Re: no disc = fusion??, was: Re: New to group/fina...

December 27, 2008

_tpowell1977@..._ (mailto:tpowell1977@...) writes: << Hun..I

really do think you need a fusion dear. The longer you wait, the worse it will

be and yes you run the high risk of permanent nerve damage....I am so much

better

now because of it....I am not in pain all the time anymore. Mostly only when

it rains pr I do too much.>>

I think I need it too. Did you have numbing and tingling before your fusion,

and if so, once the surgery was done, did that go away or was it a separate

problem?

The reason why I can't decide what to do is because I don't feel " educated "

enough to make a confident decision. The neurologist said at our first

meeting that he'd like to see all my records and images first to make sure the

fusion was my absolute last option - which I appreciate someone being so

thorough, so I agreed to give him time. However, like I said, we already KNOW

that

I'm bone-on-bone...how much worse off can someone be before they determine the

surgery's necessary?! I think the neurosurgeon wanted the neurologist's

opinion with regards to possible pinched nerves causing the peripheral numbing

&

tingling.

Oh, by the way, I need to mention this because everyone assumes that I have

it...but I don't...I DO NOT have any burning sensations. My feet and hands do

turn ice cold and white or blue, which would be indicative of a circulation

problem, but that's been ruled out. Which is, presumably, why the neurologist

keeps linking the symptoms back to the brain shearing thingy.

He did mention getting a discogram to be sure they were about to fuse the

right area. That makes great sense to me and actually provides me with a sense

of relief (going back to making educated decisions). I'm just getting

frustrated because he's mentioned several ideas/tests and I haven't heard a

peep

from anyone regarding the referrals out for these tests. Maybe I'm just too

impatient? I saw him for the first time on 12/2. It's only 12/27 and we had

holidays. He needed to gather up all my files, and of course my first pain

clinic

is being slow to comply.

My husband's been on vacation for 10 days. In that time we have done

diddly-squat together to enjoy his time off. Today I *tried* to make a belated

Christmas dinner because I was SICK on Christmas Day (have been all week with

flu-like bug). Anyway, I barely finished making dinner and felt so spent, in

excruciating pain from having to stand on my feet for so long. My sciatica

acted

up really bad, hiking my right leg up off the floor like it does when it goes

extreme. Then my tears started, then he started raising his voice telling me

that I " have to " be able to do more than just sit around all day...which

spiraled into the " You don't live in chronic pain. You just don't get it "

argument. On and on. I'm sure many of you can relate to what I'm saying here.

So yeah, I think I'll give Dr W (neurologist) until Jan 15th to start

presenting me with solidified plans towards wellness or else I'll just head

back to

the neurosurgeon and reopen my TLIF case. Personally, I think Dr C's (the

neurosurgeon) expecting me back anyway...thought I heard his tiny little voice

in the back of my head when I canceled surgery...clearly saying, " it's

okay...you'll be baaaaaack " . LOLOLOL. UGH!

Best regards,

Patty A

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December 27, 2008

Yes, I did have numbness and tingling and yes it did

go away after.

Also, you do not have a disk there to do a discogram

on, you can look at the other levels if they are

considering a multi-level fusion, but a discogram is

useless where you have no disk. If you have no disk,

you need a fusion.

If I can help you make an informed decision, please

feel free to email me offline and we'll talk, or you

can IM me when you see me on.

---

--- NCGorgeous1963@... wrote:

>

> _tpowell1977@..._

> (mailto:tpowell1977@...) writes: << Hun..I

> really do think you need a fusion dear. The longer

> you wait, the worse it will

> be and yes you run the high risk of permanent nerve

> damage....I am so much

> better

> now because of it....I am not in pain all the time

> anymore. Mostly only when

> it rains pr I do too much.>>

>

> I think I need it too. Did you have numbing and

> tingling before your fusion,

> and if so, once the surgery was done, did that go

> away or was it a separate

> problem?

