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Chronic Pain
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Posted 8/28/2012 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all, just came home from 5 month appt with surgeon, the fusion he says is a success, his only concern is the bent screw in my back which should be causing excruciating pain but so far I am not feeling anything more than the bursitis pain.

He told me to get more active now and I said every time I get cleared for pt I end up having to cancel appt because of unexpected pain. I am about to schedule more pt but am hesitating because my right hip is starting to hurt.

I am in a fibro flare and that is not helping but I know if I give it a few days I will feel much better. Then I will do pt until my hip stops cooperating. I really wish I could just suck up the cost and join a pool for aqua exercise, but that is beyond our budget. However we have a lottery ticket who knows it soon has to be our turn.
Posted 8/28/2012 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
 

   ...I always enjoy hearing success stories here on the forum! Good for you! yeah

       I agree, and believe the water would be much more forgiving on ones body...hopefully you will win that Lottery! tongue

         Take care, and thanks for sharing!

    SE wink

Posted 8/28/2012 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Great news on the fusion front!!!

If I could suggest trying to see about your local YMCA...the average cost to use the pool is $6....but they have discounts for having a monthly membership...

So...I would think that trying to see where you can save money to at least go even a few times a week would be good. I've found that by keeping a daily log for one month to see where I am spending money...there is always room to find where I can cut back to make room for something important.

And I guess you have already asked your surgeon or Dr. you see about your hip issues to actually prescribe aqua therapy and have this covered by your insurance?

Just some thoughts:)
Posted 8/28/2012 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
It is good to hear good news. I hope your other pains get better soon!

Take Care!!!

Heather

Posted 8/28/2012 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
I see my family dr tomorrow I will ask about a prescription for aqua therapy? Costs nothing to ask, right?

I know we all come here to have someone pay attention to our many aches and massive pains. I still have pain probably will always have it but this is or should be one less pains for me.

While in the office I sat beside a nice man who would not shut up about his fusion and how he knew it was a failed surgery, everyone in the waiting area heard him, what they did not hear was he was in the bed next to mine, is the surgeon tell him his fusion was perfect, not only that but ok'ed him to go to California for a month.

The guy was almost dancing in the back office area but when he started on his way back to meet his family in main waiting area he started limping and holding his back!! He was still complaining when I was done and I walked past him scratching my head wondering why he was not sharing his good news.

My surgeon said he is done with me now, no more follow ups unless I have a major problem then just call and book an appt. I asked if the screw could break and he said doubtful but if that happens I will be the first to know, lol. What a sense of humor, eh.

I am happy to share a bit of good news finally.
Posted 8/28/2012 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Yep...certainly doesn't hurt to ask about the aqua therapy...and try the YMCA as a back up...One more thought...have you gone through everyone that you know who has their own pool and may let you use it for awhile?

about the guy in your office....that is sad for him that he is, for whatever reason, needing sympathy from his family. Since it didn't sound like he was trying to convince the Dr. to give him more pain meds....it sounds like he just wants his family to think he is still hurting...

I've learned that I just never know what is going on behind the scenes in someone's life and I just say a little prayer for them and go on my way.

At least we can all celebrate for your success on the fusion! And yes...if the screw becomes an issue later on then you can deal with that then.

It's all small steps with being happy about one thing out of the way for now....Just like you...I have chronic pain from other issues and have more herniations that my Neuro and I are not touching unless it becomes emergent.

Any plans for the holiday weekend to celebrate?
Posted 8/28/2012 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Rose,

It's great to hear this! So glad it finally worked out for you.
Posted 8/28/2012 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
SB thanks again for the ideas I just called YWCA and they just finished a new facility only 15 minutes away, they said its 61 monthly and they do have some classes that I would be able to do, designed for chronic pain. No pools sadly we have an above ground one but I have not been able to put it up for 2 years. Maybe next year :-).
It feels strange to be so upbeat but I really needed some good news.
Thanks again for all the support, I am no disappearing btw.
Posted 8/28/2012 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
I have a hot tub which we set at 98 degrees so hubbys blood pressure wouldnt go up from the heat. Warm water and doing stretching exercises helps me. But it doesnt make my knee straighten any better. It decreases my pain level from an 8 to a 6. But some days it is difficult for me to get in and out of the darn thing.

