5 months post ADR & Fusion-big problems

[sarah.p]

Hi everyone,

Im new to this site so please go gently with me! I an 33 and had an accident at work 4yrs ago, which after many investigations and injections lead to a disc decompression in 2006. My surgeon is Mr Lam in London who I have great faith in.

At the end of Jan last year I had more problems with my back, and again after lots of investigations at the end of August (08), I had a Fusion L4-5 (I am congenitally fused L5-S1) and I had a prodisc inserted L3-L4.

I was really positive about recovery and was looking forwards my life being more active again, and getting back to my job, I had been posted in the office and very much looked forwards to going back to clinical work when recovered again, but sadly after about 6 weeks my pain increased considerably, and I was given nerve root blocks S1 due to nerve pain and my leg 'giving way' this did help.

Sadly my pain continued to increase and at my 4 month check my surgeon decided that I would need revision surgery, and in April I am having the legacy rod system and more screws in my fusion site as I am hypermobile and not fusing due to this,and there is risk of me breaking the hardwear. Again I was positive about this helping.

Unfortunately it has just been discovered through my pain clinic consultant that I have problems with my facet joints, my surgeon and I expected this to be at the fusion level, but when looked into its at the ADR level, I had facet joint injections two weeks ago, whilst the local anaesthetic was in there my facets felt wonderful!! and I realised just how much pain they were causing me, sadly this has not lasted and I am in a great deal of pain again. I am really worried about the future, and after reading a great deal about facet problems at adr sites, I do not feel positive at all, I am really worried about being left in this sort of pain, and going back to my job, which is very active and involves alot of activity, bending etc, so I also have to be fit to go back to work (Im a nurse).
My work is not being supportive, and I dont think it will take them long to start discussing ill health retirement. I worked so very hard to get where I am in my career, and at the moment everything in the future seems so uncertain.
Ive been with my partner for 12 years, and he is very understanding and wonderful, but I worry so much that he will just get fed up with it all.
Im sorry for moaning, im usually such a positive person, however this is all very overwhelming for me at the moment.
thanks so much for listening.

hugs,

sarah
Reply With Quote

[Gil Denis]

Hi Sarah

Welcome
I know people will chime in on your problems.

Gil

[sarah.p]

Originally Posted by Gil Denis

Hi Sarah

Welcome
I know people will chime in on your problems.

Gil

Thanks Gil,
Its always nice to find a place where people understand,
sarah

[runner]

Sarah,

Sorry for your problems.
I am a nurse too (critical care) and know the feeling of not being able to work at the bedside.
It really hurts when you can't do the job you have trained long and hard for.
Anyway, good luck and I hope things work out for you.

Runner

[sarah.p]

Hi Runner,
Im really sorry to hear that you are in the same position too, Im an intensive care nurse, so it sounds as though we come from a similar background.
Are you on sick leave from work due to back problems at the moment?
I get really sad having to think about the options ahead of me, and I cant believe that I am in this position and at 33 having to discuss ill health retirement. It is such a shame, and I would so love to be able to go back to being a nurse.
Thanks for posting, my thoughts are with you too.
hugs
sarah

[marion]

Sarah my heart goes to you what an awful situation but there must be hope you must never give up hope. The facets can be regularily injected 3 times a year I belive and they are usually successful like you experienced so that means just 3 months of pain and wait and see what happens there are many new approaches so hold on you are not alone and this is manageable!! what meds do you take?? Marion X