Has anyone ever noticed that after back surgery for a few months that you feel great and then all of the sudden the all familiar tweaks of pain start again. I have been a newbie here for about a week and have been reading a lot because hey I don't have much else to do. Our stories all seem to be the same in one way or another.It's a viscous cycle once you have one surgery done seems like every couple years another fusion needs to be done. Were back surgeries done so freely 30 years ago as apposed to today? Seems like everyone you meet today has had some sort of back surgery.

Yes I understand completly , what has our life become. It must be those UFO's planting stuff in our spines. At 41 I see more surgeries down the road , I just hope I don't end up in a scooter or chair , you know , you made me love you..:D

I am 37 and so far have had 3 back surgeries and now I need both knees replaced. You never heard of this back in the 70's not at our age.

I'm 41 had 3 spine surgeries , 1 ankle surgery , knee surgery ,tonsils removed, nasal surgery..You never heard of it cause we took care of it ourselves , we were tuffer back then :D

I'm 41 had 3 spine surgeries , 1 ankle surgery , knee surgery ,tonsils removed, nasal surgery..You never heard of it cause we took care of it ourselves , we were tuffer back then :D

Wow, Shawley, I'm more and more impressed by you! You did your own surgery! You da man!!!! Was the peroxide an after treatment from your nasal surgery? (You know that's never going to go away!) You're like my father-in-law. He didn't believe in hospitals. He had a tool sharpening business on the side and if he injured himself, he went in the house and got a needle and thread and stitched himself up! I'm not kidding! It's a wonder he never got an infection!

:D Emily

Sounds like you are talking about me. Surgery in Sept. November I felt pretty good. When surgeon told me I would be out of work until April I looked at him like he was nuts. I figured I would be milking it. Then the end of December it hit me. I've been in horrible pain ever since. Back on Oxycodone. It seems to be normal. I'm 42. I've had 10 surgeries since I was 25 years old. I had 2 major surgeries for ovarian cysts, gallbladder, knee, 2 sinsus surgeries, gastric bypass, gastric bypass revision, ceserean, and back. Number 11 for a torn tendon in my elbow is pending. Can't have it done until the back pain is under control. Never smoked, drank or did drugs. My only addiction is food. Makes you wonder.

No, they didn't do surgery as frequently. I waited 16 yrs before my fusion was done 25 yrs ago and it was only done then because I was bedridden most of the time.

There were no micro surgeries, laproscopes, mri's, ct scans ect ect. Surgeons were more conservative and fewer patients had coverage or the money to pay. Nowadays people are more affluent and see every problem as having a quick solution.

Also surgeries go in and out of vogue. Hysterectomys were all the rage for a couple of decades. Caesarian sections were being done for convenience. It is only of late that spinal surgeries are thought to be done too frequently. Unfortunately spines don't get fixed like removing a gallbladder or appendix and surgery is often a preamble to more surgery down the road.

Also it was quite sometime before MRI research showed that disc herniations were very common throughout the general population often without any symptoms at all. Surgeons don't make any money if they don't do surgery and that is just a matter of fact.

Guess there are another gizillion reason which I just can't think of right now.

What you are saying is so true. As while you read through all the reply posting on this thread. I'm 49 in the next couple of days and I,ve had 3 back operations, 2 operations on my left knee. Right knee is always blowing up and in constant pain as I use it to turn over in bed and its helps me get out of the car. So its under pressure all the time. 2 shoulder operations and last one on the left shoulder is causing so much trouble, so after easter I will be going to get it checked out again. Arthritic fingers and hands. Bunions on both feet. And when you go to the ER the doctors and nurses look at you like you're a drug seeker. I have been on panadine forte since 92 so I really wonder what they are doing to me in the long run. But without them I wouldn't be out of bed most days. So we have to take the bad with the bad and get on as good as our bodies will allow us to. Well all us back pain sufferers have a good Easter (Not that I'm religious) and take care. The Tattman. :wave:

Things also are happening to younger adults. My Dr's keep telling me I am to young to have the things wrong with me that I do. The back and my knees, I am 37 now but these things started to happen in my mid to late 20's. I did not ask for these things I tell them :rolleyes:

I hate to say this but there is probably truth in it, and the truth isn't neccessarily pretty.


