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Back pain after spinal fusion
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An_249470 posted:
I am 44 years old and had back spinal fusion at l4-l5 over a year ago. Apparently I have permanent nerve damage to the nerves that supply the front of both of my legs. I am taking Lyrica for this pain and it helps a lot but....my back still hurts. It feels like a big twisted knot and it hurts SO bad just to get out of bed in the morning.....everything, my entire body. I also take 2-3 10 mg OxyContin every day just to function. I would LOVE to stop the narcotics but it seems impossible. At this point I wonder if my pain is due to an addiction/tolerance to the narcotics or just pain I would have anyway. I am at my wits end and completely depressed but there seems to be nothing I can do about any of this. Everything seems so out of control for me. I feel sorry for myself that at such a young age I must deal with this and have become very cynical about life. Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Back pain after spinal fusionI am 44 years old and had back spinal fusion at l4-l5 over a year ago. Apparently I have permanent nerve damage to the nerves that supply the front of both of my legs. I am taking Lyrica for this pain and it helps a lot but....my back still hurts. It feels like a big twisted knot and it hurts SO bad just to get out of bed in the morning.....everything, my entire body. I also take 2-3 10 mg OxyContin every day just to function. I would LOVE to stop the narcotics but it seems impossible. At this point I wonder if my pain is due to an addiction/tolerance to the narcotics or just pain I would have anyway. I am at my wits end and completely depressed but there seems to be nothing I can do about any of this. Everything seems so out of control for me. I feel sorry for myself that at such a young age I must deal with this and have become very cynical about life. Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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bj1208 responded:
HI and welcome -

this is similar to JFORE1000's post - please see my reply to that as it would be the same -

please keep us posted~~
~~ Click on my name or picture and read my story ~~

Take care ~~ God Bless ~~

~~ Joy ~~
Report This| Share this:Back pain after spinal fusionHI and welcome -<br /><br />this is similar to JFORE1000's post - please see my reply to that as it would be the same -<br /><br />please keep us posted~~
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hermanferd replied to bj1208's response:
For these back pain physiotherapy is the best treatment.physiotherapy is treatment of the disease or injury by physical means.Therefore it is best option for the back pain. Physiotherapy Dublin presents different types of exercises for back pain.
Report This| Share this:Back pain after spinal fusion<b>For these back pain physiotherapy is the best treatment.physiotherapy is treatment of the disease or injury by physical means.Therefore it is best option for the back pain. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.dynamicphysiotherapy.ie/">Physiotherapy</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.dynamicphysiotherapy.ie/"> Dublin</a> presents different types of exercises for back pain.</b>
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bj1208 replied to hermanferd's response:
Hi Hermanferd - Welcome to the support group.

Thanks for responding to the post.

Yes, Physiotherapy, Physical Therapy (as it is referred to also), Chiropractic Treatments, Wather Therapy etc, (list can go on and on) is good for back pains BUT it's best to see a Spine Specialist first (Orthopedic Spine Or Neurosurgeon Spine Specialist) and have proper examination, tests and diagnosis before offering a treatment plan. When I refer to tests it means MRI, CT Scan, Myeologram etc this way it is known what is going on with the spine.

Once that is established the Spine Specialist will be able to determine what treatment plan to offer. PHYSIATRIST Pain Specialist is great to see also:

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

They go deeper into pain management control based on patients' needs.

If the Spine Specialist and/or Pain Specialist determines that therapy is needed they can write the proper script Most Therapists prefer to have a script and also a current film report (MRI, CT Scan etc) this way they know what's going on with the back especially if there has been a fusion so they know where the screws, plate(s) and cage(s) are.

I know I, along with other fusion patients, cannot have any type of non-surgical decompression done with hardware in place. Also, as for myself, I have tried all types of therapy treatments which have left me in worse pain. Water therapy and hot tub therapy are about the best.

We do appreciate your response and enjoy seeing posts from outside the USA as the majority of our members are here in the United States.

Thanks again for your post~~
~~ Click on my name or picture and read my story ~~

Take care ~~ God Bless ~~

~~ Joy ~~
Report This| Share this:Back pain after spinal fusionHi Hermanferd - Welcome to the support group.<br /><br />Thanks for responding to the post.<br /><br />Yes, Physiotherapy, Physical Therapy (as it is referred to also), Chiropractic Treatments, Wather Therapy etc, (list can go on and on) is good for back pains BUT it's best to see a Spine Specialist first (Orthopedic Spine Or Neurosurgeon Spine Specialist) and have proper examination, tests and diagnosis before offering a treatment plan. When I refer to tests it means MRI, CT Scan, Myeologram etc this way it is known what is going on with the spine.<br /><br />Once that is established the Spine Specialist will be able to determine what treatment plan to offer. PHYSIATRIST Pain Specialist is great to see also:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.spineuniverse.com/treatments/what-physiatrist">http://www.spineuniverse.com/treatments/what-physiatrist</a><br /><br />They go deeper into pain management control based on patients' needs.<br /><br />If the Spine Specialist and/or Pain Specialist determines that therapy is needed they can write the proper script Most Therapists prefer to have a script and also a current film report (MRI, CT Scan etc) this way they know what's going on with the back especially if there has been a fusion so they know where the screws, plate(s) and cage(s) are.<br /><br />I know I, along with other fusion patients, cannot have any type of non-surgical decompression done with hardware in place. Also, as for myself, I have tried all types of therapy treatments which have left me in worse pain. Water therapy and hot tub therapy are about the best.<br /><br />We do appreciate your response and enjoy seeing posts from outside the USA as the majority of our members are here in the United States.<br /><br />Thanks again for your post~~
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