UGH - both Sept surgeries gone horribly bad

[Guest guest]

I know I've been away for awhile - Hello, Everyone. It's been one helluva 2

month time period. If it wasn't bad enough that I needed 2 surgeries in Sept,

I'll tell you it's the pits that they both wound up jacked.

Quick recap: car wreck 7/12/07. Caused whiplash, concussion, neck/shoulder,

low back/sciatica, numbing & tingling in all 4 extremities, and breast pain.

Feb 4, 2008 - C5/C6 ACDF (anterior decompression and fusion). Carbon fiber

spacer, titanium plate w/4 screws. Outpatient, 5 wk recovery...life was great.

Sept 10, 2008 - (FINALLY) begged, borrowed and stole (just kidding about

stealing) the $7,000 cash out of pocket needed to pay the plastic surgeon and

hospital to fix the breast capsulotomy that resulted from the seatbelt

restricting too tightly and forcing the implant up into the armpit area, causing

significant daily pain. Our divine insurance company refused to cover any of

this

expense because the initial surgery was considered cosmetic, even though

this was caused by trauma. Anyway, 4 hrs outpatient. Had scar tissue removed

from right breast pocket so implant would drop back down into position, but

also

had to " adjust " left breast to make them symmetrical. Surgery went

fine...life was great...until yesterday when I had to have an emergency implant

removal due to an infection. Out $7K plus need another $2k+ to fix this in 4

mos.

(not to mention having to hide under baggy sweatshirts for awhile).

Sept 29, 2008 - under the knife again. L5/S1 MetRx Discectomy

3 hrs, outpatient. Felt pretty good. Surgery seemed to significantly reduce

pains, but still on meds so not 100% sure; but felt good so not complaining.

Life was great. Decided to rent a walker to help recovery/stability.

Oct 12, 2008 - returned walker to pharmacy coz life seemed great. Got home,

took shower, lost balance and tripped out of tub. Sent shooting pains

throughout the entire right side of my body, brought me to the floor in tears

and

screams of pain. Life no longer so great. Saw neurosurgeon later that week, he

sent me for a lumbar MRI.

Today - knew instantly by look on neurosurgeon's face during follow-up appt

that life was no longer so good. I am now scheduled for an L5/S1 Open Staxx

Aspen TLIF on 12/15. I only know what he explained to me and what i read about

this procedure but am not educated enough to compare it to anything else.

Anyone have any knowledge of this TLIF?

I'm having a really bad 2 mos here, guys. Both of these surgeries went bad

within 8 wks so I have to have both of these " redone " , in addition to STILL not

knowing the cause of my numbing & tingling - outside of the recommendation

for carpal tunnel surgeries, which makes the total 4 more times in the OR, not

including what they may find out for my feet/legs. The earliest neurologist

appt I can get is 12/2.

I'm kinda at my wits' end with all of this.

Best regards,

Patty A

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[Guest guest]

Dear Patty,

Ouch, ouch and ouch girl. You are really having a rough go of it.

Well, you already had a lot to deal with, and now to have a fall and

get hurt. My goodness. And it really doesn't matter how long you

have been gone, we all post when we can and don't when we can't, I'm

sure we all like to hear from eachother whether we are feeling good

or bad. So don't let that one worry you.

I am so, so sorry you are looking at more surgery. Especially being

laid up like that just before the holidays, when you were on your way

to healing. Are you going to have help through the holidays, and

when you come back home? I hope so, for the help and the comfort.

Maybe you could get a shower seat, I know I have found mine to be a

life saver when I suddenly feel ill, or am in a lot of pain and can

get easily off balance. Or the shower bars, I know they are not too

hard to install (not that I did ours) ha ha I would really hate to

see you fall again...

I hope you are feeling somewhat better now, as much as you can

anyways. Take care & SOFT hugs for you.

God bless

Sue

>

> I know I've been away for awhile - Hello, Everyone. It's been one

helluva 2

> month time period. If it wasn't bad enough that I needed 2

surgeries in Sept,

> I'll tell you it's the pits that they both wound up jacked.

>

> Quick recap: car wreck 7/12/07. Caused whiplash, concussion,

neck/shoulder,

> low back/sciatica, numbing & tingling in all 4 extremities, and

breast pain.

>

> Feb 4, 2008 - C5/C6 ACDF (anterior decompression and fusion).

Carbon fiber

> spacer, titanium plate w/4 screws. Outpatient, 5 wk recovery...life

was great.

>

> Sept 10, 2008 - (FINALLY) begged, borrowed and stole (just kidding

about

> stealing) the $7,000 cash out of pocket needed to pay the plastic

surgeon and

> hospital to fix the breast capsulotomy that resulted from the

seatbelt

> restricting too tightly and forcing the implant up into the armpit

area, causing

> significant daily pain. Our divine insurance company refused to

cover any of this

> expense because the initial surgery was considered cosmetic, even

though

> this was caused by trauma. Anyway, 4 hrs outpatient. Had scar

tissue removed

> from right breast pocket so implant would drop back down into

position, but also

> had to " adjust " left breast to make them symmetrical. Surgery went

> fine...life was great...until yesterday when I had to have an

emergency implant

> removal due to an infection. Out $7K plus need another $2k+ to fix

this in 4 mos.

> (not to mention having to hide under baggy sweatshirts for awhile).

>

> Sept 29, 2008 - under the knife again. L5/S1 MetRx Discectomy

> 3 hrs, outpatient. Felt pretty good. Surgery seemed to

significantly reduce

> pains, but still on meds so not 100% sure; but felt good so not

complaining.

> Life was great. Decided to rent a walker to help recovery/stability.

>

> Oct 12, 2008 - returned walker to pharmacy coz life seemed great.

Got home,

> took shower, lost balance and tripped out of tub. Sent shooting

pains

> throughout the entire right side of my body, brought me to the

floor in tears and

> screams of pain. Life no longer so great. Saw neurosurgeon later

that week, he

> sent me for a lumbar MRI.

>

> Today - knew instantly by look on neurosurgeon's face during follow-

up appt

> that life was no longer so good. I am now scheduled for an L5/S1

Open Staxx

> Aspen TLIF on 12/15. I only know what he explained to me and what i

read about

> this procedure but am not educated enough to compare it to anything

else.

>

> Anyone have any knowledge of this TLIF?

>

> I'm having a really bad 2 mos here, guys. Both of these surgeries

went bad

> within 8 wks so I have to have both of these " redone " , in addition

to STILL not

> knowing the cause of my numbing & tingling - outside of the

recommendation

> for carpal tunnel surgeries, which makes the total 4 more times in

the OR, not

> including what they may find out for my feet/legs. The earliest

neurologist

> appt I can get is 12/2.

>

> I'm kinda at my wits' end with all of this.

> Best regards,

> Patty A

>

> **************AOL Search: Your one stop for directions, recipes and

all other

> Holiday needs. Search Now.

> (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212792382x1200798498/aol?

redir=http://searchblog.aol.com/2008/11/04/happy-holidays-from

> -aol-search/?ncid=emlcntussear00000001)

>

>

>