Hi Brooklyn, I totally agree with what Susie told you! One thing you might try (that might help you, at least untill you can see your Doctor or Surgeon ) if possibly can you get light duty at your...
Hi Mana Sorry your having such a hard time ! Just remember the only dumb questions are the ones you didn't ask! So please don't worry about thinking your questions might sound dumb! As for having the...
One of the things they usually don't mention about having fusions done, (and my one neurosurgeon told me this just before doing my second ACDF ) that it's pretty common for the disc either above or...
Hi Rob Welcome to the Forum!! Yes! that posterior approach is a rough surgery!!!! I had 2 ACDF's (first one C6/7 in March1985 and the 2nd one C5/6 in September 2009) done prior to having the...
Hi Mmomm Sorry your having problems but my answer to your question is a big big YES, I had my first ACDF at C6/7 many many many years ago back in March 1985 and I lost my voice completely for over 3...
Well misstrish I can definitely relate and empathize with you on your dental problems and missing teeth,!!! I have been going to the UK Dental School for the past 2 years, getting a massive amount of...
Hi Katrina I take a few of the same meds that you do, some are once a day a few are twice a day and my Baclofen is 3 times a day every 8 hours. I have arranged my meds so I take most (but not all) my...
Hi misstrish, I got my pain pump implanted in June 2014 and it has been a real Godsend! My pump is implanted on my left side just below my rib cage. The catheter goes from the pump into the upper...
Hi Jody What kind of sleep problems are you referring to? I have sleep apnea, and have to use a PAP machine with mask at night. There are different types and causes of sleep apnea. The most common is...
Hi Jody sorry I can't be much help for you on that! I personally don't know anybody that uses Bupivacine in their pain pump?? I also have an implanted Medtronics Pain Pump, I got mine put in, in June...
Hi Alcie It's been quite a few years since I've had a myelogram immediately followed up with an MRI, but anyway when I did the next day after the procedures I was experiencing extreme debilitating...
TN Sorry to say the ENT specialist was not able to help me. The swallowing problems and gagging problems have significantly decreased over the years but even now if I put to much strain or stress on...
TN have you seen an ENT specialist about your swallowing difficulties? Definitely talk with your neurosurgeon about it. After my first fusion I literally had problems with swallowing and my gag...
Hi Luvdogs I had some major dental work done over the past 2 years at the UK dental school. Everything from fillings, to crown removal and replacement to tooth extractions and dental surgery...
Hi SuzanStorm Welcome to the forum, sometimes on the weekends it can be a little slow, and with this being an older thread people might not respond as quickly. But there are a few active on this...
bebbles I was told by my neurosurgeons that they want the steroid injections as a diagnostic tool. If they give you some relief (even though it might not last very long, mine never gave me at...
Hi Taller Now, You sure have had a time of it haven't you!!!!! You know everyone is so different Taller Now, but although you might still have some possible pain and discomfort issues, I would...
Welcome to HealingWell Chronic Pain Forum Allisonthebaker! Wow! Your surgeon certainly wants to do allot all at one time! May I ask are you getting this done at a major hospital i.e. like a...
Pebbles I've had several neurosurgeons say they wanted the steroid injections first before doing the surgery, they use it as a diagnostc tool to make sure they have the right disc and area to do the...
Hi Darla, I hope after your surgery and you get all healed up, that you do get the chance to visit Alaska! I loved it up there! I spent 2 years in Anchorage at Elmendorf AFB in the mid 70's and then...
Hi Darla back in January of 2013 I had a foraminotomy from L2 through L5 the neurosurgeon who did the operation after it was over told me he thoroughly checked the disc's with a scope while he was in...
HI Tjohnson92, since you've already said you had the MRI and diagnosed with herniated lumbar disc, and have such terrible pain an some numbness in your legs, if it was me..... I wouldn't hesitate a...
Wecome to the forum Rgsafety. Instead of going the implanted stimulator route, has anyone (one of your Doctors) suggested the possibility of seeing if you might be a good canidate for an implanted...
Hi Jo Ann It's really to bad that they can't do and endoscopy on you now. That would give them so much more information! I'm sure it is extremely difficult to play this medical waiting game and be...
Jo Ann have they ever checked you for a Hiatal Hernia? Allot of the symptoms you describe sound allot like a Hiatal Hernia. Have you seen a Gastroenterologist? If not I would think that would be a...
