Senior Veteran

Posts: 570
From:San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 06-19-2003 02:56 AM            

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Hi all,
I just found this very interesting article on back surgery and thought I'd share it here....
http://www.spinecenter.com/MISS%20vs%20OSS/knifeinback.pdf

Telzey

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4 years of back pain
Annular tear L5-S1 diagnosed 5/02 via MRI
IDET 12/2/02
1/26/03 Posterior disc prolapse occurs after sitting too long after walking. Causes new pain down left leg.
3/1/03 Leg pain reduced with exercises from the book "Treat Your Own Back" by Robin McKenzie.
3/9/03 New buttock and thigh pain and numbness.
3/25/03 Used McKenzie techniques to treat buttock and thigh pain -- pain reduced
4/4/03 Started physical therapy
5/8/03 Still worse than pre-IDET, but showing slow improvement with PT, McKenzie exercises, yoga, and Hanna Somatics exercises
5/30/03 PT suggests buttock and thigh pain may be from facet joint

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 570
From:San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 06-19-2003 11:46 AM            

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BUMP for ChristinaD...

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 1784
From:New York, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 06-19-2003 02:43 PM            

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Hi Telzey,

Thank you for posting this, it was a very interesting article

I wish I had seen this long ago, "Trisha's" story sounds much like mine, now worse since surgery

I hope all is well with you and I will catch you soon.

Be Well,
Baxter

------------------
Two level laminectomy fusion L5-S1 & L2-3 done on 12/6/02.
I regret the day that I agreed to have this surgery.
Fifteen inch scar from the very top of butt crack (sorry), to the bra line.
BAK cages, rods & screws.(Titanium)
My pelvic bone was used for grafting.
Praying that the other two discs in between, won't have to be fused later, as I was told it was a possibility, due to the other two discs in between, not being in that great of shape.
Doc didn't want to fuse four levels, unless it is really necessary.
I would hate to repeat the surgery, as the recovery period, is so very painful.
I also have a free fragment in my T11-12 area, that I'm still refusing surgery for, at this point in time.
That surgery is way too dangerous for me to consider, until if affects my being able to walk.

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 570
From:San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 06-20-2003 09:37 PM            

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Hi Baxter!
I'm glad you found the article interesting! Yes, I too wish I had read it before I went down this road.

How are you doing? I am afraid I am not keeping up with the boards as well as I should, and I am missing a lot of posts.

Last I remember, you had some good news on your insurance claim, is that right??? I hope so, because you deserve nothing but the best of news. How are you feeling these days? Any improvement?

I am still the same as I have been the past month, but my physical therapist keeps saying I'm a lot better, and she's so optimistic that I can't help catching some of that!! She says my muscle tone is much, much better than it was 2 months ago. And I say, yes, I've noticed that, but I still have PAIN!!!

But today she noticed the way I stood may be exacerbating the pressure on my facet joints, so I am trying a new way of standing and walking!!! We'll see what that does!!

I am praying for you all the time, my dear. I do hope you start seeing some relief very very soon.

Best,
Telzey

------------------
4 years of back pain
Annular tear L5-S1 diagnosed 5/02 via MRI
IDET 12/2/02
1/26/03 Posterior disc prolapse occurs after sitting too long after walking. Causes new pain down left leg.
3/1/03 Leg pain reduced with exercises from the book "Treat Your Own Back" by Robin McKenzie.
3/9/03 New buttock and thigh pain and numbness.
3/25/03 Used McKenzie techniques to treat buttock and thigh pain -- pain reduced
4/4/03 Started physical therapy
5/8/03 Still worse than pre-IDET, but showing slow improvement with PT, McKenzie exercises, yoga, and Hanna Somatics exercises
5/30/03 PT suggests buttock and thigh pain may be from facet joint

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 1784
From:New York, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 06-21-2003 01:00 PM            

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Hi Telzey,

Thank you for asking about me short version; pain still the same LTD still in appeal, SSD still in process.

Mentally, I'm much better, I have agreed to accept a settlement from the other drivers insurance company, so hopefully in a few weeks, I will be able to pay off alot of my bills, that part was eating away at me every minute of the day especially since I still have zip for incoming income.

This board and the support that I get here, is the only thing that helped me get this far, and for that, I'm so very thankful

You sound like you are smiling again, and that makes me very happy to hear.

I hope they can get your facet problems taken care of, so you can get back to the good life, and you know that I'm praying very hard for you as well, and I will continue to do so

Please take it easy, and I hope that you have a very peaceful weekend.

Be Well,
Baxter

------------------
Two level laminectomy fusion L5-S1 & L2-3 done on 12/6/02.
I regret the day that I agreed to have this surgery.
Fifteen inch scar from the very top of butt crack (sorry), to the bra line.
BAK cages, rods & screws.(Titanium)
My pelvic bone was used for grafting.
Praying that the other two discs in between, won't have to be fused later, as I was told it was a possibility, due to the other two discs in between, not being in that great of shape.
Doc didn't want to fuse four levels, unless it is really necessary.
I would hate to repeat the surgery, as the recovery period, is so very painful.
I also have a free fragment in my T11-12 area, that I'm still refusing surgery for, at this point in time.
That surgery is way too dangerous for me to consider, until if affects my being able to walk.

