I'm New and I'm Having Surgery

MamaJilldo

Hi, My name is Jill. I was getting started on creating a group for back pain when I came across this one and said perfect someone else has done the work for me! I work full time, I'm newly married to my wonderful husband and we have a daughter who is 14 months now and as cute as can be. I'm 29 and have been told several times that I have the spine of a 70 year old, awesome- I'm a medical marvel...or lack thereof.

I've been suffering from lower back pain since 2006, and my weight goes up and down. Right now I'm at 171 and would like to be 155. My pain is usually at a 2-5 on the pain scale, but in a flash i will be at an 9 (I don't say 10 because I'm stubborn ) and unable to move for several days. I've missed a lot of work, I can't play very well with my daughter, and I've had it. I went in for my 2nd MRI dec. 2011 and I have 3 dessicated disks: L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1. The nuerosurgeon says its from scoleosis and a ton of sports and dancing back in my day which eventually wore my disks down. L3-4, and L4-5 are both herniated in different directions. In the last year my back has gone out more frequently (about every 2 months), has become more painful and I've shown more nuerological symptons such as numbness, sciatica, hard time picking up my leg when walking etc (right side mostly). So after having a discogram done several weeks ago (this sounds way more fun then what it actually is, anyone been through that?), it turns out that both disks are causing me pain, but by far the L3-4 is whats causing me most my pain. I'm currently waiting on a second opinion from a different specialist, but the nurosurgeon I'm seeing now has me scheduled to have the L3-4 herniation shaved off. If I still experience problems after that procedure, then there will be talk about disk removal and fusion of the L4-5.

Regardless, I'm tired of talking to my husband, friends and family who don't experience it even though they are 100% supportive and good listeners. They will only understand to a certain extent. I'm sure you all know what I mean. So, I'm here for support, back pain talk, lessons, advice, stories and hugs. I will scroll through and find some introductions if you don't want to introduce yourself to me. Feel free to friend me!

Xoxo- Jill

Oh, and I'm from Central Illinois!!! woo hoooo

luvapooh

I'm new too and am visiting the neurosurgeon next week! Pretty sure I'm on my way to surgery. I've already been to a minimally invasive clinic and was told they couldn't help me bc my spine was too unstable. I have spondylolithesis (sp?) of the L5-S1 and now it's Grade 2. I was born with this predetermination and now it's time to "pay the piper", so to speak. I am a teacher so I am up and down and on my feet all day. Unlike you, my children are grown but I have "cute as a button" grandkids that I have a hard time keeping up with and can barely pick up the little one Like you, my husband listens and helps but hasn't experience the constant 24/7/365 pain I have. I also have sciatic pain down my leg and in my hips which just adds pain to the pain.

I really need to lose quite a bit of weight but with the pain, exercise really isn't an option. So I basically have to count on losing weight by counting my calorie intake.

It's really great to meet someone else who is experiencing similiar issues. Keep me posted on how your doing. I have looked at several blogs on Youtube of "positive" spinal fusion recovery. it's so easy to find negative things out there but I needed to see positive results and people going on after surgery to live their life. :happy:

I live in Edmond, OK.

Stephanie

MamaJilldo

Wow I really hope your appointment with the surgeon goes well and they can do something for you. I bet they suggest a fusion which would be a good choice for you at your age. I went to see a 2nd opinion spine surgeon on tuesday (lovely way to spend valentines day, 4 hours driving completley irritated my back!) and he is wanting to do a discectomy on 2 disks. I'm very excited to have it done. He said ideally he would fuse all three vertebrae, but it would make me too immobile and cause problems in 15 years on the healthy discs. But one thing I learned is to get a 2nd opinion!!! The first surgeon (who by the way is about 70 years old, no joke!) only wanted to do a discectomy one disc and then see how things go- and possilby do a fusion on one vertebrae that doesn't make sense to me, but of course I'm not back doctor. So I was relieved when that didn't make sense to the second guy. I had planned to get a second opinion before even finding out what the 1st dr. wanted to do. It will give you peace of mind, or possibly confuse you more- but you will have a gut feeling about one doctor and procedure surely.

