but she accepts it graciously.
Well, welcome to the club of doctors
messing up. Dave, you live in
Minneapolis, not in some small rural town.
Seems you need to twist the DirecTV guy's
arm. Tell him you are going with another
company if he can't make a reasonable
readjustment of his schedule. They both
need a kick in the butt.
Time to have a beer.
RichT
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
On a Roll Posted: 10-24-07 16:33pm
Carrianne
wrote:
HAPPY 23 PAGES!!!
This is truly a great milestone for me
because my faith was really put to the
test toward the end of the other forum and
I felt hurt by the actions taken to break
it.
Carol started a great family there and
another tried to "modify" it, but guess
what friends? It continues here! Thank you
Carol, thank you Rich, and thank you PAGE
23 for getting and keeping us all
together!
Best wishes and God bless!
Carrianne
Hello Carrianne,
During the bad days after Carol's thread
was stopped I often wondered how you were
doing because I know you were shaken by
the action of others. I also know that
your faith did not waiver for one second
as you switched your posting to the
religious thread.
Page 23 zipped by so fast I can't believe
it. Talk about this thread being on a
ROLL!!!!! Everyone here REALLY does make
this thread. I've posted on a number of
Back Pain threads and for the majority my
post is the first and last response. Not
even something from originator of the
thread. No problems here though, except I
can't keep up.
Have a GREAT day on your continued road of
recovery from laser surgery.
RichT
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Posted: 10-24-07 16:59pm
Hello Marie,
Thanks for your response regarding your
epidural injections. i appreciate the
details.
I must say you REALLY gave the injections
a thorough opportrunity to do their thing.
Actually I'm totally amazed they gave you
8 injections over a period of 5 months.
Most disappointing I'm sure that they did
not work.
Thank goodness your PM doc was able to
recommend the "best surgeon". I'm a
believer that one good doc knows other
good docs.
From reading your post I can tell your
"new" spine surgeon has discussed the
procedures with you well, and WHY he will
be doing what he is doing. Speaks very
well of him.
Now a question Marie - What is a "Fusion
Institu"? I believe that in a earlier
post you mentioned that there would be no
instrumentation which makes me very
interested and curious.
"As to if this surgery is the right
choice???? I've done as much as I could.
Now the rest is in God's Hands." - True,
so VERY true!!! Your faith will see you
through.
Hope you are doing well today.
RichT
|
Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 230 Location: Ohio
Squeemish Videos Posted: 10-24-07 17:59pm
Hi Minnesota Dave, I chuckled when I read
your warning. Someone on this Forum or
maybe it was on the old Spine Forum on
another site, made the statement that
between all of the spineys, we have
watched so many videos on spine surgery,
that we were convinced we could perform
them ourselves. So don't worry about this
crew being squeemish.
I don't remember if I told the whole group
my story about when I first interviewed my
surgeon...yes that is what I called it,
"an interview". I knew he was the doc for
me because he became so interested about
the details that I was asking him about,
he pointed to the young doctor who was
working with him, on fellowship, and said
to me, "That young man has studied 6 years
of medicine with internship and residency
and now he is learning by working with me
how to do minimally invasive spinal
surgery and here I find you knowing just
about as much as he does."
So these spiney people are those who go
into the surgical room after having done a
lot or research on their problem. But if
you asked me which is better, to know
everything about what is going to be done,
or to go into surgery with just trust in
the doctor I would have to say the two go
hand in hand. What is that old saying,
TRUST BUT VERIFY.
Hope everyone continues to be helpful for
you, so keep communicating even after your
surgery because there is a lot of help
from the people available to you.
Good Luck and God be with you when you
enter the surgical room.
Marie B.
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Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 230 Location: Ohio
Scream! Fusion Insitu Posted: 10-25-07 18:38pm
Rich I just completed a lengthy report
answering your question and I think it got
lost...where I don't know. So here I go
again. And for all I know both of these
reports will show up on the Forum.
