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L4/5 fusion and decompression
- Thread starter Struggling along
- Start date
So sorry @Struggling along and @birdie5 that you are going through this. I can vouch for acupuncture as well as Bowen therapy and also kinesiology, believe it or not. Must be something about clearing electrical nerve pathways to stimulate healing, I don't know. It worked for me but I didn't have an op so can't compare to you guys.
Really hope you can find relief. Hugs to you both, but not too tight, don't want to hurt you. Xx
Really hope you can find relief. Hugs to you both, but not too tight, don't want to hurt you. Xx
Thanks @Fudgewobble, I've never heard of Bowen therapy or kinesiology? What are they?
Bowen is a gentler form of Physio that really helps align everything and kinesiology is really strange. I just lay there and the guy somehow knew where all my blockages were that were preventing blood flow and nerve restriction. Although I had a physical injury, a lot of emotional factors can interfere with healing. I don't understand it but it helped me a lot.
Hello there. I am brand new to this site and have never posted to a forum before. I wanted to add a bit to this discussion, as I have had a similar surgical experience to you @strugglingalong.
After a fall in December 2016, I had severe and worsening back and left leg pain. I had a decompression on L5/S1 in May, which failed. I had a revised decompression in July, and thw wound opened up 5 days after surgwry, so another trip to theatre to close. I am now suffering with the same leg and back pain as I was pre op. Waiting for another MRI.
I am going to be told I need further surgery or a life of chronic severe pain. I don't know how I will deal with either.
I have suffered from depression for 8 years and this is one of my darkest times.
After a fall in December 2016, I had severe and worsening back and left leg pain. I had a decompression on L5/S1 in May, which failed. I had a revised decompression in July, and thw wound opened up 5 days after surgwry, so another trip to theatre to close. I am now suffering with the same leg and back pain as I was pre op. Waiting for another MRI.
I am going to be told I need further surgery or a life of chronic severe pain. I don't know how I will deal with either.
I have suffered from depression for 8 years and this is one of my darkest times.
Hi Struggling along,
I know exactly where you're coming from, I was stopped at a red light and was violently rear ended by another driver that failed to stop.
my low back pain has been a problem for me since the accident in 2005 . i've had a total of three low back surgeries between L/1 to L/5
laminectomy. after my first two surgeries, I was in so much pain that I couldn't even sit up without severe pain, and even laying down was painful.
since my 3rd surgery I can actually lay down without much pain, I have been on high doses of morphine for many years, and it only masks the pain
my MRI can't show any reason (according to the Dr.) that would explain my pain, I can only sit/stand/walk for 10-15 minutes before the pain becomes so severe and numbness begins to set in my feet and legs.
I have gone through targeted epidurals into my spine, physical therapy, i've done it all, without any improvements, I have a back brace, a tens unit, but I haven't had any relief at all, my insurance did buy me a power wheelchair, but still sitting hurts just as much as trying to stand or walk, Thats whats causing most of my depression.
I don't think i'm ever going to get any real relief from this chronic pain, they have "stand up" MRI'S but my insurance refuses to pay for it, my Dr. wanted to try an implanted spine stimulator and again my insurance refused to pay, they'll keep paying for my opioid pain meds but refuse to pay for something that might just work to get me out of pain.
It's been 12 long years and still no relief in sight, my back is so weak after having 3 surgeries, that if i'm walking and lean one way or the other too far, i'll just fall over, just in the last year I think i've fallen 8 times, one of those falls required stitches even. I would give anything to get rid of this awful pain.
I know exactly where you're coming from, I was stopped at a red light and was violently rear ended by another driver that failed to stop.
my low back pain has been a problem for me since the accident in 2005 . i've had a total of three low back surgeries between L/1 to L/5
laminectomy. after my first two surgeries, I was in so much pain that I couldn't even sit up without severe pain, and even laying down was painful.
since my 3rd surgery I can actually lay down without much pain, I have been on high doses of morphine for many years, and it only masks the pain
my MRI can't show any reason (according to the Dr.) that would explain my pain, I can only sit/stand/walk for 10-15 minutes before the pain becomes so severe and numbness begins to set in my feet and legs.
I have gone through targeted epidurals into my spine, physical therapy, i've done it all, without any improvements, I have a back brace, a tens unit, but I haven't had any relief at all, my insurance did buy me a power wheelchair, but still sitting hurts just as much as trying to stand or walk, Thats whats causing most of my depression.
I don't think i'm ever going to get any real relief from this chronic pain, they have "stand up" MRI'S but my insurance refuses to pay for it, my Dr. wanted to try an implanted spine stimulator and again my insurance refused to pay, they'll keep paying for my opioid pain meds but refuse to pay for something that might just work to get me out of pain.
It's been 12 long years and still no relief in sight, my back is so weak after having 3 surgeries, that if i'm walking and lean one way or the other too far, i'll just fall over, just in the last year I think i've fallen 8 times, one of those falls required stitches even. I would give anything to get rid of this awful pain.
Hi @amy strange-bliss, welcome to SF! I'm so sorry you're going through this pain right now, I had two revisions, then the fusion, but nothing seems to have worked, although to be fair, there are some people who's lives have been changed by this procedure, unfortunately I'm not one of them 
Like you, my leg and back pain are both back again, with the back pain being much worse than it was before. Don't give up hope, there are injections you could have before surgery, targeted, facet joint and cortisone, and I'm sure there are a couple of others, have you tried these? Are you going back with the same consultant after your next MRI scan? Would it be better to get another consultant for a second opinion? You had your first revision in May and your second in July of the same year? It took me ages to get over my first decompression, that seems really soon, although I'm not an expert.
