Bubbatank
04-24-2007, 05:37 PM
Hi all. I've lurked here before my neck surgery a couple of years ago but this is my first post.
I'm a 47 yr former paramedic. I'm been off the job for 2 years and had C5 -C6 fused about 6 moths later. Did wonderful with it and the state has been paying for me to go back to school. Still had muscle spasms but could live with it.
About 2 months ago, I developed severe lower back pain and had to drop out of school. Now I have had herniated discs, degenerated vertebrates and arthritis in that area for years but the Chiro and pain meds keep the pain down. Any way, went to an Otho and he said to try epidurals as he really didn't want to fuse the lower back. Had 3 epidurals and they brought relief for about a month or so. Now I'm back in pain, can't sleep and don't know what to do. I've started a plan to loose weight, the chiro has me walking (which I do when I feel like it) but I just feel it's not going to get better. So I'm not sure what to do. Should I apply for SS disability? Should I keep going and believe that things will get better? Or should I just give up. I'm a fighter but some times this thing just gets me down. I used to be able to lift anything, do anything and not have to worry about it.
I guess I'm just tired of the fight and don't see any end of the pain in sight. So in addition to any thing you might tell me about SS disability, what else keeps you'll going.
I'm a 47 yr former paramedic. I'm been off the job for 2 years and had C5 -C6 fused about 6 moths later. Did wonderful with it and the state has been paying for me to go back to school. Still had muscle spasms but could live with it.
About 2 months ago, I developed severe lower back pain and had to drop out of school. Now I have had herniated discs, degenerated vertebrates and arthritis in that area for years but the Chiro and pain meds keep the pain down. Any way, went to an Otho and he said to try epidurals as he really didn't want to fuse the lower back. Had 3 epidurals and they brought relief for about a month or so. Now I'm back in pain, can't sleep and don't know what to do. I've started a plan to loose weight, the chiro has me walking (which I do when I feel like it) but I just feel it's not going to get better. So I'm not sure what to do. Should I apply for SS disability? Should I keep going and believe that things will get better? Or should I just give up. I'm a fighter but some times this thing just gets me down. I used to be able to lift anything, do anything and not have to worry about it.
I guess I'm just tired of the fight and don't see any end of the pain in sight. So in addition to any thing you might tell me about SS disability, what else keeps you'll going.
Sponsor
clover60
04-24-2007, 07:28 PM
Welcome
You have come to the right place for great support. We are all going thru different phases of back issues.
I understand about being tired of the whole mess. I have gotten that way a few times myself. I did finally have surgery in Feb and am slowly but surely regaining some of my life back. I am working. Have to admit that my job is not physical so it makes it easier.
Hope you find answers soon I will keep you in my prayers.
You have come to the right place for great support. We are all going thru different phases of back issues.
I understand about being tired of the whole mess. I have gotten that way a few times myself. I did finally have surgery in Feb and am slowly but surely regaining some of my life back. I am working. Have to admit that my job is not physical so it makes it easier.
Hope you find answers soon I will keep you in my prayers.
kkmom
04-24-2007, 09:40 PM
Hello, I just wanted to welcome you to the back boards. You have joined a board with a group of wonderful people. As far as your question for the ssi i believe there is a board on here for that. And I am so sorry for all that you are going through. I hope and pray that things will brighten up for you soon.
Rachel
Rachel
yvette777
04-24-2007, 11:53 PM
Hi nice to meet you. I think ss is very hard to get I applied over a year ago, was rejected and am in the appeal process. hopefully though it will all be healed by then. Wishing you the best, and welcome vette
Tucsonlady40
04-25-2007, 02:56 AM
Hi and welcome to the board,
If your pain is persistant and not getting better, than I would go back to the dr.s and tell him/her. Explain that the epidurals worked for x amount of time and that the pain is back. Stay strong and be determined to get to the bottom of whats going on. You are your best advocate.
Unfortunately this is a long journey with back issues and theres usually not an easy cure. It takes time, and alot of patience.
Are you on any other meds for the nerve pain, like neurontin or lyrica? If not, one of them might work for you. Check with you dr. Just out of curiousity, if you don't mind me asking..... Does your ortho know that your seeing a chiro? Please be careful, with having herniations, they can do more harm than good. It's great that you walk when you can. They say, that it's one of the best things for bad backs.
As far as applying for ssi, go for it, the most that will happen is that you'll be turned down. You might be one of the lucky ones and get accepted though. There is a disability board here that you can get alot of info from.
Take care and good luck to you.