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 570
From:San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 06-22-2003 07:28 PM            

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Hi Baxter
Great to hear from you!!! I'm so glad to hear you finally are getting a settlement from the other driver's insurance company. It must be a relief to know you can pay some of your bills. It makes me really unhappy when I am behind on my payments; my parents brought me up to always pay my debts, so I feel bad when circumstances prevent me from paying. I completely understand how you feel! I think it's kind of an old-fashioned ethic though, <sigh>.

I'm sorry your pain is continuing. I am having good days and bad days still. Today I am in a lot of pain (in my back and especially down my leg) because yesterday I went on an outing with my church and walked a little more than I should have (it was only .3 of a mile, but it was too much for me, sigh) so I am paying for it today. But it was worth it to be able to go out. And I am so much better than I was 3 months ago, so I am definitely happier!

I'm waiting for the day when I can say, I am now back to where I was before I made that dumb decision to have surgery!!!!! Hopefully it will come soon!!!

Wishing you healing and reduction in pain,

Love and hugs,
Telzey

------------------
4 years of back pain
Annular tear L5-S1 diagnosed 5/02 via MRI
IDET 12/2/02
1/26/03 Posterior disc prolapse occurs after sitting too long after walking. Causes new pain down left leg.
3/1/03 Leg pain reduced with exercises from the book "Treat Your Own Back" by Robin McKenzie.
3/9/03 New buttock and thigh pain and numbness.
3/25/03 Used McKenzie techniques to treat buttock and thigh pain -- pain reduced
4/4/03 Started physical therapy
5/8/03 Still worse than pre-IDET, but showing slow improvement with PT, McKenzie exercises, yoga, and Hanna Somatics exercises
5/30/03 PT suggests buttock and thigh pain may be from facet joint

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 1784
From:New York, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 06-22-2003 07:46 PM            

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Hi Telzey,

I hope that you can get some extra sleep in tonight to get your body back in shape you don't want to be dragging, especially on a Monday.

I'm glad that you had a good time, one day, we will both be able to fully do the things that we used to enjoy, I refuse to accept anything less !!

Yes, being able to settle my case is a huge relief for me, the accident happened in 7/00, so it's been a very long road, which I'm happy to be exiting.

I'm glad that you at least get in a few good days, just remember how bad you were before, and I'm sure that pulls you through the day somehow.

In time, I do believe that we all will get much better, we just have to keep believing that, and doing the best we can for ourselves now.

I'm still praying that you can find that total relief

Have a super week

Be Well,
Baxter

------------------
Two level laminectomy fusion L5-S1 & L2-3 done on 12/6/02.
I regret the day that I agreed to have this surgery.
Fifteen inch scar from the very top of butt crack (sorry), to the bra line.
BAK cages, rods & screws.(Titanium)
My pelvic bone was used for grafting.
Praying that the other two discs in between, won't have to be fused later, as I was told it was a possibility, due to the other two discs in between, not being in that great of shape.
Doc didn't want to fuse four levels, unless it is really necessary.
I would hate to repeat the surgery, as the recovery period, is so very painful.
I also have a free fragment in my T11-12 area, that I'm still refusing surgery for, at this point in time.
That surgery is way too dangerous for me to consider, until if affects my being able to walk.

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Junior Member

Posts: 20
From:rockled fl usa
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 06-22-2003 09:38 PM            

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thank you for sharing that article it was very informative and much of the information i highly agreed with especially the part about the surgeons not telling about all the risks or complications that may arise as a result of the operations. if my doctor showed me a film on what the operation involved i may not have wanted to go through with the op. i did anyway and the surgery has helped me some. however, i may need more operations but fear becoming a spinal surgery 'junkie'

[This message has been edited by miss mitzi (edited 06-23-2003).]

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 570
From:San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 06-27-2003 08:32 PM            

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**BUMP** for Starr

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Member

Posts: 28
From:NY
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 06-29-2003 02:24 PM            

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hi telzey,
thanks for the article it was informative and rings true to the problems with our so called medical care. It's all about the mighty dollar. I just wounder how these people in high places sleep at night(probably very comfortable in their million dollar homes .)
I am facing fusion per my MD although he is not promising that this is an absolute sure thing of fixing my pain. He did thankfully tell me the downside if I proceed with the fusion.
It's the WC examiner who feels that since my doc & their doc agree that I should have fusion then it so & I don't have any other options which from what i've been reading is a bunch of bull****.
Sometimes I think they just want to keep us all disabled so they can make more money on our pain & suffering.

Thanks again, pain free days ahead for all

------------------
Initanurse
Work injury, Hernaited Disc L4-5 & L5-S1, constant pain from back down to feet.
Tried All conservative treatments with no luck. Fusion with hardware is needed per MD.

[This message has been edited by initanurse (edited 06-29-2003).]

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 570
From:San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 07-18-2003 12:04 AM            

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***BUMP*** for islandback

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