3 Level Disc Replacement in Germany and Still in Pain

[jamie5136]

Originally Posted by Maria

There are some chairs at Relax the Back store you might want to try out altho they were mostly over $1000 so then I heard about a lounge chair like version at Home Depot that was on sale for $69 and brought it home and it would have been great for semi reclining and working on my laptop but it was just a bit too big for the space I wanted to put it in so I had to bring it back. Perhaps if you google Relax the Back store you can pull up the link and see the chairs they have where you lie back and your legs are elevated at the knee so it keeps your back supported in a flat position and raises legs at knees taking pressure of the low back.

I think if I were going to work for someone I would have to have a chair like that for computer work (if I wanted to recline) and then a standing station if I were going to stand part of the time and I'd try switching positions as long as standing didn't create a problem.

I now also have a cervical disc bulge and have to pamper my neck as well when working at the computer so that's sort of a drag tho I just try to work with things making my own adaptive type of situations after seeing some of the things out there for people with disabilities that are working that I cannot afford.

Your situation does sound somewhat promising since you're able to hike well and hopefully you will eventually be able to sit again as well. I know I said the same thing as you with regard to wishing it were the other way around as I so missed being able to sit in libraries, on planes, in movies, at the theater/plays, and on and on however I'm thankful for how good I do feel finally and for what I can do comfortably these days.

And no, I did not have ADR. I was slated for a 3 level global fusion back in 2000 and didn't want to have that and pursued trying to get ADR surgery thru WC and in 2003 a 2 level ADR surgery was approved in a trial at UCSF but they stopped the trial before my surgery date and then it wasn't until 2006 that surgery was authorized for me again however by then it was an ADR at L4 and fusion at L5S1.

I am afraid of fusion. Probably unreasonably so however I've waited so many years now since my original injury it appears L5S1 has autofused finally per my OSS and my symptoms are not as severe as they used to be so I'm quite pleased. Also I think the autofusion accounts for why I can now sit at least socially or for like an hour or so without looking like I have ants in my pants.

Well, I can hike, but for some reason, sitting feels like someone is taking a hot poker and driving it up my tushie or lower spine. I hate to be so graphic, but that is how it feels. I can't find a standing chair, and Relax the Back does not have one. The Stance chair company is no longer making their chair, which would have been perfect. I have also been looking at a Zero Gravity chair, but they are so expensive. And, oddly enough, out of desperation, I thought about getting an inversion table that is seated and using that as a chair. It is just like a regular inversion table but has a chair on it and it has 6 different positions, but it is not designed to be an office chair. I get so frustrated! I am so sorry to hear about your neck. May I ask you a private question? Are you on disability or are you supported by your husband? I was thinking about going on SSI, but I hear it is hard to get for sitting pain and then if you get it, you get paid almost nothing; not enough to survive. You don't have to answer, just wondering.

[Maria]

thanks for bringing that up.. it's what I meant re the Home Depot lounge type of chair that is zero gravity like and there are more like this and they're under $100. RE a standing chair.. no.. I just stood up at my desk and had a chair next to my desk that was on wheels and had an arm removed so I would often just shift positions and sort of support one knee on it while sort of standing and actually leaning forward towards my desk to open up my lumbar space or stretch. At least this is what it felt like I was doing.

When I applied for SSD I was only working part time. Mistake. Better to apply when you're working full time as you want as many work hours on there for the qualifying quarters (years?) that are used to compile this.

I was awarded SSD upon first application (I had a 20 plus year documented history of back probs thanks to WC's records) and then about my 6th month into SSD the place where I had left employment advised me to apply for LTD or long term disability and I qualified for that as well.

I lived with my husband but he wasn't supporting me at any time as I always had my income which was the stable income of the two prior to my applications to disability. I have lived alone for the last 5 years and support myself however my husband is kind enough to keep me on his medical insurance to date ( I do have Medicare tho his
BCBS is extremely helpful re dental and prescriptions).

[jamie5136]

Originally Posted by Maria

thanks for bringing that up.. it's what I meant re the Home Depot lounge type of chair that is zero gravity like and there are more like this and they're under $100. RE a standing chair.. no.. I just stood up at my desk and had a chair next to my desk that was on wheels and had an arm removed so I would often just shift positions and sort of support one knee on it while sort of standing and actually leaning forward towards my desk to open up my lumbar space or stretch. At least this is what it felt like I was doing.

When I applied for SSD I was only working part time. Mistake. Better to apply when you're working full time as you want as many work hours on there for the qualifying quarters (years?) that are used to compile this.

I was awarded SSD upon first application (I had a 20 plus year documented history of back probs thanks to WC's records) and then about my 6th month into SSD the place where I had left employment advised me to apply for LTD or long term disability and I qualified for that as well.

I lived with my husband but he wasn't supporting me at any time as I always had my income which was the stable income of the two prior to my applications to disability. I have lived alone for the last 5 years and support myself however my husband is kind enough to keep me on his medical insurance to date ( I do have Medicare tho his
BCBS is extremely helpful re dental and prescriptions).

Okay, here is that standing chair. If I could find one of these, I would be set: Health Postures Stance Chair

I see the Zero Gravity chairs and there are some for under 100.00, but some for like 1200.00 or more which are obviously padded and have more options.
PC-085 POWER BONDED LEATHER ZERO GRAVITY PERFECT CHAIR - eBay (item 370183400110 end time Dec-29-09 17:27:26 PST)

Do you work at all, or do you live off of SSI? I hear they give you nothing. I envision myself living in an efficiency with a futon eating cat food.

