runner's surgery blog, L4/5, 2008

[runner]

Hi runner:

The injections I received were in to the Sacroiliac joint on both sides. That is the area that the doctor diagnosed was problematic. I also got a bump back up on my pain medications until the injections take hold. I am feeling somewhat better today so I hope that is the injections working rather than the bump of the pain medications. I was almost off of the pain medications entirely prior to this bad patch.


Happy Birthday Runner (BELATED)

I hope your day was special besides the movie, though. being pain free for awhile is enough to be grateful for, some days.

Hang in there.

Terry Newton
__________________
1980 ruptured L4-L5
1988 ruptured SI-L5
1990 ruptured C5-C6
1994 ruptured C6-C7
1995 Hemi-Laminectomy C5-C6, C6-C7 Mayo Clinic
Bicycle Accident 2004
MRI, EMG, Facet Injections, Epidural Blocks, Lumbar Discogram.
Stenum Hospital Surgery November 4, 2006
Prestige Disc C5-C6, C6-C7
Maverick Disc S1-L5, L4-L5

[runner]

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THANKS TERRY.

Well SI joint injections are probably better than facet or epidurals, huh??
Or maybe not.
Hope you feel better soon. I know when I got the epidural and facet injections, things were real inflammed for a few days. It took me a while to recover from the injections.
I spoke to other people and they didn't have the same effects as I did.
There was initially an increase in pain.

I am not in a whole lot of pain compared to before surgery but I have this nagging low level pain that Tylenol just doesn't quite cover and some breakthrough sciatica here and there. I am sleeping okay--a little too much. I am still very tired from the Gabapentin.
Getting ready for Christmas is a new thing because I don't have my usual energy.

Rest up and feel better,

[runner]

Almost at 10 month mark...
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I am just shy of my 10-month post-op mark and posting about what is happening.

Went to spine doc/surgeon on Monday and now we are going to see if the facet joints are giving me pain. I have been having sciatica problems and increased numbness since Sept and now am going to have another round of a doc poking needles into my backside.

I have gotten facet joint injections before so I know the drill. Last time, before surgery, the facet joint injections did not improve anything. Hoping this time that they work.

My back must be getting ready because today I have had increased back pain, which has left me mainly regulated to the couch. I wish the NFL playoffs were on. I really felt good when the San Diego Chargers defeated the Indianapolis Colts (my apologies to people on here that are Colts fans).

So that's it. I go back to the surgeon in three months for the 13-month (3,000 mile) check up and get to meet a new pain doc. This one is an anesthesiologist and my last one was a regular pain doc. The problem was that the regular doc has not done injections on ADR patients and this doc has. No brainer there.

I am disappointed things aren't going better at the moment but hey I remember how they were pre-op and there is no comparison. This life is better.
Also I am still reminded by several people that I am still "early days". Remember that, you guys out there that have even newer ADRs.

My doc did not offer much of an explanation for my situation except that I was just healing slower than expected.
Oh, well. The job searching and interviewing and such will have to wait. And it's not like I have nothing to do as I have to prepare for my next medical exam in one month. And I have the children and my husband to take care of.

Happy New Year, everyone. May this year be a good year for us.

[runner]

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Well said Runner. I hope 2009 gives answers and remedies to everyone's pain issues. And I certainly hope these facet injections give you relief. Good luck and keep us posted on how you respond to them.

Best to you,

Cindylou
__________________
CindyLou
bicycle accident 6/19/01
2 compression fractures sustained, T12, L1;
vertibroplasty @ above levels, 9/15/01
4/06 right hip labral tear repair
4/07 Lumbar ProDisc replacement by Dr. Bertagnoli, 3 levels; L3-6
7/2/08 ALIF and Laminectomy of L6-S1
7/30/08 Removed bone cement that leaked thru onto S1 nerve root.
8/7/08 Diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, pleurisy, pleural effusion. Hospitalized 1 wk.
Wear bone growth stimulator 2 hrs per day.

[runner]

Thank you,
Cindylou.
Hope you are feeling better.
The only thing I dread about injections is that I get more pain when I first get them and it takes a while to go back to baseline.
IV's, injections and such do not bother me, but what does is if the freakin doc gets close to those nerves, that is an ouch.

Talk to you later.


__________________

[runner]

Thanks for all the good wishes.

I am doing okay, the facet block was better than the one I had pre-op.
Had injections on Thursday and now resting and feeling better than on Thursday and Friday.
I know it takes up to seven days to get the full effect, so I am hoping.

I think this was a much better experience than before. I went to anesetheologist, who is a spinal treatment specialist and knew what to do with ADRs. I told them how the last time i had Versed it didn't help and they gave me another sedative drug in addition to the Versed, Propofol (Diprovan) which really helped. I only felt the needles coming out at the end. If this works, I think they are thinking of burning the nerves, and if not, next step, epidural.
The surgical center staff were great.
For the most part, camping out on the couch, taking pain meds and my Gabapentin and not in too much pain.

[runner]

Runner,

I know it sounds like a broken record and you tell others the same thing - stay positive, be patient.

Hope those kids and hubby are taking care of YOU. Mom's don't have to do everything.

Here's to a much better year for all of us. Off the meds and able to have a drink of choice, a little , lots of and all the other stuff that gives joy and happiness.

Sending many hugs to everyone (need an icon for hugs), Sandy
__________________
**Accidents, active life-style, always some back/neck pain controlled w/ibuphrofen
2004 excessive pain, x-ray, PT, MRI diagnosis cervical DDD
**PM recommended, meds, PT, massage therapy, chiropractor, injections
**Dec. 2007 numbness and weakness in left arm/thumb, x-rays, MRI, discs at C4-7 pushing on spinal cord, fusion or ADR out of country
**April 7, 2008, discogram at C3-4, surgery 4 levels, Prodisc-C, Dr. Bertagnoli, Germany