pebblebeach3

Welcome to the board. Sorry to hear about all your problems.

Here is my story;

-- 1988 traction lumbar bulges;
-- 1994 surgery lumbar herniations;
-- 1995 surgery cervical stenosis;
-- 1997 surgery lumbar w/Harrington Rods;
-- 2000 surgery cervical/thoracic with Harrington Rods;
-- 2003 surgery left leg blood clot;
-- 2006 Spinal Cord stimulator implanted for pain;
-- 2007 pancreactic cancer surgery;
-- 2011 Spinal Cord stimulator removed;
-- 2012 "Trial" Intrathecal Pain pump for pain; morphine pump;
-- 2013 "Permanent" Intrathecal Pain Pump implanted

I have various issues in the spine. There is myelomalcia of the cervical spine; focal cord atrophy; bone spurs; Thoracic there are protrusions/mild bulges and mild stenosis; LUMBAR area there are issues but due to Harrington Rods can not get clear MRI films.

EMG shows severe nerve damage in the neck and low back; arthritis and peripheral neuropathy from spine and diabetes.

Surgically on the neck no one wants to touch me. Too much has been done and too many health risks for more Major surgery.

I heve neuropathy in both legs; left being the worse. Loss of balance issues; feelings of pins and needles in foot/toes. Burning sensation on ocassion.

In the neck I have radiating pain to the shoulers; weakness in the hands/fingers. weakness in the arms. A crushing feeling at times of the spine it feels like my spine is in a vice and someone is crushing it more and more. But that goes and comes.

Not much they can do for the neck.

But what is working for me in the pain area is the intrathecal pain pump. It is a combination of Dilaudid and Bupivacaine which is an anesthetic/epidural type of medication.

In the past I have been on fentanyl patches; neurontin. oxydocone; baclofen; spinal cord stimularot I mentioned above. And also now Hydrocodone and Tizanidine. The intrathecal pain pump is the only thing that I can rave about as to how much it is helping me. I havent felt this good in years.

Good luck in finding an answer to your problems