>

> The reason why I can't decide what to do is because

> I don't feel " educated "

> enough to make a confident decision. The neurologist

> said at our first

> meeting that he'd like to see all my records and

> images first to make sure the

> fusion was my absolute last option - which I

> appreciate someone being so

> thorough, so I agreed to give him time. However,

> like I said, we already KNOW that

> I'm bone-on-bone...how much worse off can someone be

> before they determine the

> surgery's necessary?! I think the neurosurgeon

> wanted the neurologist's

> opinion with regards to possible pinched nerves

> causing the peripheral numbing &

> tingling.

>

> Oh, by the way, I need to mention this because

> everyone assumes that I have

> it...but I don't...I DO NOT have any burning

> sensations. My feet and hands do

> turn ice cold and white or blue, which would be

> indicative of a circulation

> problem, but that's been ruled out. Which is,

> presumably, why the neurologist

> keeps linking the symptoms back to the brain

> shearing thingy.

>

> He did mention getting a discogram to be sure they

> were about to fuse the

> right area. That makes great sense to me and

> actually provides me with a sense

> of relief (going back to making educated decisions).

> I'm just getting

> frustrated because he's mentioned several

> ideas/tests and I haven't heard a peep

> from anyone regarding the referrals out for these

> tests. Maybe I'm just too

> impatient? I saw him for the first time on 12/2.

> It's only 12/27 and we had

> holidays. He needed to gather up all my files, and

> of course my first pain clinic

> is being slow to comply.

>

> My husband's been on vacation for 10 days. In that

> time we have done

> diddly-squat together to enjoy his time off. Today I

> *tried* to make a belated

> Christmas dinner because I was SICK on Christmas Day

> (have been all week with

> flu-like bug). Anyway, I barely finished making

> dinner and felt so spent, in

> excruciating pain from having to stand on my feet

> for so long. My sciatica acted

> up really bad, hiking my right leg up off the floor

> like it does when it goes

> extreme. Then my tears started, then he started

> raising his voice telling me

> that I " have to " be able to do more than just sit

> around all day...which

> spiraled into the " You don't live in chronic pain.

> You just don't get it "

> argument. On and on. I'm sure many of you can relate

> to what I'm saying here.

>

> So yeah, I think I'll give Dr W (neurologist) until

> Jan 15th to start

> presenting me with solidified plans towards wellness

> or else I'll just head back to

> the neurosurgeon and reopen my TLIF case.

> Personally, I think Dr C's (the

> neurosurgeon) expecting me back anyway...thought I

> heard his tiny little voice

> in the back of my head when I canceled

> surgery...clearly saying, " it's

> okay...you'll be baaaaaack " . LOLOLOL. UGH!

>

> Best regards,

> Patty A

> --------------------------

> copying, transcription or

> redistribution outside this list without express

> written permission is not

> permitted.

>

> **************One site keeps you connected to all

> your email: AOL Mail,

> Gmail, and Mail. Try it now.

>

(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp & icid=aolcom40vanity & ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025)

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

December 28, 2008

I also had bone on bone. The neurosurgeon showed how on the x-rays those two.

Vertebre were turning white which is some arthritic condition I can't remember

the name. If I didn't have the surgery permanent nerve damage was eminent. I had

numbness on my buttocks and thighs afterwards. I was told that unless the

numbness was there prior to surgery it would most likely come back andost of it

has. My right leg used to go to sleep when I walked a d now it does not. I is e

no sciatica pain at all now. The last two days I probably over did things

because surgery site ; my lower back was sore bit I walked all over the mall

with no sciatica pain do the surgery worked. I am just recovering from the

surgery itself. Remember prior to surgery I could not walk or stand more than a

few minutes at a time without extreme pain.y recovery at first was Hell and took

way longer than promised but I had no choice. It is clear now that I made the

right decision. To diffuse your

husband try this: next time he says something hurtful or you don't agree with,

calmly say 'Thank you for helping me to clarify what I am feeling'.

Thanks!

Rhonda

On Dec 27, 2008, at 11:08 PM, NCGorgeous1963@... wrote: