First of all i would like to say a big hello to everyone on the this site and am i glad i found this site.
My current nightmare is i am scheduled to have a L4/5 amd L5/S1 decompression and dynesys stabilisation operation and i am just freaked out. I'm constantly worrried about the op and feel i have no support from family or freinds as they do not fully understand what i am going through. I'm in constant pain and have been for 2 years now, i've been through a lot of medication and am currently on morphine sulphate and solpodol but even this is not strong enough and i just don't know what to do.
I'm having this fear that if i go through with the operation i will be left paralysed or that they will mess up the op and i will just be going back to sort the problem out for the rest of my life and that's what scares me the most.
my doc has kind of given up on the medication front and i'm left with severe pain even with medication i am taking as it's not strong enough. I am demoralised as i'm not working because of the pain was a retail manager and after this operation i will have to change my career.
It's like why me! i'm 32 years old and if i get this op done how will it affect me and my lifestyle is it really worth it as i have heard about the horror stories regarding this type of surgery and being paralysed which just freaks me out.
I'm wondering if anybody else has had this surgery and how it's affected them and if everyone thinks it's a good idea to go through with this or should i live with the pain?
Thanks for listening and please tell me what you think everyone.
Supes!

Superman
Welcome. You have found a great place for support. I had the denesyes stablization surgery the end of Feb. I went back to work after 2 weeks which was by my choice. I could not afford to stay home long. I have 6 rods and screws and am progressing right along. When I am at home I do not wear my brace but still wear it at work. I have had my share of problems which you can see in my post op posts. I think I am doing pretty good. They stabilized l4-S1 I have more flexablity than the traditional fusion and in general my nerve pain is gone unless I over do it then I get the leg pain.

Good luck and keep us posted. I will be thinking of you. When is your surgery?

I am also a retail manager and am on my feet alot. I choose to have the surgery as my life style was compromised but I am back at work and loving it.

Hello ,
Im mot sure if your operation requires hardware or anything but DON't WORRY. I just had a surgery 2 weeks ago and felt the EXACT SAME WAY as you . Just go in there , tell then you NEED a valium drip and just get it done with. The hardest part was having that stupid stupid drain tube in my back for a few days in the hospital. And the second hardest part was the morphine withdrawal which made me sick everytime I ate something or even looked at food.

Over all , its not as bad as your making it out to be ..

Good luck

Thanks clover60 and saversano for the reassurance. i still am freaked out about the op but there's nothing i can do about it. I've gotten so used to my medication that it has little effect on me and my doc does not seem to have any ideas about other medication i should have and latelt i'm getting numbing around the leg (thigh area) which only starts when i take my medication. I have told the doc but as before he feels he can't do anything about it. Did either of you have any good pain releif medication? as i can recommend it to my doc. I feel if i try another doc i won't get full co-operation from them as my previous doc. Any Ideas??
Thanks supes

Hello to Everyone

I hit this board looking for something else but my attention was grabbed by (L4-L5) and the back problems. I hope this helps someone. In December of 2003 I had the disks shatter in this location and had both sciatic nerves compressed and the pain was excruciating. I had a diskectomy and was put on a Fentinal Patch (which is morphine) after which I had spinal blocks and other injections until June of 2004. I was put in contact with a Doctor in Indianapolis Indiana who has worked on Sports Professionals and Car Drivers and has a new type of surgery. I had the operation and was down for about six months of lit duty and no heavy lifting. It’s been three years this month, and I just finished 27 holes of Golf. I had the surgery at the age of 60 and I’m still swinging away. Started back at full tilt about 18 months ago. The only pain I had with the surgery was the incision in my stomach. He went in thru the front and only made half inch cuts in my back to put in the pins. The rods he inserted just below my sholderblades and the rods were pushed under the muscle with out having to open up my back. I know it sounds gross, but no more pain meds and I walked out of the hospital on the third day.
Pain will make you try anything, and I’m glad I had the operation.:blob_fire

What an inspirational story. Thank you for sharing RM!! It i so great to hear a positive story and golfing too!! Congrats!!

Hello to Everyone

I hit this board looking for something else but my attention was grabbed by (L4-L5) and the back problems. I hope this helps someone. In December of 2003 I had the disks shatter in this location and had both sciatic nerves compressed and the pain was excruciating. I had a diskectomy and was put on a Fentinal Patch (which is morphine) after which I had spinal blocks and other injections until June of 2004. I was put in contact with a Doctor in Indianapolis Indiana who has worked on Sports Professionals and Car Drivers and has a new type of surgery. I had the operation and was down for about six months of lit duty and no heavy lifting. It’s been three years this month, and I just finished 27 holes of Golf. I had the surgery at the age of 60 and I’m still swinging away. Started back at full tilt about 18 months ago. The only pain I had with the surgery was the incision in my stomach. He went in thru the front and only made half inch cuts in my back to put in the pins. The rods he inserted just below my sholderblades and the rods were pushed under the muscle with out having to open up my back. I know it sounds gross, but no more pain meds and I walked out of the hospital on the third day.
Pain will make you try anything, and I’m glad I had the operation.:blob_fire
RJM, would be interested in knowing more about your surgery. It sounds very intriguing.