A significant percentage of pregnancies end in natural abortion, probably largely due to unhealthy foetuses. While us humans can't affect the health of most unborn babies what we can do - more and more - is save the lives of unhealthy born babies.

I know that I was an unhealthy baby, and would have died as an infant if I had been born 40?...50? years ago. But thanks to modern technology I grew up an unhealthy child and, among many other things, developed severe back problems in my mid teens. My assertion, then, is that a statistically significant percentage of people on these forums were unhealthy babies.

This would partly explain the previous commenters comment. I'm 27 and this is my third back problem.

Is it worth it? I'm not so sure!

No offense to all you unhealthy babies on here..lol but modern medicine does keep babies alive that otherwise would die. The human race has to be getting weaker because natural selection has been interfered with.

For instance diabetes is much more prevalent because the unhealthy gene is passed down to children and they in turn have families and that gene gets passed along instead of dying out as it would have if purely natural selection was in play. The more we cure disease of genetic nature the greater the population of sick human beings. Of course it would be inhumane to do otherwise. Yes we are getting a sicker and sicker gene pool.

For instance diabetes is much more prevalent because the unhealthy gene is passed down to children and they in turn have families and that gene gets passed along instead of dying out as it would have if purely natural selection was in play.

This accounts for type 1, so unless type 1 diabetics reproduce much more rapidly the proportion of them will remain unchanged in society.
Type 2 is the one to do with lifestyle and diet, which is on the increase.

Sorry to quarrel but that's completely different to back problems.

I just told my daughter I am the bionic woman, she doesn't know what that is lol. But on my xrays, you can see my fusion, my staples from my gall bladder and my breast implants...I'm turning bionic!!!

Peanut

Type 2 diabetes has a stronger genetic basis than type 1, yet it also depends more on environmental factors. This is not an contradiction but what the latest research indicates. North Americans are more likely to develop diabetes 2 because of diet. I am the daughter of a mother with type 2 diabetes. Genetics play a stronger role but you can offset the risk of diabetes 2 by changing your diet and lifestyle. I would post numerous articles to support this fact but direct links to data are not permitted on this site.

Now on the subject of back problems. Our forefathers had to be physically active from a very young age. Perhaps tv remotes, video games and inactivity play a larger role than genetics. Strong muscles provide support for our spines and without them the spine is very prone to injury.

Back to the original observation! Yes surgery is performed at a much higher rate than years ago.

I stand corrected. I didn't know that about type 2.
On the other hand, the genetic factors could always have been there, and we're only now seeing those genetic factors because of our modern diet?

yvette777

Did your implants have a role in causing your back problem?

I think that people who are replying on this thread should stick to the point. If you want to talk about other things go to the right sites. Diabetes and sick babies are totally separate issues. The threat title should be followed which was basically, have you noticed that when one part fails then it keeps on going. So this is a really goood thread with a good point and its being spoilt. What is happening to a good thread being taken over with someone own personal gripes. So please don't ruin this thread as it has good information to help others. Go to the you section on Diabetes and Childrens health and have your say on those pages please. The Tattman :wave:

Sorry, tattman.

I would argue that Diabetes and sick children is entirely relevant to how many people have back surgery today vs. 30 years ago.

I am not sure how the topic title "Has anyone ever noticed?" can be anything but a personal gripe zone in the sense that any 'information' posted doesn't help anyone with their health except through connecting with other similar individuals - which is exactly what we are doing!

Anyhow; apologies.
I shall bow out myself.

Gee,

I thought it was just a good spirited thread with a little food for thought thrown in. Let's not read personal gripes into it.

I had my fusion in 97 and I felt great after it, then all the pain came back I was going to have a second one so he could take the rods and screws out and when I was there for the pre surgical visit he said somethings and I cancled the surgery untill I got another opnion. That Dr. did not even want my case, and that I am done. As he said so at this point I will not let another Dr. touch me (except my PM) then I was lucky to hurt my neck lol. I often ask why me then say "Hey someone has to have this" lol.

