Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 68 Location: West Virginia
Scar Tissue Causing Back Pain And Neuropathy Posted: 12-13-05 13:20pm
Hello all i'm new to this board and wanted
to ask a question, and get some advice.
Background info 36 male, was injured
while on active duty, first surgery in
1992 bone fusion, fell apart in 2002
second surgery 2002 alif with cages
l4tos1
i have recently discovered that my back is
fusing together because of scar tissue
build up. I have a l4tos1 fusion
utilizing cages that was performed in
2002. Now i'm having excurciating pain
in my bag and legs. I take morphine
15mg 3 times a day, plus loratab 10/500 as
needed, usually 3 or more, to control the
pain. I went to the doctor had some
x-rays done, part of the report stated
apophyseal joint sclerosis l3-s1
inclusive, the doctor told me that that
means there is scar tissue building up on
the facet joints and fusing them together.
The pain is caused by the scar tissue
compressing the nerves, he suggested that
if I didn't start taking better care of my
back that this build up could continue and
cause paralysis! He also stated that I
couldn't afford to fall. In addition I
was informed that the more I aggrevate my
back the faster this scar tissue builds.
The interesting thing is that this build
up occurred over a 7 month period, I had
x-rays and test performed in march 05 and
nothing was mentioned about the scar
tissue, I was however diagnosed with
degenerative facet disease. So far my
diagnosis include degenerative facet and
disc diseases, osteoarthritis, spondylosis
grade1, some bone loss, and now this scar
tissue build up.
Thanks for letting me vent this and also
what advice can you give me? I'm only
36 and I have a 14 month old son, that
incidently he doesn't want me picking up.
This is so hard and very, very
frustrating. Thanks again.
Logged
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disabledcoastie
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 68 Location: West Virginia
Posted: 12-15-05 20:09pm
Please doesn't anyone have any advice?
I'm really at a loss as to what to do.
The doctor has restricted me to the point
that I am really not able to do hardly any
of the things that used to bring me
enjoyment. The lack of ability to help
my wife around the house and with our son
is really placing a strain on us as well.
Thanks again.
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Tamadrummer
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 710 Location: Zephyrhills,Fl
Posted: 12-17-05 10:38am
I am sorry it has taken so long to respond
to you. I have been trying to see if
there is any hope for an alternative to
more surgery. At this point from what I
have been able to find, you are going to
need to have the scar tissue injected with
a hypotonic solution of saline during
epidural and facet injections, this will
soften the tissue and then they can
laproscopicaly laser olbliterate the
tissue, this is not a perfect fix but it
will buy you a few years of relief and
then it will have to be done again. If
you choose to go this route, please look
into visiting one of the better clinics
that you can access and afford. Check out
www.Spineuniverse.Com
for infor about these treatments and if
you can travel I would recommend www.Floridaspineinstitute.
Com for the place to have the major
work done.
Dr. Hanna is the guy that you do the
oblation of the tissue and Dr. Gruber
would do the injections, at least I would
have Dr. Gruber do that work. If you
need heavier work done than Dr. Webb is
the only doc on earth I would allow inside
my back.
Good luck,
brian
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disabledcoastie
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 68 Location: West Virginia
Posted: 12-17-05 15:54pm
Thanks, i'm trying to avoid the surgery
option. I'm afraid that it would come
back more aggressively.
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nancyr
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Carlsbad, CA
Natural Enzyme For Reducing Scar Tissue Posted: 12-26-05 18:28pm
Hi, i'm a holistic physical therapist. I
treat many people with chronic back pain.
I focus my treatments on manual
therapy,using techniques such as visceral
manipulation, joint & soft tissue
mobilizations, education on proper
stretching and positioning for reducing
pain. I have also come across a natural
alternative anti-inflammatory agent. It
is a systemic enzyme that will eat up all
fibrotic tissue and inflammation due to
surgery, chronic inflammatory disorders,
scar-tissue formation etc. The company
is called world nutrition, inc. And the
product is vitalyzm x. If you'd like
more information you can email me at: nan
cyredlich@hotmail.Com
i would also suggest trying to see a
manual physical therapist that has
experience in visceral manipulation
techniques, craniosacral therapy,
strain/counterstrain, joint and soft
tissue manipulation etc. You can go to
upledger.Com and do a search for
practictioners in your area. I
understand how debilitating your back pain
can be but you need to know that there are
practioners out there that can help heal
your pain, in addition to taking such
things as natural enzymes to combat
inflammation and scar tissue formation.
Good luck.Please do not hesitate to
contact me if you have any other
questions. I have a lot of resources.
In good health! Nancy
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Tamadrummer
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 710 Location: Zephyrhills,Fl
Posted: 12-26-05 18:37pm
This looks great disabled coastie,
someone secretly discovered the secret
formula to dissolve scar tissue in your
back without any western medical
intervention. Shhhhh don't tell your doc
though, just buy the stuff, go to a
meeting, and then start selling the stuff
from "world nutrition" under the person
who turned you onto the product and you
could be a millionaire after you get all
of your family and friends buying and
selling world nutrition products. Again,
this is a secret so don't tell anyone.
