New member surgery Thursday

[allanbruce]

I am having a disc replacement at L4-5 and fusion at L5-S1.

I have been suffering from chronic lower back pain now for 10 years after an injury a few years before that. I was a concreter and after Christmas holidays the first day back I was lifting steel mesh during a concrete pore and I hurt something in my lower back. I received physiotherapy and after 2 weeks went back to work. After that I had constant niggling and spasms on and off for the next few years. But after a marriage break-up and a period of depression the pain got worse. I was retrained to work in a camping shop but ended up doing more physical work loading tents and tarps etc. So that ended work for me and kicked off my life of pain.

I believe I tore a disc in that original accident and My work didn't help me at all. Then about 2 years ago I started having neuropathic type pain up my spine and then sciatic nerve type pain. The pain starts across my pelvice and through my butt then down my left leg to my foot. Leaving me with a limp and a lot more pain than before. So what freedom I had was taken from me. But at least it gave me the symptoms that the surgeons would finally operate. Even then I had to take out private insurance and save what money I could to be able to choose my own surgeon and be treated in a private hospital.

So this week will be a new beginning and I hope the surgery will be successful. Well I pray it will. Though I live one day at a time I sure hope I will one day walk without a limp a cane and with reduced pain. I have seen about 5 surgeons and 4 pain specialists before having the right pain medication. I use durogesic patches, a nerve medication, an anti-inflammatory, an antidepressant, a muscle relaxant, a stool softener. a stomach med, paracetamol as in Norgesic, and endone (oxicodone) when necessary.

It took almost all of those years to finally have the medications that manage most of the symptoms. Though I still have a lot of pain and I am limited in what I can do. At the moment I am spending most of the day in bed. It hurts to sit and to stand and the only relief I get is when I am in bed and sleeping is the only time I am pain free.
So now I am putting all my hopes in the surgery.

They will do this from the front and I am pleased after all the threads about the scar tissue left around peoples spines and this way I hope there will not be any of those issues. Also This is the surgery that is my surgeons technique and I have been told that it is best to have the surgeon use his speciality and the surgery he always uses. He seems very confident and I am pleased with that.

I hope to be back here to report how I go and how well the disc replacement compares to the fusion.
Allan

[jss]

Allan,

What a story. As I was reading it I kept thinking, Ok, that's got to be it, there can't be anything else bad; but there always was!

I'll sure be pulling for a positive outcome to this surgery for you. Which artificial disc will you be having implanted? And who is your surgeon?

Very best wishes for you and your outcome. I'm already looking forward to you feeling better and to your updates.

Good luck!

Jeff

[danzintommy]

Hey Allan, I'm one week behind you having exactly the same thing done (except in Singapore) I'm assuming you're in the US and if you want a bright side-at least the health fund didnt try to reject you saying "pre-existing condition". So all the best with yours. I hope you have as good a success as it seems lots on this site have had. Reading those success stories actually gave me hope that there'd be an end to the relentless pain. And I hear you when you talk about the depression. You wouldn't think a "bad back" could take over your life like that. The worst thing is, there's no "outward sign" like an arm in a sling so people know something's broke. And you start to feel all alone.
Well, you're not. Things will get better. Pain will finish and you will get your life back (at least I hope so!!!)
Hang in there and good luck!!
All the Best mate. I mean it!

[allanbruce]

Sorry I'm an Aussie in Australia, Queensland if you know about us at all. I'm not far from the Gold Coast but have not been able to enjoy much of my local environment lately as over the last 2 years I have just been so restricted in my movements that I haven't been out much and the boat just sits in the back yard. I so miss the beautiful days out on the rivers I also miss the fish. Now I have to buy it at the shops which has been upsetting. I used to always catch my own sea food. I am lucky to be able to walk around the shop isles with the leg pain. So I am hoping the sciatica will be gone soon.

I am not sure about the implants so I will find out once I see my surgeon again. I will come back and say hello again and lets hope it all goes well. My brother is flying up from Sydney in the morning to be here for me and my parents as they are in there 70's. It is about 1,000 KM and 1 1/2 hours to fly up so not too bad. He wants me well so I can come and stay with him. We both love music and fishing. He plays drums and I am a bit of a guitarist. It will be good to be able to enjoy all that again in the future.
Allan

[danzintommy]

I'm originally from Melbourne (and not the one in Florida!). I guess you won't be going to the 'Gabba from tomorrow then. I'm sure you"ll be strummin' along before you know it. I'm getting prodisc L so what ever it is you are going to get I hope it turns out tops.
Good Luck!

[Hooch]

Gday mate, is M S-Y doing it?

Best of luck to you, it's a travesty they let you get so bad before they give you a chance of getting out of it.

Who knows if Clarke keeps going the way he's going he might be following in your footsteps.

Chris.