L4-L5 L5-S1 fused rods lamenectomy anteria approch also they did a bang up job lol

I didn't read every reply, so please forgive me if I am repeating something.

How many of us were athletic as young teens? I was in competetive gymnastics and swimming, even did a little track and field. I know my first back surgery (in 1992) was a direct result of a bad landing off the Uneven Parallel Bars.

My "baby" sister was the fastest softball pitcher our hometown has ever known. She has had several shoulder and elbow surgeries as direct result of overuse in sports.

Don't get me wrong, I adore sports, competitive especially and my kids have been involved in many throughout the years. Just wondering if the increase in back surgeries (or whatever surgery) could be as mine was, the result of overuse and not so great coaching?

Interesting topic!!!

Hugs,
Vickie

P.S. Oops, veered off the main topic, kinda. What I was trying to say is: Our generation, especially the women, were more involved in sports than in previous generations. And, in the early inclusion of many women's sporting events, my experience was that the coaching left a bit to be desired, to say the least. Hope this makes sense as my Oxycodone is kicking in now, LOL!!

Now on the subject of back problems. Our forefathers had to be physically active from a very young age. Perhaps tv remotes, video games and inactivity play a larger role than genetics. Strong muscles provide support for our spines and without them the spine is very prone to injury.

yes you are right they were more active and overall generally more evened out on muscle use/ strength. Balance is very important to overall health. over use or over do and you pay the price for it. sports injuries are very much a part of that. you can not push your body to the limits without building a good base first. and strengthening everything on top of that, streching is so under utilized even those that stretch prior to excercise. they see it as a way to prevent a specific injury, not looking at it as balancing the workout. I learned that my SI problem and resulting L6 (Yes I mean L6) hernitation was from over strengthened muscles that had no flexibility. and I now beleive had I spent an hour or so a day stretching EVERY muscle that I would have bounced back from my fall with just soreness. I discovered yoga and toss out the looney visuals you get when you think of yoga. I have a sacroiliac joint that comes loose a herniated disk some torn muscles rubbing in the lats and went from unable to walk a hundred yards without rest, to now being able to lift 40000 lbs a day again.
yoga is kind of like strenghtening through stretches. I avoided surgery that was told to be my only possible releif. I am vigilant in my stretching and do a hundred crunches and leg lifts a day on top of my very physical job.

you need to look at the body as a whole interconnected machine everything has to be in tune or you will break at the weakest link. its not the accident sometimes but how your body was prior to it. if you are loosened up relaxed then you are unlikely too pull or rip something. I wish I could explain this point better. but as you are fusing away you are putting an uneven strain on something else. or you may have to "favor" a portion of your body. that explains the accelerated wear and tear elsewhere you are taking away flexibility and stressing other parts as a result.

some doctors do not even understand the mechanics of the body example the SI joint. the prudendle nerve, etc..
there is a muscle that goes from your inner thigh through the pelvic girdle and attaches to the lumbar pull any of these things and you are sure to receive a misdiagnoisis.
the body is very complex and unless there is absulte proof that what is wrong is what they are saying its mostly an educated guess. yes they see hundreds of the same thing and if it walks like a duck ....
but medicine is constantly evolving. new treatments and new ways of looking at an issue.

fussing vertebrea will cause strain on the other vertebrea. the need for an alternative to fusion is great. the body was designed to flex.

I spent over 4 years educating myself on the spine. after a slip and fall in 99' that I was told would end my carreer, and Id always walk with a cane, for bouts of no more than a few hundred feet at time. and surgery was the only cure. albeit the outcome would be uncertain.
after a year and a half of ungodly pain I found a doctor that understood si a bit more started my education on it and I have learned soooo much more since then.
I really feel awfull for those in pain esp the back. the 1-10 scale doesnt even come close to the compexity of back pain. and its limiting effects toward meaniful recovery. I wish you all releif from the pain.
I understand that most can not atempt to rehab the spine and are way past that point but there are others that may benefit from expanding on the excercises that physical therapy gives you and realize those are modified yoga exercises. treat the whole body not just the injured area that was just the weakest link but by far not the only weakness instabiliy

I hate to say this but there is probably truth in it, and the truth isn't neccessarily pretty.


