New Pain after fusion

[jbcool35]

Well I don't know about the new things being mentioned. I do believe that most doctors don't have our best interest at heart. I also believe politics is just a big show and we are the watchers and the main stream media too.

As far as fusions and ADR go, I hear about the same amount of success stories. Some good, some great, some bad and some are crippled from them. It seems the bad outweighs the good to me. I should have never had a fusion. It has ruined my life. I was way better off without it. I was told I was not a candidate for ADR because I had Spondylolysis at L5/S1. They told me it wouldn't work and the only way to fix it was a fusion. The disc was crushed, I had several stress fractures and my spine was sliding forward off my tail bone. I'll admit it was painful, but just when I thought the pain couldn't get any worse, I had a fusion. Whenever you think it can't get any worse, trust me it can!

Now L4/L5 is pretty much gone. I also have a cyst in there somewhere. They don't want to do ADR there either. Something about ADR not being to good for the lower back due to the weight. Plus L5/S1 didn't fuse. They need to go in, add more BMP so it will fuse. They said they need to fuse L4/L5 so L5/S1 has something stable to heal with. Who knows? All I do know is my Workers comp doesn't cover ADR, so maybe that is really why they don't want to give it to me.

I can say without a doubt that my pain has gotten progressively worse since my fusion. Maybe it is the cyst? Maybe the surgery itself? Maybe L4/L5 or maybe a combo of them all? I believe it was the fusion surgery cause I have been in horrible pain ever since getting it.

To all of you that have had a successful fusion or ADR or whatever else you had, congratulations! To those who are still suffering, I feel your pain and hope you make a full recovery someday.

We can't lose hope!

[dshobbies]

JB.

It's time for another opinion. Two heavy hitters in Beverly Hills, not too far from you are Dr. Regan or Dr. Delamarter. Both are well versed in ADRs and if appropriate, are likely to recommend it.

Many people believe their doctors are great and though that may be true, another truth is that doctors are not likely to recommend a procedure they don't perform themselves. Currently I'm battling a friend whose doctor recommended a 3 level lumbar fusion. Thank goodness the ins company denied coverage or she would have already had this done.

When you have a confirmed diagnosis and similar recommendations from 3 doctors, then you know your doctor was correct. If you get differing opinions, you have to decide which doctor/procedure is best for you which you can only do with your own knowledge base. Learn as much as you can about your condition and various treatments before deciding on what comes next.

Good luck, Dale

[jbcool35]

Dale,
Trust me, I have seen about 5 different surgeons. Some orthopedic and some neuro. A few of them did ADR but they all said fusion is my best option. I would think Fusion at L5/S1 was a good call just because of the fracture and slippage. However, I always thought ADR would be more appropriate at L4/L5. Dr.Regan doesn't take my workers comp, I already checked. I'm pretty sure he would recommend fixing the L5/S1 fusion and ADR at L4/L5. To me it seems that's what they should have done to begin with. L4/L5 was bad when they fused L5/S1. So who knows? I've about given up. I wonder if my PPO insurance will cover anything? I doubt it since it was work related.

[dshobbies]

I know worker's comp is even more difficult to work with than ins. co's but well worth the fight. Perhaps you could pay for a consultation with Drs. R or D and use that to fight for your spine.

Most of us had to personally pay for our ADRs. Ins is coming around but very slowly and most still won't pay for it. I realize finances play a huge role in the ADR and spine world but it was well worth the debt.

Every minute feels like and hour and so on when you're in pain. Wearing you down is something the bureaucracy counts on which is easier when you're dealing with too much. Only you can decide when to give in or continue the battle.

You are caught between a rock and a hard place. Others have walked in your shoes. Only you can decide what to do and what comes next. Good luck,

Dale

[Maria]

JB,
You have to be careful when it comes to WC and what you do re surgery because if it's something not authorized by WC if you have future medical benefits you could stand to lose them possibly proceeding without their authorization altho that's a decision one has to make for self.

Also your PPO insurance if anything like mine might investigate the claim if it's after the fact and deny payment (even if previously authorized).

I think there is a way that PPO insurance can pay for something that is WC but it has to be with full understanding and knowledge of what's going on and an authorization prior to surgery regarding payment (something you could take into court if PPO decides to turn around and deny payment).

Medicare in my case makes me sign a form every so often stating my low back is covered under another policy (WC) so they don't get stuck with any diagnostics/treatment related to my low back. On that note billing for my cervical spine even has been investigated altho I have never had a WC case involving my cervical or thoracic spine.