Hi TN, Yes the surgery did help and relieved my symptoms but the recovery was very long and painful. I personally don't agree with your PM doctor! Yes you might be exchanging one type of pain for...
Hi Taller Now, I think the posterior approach was much much worse ( as far as pain and recovery time goes) than the ACDF's! Right after I came home from the hospital after the surgery I went to the...
AMDD before I had my first ACDF I had severe burning pain in both arms from my elbows down my arms into my hands and fingers. It felt like when you hit your "crazy bone" really really hard, but the...
Hi Dorseymama if you google picture or drawing of spine it will give you a good diagram of the human spine. The portion of the spine that they work on when doing a Discectomy and fusion is the front...
Hi bebbles, at exactly what level is she recommending the ACDF? I know this surgery sounds scary, but personally I would be more scared of not having it? A bad disc in other areas of the spine, if...
I find every year gets a bit more taxing on trying to do the same things as I've done in previous years. But my mind is still that of a kid in allot of respects! I love decorating for Christmas...
Well Mike if you can afford the 400 dollars and your current PM is willing to get you a PTM from the company for you, I personally think I would jump at the chance to get it!!! Your PM will program...
Hi Mike, I have medicare, at the time I got my pump implanted in June 2014 I was on Social Security Disability and I got the PTM with my pump and SSD and TriCare paid for everything! I guess my...
Hi Paul Has your wife ever talked to her doctor about the possibility of getting an implanted pain pump To control her back pain? I got mine implanted at the Pain Clinic at the University of Indiana...
Hi Aaronh819 what your describing about your eye pain and vision disturbances does sound allot like a type of migraine headache. So seeing a head ache specialist might be an excellent idea! Also neck...
Hi Darla You know with all my cervical fusions and my lower back surgery and problems with my Thoracic spine, I found sleeping extremely difficult! For many years I slept in a recliner, then a new...
Hi bebbles and Welcome to HealingWell Chronic Pain forum! You have been given some excellent advice. You know I've had 3 fusions done in my cervical spine, my first one I was still in the Military...
Hi TN I had allot of pain and neck spasms foe a good little while after the surgery, recovery was long and painful but in the end the results made it more than worth it for me! Yes it did relieve my...
Hi TN, Well your pain Doctor might possibly be right about trading one pain for another. The posterior approach is more painful and definitely has a much longer recovery time than an Anterior...
Hi deedee65 and Welcome to the forum, I like allot of the others here on this forum know exactly what your going through! Most of us ( people experiencing chronic pain) tend to isolate ourselves,...
Hi Darla so you and your husband have been up to Alaska huh? I do hope the two of you have the opportunity of going back! I think it is absolutely beautiful country up there? Although it has been...
Hi Randi/Darla I really do empathize with you on your swallowing difficulties, hopefully this will pass very quickly! This type of surgery has advanced so much since I had my first ACDF back in 1985....
Hi Motox, although the EMG test are not really comfortable they are not that bad either! I've had many of them, and never thought they were very painful, just a bit uncomfortable thats all!! Even...
Hi Dara and Welcome to the forum! You've been given some excellent advice from people who know what this is like! Although I haven't had a multiple fusion at one time, I have had 3 fusions done on my...
Hi ImTryin and Welcome to the forum. It amazes me that they would even consider sending you home the same day after doing a 3 level ACDF! I agree with Susie I would request or insist staying at least...
Hi TN, Susie is Right! I can't say enough good things about having this pain pump!!! It has been a real Godsend for me! I really appreciate having the PTM Personal Therapy Management Unit (I think...
The original Oxycontin (before they reformulated it so when crushed it could not be use by abusers to get a more potent and often lethal dose) lasted 12 hours with no problem (at least it did for me...
Hi Thomas A Show Before I got my implanted pain pump, a few years ago,I was on oxycontin for many many years, for a very long time I was on it every 12 hours, then when the patent ran out and there...
Hi motox and Welcome to the forum!! I know all to well what your fiance is experiencing!! I was 34 at the time I got a massive herniated disc at C6/7, felt like you severely hit your ""crazy bone""...
Hi Jodi, I too would be more than a bit skeptical about a doctor who would try and handle everything himself rather than make a referral. I seriously think I would be looking for a new doctor! With...