So after 6 years of on and off pain, one last year of definite pain, much physical therapy, three ESI shots, different meds, .... I am scheduled for my nucleoplasty tommorrow at 9am. Just wanted to share some thoughts and find out how all other former nucleo patients are doing now.
I am not so much scared of the procedure itself. I figure it will be relatively short and I'll probably be somewhat sedated. But the emotional as well as physical toll it has taken on me has been alot. The fear of uncertainty not knowing whether this will cure the pain or whether it will continue on afterwards is hard. From feeling excited to posiibly getting well, to feelings of depression and anxiety, it is a challenge to say the least. It's hard to let go and not be in control and just relax with the situation. I have prayed this will work. Like everyone, I ask for my life back. I imagine this will be the toughest part, the letting go and learning to stop struggling. It always has been.
I pray that all other who suffer are freed from their pain, and that healing is with them now.
I wonder how all of you ex-nucleo patients are doing now? Write if you care too. I may not be able to respond immediatley since I don't know how I will feel after the procedure or what I will be able to do, but I will as soon as I can.
Peace be with you.
Ken
-----------------------------------------
1997 - felt pop/tug in lower back. Dr sent me to physical therapy.
1998 - continuing P/T and tried many different anti-inflammatories, mild pain killers, etc.... had diskogram, found only mild bulge L5-S1. Doc said he felt not diskogram not done that well by doc in hospital.
1999 - continuing mild pain. Tried vax-D, no luck.
2000 - bad year emotionally, back pain didn't matter.
2001 - just lived wit it, but not as bad, just when I bent the wrong way.
2002 - Nov I bent forward and had shooting pain in back. Taken to ER. Eventually went back to doc and had cortisone first ESI. Worked really well and started P/T agin. Lasted for about 3/4 months and pain came back.
2003 - Another ESI, helped mildly this time. Pain came back. Had a MRI now. Confirmed small central herniation of L5-S1. Talked to several docs who do nucleo and they suggested that as opposed to IDET. Surgery not recommeded.
Present - Strained upper back very bad. Started P/T again and low back pain continued. 3rd ESI with no luck.
Scheduled nucleoplasty for Monday, Oct 20th at 9am.
Doctor will be Douglas Spiel at Accucare Medical and Pain management center in Milltown, NJ.
Sponsor
Mary Anne9998
10-19-2003, 10:22 PM
Will say a prayer for you tonight and keep you in my thoughts at 9 tomorrow. Keep us posted when you can on your recovery.
standingman
10-20-2003, 12:41 AM
KH--I have not had nucleo, but you beautifully expressed what so many of us feel. I wish you success. And I wish you peace in whatever the future holds. Like so many of us, you write about getting your "life back." But, I think you'll agree, having gone through this, we are never the same, and that's in some good ways. So really what I wish for you is that you are able to grab hold of the life you have with less pain, more vitality, and even greater capacity to act on the compassion you have expressed in your post.
Standingman
Tomorrow
10-20-2003, 07:01 AM
Good Morning http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif Kem,
Wishing you a very successful surgery.
You are in my prayers. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif
mokita
10-20-2003, 08:30 AM
Hi Ken!
You should be prepping for surgery right about now! I pray for God to guide your surgeon's hands....and that you do let go and allow Him to help you heal! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif
I haven't had the Nucleoplasty - yet. Am being scheduled. Will be interested in your recovery - which I pray will be fast!
Have thought of you all day and hope you are having a restful night and that things went well for you. Hope you are able to check in with us soon!
Bcorica
10-21-2003, 09:26 AM
Hi Ken http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif
I am so glad to hear that you are finally going through with the nucleoplasty. I will pray that you have a quick recovery, and wake up pain free.
Please keep me posted on your recovery.
~Brenda
oakleygirl
10-21-2003, 06:11 PM
Ken-
By now, you should be over the worst part of the pain. Let your body rest and get healed.
So sorry I was not around to wish you well before your procedure. I've been having a major flare and just can't hardly sit.
We'll all be watching this thread and waiting to hear how it went.
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
khoff
10-22-2003, 09:09 AM
hi all-
somethings you just can't anticipate. had nucleoplasty mon 9am. didn't feel a thing during procedure. felt ok coming home. later on, lidocaine from procedure wore off. had immenese low back, man i hurt. not even 15mg percocet helped. called doc at 10pm. he said cold be 3-5 days before you start feelng better. tuesday i used 10mg perc 4x day. also given anti-biotics.
today, now at 5mg percocet 4x/day. first day pain at 10. now at 7. but i can barely move. lying flat on back ok, can very barely walk, forget sitting in any way. no leg pain.
any movement in low back really hurts. don't know how i
will go to bathroom. eatng rough too.
wish i had better news, but pain still rough. praying to get better. luckily i have pc close to bed. need much support. will write as much as i can.
- ken
lgriffincsa
10-22-2003, 09:46 AM
Ken,
I am so sorry that I didnt have a chance to wish you good luck before your surgery. I am also sory that you are in so much pain right now, and cant hardly move. I am going to have Nuecleoplasty in the next couple of months. I read that the patient can walk out of the hospital right after the proceedure. Info I have also said that I would be able to return to work in 2-3 days, and I would have PT for several weeks. How do you feel about the proceedure? Are you glad you went thru with it? Any regrets? Do you think it completley worked, or only helped to reduce your backpain? Sorry for all the questions, I am just really scared of having the proceedure myself, I am always afraid that they will make things worse than they are right now. It sounds like you are worse off right now, immediatly following the surgery, but I hope and pray that will go away in a couple of days. Best wishes and good luck.
