Well, this sucks.

SuperBee364

SuperBee364

New member
I've been having some pretty nasty back problems developing over the last several years. Then last month, I woke up with the usual severe lower back pain, but with a new twist; I had a stabbing pain in my upper back that radiated down my left shoulder, down my left arm, and made my hand feel like it was on fire. I immediately called the back specialist I'd been seeing. He worked me in a couple weeks ago, and ordered an MRI.



I got the MRI results today. I gotta have at least three, and possibly four disks fused, and several nerve passages cleaned out and other stuff that I can't pretend to understand.



As of now, I have little use of my left arm and hand, with pins/needles/numbness/pain radiating through my left shoulder and arm. I also have major lower back pain. Tomorrow I talk to the surgeon about scheduling the surgery. My back specialist told me I can expect about a 12 week recovery from the fusions, and he didn't know what the recovery would be on the other procedures they gotta do.



I'm gonna do as much detailing as I can between now and then to help pay the bills. I still have enough use of my left arm and hand to at least do light rotary work, and the PC is no problem, thank heavens.



But enough about me... how are you guys doing??? :)
 
Sorry to hear that. Doesn't using your arms and back aggravate the problem? Was this an old injury? I guess you gotto do what you gotto do. Good luck on your surgery.
 
that's good news, from the title I thought something happened to your car...





J/K (if you did't know)



that is bad news I have /had a similar problem

(low back pain with a nasty burning in the calf and some numb toes)



but I have been working with a chiropractor for a bit over a year now

and he is a GOD, no surgery, and I am now pain free
 
Setec Astronomy said:
What impact does this have on your job, Supe?
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As long as I can show "Demonstrated Ability" after recovery, the FAA will let me fly, thank heavens. As long as the doc doesn't sneeze when he's working close to the spinal cord, it should be fine... :nervous2:



cptzippy said:
Know that's painful. Be prayin' for ya.
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Thanks, man. :)



Legacy99 said:
Sorry to hear that. Doesn't using your arms and back aggravate the problem? Was this an old injury? I guess you gotto do what you gotto do. Good luck on your surgery.
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The actual damage in my upper back is a constant impingement that doesn't change regardless of whether or not I use my arms; the loss of use, pins, needles, numbness, pain, etc. is a constant (for the most part).



The lower back is a total conundrum. The one problem hurts worse when I use my lower back, the other problem hurts worse when I *don't* use my lower back.



No injury. All of this is related to degenerative disc disease, spondololythesis, ankylosing spondolitis, spinal stenosis, and a few other things I can't pronounce or spell.
 
BigJimZ28 said:
that's good news, from the title I thought something happened to your car...



J/K (if you did't know)



that is bad news I have /had a similar problem

(low back pain with a nasty burning in the calf and some numb toes)



but I have been working with a chiropractor for a bit over a year now

and he is a GOD, no surgery, and I am now pain free
Click to expand...



LOL, damnit, Jim, it *hurts* when you make me laugh!! :D
 
This kinda goes without saying, but be sure you've got the best surgeon, one who's done this dozens of times. I know someone thru work who had a spine injury and had some plates put in and he's still not right more than a year later.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
This kinda goes without saying, but be sure you've got the best surgeon, one who's done this dozens of times. I know someone thru work who had a spine injury and had some plates put in and he's still not right more than a year later.
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Yeah, for sure. I guess a lot of the back problems I have are genetic. My Dad has had a total of four back surgeries, the first one for the exact same problems I'm having fixed. He was extremely impressed with his surgeon, so I'm going to have him do mine, too.
 
Sorry to hear that Super. Personally I have never had much problem with my back. But a couple buddy's had a similar surgery and they are good as new. Hope all goes well.
 
Hey Super,



A friend of mine that has worked in the medical devices industry for a very long time warned pretty strongly against back surgery. Obviously different situations call for different solutions, but overall he said it often doesn't work to alleviate the problem.



My friend's wife was told by her doctor that she had the spine of an 80 year old when she was only 36. They thought she'd had a severe trauma in the past, but she just got (un)lucky. They recommended her for surgery, but she's opting to hold off, continue to go to the chiropractor and with occasional cortisone shots it's working out so far for her.



My dad had a really bad shoulder and was going to the chiropractor. After little success and continued pain, the chiropractor had him get an MRI. Based on those results, his regular doctor recommended surgery. His chiropractor then asked my dad to give him a few more months to try and work it out before opting for surgery. My dad's shoulder is fine and back to normal. It was painful for him to wait out the process with the chiropractor, but ultimately worth it as he was able to avoid costly and unnecessary surgery.



I guess my advice would be to get some other opinions (never a bad idea) and try to keep that surgery card in your hand as long as you can. Talk to a few different chiropractors and back specialists.