When you read this, please remember that I
can only report what I believe I heard my
doctor saying to me and I think most of it
is pretty right on, but just in case
something doesn't sound right
remember...I'm an amateur spine surgeon
Fusion Institu means no titanium rods,
bolts etc. What the doctor will do is a
Laminectomy. He will remove the spinous
process and a little of the lamina each
side. He will then debrede the Facet
Joints and the transverse processes will
be cleaned as their condition necesitates.
That is when all bone spurs are removed.
He will shave, or sand, or abrade the area
where the fusion is supposed to take
place... He will use bone grafts to adhere
to the abraded area. With healing, the
roughed bone renews itself and merges with
the grafts and fusion becomes fixed. My
fusion is at the L4 & 5 level. And
that's where my spondy is and that's where
my wide based stenosis is.
I have a few other areas that could give
me trouble in the future but one has to
face one problem at a time. That is in
God's Hands.
The hospital where my surgery will take
place has what is called a "Pre-Op Day"
Mine will be Monday, Oct. 29. Then they
will do a complete blood panel. The tests
included for the Pre Op are not all done
in all PCP's offices. Some doctors here
have "in house" blood testing that are
done for annual physicals but not for
surgery eg. they don't do type and cross
match etc.
That is also when they will do my
Extension/Flexion X-Ray.and my EKG. The
hospital wants these tests done with their
equipment and with their doctors doing the
readings. There is also a History and
Physical done by one of the staff
physicians. I found this amusing because
one would think that one's PCP would know
more about you then a strange doctor, but
the hospital has its policies. I suspect
it is as much to protect themselves as it
is to protect the patient. My surgeon has
ordered everything and the hospital will
FAX the results to my PCP for his records.
Your actual admittance to the hospital
doesn't take place until after surgery.
It's been a real experience trying to
co-ordinate 5 places with all of my
papers. There is my local hospital where
the original MRI was done, and there is my
PCP office, the Pain Management Center,
The Spinal Instituteon Main Campus of the
Foundation and the hospital where the
surgery will actually take place.
And Fran, if you are reading this, they
put the patient on a flat table with a
little lift at what would be the Lumbar
region. And you are face down. I hate
that position, face down, but what are
you going to do? You get no vote in this
operation.
Speaking of paint sticks and the
dependence on spouses. My husband just
showed up with a 27 inch dowel and a razor
strapped to it with a hole and a loop for
hanging. Now isn't that great? I'm ready
for the shower.
It's the drying and the dressing that is
now on the drawing board.
Other then one leg at at time, I'm
studying the pulling up of slacks and
other necessities without bending.
I even found a big jug, 300 ml of Tide
that has a pump on it for washing clothes.
My husband was especially happy about
that. It meant that he only has to take
the clothes out of the washer and into/and
out of the dryer. A very happy man he is.
Pray for all spineys looking at the
surgery ahead.
Marie B.
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Fusion Institu Posted: 10-25-07 20:01pm
Hello Marie,
A real bummer that you "lost" your first
post. Not pleasant I know.
Many thanks for the explanation and info
on Fusion Institu. Okay, so your surgeon
roughs up the bone where the fusion is to
take place and uses bone grafts to adhere
to the roughed up area. No screws and
rods. That would seem to me the BEST way
to go, BUT it would seem it will mean that
NO movement by you for a number of months
until the fusion is complete. That would
be the hard part. However, you sure won't
have to worry about some screw coming
loose, etc.
Just reading your description is enough of
a "visual" for this guy. Thank goodness
there are surgeons who can operate on
people and do all those things without
fainting themselves. Really separates the
MEN from the boys.
Looks like everyone is keeping you very
busy in preparation for your surgery.
AHHHhhhh you have a super husband. I'm
sure his kindness now gives you confidence
that he will truly be there for you after
your surgery.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and
all the spineys facing surgery, and or
recovering from surgery. When the good
Lord checks his prayer E-mails I'm sure he
smiles when he sees all the prayers for
the spineys. He knows we know that we
can count on Him to be there for us. AND
He is!!!
Rich I just completed a
lengthy report answering your question and
I think it got lost...where I don't know.
So here I go again. And for all I know
both of these reports will show up on the
Forum.