[Maria]

Jamie,
I like the standing chair. Wish they had those on airplanes.. and if I could tilt myself upwards every once in awhile and lie flat for a bit that'd be perfect.

I've tried the Perfect Chair at Relax The Back store and while it was really nice the price was prohibitive for me. The Home Depot Anti Gravity chair was more what I could afford and one could easily add something over the top of it (like a covering) and adapt it well enough~ or at least I think I could have.

There was a guy on one of the spine forums and I don't remember what his exact work was but it was something for which he had to sit or be at a computer 8 hours/day. I remember he posted the type of chairs he was considering trying as he couldn't sit either but he could work, his mind was clear and he was fully functional to work other than not being able to sit because of severe pain from this one position as well. Perhaps someone else here will remember this person as well ~ anyway long story short he did get the station he wanted for work and he continued working. I think it may have even been with a new employer if I recall correctly.

Ok have go as I'm getting sleepy and not sure what I'll be writing next~ g' nite!

[fuzzy]

I also think the fact that you can stand and walk is good news!

I also like the standing chair. It is not available anymore? Thats a pity!

Before my surgery I could not stand and could not sit. After my surgery suddenly I could stand real good but still could not sit. To this very day in those countless office visits meetings I often refuse the chair and just stand which freaks so many people out, they are just not used to someone standing in a meeting! Before the surgery I had to lie on the floor and that of cause was even weirder. But now 2 years later I can sit much butter but I still take opportunities to not sit but stand instead.

I have the "antigrav" chair from Relax The Back. The electric version as I could never pull that lever and push the chair back. I got it before my first (lumbar) surgery and it turned out to not help me at all as it still is a sitting position even when driving it into the flat (antigrav) position I would still hurt and have all kind of problems in my feet. The angle of my legs to my body and still some pressure on something. I could only lie totally flat. So it sat in the corner. Now post lumbar surgery I have improved and I actually like this chair! I would highly suggest to try this chair (the electric one) and sit in it. Do you hurt? Then use the motor to move the chair into the elevated position. Do you still hurt? Is it the postion of your legs relative to your body or is it simply gravity pushing down when sitting that makes you hurt. If it is that I suggest you buy all the special chairs you can find and give it more time before having more procedures! It took me over a year before I started feeling comfortable to sit any length of time.

I also have the motorized office desk from them. Its very good. Years ago I found (at a garage sale) a kneeling chair which is somewhat close to a standing chair which I had rebuilt and then my wife made new pads for it and I still have that is the office. I use this occasionally. This one you sit on your knees and rest your but against a pad. I spend time on a gym ball to temporarely rest on putting the legs to the side like riding a horse.

Between the kneeling chair and the motorized desk I did much better in my own space then visiting other places where there are no options other then regular chairs.

Most importantly I have steadily improved over the course of 2 years. Give it more time. Try to find these chairs as you have a good chance of healing. Don't consider a revision unless you do find a real good reason in your search for the true origin of your pain.

I wish you the best!

[wilsonrob]

Where exactly is your pain? Could it be piriformis syndrome?

[jamie5136]

That is the 64,000 question. I just did your test and felt the glutes stretch, but it actually felt good to stretch like that, so my guess is that it is not the piriformis muscle. I oddly enough found an illustration of a nude woman from behind, brought that into a design program and circled the pain and where it was radiating, but I have not heard back from Dr. B. So, the only way I can describe it is as follows: Image where the tushie crack starts and go up about 3-4 inches or so. That is the main source of pain. That radiates into my buttocks, but rarely, if ever, in my legs. So, when I sit or put any pressure on that part or just sitting, it burns like fire and aches. I end of having to adjust myself by putting one leg under the other and sitting on my legs throughout the day. Even laying in bed with my knees up hurts because this is putting direct pressure on that spot. Dr. Gill and one MRI nurse said, "This is your lower back." So, I assume this means L5-S1. I had this pain before, but this surgery made it much worse, so I have to conclude that I had a pre-existing condition and that the discs did not help the sitting pain; it only aggravated it and it is not getting better. Sometimes it "feels" as though it is my tailbone, or around that area, but x-rays show it is not broken, so Dr. Gill in Dallas said it was not my tailbone. So, I am lost. My thought is that because I grew about 1/2 inch or so that my spine elongated and is pinched or impinging or pressing some type of nerve or joint. Does that make sense. My father seems to think that it is inflammation, like osteo arthritis and that the elongating of my spine could have caused a stress fracture, making it worse; I don't know. Obviously the surgery made it worse. The opinons or guesses I get are plentiful. I am going to get an EMG test here soon. Maybe that will help. Oh, I found that Stance chair, but it is 500.00 just for shipping! I wish I could catch a break sometimes.

Originally Posted by wilsonrob

Where exactly is your pain? Could it be piriformis syndrome?

[dshobbies]

I agree with Rob, that piriformis syndrome should also be investigated. My thinking, that you experience this same pain while lying with your knees up which puts very little pressure on your tailbone, says alot. It sounds like something is being stretched that doesn't want to stretch.

[wilsonrob]

1 of 3 things?

piriformis
SI joint
L5 or S1 nerve

Pain management should be able to diagnosis with injections or RF treatment.

If no leg pain it might be SI joint?

[jamie5136]

Originally Posted by wilsonrob

1 of 3 things?

piriformis
SI joint
L5 or S1 nerve

Pain management should be able to diagnosis with injections or RF treatment.

If no leg pain it might be SI joint?

No pain managment doctor has mentioned anything other than it "could" be the Si joint. It feels like the L5S1 nerve, but I don't know what that is. I get an injection tomorrow in the S1 joint and the doctor does do RF if needed on the ganglion impar, but can RF be done on the S1 joint?