Sounds like beyond the fusion surgery, they're talking about a laminectomy, which involves removal of the lamina that overlays the spinal canal to enlarge the spinal canal and relieve nerve pressure. (See how Google can make any half wit seem intelligent?)
 
SuperBee364 said:
I gotta have at least three, and possibly four disks fused, and several nerve passages cleaned out and other stuff that I can't pretend to understand.
Click to expand...





Let's look at the positive side, Super: you have recent coats of FK1 1000p on the cars and nothing to worry about :clap:



BTW, that's some kick-azz product. I washed my car for the first time on Sunday - - I've never seen anything so slick! WOW! Almost super-natural :woot: If it has the longeivty y'all report, I'm gonna be one happy consumer :)





I hope they can resolve your back issues, I know that can be very serious with long periods to recover. Good luck.
 
tom p. said:
Let's look at the positive side, Super: you have recent coats of FK1 1000p on the cars and nothing to worry about :clap:



BTW, that's some kick-azz product. I washed my car for the first time on Sunday - - I've never seen anything so slick! WOW! Almost super-natural :woot: If it has the longeivty y'all report, I'm gonna be one happy consumer :)





I hope they can resolve your back issues, I know that can be very serious with long periods to recover. Good luck.
Click to expand...



And they'll get a fresh coat the day before I go in, too. :D



Banacheq said:
Hey Super,



A friend of mine that has worked in the medical devices industry for a very long time warned pretty strongly against back surgery. Obviously different situations call for different solutions, but overall he said it often doesn't work to alleviate the problem.



My friend's wife was told by her doctor that she had the spine of an 80 year old when she was only 36. They thought she'd had a severe trauma in the past, but she just got (un)lucky. They recommended her for surgery, but she's opting to hold off, continue to go to the chiropractor and with occasional cortisone shots it's working out so far for her.



My dad had a really bad shoulder and was going to the chiropractor. After little success and continued pain, the chiropractor had him get an MRI. Based on those results, his regular doctor recommended surgery. His chiropractor then asked my dad to give him a few more months to try and work it out before opting for surgery. My dad's shoulder is fine and back to normal. It was painful for him to wait out the process with the chiropractor, but ultimately worth it as he was able to avoid costly and unnecessary surgery.



I guess my advice would be to get some other opinions (never a bad idea) and try to keep that surgery card in your hand as long as you can. Talk to a few different chiropractors and back specialists.



Sounds like beyond the fusion surgery, they're talking about a laminectomy, which involves removal of the lamina that overlays the spinal canal to enlarge the spinal canal and relieve nerve pressure. (See how Google can make any half wit seem intelligent?)
Click to expand...



I've kinda left you guys out in the cold about all this stuff; I haven't mentioned anything about it til now, but it's something I've been fighting for many, many years. Gone to a bunch of docs, had a bunch of tests done, and have held off as long as I can. They're telling me that if I don't get it done right now, I could lose all function and feeling of my left shoulder, arm, and hand. The passage way that the nerve goes through is almost completely filled in with bone. The one doc thinks that the numbness in my first two fingers on my left hand is probably permanent.



Back surgery isn't the voodoo art that it used to be, although it still seems to kinda have that reputation. My Dad has had this exact same surgery, and he's 100% completely recovered. He got all his dexterity, strength, and feeling back in both his arms and hands. At this point, I'm pretty much out of option except to go for the surgery and hope I get the same results my Dad did. I'm going to go to the same surgeon he had.



salty said:
Sorry to hear that Super. Personally I have never had much problem with my back. But a couple buddy's had a similar surgery and they are good as new. Hope all goes well.
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Thanks, man. :)



BigJimZ28 said:
yea sorry about that:doh



I know coughing & sneezing feel real good also



best of luck
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I'm not gonna read anymore of your posts until I'm comfortably hooked up to a morphine pump. ;)



jrib said:
Sorry to here your in pain...I will be praying 4 u.
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Much appreciated. :)
 
Hey Supe-



It sounds like you have done all of your homework as well as the extra credit stuff.



Wishing you the very, very best outcome possible!





Steve
 
SuperBee364- Yikes, sorry to hear about this :eek:



FWIW, Accumulatorette had spinal fusion done back in the mid-80s and it worked out super for her. Your situation sounds more complicated than hers, but they do some impressive work these days and it sounds like you have a good guy for the job.



When are you planning to schedule the work?
 
Best wishes, Supe. I'd dealt with chronic lower back problems for about 10 years before my S4/S5 disc ruptured in '95 and forced me to surgery. Knock wood, I've been almost completely pain-free for 14 years.



Here's to hoping your results are even better than mine.



Take care, and don't watch any Three Stooges without painkillers. :)



Tort
 
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