Hi everyone, hope all is well...well I went to my final appt. at my doctors appt brfore moving this weekend...it seems that the disk space is narrowing, and sometime in the future I'm going to have fusion, I'm pretty upset, the thought scares me alot...and now I feel like my life is messed up for good...the doctor told me to get lifetime medical in my settlement...and as far as my move this weekend, I will not be lifting one single box!!!!! movers are going to be doing it all, and I will be flying and shipping my car...I am SO bummed out with this back issue....I just thought I would share my news with you all, hope everyone is doing alot better, hugz to all...

Michaela

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August 29th 2002 Injured back at work
from August 2002 till late Nov, roller coaster ride with pain etc.
Dec Friday 13th 2002 laid off job.
Dec. 26th pain starts back up again, lasts for 6 weeks before pain got better then turned to sciatic pain for about 10 weeks.
April 1st had MRI.
April 4th MRI read by my doctor, reading L5-S1 herniated disk W/8mm bulge, pressing on nerve in spine.
Doc says I need surgery.
Then I was investigated (pictures & video taped)
Had second opinion Doctor appt. and Workmans comp didn't notify me till the day after the appt. by usa mail. I was pissed!
I did go to the appt. on another day, thank god I did, cause it was the icing on the cake at my hearing. I won!
Then had surgery for Laminectomy/Disectomy June 18th 2003.
I also had ALOT of scare tissue, surgery was longer then expected.
now I am over 4 weeks post op.
still get a zing down left leg, but I can walk.
7/30/2003 still having low back pain, like an ache feeling at the end of the day (6wk po)

Michaela,

There are many of us here who can empathize with you, myself included. After 4 back operations and most recently a 2-level fusion, I know what it's like. If you get a chance, please come to the thread entitled, "Good Fusion Outcomes Wanted." Introduce yourself and see the help that comes. I also suggest you read the thread from the beginning and see what that thread has done for many people like us.

SHG

Hello http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif Michaela,

I am very sorry to hear on how your appointment went. I had just replied to another post this evening about another member who also had an disectomy and still ended up needed fusion surgery. It looks as if these disectomy's aren't working so well for everyone. I am sorry that you will have to have yet another surgery. Life goes on and by all means it does not mean your life is messed up for good. We all have our health problems and I have had my share, and I had done more that my share of chronic complaining. But we just have to face whatever obstacles are put in our way and OVERCOME them... I might walk slow but, Yes I am walking.... I might experience a lot of pain but, Yes I do occasionally get pain relief.... Not sure if my surgery was a success but, Yes I have Hope...

I am sorry if I didn't make you feel any better but I sure did make myself feel better. Gosh, I think my strength might be finally coming back, Oh Yea....

Good Luck with your move this weekend. And I really do wish you the very best.

Have a good night.

------------------
Cervical MRI 10/02
Loss of cervical lordosis with reversal of the curvature.
C4-5 and C6-7 disc bulges resulting in flattening of the ventral margin of the cord.
C5-6 there is a left foraminal herniation which results in moderate foraminal stenosis In addition, there is flattening of the ventral margin of the cord due to bulging disc.
Cervical Epidural 5/19/03

Lumbar MRI 10/02
Lumbar Lordosis
L5-S1 disc herniation with moderate thecal sac deformity.
L4-5 disc desiccation with bulge which results in mild thecal sac deformity and mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.
L2-3 disc desiccation with Schmorl’s nodule of L3.
Lumbar Epidural 1/30/03
Lumbar Epidural 2/12/03
Lumbar Epidural 2/26/03
Lumbar Discogram 5/23/03
Lumbar CatScan 5/23/03
Posterior Fusion & Infuse with Laminectomy on L4,L5,S1 6/30/03
Instrumentation = 2 Rods 6 Screws & Disc Spacers
Lumbar X-Ray 7/24/03
Lumbar X-Ray 8/27/03
Still no pain relief....
Lumbar CT Scan 9/24/03

Michaela-
Add me to the list of those who had diskectomy and now am facing fusion. It's not the end of your life. Put your positive hat on and think about the day you will be pain free.

Where are you moving to? Even though you say you won't lift a thing, watch the unpacking part. That's all I did when we moved my daughter into an apartment at school this fall, and I paid for that for days.

Gooe Luck!

O'Girl

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20 years intermittent back pain - no treatment sought
Nov 2001 - herniated disk - Right leg radiculopathy
Jan 2002 - Chiropractic care
Mar 2002 - MRI, X-Rays, Oral steroids
Apr 2002 - L4/L5 Microdiskectomy
Sept 2002 - PT, Oral steroids
Oct 2002 - MRI, Xrays - Failed Back Syndrome
Apr 2003 - TFESI, EMG, MRI
Diagnosis - DDD - foraminal narrowing, disk bulges, osteophytes, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, active marrow edema, levoscoliosis, retrolisthesis, scar tissue encompassing L5 nerve root, disk height diminished, abnormal EMG results for left leg
Sept 2003 - Discogram with Xrays, CT Scan.
Tentative date: Nov.18 - 2 level 360 degree fusion surgery

Hi everyone, and thanks for your replies, when the doc told me I was just in shock, thought I was on the recovery end of this whole thing...I guess the good thing is it'll only be a 1 level fusion...But I was thinking, wouldn't ADR be an alternative to fusion, I still have alot of unanswered questions...right now just want to get thru this move...and thank god I'm not making the drive cause I know that would kill me for sure...since my lami I have had good and bad days, but I still keep moving, knowing I have a dead line to meet this week, once this is over I can just veg out...I'm going t go read the fusin thread and see what others have been doing, I have no idea when this will take place yet, right now still looking for a GOOD doctor...thanks again, and huge hugz all around to all, its you guys that all keep me going, thank you again...