A significant percentage of pregnancies end in natural abortion, probably largely due to unhealthy foetuses. While us humans can't affect the health of most unborn babies what we can do - more and more - is save the lives of unhealthy born babies.

I know that I was an unhealthy baby, and would have died as an infant if I had been born 40?...50? years ago. But thanks to modern technology I grew up an unhealthy child and, among many other things, developed severe back problems in my mid teens. My assertion, then, is that a statistically significant percentage of people on these forums were unhealthy babies.

This would partly explain the previous commenters comment. I'm 27 and this is my third back problem.

Is it worth it? I'm not so sure!

Interesting. I was a sickly baby too. Almost died at 3 months from some virus. I am the only one out of three sisters that has had 10 surgeries. All for various parts of the body. You never know. Maybe our resistance is always low. Who knows.

the sick or premie thing has been verified in medicine. at least I am certain the premie thing has been. you start out being undersized and strugling to stay alive without everything properly developed and statisticly you go through life a little weaker smaller. there are bound to be problems if you do not start the race with the same tools the others have.

This is a really interesting thread, incoporating things I've thought zbout a lot...I don't know about changes in the past 40 yrs, but in the past 150years there's been many....

Back problems, as my dad says, are in us, because essentially we're meant to be on 4 legs not two. Just as we lost our tails to help us balance whilst standing...I imagine a couple of million years from now, something will help us with our change to a "sitting" lifestyle.

Exercise - Yes, we all have the luxury of time to exercise now, but it doesn't compensate for the "exercise" our ancestors (I'm talking 100+yrs ago) had. Very few of us lead as active lifestyles. Think how many men did hard physical labour (often while crouched in mines etc..) and how many women too, in terms of housework, (sweeping - no vacuum cleaners, scrubbing, polishing) which was much more strenuous in the past.

Of course, there's also the role of posture. I don't know about you guys, but I often look around in the town and notice the dreadful posture of people sitting in cafes, walking in the streets...me included!

Then there's the aging population. If 150yrs ago life expectancy was less then people were dying before reaching the typical age of back problems of 60+yr olds today.

Then there's simply the "stiff upper lip". No surgical options available to most and not a society for complaining or seeking treatment. perhaps in severe cases they simply amputated the limbs...yikes! But then I'm sure there was a higher number of hump-backs, and spinal deformities that were caused solely by this type of "pain-management".

Its funny because I'm sure there were women out there 150 years ago with my kind of problems at my age (30) and I've no idea what they would have done...but then I guess I may well have had 6 children by now and could just have likely died in childbirth...

Who knows, Great thread,
Jinks

and they say child birth is a wonderful "natural" thing seems to me after youve created an offsring nature is through with you purpose served.
it wreaks havok on the female body or host. I am really supprised so many come out fairly unharmed. though I suspect there are lingering problems.
gotta hand it to women I would not want to go through that. and most know what is going to happen prior :eek: I had the epidurals and the hip pain common in pregnancy prior to my wife getting that and I felt so for her just with those two things. and that is not even a big part of the ordeal :eek:
thanks but you can have multple births Id stop at one if any at all

what sort of pain were yoou nhaving in your knees? do u think it was related to ur back surgeries?

Hi harley, I have osteoarthritis in both knees also a degenerative disease. I have DDD (degenerative disc disease) I have to go tomorrow for an MRI on both knees to see what is next. I did the synvisc on both knees with no success. My Dr. said arthroscopy wont work for me and he feels I am to young for knee replacement I am 37 so I guess we wait and see how much damage there is in the knees. He did say If I was to have surgery It will be a very painful recovery because of all the drugs I am on now. I feel that I just have bad joints I am degenerating at a young age not necessarily connected with my back.My orthopaedic says it's rare for him to see a patient with both knees this bad at the same time. Are you having knee pain harley?
:wave: Kelly

Hi IHTBP (Kelly)~

Good luck tomorrow; I'm thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers.

Let us know how things are progressing.

Love

~Cornelia~
203
Thank you so much, I should have results in about a week
Kelly
;)