When you read this, please remember that I
can only report what I believe I heard my
doctor saying to me and I think most of it
is pretty right on, but just in case
something doesn't sound right
remember...I'm an amateur spine surgeon
Fusion Institu means no titanium rods,
bolts etc. What the doctor will do is a
Laminectomy. He will remove the spinous
process and a little of the lamina each
side. He will then debrede the Facet
Joints and the transverse processes will
be cleaned as their condition necesitates.
That is when all bone spurs are removed.
He will shave, or sand, or abrade the area
where the fusion is supposed to take
place... He will use bone grafts to adhere
to the abraded area. With healing, the
roughed bone renews itself and merges with
the grafts and fusion becomes fixed. My
fusion is at the L4 & 5 level. And
that's where my spondy is and that's where
my wide based stenosis is.
I have a few other areas that could give
me trouble in the future but one has to
face one problem at a time. That is in
God's Hands.
The hospital where my surgery will take
place has what is called a "Pre-Op Day"
Mine will be Monday, Oct. 29. Then they
will do a complete blood panel. The tests
included for the Pre Op are not all done
in all PCP's offices. Some doctors here
have "in house" blood testing that are
done for annual physicals but not for
surgery eg. they don't do type and cross
match etc.
That is also when they will do my
Extension/Flexion X-Ray.and my EKG. The
hospital wants these tests done with their
equipment and with their doctors doing the
readings. There is also a History and
Physical done by one of the staff
physicians. I found this amusing because
one would think that one's PCP would know
more about you then a strange doctor, but
the hospital has its policies. I suspect
it is as much to protect themselves as it
is to protect the patient. My surgeon has
ordered everything and the hospital will
FAX the results to my PCP for his records.
Your actual admittance to the hospital
doesn't take place until after surgery.
It's been a real experience trying to
co-ordinate 5 places with all of my
papers. There is my local hospital where
the original MRI was done, and there is my
PCP office, the Pain Management Center,
The Spinal Instituteon Main Campus of the
Foundation and the hospital where the
surgery will actually take place.
And Fran, if you are reading this, they
put the patient on a flat table with a
little lift at what would be the Lumbar
region. And you are face down. I hate
that position, face down, but what are
you going to do? You get no vote in this
operation.
Speaking of paint sticks and the
dependence on spouses. My husband just
showed up with a 27 inch dowel and a razor
strapped to it with a hole and a loop for
hanging. Now isn't that great? I'm ready
for the shower.
It's the drying and the dressing that is
now on the drawing board.
Other then one leg at at time, I'm
studying the pulling up of slacks and
other necessities without bending.
I even found a big jug, 300 ml of Tide
that has a pump on it for washing clothes.
My husband was especially happy about
that. It meant that he only has to take
the clothes out of the washer and into/and
out of the dryer. A very happy man he is.
Pray for all spineys looking at the
surgery ahead.
Marie B.
Hi Marie,
Don't ask, still woudn up with another red
sox win towards 4 and the World Series
again.
Anyway, I read your post. Yup, no choice
in the position for surgery. The reason
for this position is it arches the spine
at that bottom spot and makes it easier,
safer for the patient and the surgeon to
work on. So we can't argue that one.
Keep an eye out for the floaters. May or
may not happen, but if it does, you won't
be surpriesed and can call you eye doc
right away.
No way to get around those paper pushers
and all that lovely stuff.
Filled out all the paper work at my docs
office for the surgery. signed all the
stuff, they had it faxed to the hospital.
Went to hosp, for the pre-ops. blood,
chest xray, EKG and you guessed it. Had
to fill out all the same papers again,
exact ones. Told them I already filled
them out and wasn't going to do it again.
25 pages no less. Told me, fill them out
or no surgery. I told them, get me the
supervisor ASAP and check my chart while
you wait for the supervisor. You have all
the info already.
5 Minutes later the supervisor comes in,
with my chart in her hand. Hubby and I
can see lots of paperwork inside the chart
and she has the papers for me to fill out
in her hand. She gives me the same sob
story of fill out the papers or no
surgery.
My hubby said to her "are you nuts or
something? She filld out the paperwork
already, did you people lose them or
something. And what's all the paperwork
inside her chart? " She says it's for the
surgeon, and He tells her so is all the
paperwork she filled out already.
