Curious why a fusion post a laminectomy? And some other general gripping. - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

Backinthesaddle · 06-08-2007, 11:44 AM

Maybe since I am now in the wait and see if Workman's Comp approves the fusion of C6/7 I want to know why the laminectomy done on that area in 2003 didn't work? Im thinking it should have been fused to begin with. I didn't have any pain for a year and then after my slow moving rear ender in 2004 it came back as well as all the c4/5 issues. Seems the doctor only felt the pain was due to the spinal cord being compressed. But after that fusion the pain was still there. Only it was left sided this time. Over the past two years it is in both arms and hands and now I am having foot and leg pain. I take quit a bit of pain meds (thank God I am not an addictive person) and all it ever does is take the edge off. It never ever goes away. I also take the nerve pill and muscle relaxers. Oh goodness I am sick of it all. Why do I still have to go through it??

I am considering a medical disability of the pain does not stop. It is almost impossible for me to continue my fulltime job though now in a light duty position which is stressful (from street cop to dispatcher) the same. I come home to my little boy who is almost two and he takes all the saved energy I have. I flop into bed around 830ish since I get up at 4am and still cannot get a solid nights sleep. I toss and turn and hurt and wake up with either hand asleep or shoulders twitching. I work out every day at work on breaks so noone really knows the pain, if I didn't my arms would be so weak and flaccid. I noticed that either way not working out or working out I hurt the same so why not at least try and keep into shape.

Today I took my son out in the stroller and we walked and did some light slow jogging and stopped to see the animals and felt awesome until I was done. I cannot tell you how much pain I felt afterwards. I took some extra pain meds and a hot bath and feel a bit better but so tired.

Does anyone know how not to feel so tired all the time???? Any suggestions on something to take??? I eat clean most of the time, take a great vitamine and am healthy other then that......

Sick of it in Texas...BITS

SpineAZ · 06-08-2007, 06:39 PM

Often with a laminectomy you can end up with some spinal instability. The fusion provides stability. So my guess is that is what happened - the laminectomy alone did not result in a stable spinal structure.

If it's any help I found a fusion to be a great option. I won't say I'm 100% pain free but I certainly don't think about my neck every day.

If you have Short Term Disability available and you do have a fusion be sure to apply for STD benefits. Most STD and LTD plans will pay you as long as there is medical evidence that you can not do the job you were doing at the time you went out. Often police/fire plans are more generous and look not at the job you are currently doing (dispatcher) but your actual job (street cop).