Hi , another question for you all. Would it be ok to call my surgeon's office and ask what he thinks of my MRI's And CT's ? My last visit was worthless because where I had my MRI & CT's the place never sent the films to him. So my wife mailed them to him the other day.

I really want to know why am I still hurting and if my fusion has healed yet. It's really depressing because I don't get a straight answer , I ask him if I am fusing and he says yeah , then I say so I'm fused you can remove the hardware because thats what has to be giving me my pain. Then he says well I'm not so sure if your completly healed ??? I hate that. He said he would know more from my MRI and CT. Whats your thoughts ?

Thank you all and wishin you all the best :)

:wave: Shawley -- I most certainly would call and talk to you doctor and explain that this is really bothering you and you want to know. However, be prepared he may want to see you in person to review the results rather than give the information over the phone. I can tell you my doctor would probably want to see me in person. Whenever, I call with a question he has a tendency to say come on in and let's talk or let me examine you.

I say go for it!! The worst that can happen is he can give you the answers you so desperately need.

Pepper , my Dr.'s office is to far for me to just go see him , we are battling bills and my vehicle is broke down.
My next visit with him is in March and I don't want to wait that long :confused: . I'm going crazzy not knowing whats going on , If I was fusing my back wouldn't be hurting right ? I still have this tired aching in my fusion area , always feels tired and heavy. Sound to me its not working and thats why I want to know.

Thanks for posting Pepper :)

Shawley - For your peace of mind, I would call your spinal surgeon. I wish I could give you some much needed answers but unfortunately I can't. All I can offer you is my support. Now go call him and be sure to post and let us know what happened. :D

:( Ok I will around 10:00am and will let you know what he says.Shawley - For your peace of mind, I would call your spinal surgeon. I wish I could give you some much needed answers but unfortunately I can't. All I can offer you is my support. Now go call him and be sure to post and let us know what happened. :D

Shawley, remember it takes far longer to heal than you think. You look good outside, but the inside is still upset and in need of help healing.

I think you should call your doc. Give yourself peace of mind.

Hi , I called but they haven't recieved my films yet , they said as soon as the Dr. gets em and reads them they will call me. :) I was told that if your going to fuse its going to take up to 6-12 months no longer , but maybe in my case it will be longer , I'm not so sure of anything anymore, Thanks for your help

Hey Shawley,
I'm supposedly fused, but at only 4 months post-op I'm hesitant to think that I've got a good solid fusion in there. It looks fantastic on the x-rays. But I do still have pain, still on Vicodin with no date in sight for getting off it. Sounds like a lot of your pain is nerve pain. If your hardware is holding up, even if you're not fused, that area shouldn't be the source of your pain. Maybe nerves, maybe scar tissue, maybe a lot of things. I really hope you've got some invisible-to-the-xray fusing going on in there. But fusing or not, you can still have lots of pain from those nerves and scar tissue.

Okay, I don't really know what the point of this post was supposed to be. Not very uplifting. Sorry. But please know that well wishes are speeding toward you through cyberspace! Hope you can get some answers from your doc! Let us know, please!

Blessings,
Emily

Emily I will always have nerve pain because of the damage I have. I know you can have pain and be fused. I just want to be fused so much. Alot of it is because of workers comp issues I need to fuse. :rolleyes:
Thanks for your post and prayersHey Shawley,
I'm supposedly fused, but at only 4 months post-op I'm hesitant to think that I've got a good solid fusion in there. It looks fantastic on the x-rays. But I do still have pain, still on Vicodin with no date in sight for getting off it. Sounds like a lot of your pain is nerve pain. If your hardware is holding up, even if you're not fused, that area shouldn't be the source of your pain. Maybe nerves, maybe scar tissue, maybe a lot of things. I really hope you've got some invisible-to-the-xray fusing going on in there. But fusing or not, you can still have lots of pain from those nerves and scar tissue.

Okay, I don't really know what the point of this post was supposed to be. Not very uplifting. Sorry. But please know that well wishes are speeding toward you through cyberspace! Hope you can get some answers from your doc! Let us know, please!

Blessings,
Emily

Shawley -- don't know if this will help you feel any better or not, but my doc says it can take up to 18 months for a good solid fusion.

He went on to say that if they needed to take out the screws for some reason, I would have to wait at least 18 months before removal because he does not want to risk interferring with the fusion in anyway.

Hi Pepper, I just looked up the date on my revision (fusion) it was October 17th 2005 15 months ago , so it's not looking very good. My surgeon wants to remove my hardware alos.