It may depend on what state you're in as to the WC legislation and what the carrier is willing to agree to though I'd not do anything w/o knowing what you're risking (if anything).

I did pay for a consultation w/Dr.Regan just to get his opinion even tho he knew I wasn't going to be able to utilize him for surgery (re WC) and also paid for overseas consultation w/Dr.Bertagnoli via Mark's service (my first consultation re ADR that helped me forge ahead w/others here in the states via WC system).

In my own case when it came to my 3rd spine surgery (which I didn't have) WC had advised me if I proceeded with anything they didn't recommend/authorize and if I went out of the country I would forfeit my future medical benefits and everything would be terminated at that point with regard to my low back being covered anymore thru WC and of course surgery abroad would not be paid for even tho at the time it would have cost WC one third less than it would have here in the states!

I didn't have the $ for the surgery no way no how and didn't really feel what I was offered in the US would have been comprehensive enough (maybe it would have tho I didn't feel that way) so took my time and did nothing. As it turned out in my own case an OK thing do as my L5S1 autofused though this was after nearly 30 years from original injury (far longer than most people want to wait and nor would have I if my injuries were more recent).

Good luck. Pain is tough though so is the decision about what to do about it surgically so if you've the time make a well thought out well researched decision and hopefully you won't have "buyers remorse" re any new parts (or it will be less likely)!

[jbcool35]

Well thanks for the input guys. I fear L4/L5 is getting worse. That's what the x-rays show anyway. Looks like the nerve is being pinched pretty good now and my level of pain has going up. I really don't want another surgery. The first one I had put the fear of God into me. I also don't want to lose future medical just in case I do need another surgery or need medicine, etc. I wonder if getting the cyst removed would help? I wonder if L5/S1 fused all the way, if it would help? It is partially fused, well maybe like a 1/4 way fused. I'm pretty sure that L4/L5 is giving me some problems now but not sure how bad. I'm waiting for workers comp to authorize a nerve conduction study, still! I'll let you guys know and thanks again for all your input. I hope you are all doing ok.

[Maria]

That's right now I remember you're in CA too so you're under same WC legislation I am. My insurance carrier no longer auth's anything but meds for me now as they keep offering me Medicare Set Aside or to settle benefits. I too don't want to go there yet as cost of surgery will rise and I may need it in the future. L4 is still problematic for me even if L5S1 isn't that much.

My L5S1 area was the most problematic till it autofused. It was really bad. L4 is has been problematic as well tho so far not as much or at least so it seems. I'm sure things could get worse..tho hoping not to go there.

Good luck w/your nerve conduction studies. I have no idea if the cyst can be creating probs tho the nerve impingement if that's what you have I imagine can and/or maybe just the effects of the fusion and other stuff combined.

Hopefully whatever diagnostics you have will help the docs figure out where the pain is coming from. I completely get how you feel re more surgery as that's what my last surgery did for me as well.

Good luck/keep us posted!

[jbcool35]

Well on a different note, I've decided to try out working again. SSDI said I have some kind of 9 month trial period in case I can't do it. Just gonna try to get on with life. At the rate this country is spending money, SSDI will be gone. I'm scared of that besides I make less in a month than I made in a week before. If my nerve study comes back bad, then oh well. If I need surgery again, oh well. Nothing I can do about it. I haven't worked in 2 years and my pain is getting worse. So I may as well be working. Kinda strange why I have back problems and no one else in my family does? So much for genetics. Well I know mine was work related so never mind. Just thinking that different areas of my back and neck now hurt that didn't before. I wonder if that is caused by the surgery or if I have some kind of inflammatory/degenerative condition? It really bites whatever it is and has really messed up my life! I know all of us on here are messed up and a lot of people way worse than me. For some reason I'm starting to see people that jump, run and play around and it gets me angry that i can't do those things. I'm jealous. Well thanks for all the support guys. Wish me luck with work. Hope you all are doing better.

As far as the workers comp thing goes Mariaa, I don't know. I'm just trying to hold on. They have me at 55% disabled, so I think my lawyer is still on the case cause she feels she will one day get more money. She has been my lawyer since 12/2003 and hasn't missed a beat. I know your case is a lot older and I hope they at least keep giving you your meds. As far as medicare/medicaid goes, they aren't much better from what I hear. Guess it depends if you need the money bad enough then you might have to settle but like you said, I'd wait as long as I can and be sure medicare will cover you.