So I told her I wanted to see my chart and
took it from her hand before she could say
anything. Looked at it and said "Oops,
look what I found. all the paperwork
filled out already, just like I said. No
need to fill it out again." She sort of
grimaced smiled and said "fine".
I hate paper pusher people so much.
especially when they can't do their job
right.
Blood work and xray was no problem, but
the EKG was not funny. They had these
chair beds to sit in like going to the
dentist. I couldn't get into it and I
couldn't sit on it, in it or lie back on
it. Tech says have to or no Surgery. I'm
like oh crap, I just heard this stupid
thing before.
So told her to get the nurse and learn,
EKG can be done while I'm sitting in a
regular chair and please don't tell me it
can't be done that way.
Got it done without any problem in a
chair.
Thank goodness that was the only stupid
stuff I ran into in that hospital, but
then again, the admit stuff and intake
people are never too bright in a hospital.
In all my years working in them, never
met any that had any common sense.
On admission day, the staff was wonderful
in both pre-op and holding area before
surgery, surgical staff and recovery and
post op. I really loved them.
Marie, that's one awesome hubby you have.
One suggestion for the wooden dowel
though. I'd wrap it in some duck tape to
keep the wood from getting wet. Water and
wood don't mix well and doesn't take much
to start to rot away the wood. The duck
tape will protect the wood.
Putting on pants. Best thing will be to
get some ones that have an elastic waist.
They have less pressure on them and
usually don't have a seem ribbing on the
back of them that puts pressure on the
L4,L5, S1 area. That doesn't feel good.
Was about 2 months or so, before it felt
ok on me and about 6 months before the
pressure from a belt was OK.
The first few days, I just stayed in a
nightie as I wasn't allowed outside and I
needed help going to the bathroom for
about a week. Getting off and on the
toilet and pulling up my pants.
Hubby or daughter had to help me get pants
adn socks on for about a week and a half.
During that time, we practiced the best
position to put the pants/shorts so that I
could get them on myself without bending.
It was a challenge because I'm so short
only 4'10" and have very short arms.
I found sitting on the very edge of the
bed with my feet on the floor was the
best. I let the pants lean on the floor,
lifted my leg enough to get one leg in,
then the other. Pulled them enough to be
able to stand up and then pulled one one
side to get one leg up and then the
other.
I didn't have to worry about socks though
cause it was summer. I fixed my walking
shoes so that I could just slip my feet in
the and not tie them.
DON'T WEAR ANY KIND OF SHOES, SLIPPERS
THAT ARE JUST SLIP INTO WITH NO REAL
SUPPORT, LIKE SANDALS, FLIPFLOPS ETC. TO
EASY TO SLIP OFF AND FALL IN THEM.
If you can bend your legs so that you can
reach your feet to put socks on you won't
have any trouble. If you won't be able to
do that, ask your doc about talking to a
PT or OT about the gadgets to help you get
them on. I don't know what they are
called, but they are used with people who
have limitations in doing things because
they had a stroke. They work really well.
They can also work for getting you pants
on.
Don't know how you are affected by pain
meds, but all of the narc ones make me
very loopy, dizzy etc. so be sure to have
someone around with you till you know how
they affect you.
They make me so tired, I take them and
fall asleep all the time. Not sure if
they ever really help with the pain. Took
percocet after surgery. Put food in my
stomach, took one and 30 minutes later I'd
be asleep. Would wake up about 6 hours
later and be hurting again and start all
over again.
To tell you the truth. stopped taking
them 3 days post op as the pain was really
nothing compared to before surgery. It
was a piece of cake in comparison.
It's really strange Marie, but the things
I couldn't do after surgery because of the
restrictions, or dificulty doing them,
really didn't bother me. The fact that
the horrible pain was gone, that I could
climb 7 steps to go to the bathroom
without having to worry about goin in my
pants, because it took me 20 minutes to
get up the stairs, was like being in
heaven or reborn again.