Good luck, and let me know what you find out!

opal24

Hi - I hope that my story might give you both some hope. I suffered from bad back and leg pain for a couple of years. I basically had what my orthopaedic surgeon called two stuffed discs (L4-L5 and L5-S1). It was gradually getting worse, with the sciatic pain getting to the point where the only things I did in life were to go to work and come home again to sit on an upright chair with my painful leg up on another chair next to me. I pretty much stopped doing anything else at all. I was eating really badly because I live alone and I couldn't stand long enough to cook a meal and I often couldn't face even the semi-healthy ready meals. I ate a LOT of potato chips....... and my weight kept on creeping up. About a year ago my rheumatologist (I have an immune system disorder and have annual checkups) suggested that if I was thinking about surgery then I should go ahead and have it sooner rather than later. I'd already had a steroid injection in my sciatic nerve, which worked for a whole week before the pain came back, so I knew that there was a good chance that surgery would make the difference for me. I arranged to have the surgery in July last year - I had to save enough leave from work to be able to take 6 weeks off, and as it was two of those were without pay, so I really hoped it was going to be worth it. In the meantime, while I waited for the surgery I started going to a physical therapist who teaches Pilates, for one-on-one sessions to try and strengthen my core to give me the best possible chance of a good outcome.

I had the surgery in July, on a Thursday afternoon. I had a two level spinal fusion (L4-S1) which took around 4 - 5 hours. I came round properly on the Friday morning with tubes everywhere, but feeling no pain, and I was up and walking with a walker later that morning. On the Saturday I was walking without the walker and feeling good. The six weeks of recovery were a bit difficult, because I do live alone. I spent most of the time on my bed, getting up to prepare and eat easy meals and to go for (reasonably) regular walks. I did hurt - it was hard to turn over in bed and I used my arms for leverage a lot, but I was already so glad I'd made the decision to go ahead.

I went back to work week seven and have been gradually improving ever since. My checkups show that the rods in my back are exactly where they should be and my bone grafts have taken well. At three months I was doing well, but still couldn't walk or stand for too long without it hurting, but by six months I was able to do most things. It's now exactly 7 months since the op. I can walk for pretty much as long as I want to (although I might pay for it a bit later). I can stand in the checkout queue at the supermarket without thinking about it. I can cook myself a meal and I'm now eating well and losing weight. I'm still doing PIlates, but am now doing a full one hour class and feeling good with it.

My surgeon was absolutely upfront with me and said that it would be a year before I was completely recovered and back to what others would consider normal, but honestly, even if where I am now was where I ended up staying I would be SO happy that I went ahead and took the huge step of having the surgery.

Good luck to both of you. I'm sorry this is a bit of a saga, but I thought a good news story might help.

MamaJilldo

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing your story! I am so ready for this surgery- finally scheduled for March 14th, and i'm pumped to have it done. I just feel like I've tried everything but steroid injections- though I did try oral steroids which didn't help much, and I can either get worse or take a chance with surgery and possibly get better. Glad you are feeling better and doing pilates. My first goal after recovery is to take up some strength training, because every time I tried to strengthen my core no matter how mild the exercises were, my back would go out on me. Keep us up to date on your recovery!!!

ibvicki

Another person with you guys! And they say for everyone who posts there are several lurkers. So good luck with the surgery Jill and wow - what a great story Opal! I am a little more inspired to do my stretching now! You guys have been there!

Please let us know how you doing Jill. Maybe your hubby could post for you for a few days!

MamaJilldo

Yes, will definitley keep everyone up to date, and will probably be on my laptop a lot bored out of my mind while recovering

MaraDiaz

Opal, you've changed my mind about having surgery if it ever gets bad enough (and in my family it always does get bad enough). I used to think back surgery and recovery was the worst thing in the world and that I'd rather just die and that it would just make things worse. So nice to read your post, I feel a lot better about the future now, thank you!

