Hello Baggbabe,

Welcome to this thread and the wonderful people who post and try to help others.

It REALLY HURT to read of your pain and especially of the frustrating surgeries that you have had.

Baggbabe, have you sought out the advice from other spinal surgeons. If not, then I would recommend that you do so. Seek out the best spinal surgeons that are in your area. Second and third opinions are always a good idea.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I hope that tonight will be a restful one for you.

RichT

thank you richT, your thoughts are much appreciated, i havent tried any other surgeon i havent got a clue how to, this is all new to me even tho ive been like this for so long, im getting sick and tired of being told that i shouldnt do this and i shouldnt be doing that, i would like to be told why im going through what im going through, thank you again for your feedback and thoughts, regards baggiebabe

Hello Baggiebabe,

Thanks for your kind words. And for the additional info.

Baggiebabe, may I suggest the following in trying to find another spinal surgeon and/or neurologist.

Talk to those you know, find out who has been to a spinal surgeon or neurologist. Find out which ones they thought highly of, and which ones they would not recommend. Call your local hospitals and find out which spinal surgeon they would use if they needed help with a back problem (sometimes one has to twist arms at a hospital to get info out of them, but go for it). Also, if you have a professional sports team in your area call their office and ask which spinal doctor they use for their players. Make up a list. Then call the doctor at the top of your list and make an appointment. Next call the doctor next in line and make an appointment with that doctor too. It is important to obtain 2nd and 3rd opinions. Take your MRIs and X-rays with you to your appointments.

I wish you the best. Let us know how things go for you.

RichT

hi rich t thanks for the advice, the problem im havin at present is not being able to get my scans and xrays, the hospital that have them are asking for 35 pounds per film, and i have had many done and cant afford 35 pounds, im going back to my gp today, and ask his opinion, on what i should do, hes an ok sort of guy so heres hoping he can help.
i just dont know who to turn to, no one i know has had this problem, and i dont know anyone in the hospital that could help.
thank you again, it is much appreciated tracy

Hi,
I have had reconstruction and fusion of my lower back(L5-S1) for spondylilothesis and a disc herniation in 1996. And one year later I had the hardware removed. My limp that I had before surgery is gone.(only limp on days pain is unbearable) I didn't have a choice not to have the surgery because of the danger to my spine. I had a spinal stimulator implanted in 1999 with little relief. I'm now scheduling my second surgery for a bone tumor removal on my temporal bone and mastoid so removal of the stimulator is going to have to wait a little longer. So I'm partially disabled but I'm able to work part-time. I have chronic pain and muscle spasms since I fell on ice at the age of 27, now 45. Unfortunayely pain meds are the only relief I get. I can't exercise much because of bulging disc and also degen. disc disease. Unfortunately pain is a big part of my life and makes me very tired.
I function fairly well with the disc problems and scar tissue and other pain. I keep busy and try to keep my mind on other things as much as possible. Just about monthly my lower back feels like something has slipped out of place. Bedrest and ibupropreon is the best med for my bones and muscles to relax and slip back into place.
Take care,
Sandy
Sandy P.

hello to all, my name is Mark. I have had 8 years of injections,surgeries,physical therapy,meds(to many to list), and now I am entertaining the idea of a spinal cord stimulator.I have read quite a bit of material about this, but I was wondering if there was anybody out there that has any personal knowledge on this? I have a wonderful pain management DR. who has really got me thinking that this could really help me. It seems to me that this is a last resort prognosis, I even have to get Psychological clearance before they will consider me a candidate. I am so miserable with my life, and seem to be running out of options.I had a C5-C6 fusion in 2002 and then more recently I found out that I had 5 herniated cervical disks of which I had a fusion done in the spring of 2007 for 3 of them. The other 2 were not done because they were referred to as axis disks and if fused I would have litteraly no vertical or horizontal movement for my head. I am on a considerable amount of pain medication and have gotten worse since that last surgery. My Dr. tells me that it will also help with the occipital neuralgia(horrific headaches). There is some side affects to having this stimulator put in, but it seems to me that the positives might out way the side effects. It would really help me in making this decison if there is anyone out there that has a spinal cord stimulator now.Thank you so much for your time and god help all of us back injury patients.

Sincerely,
Mark

hello to all, my name is Mark. I have had 8 years of injections,surgeries,physical therapy,meds(to many to list), and now I am entertaining the idea of a spinal cord stimulator.I have read quite a bit of material about this, but I was wondering if there was anybody out there that has any personal knowledge on this? I have a wonderful pain management DR. who has really got me thinking that this could really help me. It seems to me that this is a last resort prognosis, I even have to get Psychological clearance before they will consider me a candidate. I am so miserable with my life, and seem to be running out of options.I had a C5-C6 fusion in 2002 and then more recently I found out that I had 5 herniated cervical disks of which I had a fusion done in the spring of 2007 for 3 of them. The other 2 were not done because they were referred to as axis disks and if fused I would have litteraly no vertical or horizontal movement for my head. I am on a considerable amount of pain medication and have gotten worse since that last surgery. My Dr. tells me that it will also help with the occipital neuralgia(horrific headaches). There is some side affects to having this stimulator put in, but it seems to me that the positives might out way the side effects. It would really help me in making this decison if there is anyone out there that has a spinal cord stimulator now.Thank you so much for your time and god help all of us back injury patients.

Sincerely,
Mark

Hi,
I had a stimulator implanted in 1999 and stopped using it less than one year later. I had to have the frequency up so high to help change the sensation of the pain that when I moved I would get electrical shocks that made me jump just about out of my skin. I was given a temporary stimulator for 2 weeks before the implant. That one seemed to be helping. It NEVER helped with my back pain only leg pain and I had the shock problem. I was told that they make better spinal stimulators these days so give it some thought before going through with it. If you are on oxycontin I would probably get it done. If your not in chronic pain try other pain rememdies.
sANDY p.