If your pain is persistant and not getting better, than I would go back to the dr.s and tell him/her. Explain that the epidurals worked for x amount of time and that the pain is back. Stay strong and be determined to get to the bottom of whats going on. You are your best advocate.
Unfortunately this is a long journey with back issues and theres usually not an easy cure. It takes time, and alot of patience.
Are you on any other meds for the nerve pain, like neurontin or lyrica? If not, one of them might work for you. Check with you dr. Just out of curiousity, if you don't mind me asking..... Does your ortho know that your seeing a chiro? Please be careful, with having herniations, they can do more harm than good. It's great that you walk when you can. They say, that it's one of the best things for bad backs.
As far as applying for ssi, go for it, the most that will happen is that you'll be turned down. You might be one of the lucky ones and get accepted though. There is a disability board here that you can get alot of info from.
Take care and good luck to you.
ibake&pray
04-25-2007, 09:08 AM
Welcome to our board..
This is a great group of people who have been through the gamut of issues with their backs. Everything from a minor issues to decades of problems. One thing you will find on this board is that the people who frequent it do not give up. We may stumble and stop to catch our breath, we may whine and gritch (that's a cross between a brumble and a b*tch), we may vent and have our own pity party, but we don't give up....especially after only two months. Several folks here have been fightly back issues for decades before they have found relief.
First off I would get another opinion. Then I would lose the chiro. Most back suffers wouldn't let a chiro within a 100 feet of their back as they can do major damage to an area that is already in distress. You said that you had a weight loss plan...are you sticking to it? Are you taking medicine for your never pain? Has your Ortho suggested a Pain Management doctor if he feels that he cannot help you any more? There are alot of options that you can investigate. Are you in Physical therapy? Have you had water therapy? Have you tried a hot tub?
You have to be your own best advocate. Giving up is not going to get you the help you need to regain your life. Nobody cares about your life as much as you do. If you have read through the threads on this board you will find a common theme that runs through them. You have to be informed. You have to stand up for yourself. You have to do your homework and be prepared. You have to fight for what you need. Keep a log of how your pain acts. What you take, what works and what doesn't work. You have to keep going and you have to have patience. This is not going to go away over night-don't we all wish! I have had a 3-level fusion with a back that broke the day after the fusion. I was foreced to get up and walk twice a day for a week with a broken back before my doctor returned and found the break. I am now two years post op and am still recovering from that...patience. I have been told that I will live with some degree of pain all my life. So, you decide when enough is enough. i refuse to give up on my life. I will reshape it to fit who I am today and I will continue to discover who and what I am going to become...but the choice is going to ultimately be yours...but giving up isn't an option in my family.
PLKeae continue to post and visit. We are a great group who have been through just about every concevable proeceedure known to man and woman for backs....:D
This is a great group of people who have been through the gamut of issues with their backs. Everything from a minor issues to decades of problems. One thing you will find on this board is that the people who frequent it do not give up. We may stumble and stop to catch our breath, we may whine and gritch (that's a cross between a brumble and a b*tch), we may vent and have our own pity party, but we don't give up....especially after only two months. Several folks here have been fightly back issues for decades before they have found relief.
First off I would get another opinion. Then I would lose the chiro. Most back suffers wouldn't let a chiro within a 100 feet of their back as they can do major damage to an area that is already in distress. You said that you had a weight loss plan...are you sticking to it? Are you taking medicine for your never pain? Has your Ortho suggested a Pain Management doctor if he feels that he cannot help you any more? There are alot of options that you can investigate. Are you in Physical therapy? Have you had water therapy? Have you tried a hot tub?
You have to be your own best advocate. Giving up is not going to get you the help you need to regain your life. Nobody cares about your life as much as you do. If you have read through the threads on this board you will find a common theme that runs through them. You have to be informed. You have to stand up for yourself. You have to do your homework and be prepared. You have to fight for what you need. Keep a log of how your pain acts. What you take, what works and what doesn't work. You have to keep going and you have to have patience. This is not going to go away over night-don't we all wish! I have had a 3-level fusion with a back that broke the day after the fusion. I was foreced to get up and walk twice a day for a week with a broken back before my doctor returned and found the break. I am now two years post op and am still recovering from that...patience. I have been told that I will live with some degree of pain all my life. So, you decide when enough is enough. i refuse to give up on my life. I will reshape it to fit who I am today and I will continue to discover who and what I am going to become...but the choice is going to ultimately be yours...but giving up isn't an option in my family.
PLKeae continue to post and visit. We are a great group who have been through just about every concevable proeceedure known to man and woman for backs....:D