Again, I recommend that you try the
hypotonic saline epidural injections, they
do not heal the area but soften the tissue
so that it is less painful. As the pain
increases, you have to do the epidurals
again. If west virginia is like florida,
they will knock you out before the
injections start and then wake you up.
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nancyr
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Carlsbad, CA
Not Promoting "world Nutrition" Posted: 12-27-05 00:56am
There are going to be a few of you who
believe that only western medical
procedures are valid for treating symptoms
of back pain. As a physical therapist
who has worked with thousands of patients
with back pain, some debilitating from
multiple fusions, etc. I am here to let
it be known that there are alternative
treatments! Manual physical therapy is
one of them! I am not promoting the use
of natural systemic enzymes for profit,
nor would I ever suggest it as a way for a
total cure. I am trying to offer
information and educate people on
alternative ways of helping those who
suffer from back pain. There are
multiple natural supplements that can
assist some of you that have chronic
inflammation and scar tissue formation.
Become informed, self-educate and ask
questions. Learn what is out there and be
wary of those who promote themselves for
profit!
P.S. Including the drug companies!!
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Tamadrummer
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 710 Location: Zephyrhills,Fl
Posted: 12-27-05 10:03am
I agree that becoming self-educated is
important. Regardless of your
credentials, beliveing that some
supplement taken po will soften scar
tissue that is caused by agressive
surgeries is a bit far fetched. Also
since I am in the inital stages of
sclerosis at l4/5 and l5/s1 having the
hypotonic saline epidurals under
floroscopy and also having facet nerve
blocks with the possibility of facet nerve
oblation is a real possibility for me.
There are not any supplments that my doc
recommends with the exception of:
fentanyl 25 mcg transdermal q72
roxicodone 30 q8 (tid) po prn
cyclobenzaprine 10 q8 (tid) po
motrin 800 tid
i know those big bad pharmacutical
companies are not interested in helping me
but eithout them I would be totally bed
bound.
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disabledcoastie
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 68 Location: West Virginia
Posted: 12-27-05 13:54pm
Tamadrummer,
when are you thinking of going ahead with
the procedure? I have looked at the
lsi's website and don't know if i'll
contact them just yet, they are a long way
from wv. I go back to the doc tomorrow
for more morphine and hopefully more
diagnostics. From what i'm being told
i'm already fused from s1 to l3, if I
don't have anymore neuropathy i'll
probably wait until it begins to develop.
Good luck with your condition, I know it
sucks most of the time. I keep hoping
that science will come up with a fix, as
soon as bionic backs are approved i'll be
in line waiting!!! :lol:
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sandyallen
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Feb 2004 Posts: 4580
Posted: 12-27-05 14:26pm
I do agree, the more surgeries, the more
scar tissue, my dr's will not hardly touch
me except they are going to do a stim
trial(scs) and a pain pump trial later,
basically speaking, I have to live with
most of the pain that I have 24/7 and be
almost brain dead with all of the meds he
has me on so I just have to except it and
move on the best I can.
Good luck to you!
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Tamadrummer
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 710 Location: Zephyrhills,Fl
Posted: 12-27-05 14:54pm
Sandy,
if you can get them to implant the pain
pump first, I would recomend that before
the implanted stim unit. I have not met a
single person that has a negative word to
say about the medtronic pain pump. I am
not far enough along to need the pain pump
but if they have mentioned it to you. Beg
them for that first. It will totally
change your life as well as give you your
sanity bacck.
You have a very small amount of pain
medicine because it is placed in the
spinal canal and goes directly where the
pain is generated and you will no longer
require breakthrough because you feel
great.
Best of luck,
brian
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nancyr
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Carlsbad, CA
Good Luck to You Posted: 12-28-05 00:10am
I wish you all the very best with your
choice in healthcare. I'm sorry that you
have had to endure this type of pain. If
you believe it will help you, then it
probably will.
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disabledcoastie
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 68 Location: West Virginia
Posted: 12-28-05 14:40pm
What helps me deal with the pain is about
100mg of morphine a day, + some loratab
thrown in for good measure, the
anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers, I
hate taking all the meds but is sure beats
the pain. Btw I do not experience any
side effect symptoms from the meds, except
the dreaded constipation that comes with
the drugs. That is easy enough conquered
by eating alot of fiber.
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PainPhysician
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Ohio
Posted: 01-02-06 14:31pm
In general the spinal cord stimulator is
considered first line for back or
radicular pain before an intrathecal pump
except in cases of malignant (cancer)
pain. The reason for this is that the
whole point is to decrease the amount of
narcotic it requires to control pain,
therefore leaving it as an option for
therapy later on down the line. There
are many more complications associated
with an intrathecal pump as compared to a
stimulator. Either way, I hope you find
the answer to your pain. You can find
more information, including animations
that show the various interventional
techniques available for back pain at www.Painphysicians.Org
. Good luck!
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