Its stinks , thanks for your help Pepper :) Shawley -- don't know if this will help you feel any better or not, but my doc says it can take up to 18 months for a good solid fusion.

He went on to say that if they needed to take out the screws for some reason, I would have to wait at least 18 months before removal because he does not want to risk interferring with the fusion in anyway.

Shawley -- I am trying real hard to give you some positive hopes. What are you worried about???? ........ on my count you have at least 3 more months to fuse. :D

Pepper I'm sorry , I know your trying to help me , but it's very hard to think positive after 4 years of this back O mine. Thanks for your positive attitude maybe it will rub off onto me ?
Thanks 3 months to go :rolleyes:

Pepper I'm sorry , I know your trying to help me , but it's very hard to think positive after 4 years of this back O mine. Thanks for your positive attitude maybe it will rub off onto me ?
Thanks 3 months to go :rolleyes:

I know it is hard to be positive but my job is to make you chuckle from time to time.

You do Pepper , you Carol and the rest of the ladies make my day on here. Thank you very much. :) I know it is hard to be positive but my job is to make you chuckle from time to time.

Shawley, perhaps with the ADD you have trouble with concentrating on fusing? :rolleyes:

Why does the doc want to remove your hardware? If you aren't fused I would think that that would be what is holding you together, so to speak.

My surgeon told me that he could remove my hardware, but in my case he prefers not to touch my back again unless something happened. And to be totally honest, I don't want him touching me either...that would be a bad touch! LOL

Ibake,
Thats probably why I can't fuse (ADD):D My Dr. wants to remove my hardware when I fuse and If I fuse , because he thinks maybe I'm getting pain from them . I'm not sure what he has planned anymore , as long as he don't give up on me .

Thanks for asking :)

AHA! You are his guinnea pig. He is plotting all sorts of hardware experiments on you! He is going to build the leaning tower of Shawley!

I know. My doctor said (and he has lousy bed side manner) that ethically he needed to tell me that my hardware could be removed. BUT he personally didn't want to touch it. I don't know if it is my charming personality that stopped him from wanting to take it out or the fact that i didn't sue him or that i looked like i was going to bite him...hmm.

Personally I will NOT take it out unless it starts presenting with severe issues. I have had two major surgeries in one week, same incision line. Now there is nerve damage that may never resolve itself because the nerves were cut twice. My left leg is the worse, next to my lower abdominal area. ALL parts of it. (Figure that one out yourself. ;) )

Oink oink :D thats funny but No he just thinks my hardware could be pushing on my nerves because he can't see around my screw because its so blotted from the metal. AND he said that some people just get pain from metal in their body. So I am having severe issues with my back and hip /legs and feet . I been cut 3 times in the same area to but not so close in time. Seem's like every year I have back surgery :confused:

I also have nerve damage . When I walk my left foot and leg besides hurting, gets really weak . Its a strange feeling like I struggle to lift it ???

Have a great one "leaning tower of shawley" OMG !!!

I know what you mean about the foot. When my back broke I lost use of the left leg. IT has been a struggle to get it back up and running. Now I could kick backwrds, but not forwards. So I told folks that if they want me to kick someone they have to put them behind me. LOL

I find that when i get tired when I walk my left foot just sort of flops itself down on the floor instead of the proper heel toe roll. So we have flop roll flop roll flop roll. we actually get a pretty good rhythem going. I wonder if there is a need for us in a band?

You notice this is in cursive to go with your tilt, leaning shawley!
Never underestimate the power of a woman with rods and screws in her back!

Power rods screws and cages activate ! I feel like a super hero :) But yeah when I walk I start dragging my foot ,seems it gets heavy or weak. I almost fall because of it to. I was thinking about asking my Dr. for a handycap permit so I don't have to park far away at the store , because it stinks walking and hurting . I feel stupid to ask though like I'm not bad enough cause I'm in no wheelchair or walker..Ya know ?

I never underestimate any woman :rolleyes:

My doctor gave me the 6th month permit. I had that for 3-6 month sessions. Now he just gave up and gave me the permanent one. If I am having a bad day I use it. If it's an OK day, I don't. But it is a blessing to have it. Please ask for one.