Michaela

------------------
August 29th 2002 Injured back at work
from August 2002 till late Nov, roller coaster ride with pain etc.
Dec Friday 13th 2002 laid off job.
Dec. 26th pain starts back up again, lasts for 6 weeks before pain got better then turned to sciatic pain for about 10 weeks.
April 1st had MRI.
April 4th MRI read by my doctor, reading L5-S1 herniated disk W/8mm bulge, pressing on nerve in spine.
Doc says I need surgery.
Then I was investigated (pictures & video taped)
Had second opinion Doctor appt. and Workmans comp didn't notify me till the day after the appt. by usa mail. I was pissed!
I did go to the appt. on another day, thank god I did, cause it was the icing on the cake at my hearing. I won!
Then had surgery for Laminectomy/Disectomy June 18th 2003.
I also had ALOT of scare tissue, surgery was longer then expected.
now I am over 4 weeks post op.
still get a zing down left leg, but I can walk.
7/30/2003 still having low back pain, like an ache feeling at the end of the day (6wk po)

Good Morning http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif Michaela,

Yes, I can understand the shock when you think that you were on the road to recovery. I am sorry that you do need to have a fusion. As for the ADR you really should ask your doctor if you are a candidate for that surgery. I am not sure what the qualifications are but I would much more prefer ADR then fusion. I do know that I was not a candidate because of my DDD. I do hope that you find a great doctor and wish you the very best.

Take Care

Thanks Tomorrow, after I move I'm going to ask and see what I can find out on the ADR...I don't have the DDD, I know that...is adr performed here in the us? and I'm wondering if workmans comp would pay for it, I'm also thinking it would be easier to do then a fusion, maybe even the recovery time too, well guess I'll have to do my homework on this one, Thank you, and have a wonderful day everyone...

Michaela

------------------
August 29th 2002 Injured back at work
from August 2002 till late Nov, roller coaster ride with pain etc.
Dec Friday 13th 2002 laid off job.
Dec. 26th pain starts back up again, lasts for 6 weeks before pain got better then turned to sciatic pain for about 10 weeks.
April 1st had MRI.
April 4th MRI read by my doctor, reading L5-S1 herniated disk W/8mm bulge, pressing on nerve in spine.
Doc says I need surgery.
Then I was investigated (pictures & video taped)
Had second opinion Doctor appt. and Workmans comp didn't notify me till the day after the appt. by usa mail. I was pissed!
I did go to the appt. on another day, thank god I did, cause it was the icing on the cake at my hearing. I won!
Then had surgery for Laminectomy/Disectomy June 18th 2003.
I also had ALOT of scare tissue, surgery was longer then expected.
now I am over 4 weeks post op.
still get a zing down left leg, but I can walk.
7/30/2003 still having low back pain, like an ache feeling at the end of the day (6wk po)

Michaela-
Isillyme had ADR, and I'm pretty sure it was a workman's comp case. Not sure if you'd be a candidate because of your previous surgery?

Like Tomorrow, I wish I had been a candidate for ADR. It sounds so much better than the standard fusion.

O'Girl

------------------
20 years intermittent back pain - no treatment sought
Nov 2001 - herniated disk - Right leg radiculopathy
Jan 2002 - Chiropractic care
Mar 2002 - MRI, X-Rays, Oral steroids
Apr 2002 - L4/L5 Microdiskectomy
Sept 2002 - PT, Oral steroids
Oct 2002 - MRI, Xrays - Failed Back Syndrome
Apr 2003 - TFESI, EMG, MRI
Diagnosis - DDD - foraminal narrowing, disk bulges, osteophytes, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, active marrow edema, levoscoliosis, retrolisthesis, scar tissue encompassing L5 nerve root, disk height diminished, abnormal EMG results for left leg
Sept 2003 - Discogram with Xrays, CT Scan.
Tentative date: Nov.18 - 2 level 360 degree fusion surgery

Hi everyone, well its that time, time for my big move...so I won't be online for most likely 5 days, maybe less, and its going to drive me crazy...anyhow thats why I won't be responding to your posts, but will look forward to chatting with you all very soon, hugz to all, and will be back online asap, bye now...don't forget me, giggle, bye bye.....


Michaela

------------------
August 29th 2002 Injured back at work
from August 2002 till late Nov, roller coaster ride with pain etc.
Dec Friday 13th 2002 laid off job.
Dec. 26th pain starts back up again, lasts for 6 weeks before pain got better then turned to sciatic pain for about 10 weeks.
April 1st had MRI.
April 4th MRI read by my doctor, reading L5-S1 herniated disk W/8mm bulge, pressing on nerve in spine.
Doc says I need surgery.
Then I was investigated (pictures & video taped)
Had second opinion Doctor appt. and Workmans comp didn't notify me till the day after the appt. by usa mail. I was pissed!
I did go to the appt. on another day, thank god I did, cause it was the icing on the cake at my hearing. I won!
Then had surgery for Laminectomy/Disectomy June 18th 2003.
I also had ALOT of scare tissue, surgery was longer then expected.
now I am over 4 weeks post op.
still get a zing down left leg, but I can walk.
7/30/2003 still having low back pain, like an ache feeling at the end of the day (6wk po)