Back Pain Community

hi and welcome to the support group -


i'm not familiar with this but did find this site:


http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/457739_4


also, you did not say what type of doctors you have seen for this - we suggest anything that involves the spine to see either Orthopedic Spine Specialist or Neurosurgeon Spine Specialist as they are the best at dealing with spine issues.


How many opinions have you had - or are yous seeing just the one you were referred to? It may be beneficial that you see and get a couple of opinions as they will also give you the best treatment options.


Also, seeing the right kind of pain management is beneficial too - I see a PHYSIATRIST Pain Management - see site:


http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/spine-specialists/what-a-physiatrist


They are really good at working with you with different approaches to pain management control.


If you could, let us know a little more about yourself as far as what doctors you have seen, what they have said for treatment options and if you are seeing a pain management physician.


I hope the sites help somewhat - let us hear from you - take care - Joy

I have had a spinal meningioma/ hemangioma about the size of a small fist growing out of t-4 area for years now. Scoliosis is present at this area as well and is not very mild. Hurts like heck especially when I was working at end of day. Disabled now. Despondent and depressed-disgusted. Wife doesnt understand, some doctors dont agree with level of pain and some do. Just had discectomy at L5S1 2 weeks ago. There were pieces of bone in my spinal canal for some unknown reason in addition to the herniated disc, which I just finally had to do something about. I think I am better off for it, but pain continues in right buttock and across beltline area. I wish I could give a great postoperative report, that all was well and dandy like my wife wants and tells everyone but dam it, it is not.If anything positive it is that the sciatica is gone and I am thankful for that. Now I am left with this dilemma of what to do with my neck, It Is a mess. Pain and loose with spasm.My neurologist, a young guy puzzles me at times. Just before surgery he mentioned that the L5S1 was recent-like past couple of years. Well it has been there about 8. He also said that neck surgery would be helpful the first time I saw him in 2002.After a subsequent visit nothing was mentioned and corticosteriod shots were indicated and given in the thoracic spine to no avail. With my wife having me completely cured in HER mind and this misinformation flying around, (Ihave had 2 second opinions) and after years of chemical dependency at times, which lables you a drug addict and gives the wife the necessary negative ammo when things go wrong,I dont know what to do anymore. My therapist, chemically dependent in his younger years,we are the same age tries to help but we seem to be at a crossroads,he is a great guy, but how much can you talk about this stuff? I have been with my wife for 26 years and thats alot of marriage to throw away! Im tired of being the bad guy and the yes man. This depression and discomfort is getting the better of me and at 56 years old I want to have some quality of life before I head to the last roundup.-HELP PLEASE!

hi and welcome to the support group -


we always try to be supportive and offer the best advise possible


the main one is to make sure you are seeing the right kind of spine specialist - either Neurosurgeon or Orthopedic (my preference is Ortho) -


also to make sure you are seeing the right kind of pain management clinic - PHYSIATRIST Pain Management clinics work with the patients to help establish better quality pain control -


here's link describing what they are etc.,


http://www.spineuniverse.com/treatments/what-physiatrist


unfortunately most spouses would like to see us as how we were before our spines gave us fits - my hubby fully understands my back problems, however what he doesn't like to hear is how much in pain i'm in 24/7 - which i can understand can make him depressed but at least he does understand -


my spine problems started 6 years ago with surgery 4 yrs ago - had Fusion surgery - removed disc put plate screws and cage in - it fixed my disc problem and helped stabilize my spine but now i have worse pains than before surgery and i have nerve damage inboth legs - now I have the rest of my spine acting up - problems in the T-spine and C-spine area - all non-operative at this time - which is good but still causes pains all over~~


we all fee your pains and what you go thru - i would suggest maybe starting out with a good PHYSIATRIST Pain Management Clinic - go there - get examined - and ask to be referred to a good spine specialist - they have really good ones that they work closely with -


I hope and pray this helps - we are a great support group and pride ourselves with helping others - please keep us posted - take care - Joy

Joy, you had a bad experience with a fusion? My doctors were recommending that to me, but I've heard so much bad from it.

hi mellycooper - actually, no I did not have a bad experience with my fusion surgery - it was 100% success, but you have to understand that my surgeon stated he could correct my disc problem which was to remove the disc and put hardware in - and I fused 100% -

the only problem I have now is my pains are worse than before the surgery - and my surgeon stated he could not guarantee a reduction in pain - he was only hopeful this would happen -

he did tell me, after my 7th month post op, that he has success rates of 4 out of 5 patients and that unfortunately I fell into that 1% of what is referred to as Failed Back Surgery Syndrome - and this statement is used frequently and is pretty much not correct.

surgeons will use this terminology when all of the surgery does not hit 100% - as in fusions there are several factors involved:

1) the disc problem

2) the pain

3) nerve issues

the only part of my surgery that was successful was #1 - my pains are worse and I have nerve damage in both legs -

I really haven't read your story, so I don't know what all is involved - if you could let me know more about you -

one thing I can stress is do research, research and more research - I spent an entire weekend on the computer looking at fusion surgeries before I agreed to have it -

let me also state that it was necessary for my fusion as my disc had blown (ruptured and splintered) part of the disc was hitting the left S1 nerve root and another part on the right S1 nerve root - and because it had splintered it was necessary to remove it and put hardware in - I'm glad I had it done, though in the long run it will cause stress on the discs above - which I am now having problems there -

so let me know more about your situation, what you've had done so far etc,

take care - Joy

Besides the neuro, are you seeing other doctors such as a pain specialist or a pain psyhcologist? I'm (will be in 3 weeks) 52 and could write a book like many of us here with similar stories.

My advice is, you need to get your head around it and gain control. Some of the best treatment I had was time spent with a pain psychologist. I needed (and need) a pain managment specialist to help me with the physical pain, but the mental battle is what will kill you.

While some are fortunate that spouses and family can support them others are not...and it sucks. Nothing hurts worse than suffering unrelenting pain and giving all you have to support those you love only to be told that it's not enough. You can only know that you are doing right and don't hold it against them for not understanding. Be happy that your loved ones can not understand pain in the way we do!

I was talking to a deer freind who is a psychologist. I was telling her how much I aprecciated havinga friend with similar back issues as it was great to know I was not alone.

She paused and looked at me and said, "But in the end, you are all alone." She went sincerely telling me that we die alone so you need to keep your own house in order and it can't be dependant on someone else's acceptance of you.

I understand what she meant, but I still like having my friend...it sure makes sense though when we don't agree. I don't worry if he agrees or not. sometimes I listen, sometimes he listens. That's what this place is about.

Tim