Hi @shattered dreams, same to you too, and thank you! I have exactly the same problems, can't sit, stand or walk for very long, it's so frustrating because, although the pain in my back before was liveable, now it's constant, and it grinds and pops and burns constantly. I'm back in work now, and they're pushing me to go back to full time hours, I don't want to loose my job, but I don't know how I'm going to work full time hours. I would literally pay for a good nights sleep, I wake up every morning around 3ish, then spend the rest of the morning tossing and turning. My consultant told me last week that there was nothing more he could do for me, and that he didn't see the point of referring me for pain relief because we'd already tried that Thankfully I'm covered by insurance through work, and they've set me up to see another consultant, but I don't know if he'll be able to offer me anything. That seems so stupid, allowing you to keep on the morphine, which they don't allow over here, but not paying for something that could resolve the problem, can you not appeal it? I was really surprised, although I shouldn't have been I guess, that they don't have any actual painkiller for severe and chronic pain, yeah, they have loads of mind altering opiates, that make you think the pains not there, but are really just masking it, the pain is still there.
Have either of you tried acupuncture, or any of Fudgewobble's suggestions? I've tried acupuncture, it worked well short term, unfortunately my insurance won't cover the other therapies, but yours may do?
If you ever need to chat, or just rant, please give me a shout, sending hugs your way x
Like you, my leg and back pain are both back again, with the back pain being much worse than it was before. Don't give up hope, there are injections you could have before surgery, targeted, facet joint and cortisone, and I'm sure there are a couple of others, have you tried these? Are you going back with the same consultant after your next MRI scan? Would it be better to get another consultant for a second opinion? You had your first revision in May and your second in July of the same year? It took me ages to get over my first decompression, that seems really soon, although I'm not an expert. Hi @shattered dreams, same to you too, and thank you! I have exactly the same problems, can't sit, stand or walk for very long, it's so frustrating because, although the pain in my back before was liveable, now it's constant, and it grinds and pops and burns constantly. I'm back in work now, and they're pushing me to go back to full time hours, I don't want to loose my job, but I don't know how I'm going to work full time hours. I would literally pay for a good nights sleep, I wake up every morning around 3ish, then spend the rest of the morning tossing and turning. My consultant told me last week that there was nothing more he could do for me, and that he didn't see the point of referring me for pain relief because we'd already tried that
Thankfully I'm covered by insurance through work, and they've set me up to see another consultant, but I don't know if he'll be able to offer me anything. That seems so stupid, allowing you to keep on the morphine, which they don't allow over here, but not paying for something that could resolve the problem, can you not appeal it? I was really surprised, although I shouldn't have been I guess, that they don't have any actual painkiller for severe and chronic pain, yeah, they have loads of mind altering opiates, that make you think the pains not there, but are really just masking it, the pain is still there.Have either of you tried acupuncture, or any of Fudgewobble's suggestions? I've tried acupuncture, it worked well short term, unfortunately my insurance won't cover the other therapies, but yours may do?
If you ever need to chat, or just rant, please give me a shout, sending hugs your way x
Apologies for the late replies @may71 and @shattered dreams.
The acupuncture was good, I had six sessions and it started kicking in after the second session, I've never felt so intensely relaxed in my life as I did following an acupuncture session, sometimes I felt a little giddy and slightly drunk, and I slept like an absolute log after each session, but after the last couple of session I felt "spaced out" the next morning, so much so that on my last session I was worried about driving to work. It did work really well, and if I wasn't working the next day, it would have been perfect.
@shattered dreams, the same as Tramadol, I'm on slow release, at first it worked like a dream, but now it has absolutely no effect, although the odd couple of times I've not taken it I can't sleep, and when I do manage to nod off I wake up in an absolute cold sweat. I now make sure I take one before I go to bed, but I'm still awake around 3am because the pain is back again. Me too, and 20 minutes is pushing it
Have you tried acupuncture? I know I asked that previously, but that might work well for you right now. Would your insurance cover it?
The acupuncture was good, I had six sessions and it started kicking in after the second session, I've never felt so intensely relaxed in my life as I did following an acupuncture session, sometimes I felt a little giddy and slightly drunk, and I slept like an absolute log after each session, but after the last couple of session I felt "spaced out" the next morning, so much so that on my last session I was worried about driving to work. It did work really well, and if I wasn't working the next day, it would have been perfect.
@shattered dreams, the same as Tramadol, I'm on slow release, at first it worked like a dream, but now it has absolutely no effect, although the odd couple of times I've not taken it I can't sleep, and when I do manage to nod off I wake up in an absolute cold sweat. I now make sure I take one before I go to bed, but I'm still awake around 3am because the pain is back again. Me too, and 20 minutes is pushing it
Have you tried acupuncture? I know I asked that previously, but that might work well for you right now. Would your insurance cover it?
No I have not, I'm on the state insurance, so I don't think it's a covered procedure, state insurance over here is very stingy in what they'll pay for.
they bought me a power wheel chair last year, and it won't fit into my master bathroom, so I recently asked them about getting me a "walker" so when I get out of bed I don't have to worry about falling when I need to use the restroom, and they gave me a great big "NO" "we already bought you a power chair"
that's one of my biggest frustrations is fighting with my insurance company over every little thing that my Dr. wants to try. but they are more than happy to keep shoving pills down my throat .