Back into the medical system again, er still.

Yvsa

Yvsa

Joined
May 18, 1999
Messages
15,395
I saw my neurosurgeon yesterday and he’s gonna have my pain management physician try injecting my sacroiliac joint again to see if it gives me any relief. And if it does then it’ll be my sacroiliac joints causing the pain and any standard surgery won’t do any good.
And if the injections don’t give me any or much relief then it means my pain is more and likely originating in my L- 4 to L- 5 vertebrates and surgery is more likely too help, But maybe not all that much, seeing as how over the years I’ve developed what’s known as, “Flat Back Syndrome...” However I have an option for another but much more dangerous surgery...
It involves 2 surgeons, about 7 or 8 units of blood, And about 7 or 8 hours...
The surgeons would basically go in and completely undo all my previous fusions and start all over again rebuilding my spine back to more of a natural state and shape using all new and improved hardware and cadaver bone to re-fuse back to a solid secure state... Even though this option is much more severe it seems like a more successful result is obtained, at least on folks up to 55 years, but I'm wondering how successful it might be on an old out of shape fat man with 69 years and a couple/three months under his spare tire...:eek: ;) :D


These links explains more on the, “Flat Back Syndrome...”

Linky 1.

Linky 2.
 
Yvsa, we're just praying for good things for you- whatever form that good may take. :):thumbup:;)
 
Yvsa, you already have (5150) steel in your spine... :p

Back pain is the worst. :( Hoping for the best.


Mike
 
I had a soft-tissue injury in my back once, and that was bad enough. (For such a fundamentally important part of the body, the back seems awfully prone to stress and damage!) I hope you recover as thoroughly as I did.
 
Wish I had the expertise (and experience) to offer useful advice.

I don't.

So I'll offer up smoke and prayers instead.:thumbup:

Wishing you all the best from Virginia.:)
 
Smoke up, Yvsa:(. Man, you just don't ever get a break, do ya.
Keep us posted, as always.
 
Yvsa, is the electronic pain management device still giving any relief?

At least the injection should give you and your doctor's a better idea of where the pain is coming from should it not?

I saw my doctor today and he recommended surgery but I am not brave enough to have anything done as I can last another 10 -15 years with things as they are, being dependent on drug treatment for pain management, whereas the number of folk who come out from operations worse off and with more issue than when they went in just isn't worth the risk IMO.
 
Yvsa,
Ed has had 4 major back surgs. from L4-5 to L5-S1 and is awaiting ANOTHER surg. which seems like it will be in the L2-3 to L3-4 levels. The orig. injury was back in 1994 and he treated it with Traction, PT and epidural steroids injections until 1998 when he went in for a Lumbar laminectomy & decompression. Which helped for less then 6 months. Then 1999 they went in and did the first fusion on the L4-5 they placed only intervertebral body spacer with no pedical screws and rods. It helped a little, but by 2000 it was getting worse. When we married in 2001 in was getting really bad so Dec. 2001 he had a dr. go in and they tried to stabilize the area with external fixation (Rods and screws).
then 2002 pain was STILL really bad, and the dr. that did the first surg out East would not believe that there was still a problem, so we saw a Dr. closer to the city who saw the problem was in the area of L5-S1 they did a 360 fusion and ran the external fixation (rods) down further as well as placed intervertebral body spacers .
Pain STILL Stayed.... So we found a great Pain Management group in Hackensack Hospital. The Dr. tried placing a neuro Stimulator, but due to scar tissue they could not get proper conduction. Then they tried placing a medication pump which had to be explanted after only 2 months due to the body rejecting the unit. At this time I was in my auto accident.
Shortly after The Pain Group changed due to typical Hospital politics.He went through many Pain Drs. who would not believe the extent of pain he was in... until we found his present Dr.... After going over symptoms it has been decided that the problem is like the weakest link deal..... make one area strong and the next goes.... so we are treating the pain the best we can.... having tests done to confirm the levels, but Ed is hoping to hold off until after my Surgery is over and I'm healed.

Yvsa, We only suggest you may want to bounce it off a second Dr. esp. if they want to pull ALL the hardware. (I have a tipped cervical intervertebral body spacer due to the Prior Neurosurgeon not wanting to place the external fixation (rods & screws) and when the second Dr went in to try to stabilize the cervical spine he said there was no way in heck he was going to take the risk of trying to back it out (and this was a spacer that had no calcification holding it in place) Also make sure you have (which it sound like you do) a VERY good pain management Dr. who is willing to step up and really treat the pain... (In the 5 years I have had to battle the neck pain I can't believe how much garbage I have had to go through to get proper pain control... Ed had had an even worse go of it)
Our thoughts are with you.......

Willow & DocH
PS: Ed & I have decided that there will be a new breed of grave robbers.. instead of looking for gold teeth they will be looking for titanium rods, screws, pins, hooks etc.!!
 
Willow Myst said:
PS: Ed & I have decided that there will be a new breed of grave robbers.. instead of looking for gold teeth they will be looking for titanium rods, screws, pins, hooks etc.!!
Click to expand...

As an aside, I was wondering if any of these surgical additions ever set off the metal detectors at the airports, etc.? :eek:
 
Nope not so far....
There was a woman that my mother-in-law knew who had an Artificial hip that set of the metal detector. but I have a feeling she had an old prosthetic made with Stainless Steel pieces.
 
burningincense1.jpg
 
Smoke and Prayers from HI and Kamis
 
Yvsa, I hope that things get better for you soon, or that you at least get to claim cyborg status at some point. ;)
Take care, my friend!
 
Prayers up from the west coast.

What ever you decide on ,and remember it is ultimately your decision, I hope it eases your pain.
 
Prayers and smoke from the East coast. We got you bracketed, friend. Hope whatever you choose is the right decision and goes well.

Mack
 
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