Hi guys -

I'm new to this board. I found it quite by accident. I've dodged 2 bullets and am trying to dodge a 3rd. I had a L3/L4 laminectomy in 2001 that was so helpful to me. Life was great for a while until August 2002, when I noticed I couldn't climb stairs well and had trouble getting up out of chairs. An MRI showed 2 cervical herniations and I ended up getting a 2 level ACDF C5/6/7 with all the hardware.

The fun part of that surgery was when I woke up, my arms didn't want to work for a while, and my left arm was totally useless. Today, I have it about 95% of my right arm.

Well, here's where the advice and sympathy are needed. :) I have been going through PT and doing everything the docs told me to do and lo and behold, I have another herniation at L4/5. It's a lateral, so it compresses S1 when I stand up and does wicked things down my left leg and to my right foot. My doc has tried treating it with steriod injections, which have removed about 70 % of the pain. I don't cry from the pain when I get up in the morning, which is good. I can make it standing through my shower most mornings.

Here's where I need the advice. I sure would like the pain to be gone. I'm taking 10/325 hydrocodone twice daily to help me out. I'm unsure if this is safe to do over a long period. If I wait 6 months, I can do another series of steriod shots. I'm wondering if anyone out there has had any of the endoscopic procedures or tubular procedures done in their lumbar areas and how the recovery time was.

Also, I did go off the hydrocodone for a week to see what was still hurting. The L4/L5 herniation is causing some lower back pain and my arms and neck and shoulder blades still hurt from the ACDF. Is it common for the ACDF to still hurt after 8 months?

Thanks for listening.

jdog

I'm so sorry to read about your pain. You may also want to try the back board for the lower pain problems. Sympathy is definitely deserved. Each of us has such different pain and recovery. Hope you find answers. You'll find support here but it sounds like you doctor should have given you a few answers by now...
Hang in there, we're a friendly supportive bunch.
Debbie

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Debbie2
ACDF fusion (c5c6) with titanium plate and screws using donor bone -
September 4, 2002.

Debbie -

I should have put a smiley by the sympathy part. I have to admit that after an easy time with my lumbar surgery, I was *NOT* prepared for my body's reaction to the cervical surgery. :)

I had a 2 level ACDF done, with all the lovely hardware. I still have residual pain in my arms and my shoulder blades. Are there exercises to help get ride of it? The vicodin I'm taking for my current herniated lumbar disc masks the ACDF pain right now, though.

It's been a wild ride. I just don't know how surgery #3 will go and if I'll be as lucky as the first 2.

jdog

Debbie,
Hello hon! My prescription for my Vicodin generic is Hydrocodone says no more than 8 pills a day. You dont want this damaging your kidneys or liver. If that is not taking the pain away sounds like you need your pain med switched ;)
Goodluck hon,
Lori

Hi there -

I was the one asking about hydrocodone. What is your dosage? I take 2 pills a day of 10/325 of Hydrocodone/APAP. I'm just wondering if anyone with more experience with pain meds knows if this amount is something I should look out for. I see my GP in 2 weeks, so I'll ask for a liver enzyme test. Thanks for that info.

jdog

JDog,
oops read your post about the Hydroccodone. Ok my script says Hydrocodone APAP 5/500 TA I can take 1 or 2 pills as needed every 4-6 hours no more than 8 per day no other Tylenol Products
Lori ;)

Lori -

I understand now. Your med is 5/500 which means you
have 5 mg of Hydrocodone and 500 mg of Tylenol per pill. I had my doctor reduce my tylenol content because of a 20/20 segment on ABC I saw in Jan/Feb. It said that even taking tylenol as little as twice a week can cause problems for some people, like causing headaches instead of stopping them. My med is 10/325, so I get twice the hydrocodone, but less tylenol.

From what I've read on the board, I just need to watch out for my liver, so I'm going to ask my MD to check liver function and any other tests he wants to run. Stick me like a pin cushion, because I don't want to get any worse. :)

jdog