2 1/2 years post op - Charite ADR L5/S1

[Poncho]

Hey Blair,

Thanks for including me - I was beginning to feel old LOL

I have not mastered the art on this website yet to look at both screens while replying but I will try to remember what you have written.

I really liked Dr. Bertagnoli. He seems honest, caring and was pretty realistic regarding patient outcomes. Most importantly good at diagnostics and surgically.

How I injured my back.....It is a long story, but I will try to give you the "Cliff Notes" version because I know that you are cramming for your law finals.

Okay, I am a nurse by profession and ended up injuring my back the first time around working as a nurse and then it finally went out at home trying to bend over to pick up a bottle of ibuprofen (ironically). Herniated L5-S1. Had a micro-d, recovered and 6 weeks later back to work. Almost a "textbook" case. UNTIL

18 months later - In the interim of the 1st injury and this second injury, I was training to be a flight nurse. Taking the worst of the worst trauma cases that came to the ER. One night, I had a gun shot victim trying to "crash" on me/us and he needed lifted from the ER gurney to the CT table and back. There was little help and I only had one tech with me with a surgeon screaming obsenities and every monitor known to man going off. After lifting this patient that was about 180 - 190 lbs (I weigh 130 lbs) - My back started hurting and then the pain progressed down the left leg. Eventually diagnosed with herniation at L4-5.

Thus, I was a work comp patient and went through work comp hell. They are the ones that told me that I would be like this the rest of my life and that may never have children - yada, yada, yada.... Career was shot in the "arse" at the time, failed every least invasive measure you can think of. So, much for being a flight nurse.

After many procedures (mostly non-surgical, except for an endo procedure in the L4-L5 region), obtained multiple opinions, lots of research, lots of pain medications - I eventually decided I could no longer wait to get this procedure done in the US. (I kept getting bumped in the open clinical trials).

Eventually, landed in Vienna, Austria and had a two level ADR performed. Not a cakewalk procedure to go through - but it did significantly improve my life.

You are certainly an inspiration to many of us here to continue with school and live in chronic pain. I certainly hope you are able to do this or that Erin is able to do that to some of those docs that are naysayers.....

Anyways, I had the surgery in May 2004 with I consider my second birthday. I am not on any pain medications except tylenol/motrin. Back in school for an MBA and hope to graduate in 6 months. (I hope) - Currently, I work at a small rural community hospital in the ER and don't have to do as much lifting. You are right about the weather - it stinks in Ohio with the changes.

You and Erin certainly are an inspiration to those of us that live in chronic pain every day and somehow getting through. I wish you nothing but the best. Good luck with finals this week!!!

Wishing you pain free enough time to get through it atleast.

Sincerely,
Poncho

PS - At this time of night, I hope that I am making some sense

PPSS - What year of law school are you in? Are you havinig an invigoring read related to contracts? constitutional law? case law? (I can't think of the rest) - but good luck.

[Blairsara]

Hey Poncho
I’m sorry I wasn’t able to respond until now but I kind of put my life on hold the past few weeks and I am now catching up.

Glad to make you feel like you’re included. I’m glad to hear about Dr. B, I still have to fill out that form and send it back to them. Time kind of stopped once finals came around, and I am now getting everything back in order and organized.

Thanks for sharing about your story on how you injured your back, it’s never a short story huh? Mine definitely isn’t. I’m sorry that you had to deal with work comp people, I’ve heard that it isn’t a very pleasant experience, and from listening to your experience it definitely wasn’t… so I’m sorry.
How long did you spend in Europe after having the two level ADR? Was that hard for you having such an invasive procedure and then having to fly back to the states? I am so glad to hear that it has improved your quality of life. I definitely believe that is what we all are looking for – a better quality of life from what we are dealing with now; something, anything, that will make us feel just a tad bit better. And I am so happy to hear that you found that answer.