Being weak and tired because of surgery,
different kind of pain, regaining strength
in core muscles etc. was nothing. It was
like the beginning of living again and I
was ready and armed for bear to start
living again.
Patience post op is one of the key words.
patience, stretch, walk and follow all
instructions to the letter. If in doupt
don't do until you've asked and never be
afraid to ask a question of your surgeon
or PT.
And remember that once it's lights out in
that OR, you will wake up to the first
moments of the beginning of your new
life.
Fran
|
littleonefb
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 206 Location: ,
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
Welcome Dave Posted: 10-26-07 01:58am
Dave, Welcome to our spiney family. Good
luck with your surgery next week.
As I told Marie, Remember this, when it's
lights out in the OR, when you wake up
again, it will be the first moments of
your new life without this spiney
problem.
Its like rebirth and starting all over
again living. It's a wonderful feeling.
Though I haven't had the same surgery as
you, if you have any questions about post
op stuff and questions about how you can
manage to do for yourself. just ask
away.
Be sure to get the post op restrictions
before surgery and ask, ask, ask, all the
questions to the doc so you understand
them.
Once you have those, then we can help with
ideas and suggestions.
Having had lots of those restrictions
myself, I have some experience with
getting around them without messing up the
"rules"s
Fran
|
littleonefb
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 206 Location: ,
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
Mare Posted: 10-26-07 02:16am
Hi Mare.
You can sure believe I slugged that
neurosurgeon. He wouldn't dare have sued
me because their where too many witnesses
to how he treated my hubby and what he did
with my husband out cold on the floor.
I'm old, at least I feel old these days,
older than 57. But then don't all us
spineys feel older than we really are?
I remember the days of docs thinking they
where G-ds and actually treated like they
where. When I was in nursing school, we
could be sitting at the desk writing our
notes in a patient's chart and the rules
where, if a doc came to the desk, we had
to get up and let the doc sit down.
You read correctly, he could be just there
to read something in a chart and could do
so very easily while standing. On the
other hand we where sitting at the desks
writing and it was too bad for us, doc
gets the seat.
Drove me nuts and many times i didn't get
up. Got into trouble too.
I've had my share of experiences with bad
docs, docs that think they knew it all,
docs that didn't listen and docs that just
plain screwed up.
I don't take kindly to being treated like
and fool, or not listened to, or the
infamous, "I'm the doctor, you're the
patient., you don't need to know, you
won't understand" and all the other crap
that docs will say.
I get that kind of treatment and I'm
history with them and I make sure that
everyone I know, knows how bad they are.
I'm not afraid to go after and incompetent
doc either and get their license if I
can.
Though I haven't been able to get the doc
that caused so much damage to both of my
arms, I was successful getting 5 docs that
treated my mother for years.
Unfortunately it was too late and they
where the cause of my mother's death.
Under the law where I live, i couldn't sue
them for Mal practice because I wasn't her
health care proxy or power of attorney and
my sibling wouldn't do it, because the
belief was the docs where great and she
was just "old and too ill and that's why
she died."
Couldn't make them understand that yes,
mother was old, but she was ill and dying
of stage 4 cancer because of their
incompetent treatment and if she had
gotten the care that she should have
gotten, she wouldn't have even had the
colon cancer let alone stage 4.
So once she died, I talked to my primary
who is also an oncologist, and a friend of
mine whose a nurse with GI docs in a
colonoscopy unit.
With their help, formal complaints where
lodged with the state board of medicine
and when they where through with the 5
docs, all lost their license to practice
medicine in my state and across the
country.
Funny thing is, if I had been able to sue
them, I didn't want the money, would have
donated all of it, except enough to pay
off both of my kids college loans, to
charity.
All I really wanted was those docs heads
on a silver platter and their ability to
treat patients anywhere in the country
terminated. Human beings deserve better
than any of these docs where giving their
patients.
Too many people except what a doc says as
gospel and never question anything they
say, or they are too afraid and
intimidated to say anything until it's too
late.
Doctors are not perfect, they are human
beings, but at the same time, human error
is one thing, that happens. Treating
patients like garbage, being incompetent
is a different story and their are too
many of them out there and they get away
with it unless someone speaks up and does
something about it.