------------------
1998-Major rear-end colision
1998-mid2000-Chiropractic care
2000-mid2002-Pain level increased drasticly. No insurance, took a combo of every OTC painreleiver imaginable.
2002-MRI/ L3/L4 and L4/L5 annular bulging; DDD L4-5 and L5-S1
2003 February- Orthopeadic Spinal Surgeon said not a candidate for surgery,Percocet 5/325 every 6 hrs.
2003 June-1 month at PM clinic, Percocet 7.5/325 every 4 hrs.
08JULY2003-Had Discogram, comfirmed ********ming from L4-L5 disc.Followup confirms tear at L4/L5, pushing on a nerve.
JULY2003-Duragesic patch, had allergic reaction, switched to Norco. Norco provides no releif. Dr. wants me to have IDET. NOPE!!
14AUG2003- New PM Dr. switched me to Oxycontin, 20mg/2x a day.
Lorocet+ 2x per day, no releif. Need 3x/day Oxycontin, or ESI's to start to help.
EMG says severe nerve irritation in lower back. Shows legs ok.
06SEPT03-Severe butt/leg/foot pain, suddenly while driveing, feels like constant electrial shock, I am worried about symptom change.
Sept.12,2003-ESI, no releif.
Oct.6,2003-ESI, no releif.
Oct.20,2003-Caudal epidural scheduled. Last one in series. Scared as heck,as I hear they are painful. Decompression considered if Caudal fails. (Non-invasive/fast recovery time)
Surgery is NOT an option at this time, do to meds working great, long recovery time, possible failure and need to have surgery again.
Bcorica
10-22-2003, 10:07 AM
Hi Ken http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif
I am so sorry to hear that you are in alot of pain. Please try to take it easy for the next couple of days, and apply ice, ice & more ice. As hard as it is right now and the way you are feeling, please try to keep your chin up.
Ken, is the nucleoplasty procedure more painful then you thought it would be? I know that you have researched this topic for some time now, and I was wondering if it is what you thought it would be.
Also, you had mentioned that you can't sit at all, why is that? What have you been doing during the day? How long can you stand, sit & lay down for?
After hearing what you are going through, I am not sure if I want to go through with this procedure. However, on the positive side, I am glad to hear that you don't have anymore leg pain. That to me is a good sign! If I could just get rid of my leg, hip, groin & buttock's pain, then I would be good shape.
Ken, please keep us posted on your recovery. I will pray that God will heal you quickly, and get you back on your feet.
Take care,
~Brenda http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif
jchernyb
10-22-2003, 10:45 AM
Ken, I am so sorry that you are having so much pain. I chose to have the endoscopic discectomy on Dec 12th. I hope and pray that I will not have the pain that you are having. I just have not found too many people on this board who have had the PED surgery like I am scheduled for and feedback. Please keep up all posted to your recovery. God speed!
khoff
10-22-2003, 10:48 AM
lg-
yes i am glad i had it done. had contant low back pressue before plus sciatica in both legs.
too soon to tell results. you should plan to be out 4-6 weeks. i am only on day 3, just have to be patient.
brenda-
procedure itself doesnt hurt. just didnt anticipate pain afterwards. can't sit at all. only stand half min at a time. mostly in bed on back. movement with disk hurts.
oakleygirl
10-22-2003, 12:11 PM
ken-
So sorry to hear that the recovery is so painful. Don't feel guilty about the pain medicine - take what you need and don't forget the ice.
You are in my thoughts and prayers-
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
Mary Anne9998
10-22-2003, 01:23 PM
Hey Ken, so glad you are back amoung the living!!!!!Hang in there bud, it will get better, maybe you are hoping for too much too soon, give it some time.
standingman
10-22-2003, 03:23 PM
Hi Ken--As you say, it is _way_ too soon to judge the effectiveness of the procedure--at least six weeks or longer to have any idea of that. So take whatever comfort you can from these messages and take care of yourself as well as you can. And, of course, keep the faith! It sounds like the pain, at least, is getting slightly more bearable each day. Hopefully, that's a sign that other things will improve too, however long it takes. We're a patient lot--we've learned to be!
Hang in and keep us informed,
Standingman
khoff
10-22-2003, 07:25 PM
thank you all for your continuig support, it really helps.
Bcorica - your condition is very very similar to mine.
if you want, visit my profile and send me an email. i can tell you much more info about nucleo, annular tears and what i've learned. if you want we can talk via phone. don't know if moderaors allow it, but hard to write much for me now.
I am glad to hear that you are home. Although our surgery's are much different it does sound as if our pain is the same. My first couple of days home I spent in bed with a good amount of pain medication. Each day did get brighter as it will for you. Your body has bee through a trauma and needs time to recuperate. As previously posted please remember to use the ice.
You are in my prayers for a successful recovery.
------------------
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
Bcorica
10-24-2003, 07:18 PM
Hi Ken http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif
How are things going? Are things getting any better? I am so sorry that you are experiencing a lot of pain. I wish I could make it all go away!
I haven't heard from you in a couple of days, so I am a little worried about you, especially because you have no one helping you out.
Ken, I looked on your profile and it doesn't give out your email address, so I don't know what to do.
Are you having a hard time taking care of yourself? How are you doing as far as making and getting yourself something to eat and drink?
As you can see, I am very concerned that you dont have anyone there to help you. Please post just to let me know that everything is going alright.
I will continue to pray for a quick recovery for you, and I will wait to hear from you.
