Neck and back pain

bassmedic46 · January 04, 2019, 11:47:27 PM

Looks like I won't be doing any fishing this year. Have to have 3 surgeries on my back and neck. Have a compressed nerve in my neck which is giving me a bad headache everyday and right arm numbness. Back requires 5 spinal fusions. Surgeon says recovery time between 9 to 12 months. My wife has been incredible thru all this.

Bassinkorea · January 05, 2019, 05:47:12 AM

Dang, that all sounds ~~like a pain in the neck~~ rough. All the best to you on a speedy recovery!!!

Deadeye · January 05, 2019, 07:22:08 AM

Hope you find the relief you are looking for.

Sometimes surgery is the answer and sometimes it is not. Neck Area caused pain it a tough one to deal with, as all the nerves in our back run through there.

I chose to have Neck Surgery 2 years ago last December and it was a success. However even now there are times when I feel a tingling coming back in my left arm, which before the surgery would go useless at times.

My low back I chose to not have surgery done and instead went to see a Pain Management Specialist. From not able to walk or stand for more than 10-15 minutes to walking and standing for several hours if needed.

Again, Hope you choice works out for you as you desire.

bassmedic46 · January 05, 2019, 10:17:42 AM

I've tried the injections with no real relief. Sad thing is this is something that happened at my last job and I got fired after I went back to work. Workers comp is denying everything. Their saying i'm Making all this up so I don't have to work.

Lipripper · January 05, 2019, 10:51:58 AM

Quote from: bassmedic46 on January 05, 2019, 10:17:42 AM
I've tried the injections with no real relief. Sad thing is this is something that happened at my last job and I got fired after I went back to work. Workers comp is denying everything. Their saying i'm Making all this up so I don't have to work.

Sorry to hear this and hope all goes well for you and glad you have a great supporting wife to help you through all this. You might have to fight those people down at Workers comp. It won't be easy but it's something you might have to do in order to get some help.

topdsm0138 · January 05, 2019, 11:07:12 AM

I had that lazer outpatient surgery on one of my 5 bad discs, what a difference it made. Still have some pain from the others but it helps. Have they offered that option to you?

bassmedic46 · January 05, 2019, 12:09:29 PM

I am very lucky I have a very supportive wife. They said my back is to bad for laser surgery.

Oldfart9999 · January 06, 2019, 01:13:05 PM

Will have you our prayers. Workmans comp is ridiculous, they have it, you and your employer pay for it and they don't want to pay you when you need it, a lot of it stems from all the fraud, you're guilty don't you know.
Rodney

bassmedic46 · January 06, 2019, 02:00:28 PM

That is a big part of the problem with a lot of people younger then me saying they have back issues. I haven't been able to work for a year. Finally saw a judge. Hopefully we get this resolved before we lose everything.

Mike Cork · January 07, 2019, 10:05:08 AM

Sounds like you have my back and neck issues. Three back surgeries. Fuse L4-L5 - two years later fuse those two to S1, that worked for about 6 years, two years ago had all that hardware removed and the L3 fused to the others. So there is a long piece of fused vertebrae in my back now. It helped each time but doesn't last long relative to a life span. A good surgeon will tell you that a fuse is only good for a couple years before the disc above or below it blows. Hopefully all your fusions are together, if they are spreading them out it's going to be trouble down the road.

I also have the neck issue, the list of problems is a two page MRI report but I don't want to let them cut there. Pain management isn't working too well as I'm already on it for my back. My neck is break thru pain and that means bad things. Trying physical therapy and getting some relief in the arms but note the headaches.

bassmedic46 · January 07, 2019, 10:17:52 PM

I will ask if it's going to be one fusion or separate ones. I'm nervous about all this. I've heard from people like yourself where it didn't work.

Mike Cork · January 08, 2019, 08:38:26 AM

Just ask all the questions you can

Wizard · January 15, 2019, 11:31:48 AM

The VA brought in a doctor from John Hopkins to evaluate my spine and neck. He said it was the worst back he has seen. The only pain relief I'm allowed to take is Tylenol. 2 neck,3 back surgeries along with hip replacement, 3 calf surgeries, elbow and hernia surgeries, knife and bullet wounds along with no Achilles tendon in one leg. You learn to deal with it. Some of us on UB worked in an agency where injuries were possible. That agency taught us short term pain relief methods. Bio-feedback works. You can handle a lot of the pain with your mind. While designed for short term pain, I can be used long term also. If it cuts the pain to bearable, that may be as good as surgery can do. Also, the doctor used for surgery means everything to the outcome. One bad surgeon can ruin l the good surgeries.

bassmedic46 · February 27, 2019, 01:30:50 PM

Paperwork is in. Waiting to hear back for my surgery date on my neck. Doctor says he's going to fuse 2 to 3 discs and my neck and arm pain will get better. Hopefully the headache as well. After that he wants to discuss the back. It might be to bad for surgery.

merc1997 · February 27, 2019, 02:13:27 PM

Quote from: bassmedic46 on February 27, 2019, 01:30:50 PM
Paperwork is in. Waiting to hear back for my surgery date on my neck. Doctor says he's going to fuse 2 to 3 discs and my neck and arm pain will get better. Hopefully the headache as well. After that he wants to discuss the back. It might be to bad for surgery.

have they ever mentioned burning the nerves in your neck facets? your neck will still be grinding, but you do not get the pain sensation. it is none evasive, and can be done again when the nerves grow back. better option than cutting.

bo

llomichalchik · April 01, 2019, 07:15:25 AM

Quote from: bassmedic46 on January 04, 2019, 11:47:27 PM
Looks like I won't be doing any fishing this year. Have to have 3 surgeries on my back and neck. Have a compressed nerve in my neck which is giving me a bad headache everyday and right arm numbness. Back requires 5 spinal fusions. Surgeon says recovery time between 9 to 12 months. My wife has been incredible thru all this.

I'm interested to hear more about the compressed nerve in your neck and what exactly they did for it. I have what they've diagnosed as a "bulging disc" in my neck. I was getting headaches 3-5 days a week, which felt like horrible migraines. They put me on a beta blocker for 6 months, and that reduced them down to 1-2 headaches a week. When they started to come back, they put me on something that is for depression (I'm not depressed) and it seems to help, but side effects suck because I feel sick half the time. They're also giving me these meds because everyone of my middle back discs are herniated or bulging. They're now sending me for PT on my neck. Basically traction and a few other things they say. Will start this week, but I doubt it helps. Been dealing with it now for 2+ years and need to find a better solution.

Oldfart9999 · April 01, 2019, 05:27:51 PM

I had steroids(pain blockers) injected in my lower lumbar L3,L4,L5, one on each side for 6. I have degenerative disc disease, L1-L5, stenosis in 3 vertebrae and arthritis on the outside of of those vertebrae. PT was tried but wasn't able to cross the last hump, I could deal with what was left but I made a sudden movement and was down for the count, we do what we must and hopefully move on.
Rodney