Fran
|
littleonefb
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 206 Location: ,
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
Why Does Everything Happen At Once? Posted: 10-26-07 02:34am
So now what's happening with me.
Was all ready to have the facet injections
done with the lidocaine to see if that's
where the latest problem is coming form
and presto, the following goes wrong.
Last week developed a gum infection that
turned to abcess over night and had to be
drained and treated with antibiotics.
That left the injections being done in
question till this week.
This week I find myself with a cold, and
that's the end of the injections being
done on monday.
The next available date is Nov. 16th and I
can't do it that day because I have a huge
craft show to do on Nov. 17th and I can't
afford to not do it and lose $3,000-5,000
in income from that day.
I used to do 10-12 shows between Oct 1 and
Dec 1, but have had to cut down because of
my back. So this year only had 3 and we
really need the extra income now with the
ins cost from my hubbys employment going
up and the co-pays are all but going to
triple.
They won't do it on the 19th cause they
know I'm going to be hurting all over
after doing the show and they won't be
able to determine if the injections really
make a difference or not.
Week after thanksgiving, the doc is away
all week so got to wait till Dec. 3 to
just see if they work.
Then I have to decide if I they do work,
if I want to have the radio frequency
ablation or not. and if I do, I have to
get it done by Dec. 31. Before the first
of the year the co-pay is $50. Starting
Jan 1 2008, the co pay goes up to $150.
Damn. oops. I wanted this all done before
the first of the year, whether it worked
or not and if it didn't then the steroid
shots into the muscles.
hubby and I want to be in DC on January
7th. i sware, barring a viscious
snowstorm, doesn't matter how much pain
I'm in. I'll grit my teeth and hide the
pain from the world somehow. I have to be
in DC on January 7th.
I have to be there, my hubby has to be
there for our son. he is arguing a case
before the US Supreme Court on Jan. 7th.
We want to be there when he comes down the
stairs of the Supreme court building and
is through talking with reporters. We
want him to have our support for such and
important case.
You see, it is my son's case from Kentucky
on the lethal injection on the death
penalty issue that is going before the US
Supreme Court. He's the one that filed
the case for his clients. He's a death
penalty appeals attorney in Kentucky and
we want to give him all the support we
can.
We just don't want him to know that we
will be there, nor will be inside the
courtroom for him to see. We don't want
to do anything to put added pressure on
him, we just want to be there after the
fact for support. Even though it could be
months before the court renders a
decision.
And I wanted him to see how well I was
doing, since the last time he saw me was
just a few months after my surgery and I
didn't look that great.
OK, one stop at a time, I know. And of
course we all know how mother's can hide
the pain they are in, at least some of the
time. I couldn't have hidden it before
the surgery, but this I can hide from him
if I have to.
Just seems like if it isn't one thing,
it's another and it never seems to end,
yet it was supposed to.
Fran
|
homebody67
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3
Worried About Mom Posted: 10-26-07 02:51am
Hi everyone,
Been lurking for a couple of weeks now,
searching for answers for my mother.
After years of back pain and leg pain,
last april my mother was given a diagnosis
of severe spinal stenosis secondary to
degenerative disc in L4-L5. Their answer,
of course, drugs. They put her on
naproxin immediately for pain relief,
which then put her in the hospital for
three days when it gave her a bleeding
ulcer in August. So, needless to say, she
can now take no anti-inflammatory. I have
seen her quality of life go down....and
down....and down. We've been searching
for non-invasive answers when a search for
laser spinal surgery led me here. While I
think this might be a good answer for her,
she has been looking elsewhere. She came
up with non-surgical spinal decompression
therapy. It seems to be popping up all
over the country in chiropractic offices,
and from what I've read, they seem to have
some pretty impressive success rates.
(better than open back surgery, anyway) I
won't feel completely comfortable with it
though, unless I can actually find someone
who has tried it, either with or without
success. Can anyone tell me if they have
had experience with this, or if they know
someone who has? If you don't know what
it is, just google it, and choose any
chiropractic website that pops up. (you
will have ALOT of choices, lol) Thanks in
advance
Terri
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Posted: 10-26-07 07:49am
Good Morning Terri,
Welcome to this thread and the great
people who post here.