Thank you for saying that I am an inspiration, those words definitely make me feel that how I am approaching this whole situation is the right way and really the only way. This is the first time that I haven’t had anything on my mind in a while and only my back to think about. Let’s just say that last week wasn’t that great of a week but now I’m over it. I randomly go through these spurts where I’m in a “funk” for a week and then I pull myself out. I think that with this one, after having the rhizo and then not really being able to fully recover b/c I had to study for my finals, and then sitting through two 6 hour exams I was just worn out and exhausted. I think that really what gets me through going to law school and being in constant pain is that I am always busy and really don’t have time to concentrate on the pain (or at least I don’t let myself concentrate on it).

Congrats on being back in school and that you’re soon to graduate! That’s awesome. I hope you had a wonderful holiday whatever you celebrate – Hanukah, Christmas, Kwansa – and that you have a wonderful new year!!

Also, I just finished my first semester of my first year at law school and you got it about the contracts!!!

Blair

[Blairsara]

So today I went in for my doctor's appointment and had a visitor (Mark). The good news: my left facet joint pain that has been the bane of my existence for the past 2 yrs is G..O..N..E (because of the rhizotomy)!!! YAY!!!!! Let's hope it lasts for a while.
Now to the bad news - my right facet joint which has been the bane of my existence since mid October still hates me right now. I'm going in for a CT scan at the end of this week then it's back to my doctor's office to see what is going on with my whacked out joint.

I found this quote somewhere and I just felt that it was perfect for this forum so I thought I'd share....

"When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself far more blessed than you imagined."

I hope you guys are doing well!!!

[Poncho]

Hi Blair,

Sorry that I have not responded sooner. I am glad to hear that you are getting relief from the rhizo - yet - the other facet is giving you trouble. Atleast it is somewhat of a "break" of the constant kind of pain you were dealing with.

DANG!!! - You were sitting through 6 HOUR exams?!?!? Holy crap!!! Let me guess they are all essay? I don't think I could do that.....OMG! No wonder you were hurting after the rhizo!!!

As for going to Europe - I have been there twice for treatment.

Once at the Alpha Klinik in Munich, Germany for an endoscopic discectomy.

Then, to Vienna,Austria for a 2 level ADR.

I would say that with the endo - I spent about 1 1/2 weeks before flying home.

Then, after ADR....I would say I was there for about 3 - 3 1/2 weeks after surgery before flying home. Flew first class this second time because I was able to recline, stretch & etc.


Anyways, I hope that you are getting enough pain relief so that you are able to focus more on other things than your back - ya know...... that school thing??? Wish I was in California right now to get away from the weather up here. Mostly rainy, a warmer than usualy this time of year - but I am sure it is soon to change.......

Take care,

Sending pain free vibes,
Poncho

[Blairsara]

Poncho,

Not a problem, this time of the yr gets pretty hectic and crazy, so it's all good. Ya I am so happy about my left facet joint, and now just applying how I handled my left pain to what's been going on since mid September. I wouldnt say it's somewhat of a break from the constant pain because I'm still in constant pain, it's just switched to the other side of my body. But in a sense you are right that it is a break from the left pain.

Yup 6 hour finals, I get double time because of my back so the exams were actually set for 3 hours but I used the whole time. It was both multiple choice and essay, and in both I ended up having to take pain killers during the middle which was during the essay part so I think I might have gotten a little creative? I don't really remember some of the stuff I wrote so lets just hope it sounded like english! haha. It's hard not to laugh at these kind of things!!! I mean it is pretty funny in a sense (or I just have a sick kind of humor)

I still have the weird muscle leg pain going down to my knee on my right leg but I've been told that it should go away soon. I actually went in for a CT scan yesterday and let me just tell you my films did not show good things for my right facet joints. I don't really read those kind of films very well and dont know what to look for but it was blatantly clear that something very wrong and something that shouldnt be happening is going on with my joint. So I'm going in next week to see Dr. Regan and then figure out a plan to get me through this semester, since classes start on Monday.

I hope you are doing well!

Blair