Back injuries - surgery

[Holly_Hobby]

Hi, I'm a 50 y.o. female that was involved in a car accident in April. I just got the results of my myelogram yesterday. L4 has collapsed onto L5 and hitting the nerve going into my right groin, both feet and left knee. I get severe shooting pain. I take Ibuprofen to control the pain. I don't tolerate narcotics well, they put me out cold. I'm also terrified of addiction.

My neurologist recommends PLIF surgery - posterior lumbar interbody fusion. It's very serious open-back surgery. The hospitalization time is about 5 days, with 3 months recovery. The disk between L4-L5 will be removed and replaced with a wire cage. L4-L5 will then be fused with steel plates and screws. 50% of people having this surgery are worse after, or no better.

Has anyone here had this surgery? I'm terrified. Thanks.

[siligut]

1. Sorry for your distress, sounds awful.

Sorry for your discomfort, you now know why orthopedic surgeons have big houses. Ack! Back surgery, if you don’t have to don’t. Try this stretch; lie on your back, knees bent, put your right ankle to your left knee. If you were sitting this would be an unladylike position, now reach through the crook of your right leg to grab the shin of your left leg, pull your shin to your chest, this will stretch the paraspinal muscles and others you didn’t know you had. Hold this for 3 secs and do the other side, repeat ~ 3Xs and see if you get some relief. Go here: http://www.uniquenutrition.net/shop/item.asp?itemid=215&catid=17">Gabapentin and order some Gabapentin. Get yourself a massage therapist and/or Chiropractor if you can find a good one. Surgery, for the exact reason you posted is a last resort. Acupuncture is also helpful.

[nashville_brook]

2. i agree with sillgut -- surgery as last resort

on addiction and pain meds -- read everything you can get your hands on and discuss this with your doctor. my experience is the same -- i was afraid of "addiction." i'm not an addictive personality, but had a couple in my family (hence, the fear).

the thing about using meds when you are actually in pain is that you don't get the euphoria, which is what leads to nastier psychological addiction. if you are using anything everyday, you are "dependent." there's a difference between dependence and addiction. true, using a narcotic everyday will lead to physical dependence. using coffee every day leads to dependence. if you stop, you will have phsyical symptoms. under a dotor's care you will be ramped-down just like with steriods or antidepressants. it's no big deal. going cold turkey will you sick. i've done that too. it's not the end of the world.

if you do the surgery you are going to have to do narcotics whether you like it or not. no one can deal with the pain of back surgery without pain meds. no one should have to. narcotics do exactly what they are supposed to do and, when used correctly, are safe and necessary.

having said all that -- if you have a posterior vertebra compressing a disc and pressing against nerves, you have to address that "mechanical" problem. surgery is one option. physical therapy is another. cobra pose, if you can do it, is something that has helped me with posterior disc pooching. my discs are fusing naturally as my discs degenerate. otherwise i'd be looking at PLIF.



(on my very best days, i can only get into the third position here.)


but please consider drug therapy. speaking for myself, it's returned some amount of quality to an otherwise unbearable life in pain. i've gone thru hell with pain and i am truly thankful for the ability to get free from it for a few hours a day (right now, that's all i ask). there's a range of drug therapies, now. synthetic optiates, patches, antidepressants and steroids.

good luck! big :hug:

[mopinko]

3. get a second opinion

if you are willing to travel for a study, i believe there is a study on artificial discs at the university of chicago.
but a second opinion will help you put your doubts to rest. afaik, there is not much else you can do about a collapsed disc. living in pain is very hard on your mind and your body. and you life. get better.

[mopinko]

4. here is the study that i was thinking in my other post.

http://www.discstudy.com/

[oceanspirit]

5. In a way your lucky

I have had a severe back injury for four years now. I've been through every test imaginable. Surgery would possibly be a possibly, BUT my top notch surgeon, who operates on Ted Turner, Jayne Fonda, professional hockey players and professional football players decided that if he opened me up and fix the discs (L2-L5, totally messed up) I also have extreme arthritis in my spine. IF he opens me up and fuses my spine, also with the screws and of course the metal rod, he said it would cause me more pain than I'm in right now. I'm one of the inoperable patients that much live with the rest of my life. I am a 48 year old female. I'm sick of this awful pain. I work full time at a computer all day long. It's incrediably painful, not to mention the stress I'm under at work. My doctor tells me I carry the stress in my back. DUH, what a moron!! We're now playing around with nuerontin, and litacan for my back. I don't tolerate pain killers either. I also have other heath issues that I take over 7 different med's for. Now add the addtional meds for my back, it seeems like all i'm doing is taking pills. I'm also on Volteran for the arthritis. It's an anti-inflammatory. It does help a bit.

In a sort of sick way I envy you that there is a possible way out of this awful pain you live day in and day out. My mother has had the surgery and she did well by it. If I were you I would definately go for it.

Keep us informed on how you do. I"m sort of jealous of you that your possibly able to end this pain. I have to live with it the rest of my life. There are days I feel like I'm 100 years old. I'm unable to do the things I used to do. I feel so old. It's frustrating and depressing as well.

Good luck, and let me know how you make out okay?

[midnight]

6. St. Mary's hospital in Milwaukee Wisconsin is doing a new

surgery that replace the vertebra with movable pieces instead of fusing. I don't know of anyone personally. But if you read this and you haven't made a decision yet please check this hospital out. Take care. I will be sending you a prayer.