Sorry to read about your mom. I hope that
those that post or read this sight can
give you some thosghts regarding the chiro
spinal decompression therapy.
Terri, I like you want to communicate
first hand regarding this therapy, much
like I wanted to do with laser spine
surgery. All those "magic cure" ads does
make me concerned. I certainly hope you
can get some "first hand" responses on
this therapy.
As my pain management doctor says "try the
nonsurgical options first", but do so
wisely.
May I ask if your mom has had an epidural
injection with cortisone? That has worked
for me.
Take care. Do stay in touch.
RichT
|
Carrianne
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 107 Location: Tampa, FL
Posted: 10-26-07 09:56am
Hi Terri and welcome to the thread. It's
great that you're doing all this research
for your mother. Having a supportive
family is so very important for those in
pain!
I agree with Rich. Surgery should always
be the last option. I can't say I've tried
the decompression treatments, but have
done some research on it. Seems like it is
pricey because most insurance carriers
aren't covering it yet. I've heard mixed
opinions on it. Works for some and not for
others. Pretty safe to say that's how any
kind of treatment works. Definitely worth
a shot!
I myself am recovering from 2 surgeries I
had back in August so if you have any
questions about it, please ask!
Best wishes and God bless,
Carrianne
|
Carrianne
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 107 Location: Tampa, FL
Posted: 10-26-07 10:01am
Fran,
Sorry to hear of all the obstacles with
scheduling your facet injections. I know
how frustrated you must be, especially for
insurance reasons. Seems like it takes all
year to get through your deductible, out
of pocket max, and OILA - it's all
resetting again. And your copy is going up
so much! Seems to be the pattern with
healthcare. Never really goes down as we
can all testify to that!
What kind of crafts do you do? My mom is a
seamstress who can't crochet or knit and
I'm a crocheter and knitter who can't sew.
hee hee
Best wishes and God bless,
Carrianne
|
MinnesotaDave
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 12
4 More Days! Posted: 10-26-07 10:16am
I wish I could go to sleep tonight and
wake-up Tue Morning and Have my liefe
"returning" surgery. I had my final pre-op
testing today and everything looks good.
I was able to convince the Directv guys to
come later today so I didn't have to go
without something to watch for a month.
I appreciate all of your thoughts and
Prayers. I think I have had the most
prayer in my life now than in any other
time. I can feel it.
I probably won't update again until
Wednesday next week. You will all be in My
thoughts and Prayers.
Surgery 8:30 a.m. cst Tue Oct 30 2007
|
lonestarguy
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 591 Location: , Hoosierland, USA
Thanks: 10
Thanked:1
Posted: 10-26-07 10:30am
Good luck Dave. I hope your surgery
Tuesday goes perfect. All of us will be
pulling for you. And, cool on getting the
Directv. That'll be a lifesaver as you
recover.
LSG
|
homebody67
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3
Posted: 10-26-07 10:45am
Thank you for the warm welcome, Rich and
Carianne. Rich, yes my mother has had two
cortisone shots. The first worked like a
miracle and lasted about a month before
the pain crept back in. The second did
absolutely nothing for her, so I figure if
she can only get three or four a year we
better not pin our hopes on it working.
I'm really hoping that the spinal
decompression will help. Right now she
lives with pain on an 8-9 range all the
time. She's on Vicodin which I worry she
will become addicted to. Even if this
procedure can help at only 50%, it will be
worth it. The procedure is painless so
the only thing to lose is money. My
mother is fortunate enough through good
investments to be quite comfortable, so
even if it isn't covered by medicare or
anything it's not a financial problem.
Most clinics do offer payment plans, and a
refund of unused visits if you and the
chiro decide it's not working. The chiro
said she should see results within a few
weeks if it is going to work. All in all,
including exams and x-rays it will cost
between 3,000-4,000. In my opinion, a
cheap price compared to surgery, hospital
and recovery. She is going to start next
week, so I'll keep in touch and let you
know how it goes. Maybe it could help
someone else avoid surgery.
