Good day...Please alleviate my pain

[jss]

srajan,

You are not the only one that's ever gone through this. For a full decade I experienced problems ranging from annoying itching in the extremities, to incapacitating pain, to paralysis from the neck down, to a terminal diagnosis. I have seen many that were in far worse shape than I. I have been seemingly "cured" only after four surgeries (eight if you count ESI's, ten if you count other invasive diagnostic procedures). Understanding your pain 100%, I would never try to talk you out of suicide if a life of incapacitating pain were all to which you had to look forward. Looking at your treatment history, I can tell you authoritatively that you are NOWHERE NEAR the end of possible treatments for relief of your back pains, and that suicide now would be manifestly foolish.

For you, both ADR and fusion are possibilities (and possibly a myriad of other treatments). Both would decompress the problematic nerves, almost certainly relieving your pain, providing you with a clear mind for some years, giving you the ability to make a sane decision on something as extreme as suicide.

Because I've been there, I understand your position after your previously failed surgeries. The $64k question is, "What are you doing about it?" Unquestionably your parents want what's best for your; but at the same time, they want what's safest for you. God bless your parents, but what's safest and what's best for you might be two lines that never intersect.

Today perhaps you couldn't give a woman the things that she needs, support a family or "perform" (all things very important to us men), and you won't be able to do that tomorrow or next month or maybe even next year. But if you research treatments, facilities and doctors, you will find a treatment that will give you the possibility for the life that you want. This is WAY TOO SOON to be contemplating suicide.

You were going to consult Clavel and Boree. That is an excellent starting point. What did they say?

Please keep us posted, Jeff

[srajan0929]

i would not recommend anybody to get a 2nd laminotomy and a discectomy. the first one was a charm. the 2nd one, i felt really good for a week and then a small pain for the first 3 weeks. im entering 6 weeks since my last surgery and i am in serious freakin pain. i am not able to bend at all. my lower back is extremely stiff. no leg pain. but seriously way too much lower back pain. im gonna take a break from my masters starting next semester and gonna consult nick boeree immediately next week. i need to send him my new mri's and xrays. feeling extremely in pain.... can't even find a way to study for my exams in 2 weeks. im dying...

[MeggieLynn]

Hi Srajan,

Sorry for your continuing suffering. Try to hang in there. I'm sure Dr Boeree will be able to come up with a good plan for you. As far as your exams, I'm not sure what would be the right thing to suggest. If your severe pain persists, do you think your professors would allow you to take a sort of temporary incomplete for the coursework, for say 3 months, until after surgery & you've recouped a little bit & can then finish the exams. See if they would make some sort of concession for you. Or, the other idea is If you feel you have enough of a handle on the material, could you ask for a separate monitored room away from the other students so you could move around at will & not disturb the other students during the exam. Or, maybe focus on completing just one of the courses & taking temporary incompletes for the others. Just some thoughts - Don't know if they will be helpful.

ML

[srajan0929]

hey I like your suggestions. I will definitely try them. I am definitely unable to take any of the exams next week. I am unable to even get off the bed. as soon as i get on the ground with my feet, it feels like my spine is not able to support the weight so i automatically fall down. I think the 2nd disectomy made my back really weak that i am not able to do anything...

[MeggieLynn]

Hi Raj,

Sorry to hear its gotten to this point - Sounds like something definite needs to be done. Hurry and get your new scans off to Mr Boeree. Are there any doctors you can see in the meantime, to get some pain pills to keep you more comfortable until the surgery?

ML

[srajan0929]

yes i got 100 pills of viacodin. i am on my way to get another mri and once i get this i am sending in the scans to mr. boeree. i am in excruciating pain. i have 0 tolerance on the ability to stand up. whenever i stand up, i am leaning too much to the right. when i lift up my shirt, my body seems to be curved like as if i have scioliosis. i called my old surgeon and he said that i dont have sciolosis but that my body is leaning to relieve the pressure on the left side. i am have too much pain. i cancelled my classes and am getting an incomplete. i dont understand. i went to my 2nd surgeon and he did an xray and said the xrays were fine and said he needs me to do some lab tests to rule out infection and also to get another mri. he dealt with me for 2 minutes and suddnely went on to the next patient. i dont understand. of all his patients i had the most pain. why wouldn't he spend more time on me? i hate american doctors. they are very unsympathetic towards your needs. once they do a surgery they no longer feel obligated towards your needs. his name is dr. stieber in new york. do not go to him. i hate him now. i asked him a simple question "do i need another surgery" and his answer was ' i dont understand your question" how stupid is that answer.

[jss]

srajan,

Again, condolences on your pain, and condolences on the bad situation from your doctor. But today you're getting an MRI that Dr Boeree will be able to use to guide you on what to do next. This is the next step, and it sounds like the right one. Hang in there, you're going to get help.

Good luck, Jeff

[laid up doc]

you need a good pain management doctor, even if you end up having surgery... surgeons are NOT good at managing pain beyond the postoperative period, and certainly not if you aren't having surgery w/ them. they want to know who to cut, and when. period.

i'd recommend finding a pain dr who did their residency training in physical medicine and rehab, then a pain fellowship. the guys who did anesthesia first are not as good at diagnosing the cause of as the PM&R guys imho (personally and professionally)... they're more "needle jockeys". doesn't mean they're bad, but if a more firm diagnosis as to the exact source of your pain is what you want, you need to find the type I described above. getting a precise diagnosis of your pain generator is the FIRST step in deciding if you need surgery. the MRI doesn't typically tell the whole story. I should make that my signature

please don't cast all American doctors into one lot... there are a lot of us out there that really do care and go out of our way to help our patients. there are also some of stuck up douchebags who refuse to see patients as people. most of them will be surgeons

[annapurna]

Laid up doc's advice is better than anything I could offer. One thing to remember, though, about US docs: they don't work for the patient. Your co-pay isn't what keeps the lights on and the doors open. The insurance companies are the average doc's customer. Laid up doc may have an easier time of it being in the emergency room and dealing with life-threatening stuff where the insurance companies can't legally piss and moan too much but some fraction of the uncaring docs out there today are uncaring because they're forced to be so.

[srajan0929]

i just sent in my mri images to dr. boeree through the google docs. seriously i am having really bad pain. i am crying way too much. can't even stand. i received the radiologist reports and i read i have bulging at L2-L3 and herniation at L3L4 and facet hypertrophy at L3-L4. WTF.? why didn't my surgeon mention any of that? i feel completely cheated. were these new results that came as a result of this past surgery? what did he do to me? i am gonna sue that *** hole. i am at the brink of dying. i dont understand what he has done to me. ugh, i am so much in pain. the radiology reports also say i have abscess formation in my spine and liquid buildup. wtf. what the ____ did this doctor do to me. oh man oh man. i can't take this pain. this is so unreal