luvapooh

Hi all,
It's been three weeks since my surgery and I am doing well. I have up and down days but over all am doing wonderful. My setback has been all the nerve damage prior to surgery. For several months prior to surgery I had sciatic nerve pain down my right leg and into my foot, during surgery they had to "decompress" those nerves which created what my PA likes to call "angry nerves". Nerves are very sensitive and don't like to be touched or moved and will "scream" out with sensitivity. There were days when I couldn't hardly wear a sock because my big toe felt like it was "on fire". But I am getting ahead of myself now. The surgery I had involved the L5 S1 and they did what's called a TLIF with the decompression. My back has felt quite good but my right leg, foot and especially big toe has been difficult. I also have some muscle atrophy from before surgery because of the nerve problems so I wasn't able to drive until just about a week ago. I go on walks everyday and from what I can tell, each day is better than the day before and I am hopeful that I will be back at work after my six week check-up. I am careful to take my pain meds as needed to keep the nerve pain under control and to walk daily.

Now it's time to get back to my food diary and track what I eat. It seems all I have kept track of is my medications and even then I don't do a great job. Will chat more later.

opal24

I'm so glad it's going well luvapooh. I do know what you mean about the nerves - I still have a numb left foot, which is a bit disconcerting, but liveable with! I'm told it will improve with time, so I hope the same is true for you. And I'm glad you're maintaining the pain medication. I discovered that it's critical to keep ahead of the pain, so it never gets too bad. Good luck with getting back to the tracking, etc. Keep us posted on your progress, won't you?

Christine

luvapooh

Hey Opal,
How long did you stay on pain meds? That is one of my biggest fears is that I will never get off them. Right now I take Lyrica - life saver for my nerves, Percocet, and Soma (for muscle spasms). I know Lyrica is for the long term but the other two are the one's that scare me. You hear about so many people becoming addicted and I don't want to be that person. The doctor and PA both told me it may take months or up to a year for my nerves to come back (if they do). My right foot is my driving foot so the numbness is frightening at times. Thanks for you encouraging story. My back does feel better because like you all I did before surgery was work, come home and lay on the couch with my leg up.
Luvapooh!

opal24

I took them religiously for the six weeks I was off work apart from one weekend when I ran out and had what has to have been one of the worst weekends of my life! I was on Gapapentin for the nerves and Tramadol just for the pain. When I went back to work I was still taking the Tramadol, but only took it consistently for a week or so and then just as necessary. I honestly now can't remember the last time I had to take any. I still have some twinges from time to time, but never enough to need medication. Hopefully you'll have a similar experience. Having said that, I'm a bit like you in that I'm on permanenet medication for connective tissue problems and related fibromyalgia, so that might make a difference. I do know what you mean about the numbness. A few times I haven't realised that my foot hasn't lifted enough as I've been walking and I've come close to tripping - but my surgeon assures me that it will improve. He's been right about everything so far, so I have my fingers firmly crossed! Good luck.

hippychickuk

Just found this group and hope I can offer some tips and get a few in return. I really liked this particular thread, and hope you are recovering well Opal! I have scoliosis. As a teenager (that was a long time ago), it was no big deal, but at 17, my mother and I looked at the X-rays, looked at each other, then I just said "So, when's the surgery?" It was that obvious. So to cut a long story short, I had a typical scoliosis spinal fusion surgery for 1990 that meant fusing about 9 of my vertebre, I don't actually know! I keep trying to remember after seeing an X-ray, but for some reason, that little detail never sticks. More than happy to provide lots of detail on that surgery and recovery, but will not bore you now if you are not.

Bringing you to the present time, I have fairly low grade (2-3) back pain almost constantly. Hurts right now actually! It's amazing the pain tolerance you can develop. The worst is when the sciatica kicks in, and that makes it hard to exercise! That being said, I have absolutely no regrets on the surgery. I can't imagine what my back would be like if I had not done it -- very much worse to say the least!

But to be honest, it's this back pain that keeps me motivated to lose weight. I simply refuse to be in intense (12!) pain anymore. That's it! Losing weight is part of it. Exercising too. It's a process, so I still have back pain, but it has improved.

Best of luck to all of you, especially those recovering from or anticipating surgery. I know what we're like, not really looking for sympathy, just a bit of support and a place to vent. So thanks, in advance, for both.