Hi Guys,
Reading back at your posts the feeling with your feet and legs, that flop roll flop roll of your foot, thats what my foot has been doing this past week or soo. but only when I do stuff. If I start to be active, now I dont' mean running the mile in 5.5 minutes, I'm talking like vacuming the carpet or making dinner then my foot starts to get heavy and floppy and my leg feels weak like it weighs a thousand pounds. I could never get the right words to describe it until you guys did for me.

Well the kicking backwards will come in handy I'm sure! Hey we can be like the show Heros!!!

Shawley, get that darn parking pass, stop being a stuborn fuzzy shriveled grey peach, I couldn't resist but I"m not geting anyone into trouble anymore. The parking pass will be a blessing, I have had mine for 3 yrs now, like bake& pray I dont' always use mine either.

Thanks for giving me the words to describe my problem to the doc!

God Bless

Carol

Had to use the peach color here , yeah I just might ask my Dr. about it. I'm excited for Pepper she has a date with surgery :) . Have you read her post ??

Ya'll know my back and neck hurts right ? I never mentioned my nasal infection I think I have , your going to laugh but I took a dixie cup , put some water and proxide in it and poured it up my nostral and all this foam came squirting out ! It scared me to death..I thought it was going to kill me:) I just wanted to share that funny story that happen to me today

LOL!! Where was my web cam, when I needed it?? LOL

I just can't imagine you in real life!!

I think you need to ask you doctor for a brain transplant!!

I am thinking I might talk to my doctor about a handicapp pass. That is an excellent idea.

Well DUH! LOL:rolleyes: Try putting it in your ear and listen to the roar! I can see that you shouldn't be left home alone for any length of time. SHEESH!!!

I am so glad for Pepper. Relief is in sight.....

Please please all you martyrs..get handicapped tags. they cost $10 here in VA and they are a life saver. Especially when it looks like it's another continent to the store! It's bad enough going out with out using the help avialable.

There will be no shrinking violets here. No pity parties allowed without prior and long term back pain..and certainly no hang-tag less injured!

The temporary one here in VA is only $5 and so worth it. It's not the walking as much as the getting in and out of the car. With the "no twisting" thing, if someone parks too close to you, you'll never get back into your car, or you'll hurt yourself doing it. The handicapped spaces are considerably wider, so yo can get your car door all the way open and not have to twist at all. And if you qualify for the permanent one, $10 is chump change for something that will help you so much!

Ya'll know my back and neck hurts right ? I never mentioned my nasal infection I think I have , your going to laugh but I took a dixie cup , put some water and proxide in it and poured it up my nostral and all this foam came squirting out ! It scared me to death..I thought it was going to kill me:) I just wanted to share that funny story that happen to me today

Shawley, this is NOT good for my back! I laughed so hard my muscles went into spasms! And why did you do this? Were you just bored and saw the peroxide sitting there and thought, gee, I think I'll pour this in my nose? Or was it an interesting science experiment you came across? And did you get it on video? You might make a bunch of money on America's Funniest Home Videos! Think of the bills you could pay. Maybe you should do it again. :D

You're a character! :) Thanks for the funny story! Spasms or not, it's good to laugh!

You take care, and have a good day!
Emily

Oh man I never thought of video taping that , but then again I didn't know what would happen. I figured proxide is good for infections right ? :dizzy: I couldn't believe it , it looked like soap suds pouring out of my nose. I probably could of won first place on america's funniest video's .

My mother-in-law is always laughing at some of the things I do to :rolleyes: ? I could tell you about the oral gel, and where I put that ..:cool: just to let you know I had my rear soaking in the tub.
Oh yeah it's no good for hemroids !

Thats all !

:eek: LOL. You truly do need adult supervision. Try mentholatum if you really want a refreshing experience! Feel the burn! I'm afraid to ask what you would do with athlete's foot cream...

Jill , no atheletes cream for me, your right hard to tell what I would do with it? :dizzy: That was when I was in my 20's I'm a little more wise at 41 , just a little :)

Shawley,
You are so funny. When the pain is really getting me and I am trying to stay upbeat I go back and read some of your posts and have to laugh. Although laughing hurts it is worth it.

So did the Dr get your films and read them yet?

Thanks for all the good laughs

Sandy

Sandy ,
Thanks , I like to make people feel good , laughter ect..ect..my mother in law gets a kick out of me to , she can't stop laughing some days I get her going she pee's her pants from laughing, Some days I do find it hard to be funny , I'm sure you know. I'm going to pick up my CT around 1:30pm
today , I have to go to wallyworld to take back some jogging pants my daughter got me for xmass , way to big .

Remeber Laughter is always good for the heart :)