Rose Im happy for you. Let your doc know about the pain in hip area vs PT.

Keep us updated, please.
Betsey
Posted 8/29/2012 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Rose, so glad your fusion was a success! Our local high-school has a pool and offers a $30 per month three time a week session for people who need aqua therapy, my doctor said he would go ahead and do the paperwork when the time comes, though mine should be covered, or at least reimbursed by workers compensation.

Another thing you might consider, do you have a college nearby? You could talk to their student work program, and see if they can send you a couple of strong twenty year olds to help set up your pool for you, or perhaps some young people in your church might do it in exchange for a nice lunch or something, and if you want to go this particular route, never underestimate what a couple of broke college students living off top ramen noodles will do for the opportunity for a home cooked meal, or a gift card, or even a six pack of beer lol, however you want to compensate them, the barter system is always pretty nice lol.

My brother is going to change my oil on my car for me on friday, in exchange for babysitting my niece for a couple hours, whenever I'm back up to being able to, and he decides he wants to take his wife for a nice evening out. That's how I've been getting a lot of my necessities done lol. Needless to say, I have a lot of IOUs now, though I did cash in on quite a few as well.

Glad to hear the good news. May I ask, did they use an autographed, an alographed, or that new protein graphed material? I believe they're going to be using the new stuff on my fusion next week, but I'm not sure, Im just not going to hold my breath expecting not to see stitches on my hip lol. I forgot to ask about that at my pre-op appointment, and now I'm just getting a little antsy to find out these details that I won't find out till waking up.

Take care Rose. And I hope things continue going well.
Posted 8/29/2012 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
Haha, I just read your other post about the man dancing in the office, I almost jumped up and danced when I finally had a diagnosis for my back, it was sad in a way, to get parts of the news, but I was just so happy to finally have some answers. For a second, all my pain was gone, and I was just overcome with relief that I was finally going to get real treatment.

The workers compensation system here is really set up so poorly, there was another man in the office at the same time, with symptoms similar to mine, and was also about to get the results of his first MRI, but after waiting for three years before finally getting the scan. It's amazing what a little glimmer of hope can do to our bodies, even if it's only for a second, it can make you feel like a million bucks lol.
Posted 8/29/2012 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Congratulations Rose. I'm so happy for you. This is wonderful news. Take care of yourself.

love and hugs
Loretta
Posted 8/29/2012 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
Matt I really did not ask my surgeon many questions about my surgery I always feel very rushed when I see him. I would imagine it would be written down somewhere in my file. about the pool no point setting it up now our weather is changing already talk about frost here, maybe next year.
Posted 8/29/2012 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Rose....Matt is asking whether or not they used donor bone from your own hip (this is called autograft) or did they use donor bone from a cadaver (this is called allograft). You should definitely know if you had stitches in your hip and a scoop of bone taken out...LOL...

I had that done in my first surgery...

I also had BMP used in my last surgery which is called Bone Morphogenic Proteins. This is kind of squirted into the disc space along with whatever type bone they used. It is known to help promote fusion.
Posted 8/29/2012 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
OMG, sorry I am in a fibro flare and brain is struggling to work. I assume it was cadaver bone as I did not have any extra holes not accounted for when I woke from surgery. I did wonder about my hip hurting so very much but surgeon said today bursitis is the cause of that.

Matti hope you have a wonderfully successful surgery, just remember do not lift anything........not even your darling child. Take it from me rest, and even when you think you do not need to rest some more.
Posted 8/29/2012 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
I'm very happy for you Rose!!! Hope you can figure out where to get your aqua therapy!
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