6 Different Back pain problems.

Your back problems sound just like mine! Unfortunately I'm 82! I see a new neurosurgeon next week, the last orthopedic surgeon said my bones are too porous to attach screws. He said he would need to remove all metal from my three lumbar surgeries, replace with new metal and fuse the vertebrae above and below....big surgery for an old lady! I read about a new pain medication the FDA just approved, so I hope it gets produced quickly and is approved by Medicare. It's very frustrating to be in general good health but so incapacitated by my back pain. 😞

Oh friend, my heart truly goes out to you. As someone who's navigated chronic back pain, I understand how overwhelming it can feel to have multiple diagnoses stacking up like that. The way you're advocating for yourself by pursuing that neurostimulator trial is incredibly brave - that's a big step!

While I'm not a medical professional, I can share what's helped me through flare-ups: My FAR infrared heating pad has been a game-changer. Unlike regular heating pads that just warm the surface, the deep-penetrating infrared heat helps me with muscle spasms and stiffness from my SI joints to my sciatic pathways. It's become part of my daily maintenance routine - 20 minutes while reading morning emails seems to "prep" my nervous system for the day. (Just remember to keep it on medium setting over areas with nerve involvement!)

Of course this isn't a solution, but it might offer some comfort while you're waiting for your April procedure. Have you discussed thermal therapy options with your pain management team? Wishing you measurable relief from the trial and good partnership with your neurosurgeon. However this goes, please know there's someone out here who truly understands that "multiple diagnoses" grind. You're not alone.

I went through a progression over 20 years. EVERYTHING mentioned above and more. The neurosurgeon waited too long to do surgery. The orthopedic surgeon FINALLY said do the surgery IMMEDIATELY. My disc actually fell out of the bones grafted together! (but the pain finally stopped. 😉 With the nerves crushed, your lower limbs don't get fed and become dysfunctional. However, the lumbar spine surgeries were MUCH better by the time I rolled in. The trick is - in my opinion - learn everything, try everything, get many opinions (I had 4) and keep plugging away. I was THRILLED with the results of my lumbar surgery 6 years ago. Now, I go back to the surgeon to figure out the outlying areas. I am 68. The quality of life issues were important to me and I wanted to stay active. Find the best orthopedic surgeon, pain mgt team (I have had 2 or 3). Stay away from scams and don't be tempted by phoney things. I almost came close to having my whole back redone when the surgeon got mad at me. Turned out to be a blessing 3 years later when the surgeon I "fell head over heels for" (in a professional way!) said he did all the guy's revision surgeries! Unbelievable! There are a lot of noninvasive things along the way, I did and stay in PT. Keep moving. Find the meds which work best for you. RFAs (heat method not pulse) and having fluid-filled sacs removed and limited epidural/cortisone injections helped me last 20 years until sliding into surgery. Unfortunately, my nerves were a little too squashed for too long so I continued to have some small amount of problems. I talk to total strangers when I found out they had lumbar surgeries. This forum is a great place. Search out the conversations... good luck!

Did you develop scar tissue around your nerves from your surgeries?

@danny5 Good luck convincing the surgeon you have the Saddle Anesthesia; my surgeon wouldn't get me out of the wheelchair just said I didn't have it or the pain that radiated from my sacrum to my testicles. He said there's nothing wrong recommending I have a stimulator put in come to find out its a failed back surgery but unfortunately no one else is willing to fix the loose screw. I finally gave in to a spine stimulator it was wonderful until I bent to soon and moved the leads. the stimulator took care of 95% of my pain the anal, testicle, nerves in my legs, it even helped my neck pain. I'm going to see a new Neurosurgeon Tuesday about putting the stimulator with paddles in, hopefully they can reuse the Boston Scientific Stimulator and just replace the wires

@sbtheplumber1 , i'm not sure, but i think they're going to use the one with the paddles. i'll find out on April 10th from the surgeon who is doing the procedure. good luck to you too.

@danny5 they told me the paddles are anchored better than the leads. They supposedly have to cut my back open more to put the paddles in compared to the leads. I was trying to deal with the pain until I talk to the surgeon Tuesday then they called today to reschedule for the 25th Ugg another week.

Your back problems sound just like mine! Unfortunately I'm 82! I see a new neurosurgeon next week, the last orthopedic surgeon said my bones are too porous to attach screws. He said he would need to remove all metal from my three lumbar surgeries, replace with new metal and fuse the vertebrae above and below....big surgery for an old lady! I read about a new pain medication the FDA just approved, so I hope it gets produced quickly and is approved by Medicare. It's very frustrating to be in general good health but so incapacitated by my back pain. 😞