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← Return to Chronic Back Pain for Years
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Thank you Justin and I gladly will share my story if it can help anyone. It is very lenghty so I will try to keep it as abbreviated as possible but to the point. I can understand some of what physical therapy you "might" have gone through post-op with an ankle fusion (had a total rt knee and lt hip replacement). You are correct...long and hard.
I injured my back as a nurse involving a patient. For 2 years I was misdiagnosed as a "lumbar strain" when actually it was a cervical cord compression at C5 to C7. I did have a slight herniation at L4 and slippage and most pain seemed to come from there. My bowel and bladder were affected, legs were weak and arms. I worked in the NICU as "light-duty" using a special back brace but over 2 years continually symptoms became worse. The head of physical therapy stated my EMG showed more from the cervical or upper thorax than lumbar. I started to pronounced arm weakness, neck pain,and cervical headaches. The physiatrist stated, "I tell the doctors to always check the whole back because often the problem is coming elsewhere and not where the patient's pain is." My doctor "knew" better and thought MS but the MRI was negative.
To shorten the story, I went to the"pioneer of back surgery" in Philadelphia (an orthopedic surgeon I knew) and saw his neurologist. First glance he noticed in my face the abnormal jaw reflex and the change in the curvature of my neck into an "L" shape. I had almost a "total" compression C5-C6 and C6-C7 just about as bad. My doctor stated I should have been dead or a quadriplegic and was amazed I was even walking. I had an anterior fusion 2 years after my initial injury (1994) and then the slippage and herniation L4-L5 worsened (I was working part-time as an instructor at my hospital).
I needed trimming L4 and fusion L5-S1 with hardware posterior in 1995 and kept working. My symptoms improved with some neurological deficits remaining but not that severe. Pain only when walking too much and not taking enough breaks. As time went on, I started have all the original symptoms reoccur.
I had what is called a "failed" fusion. My fusions were unstable and areas above and below were herniating or impinging nerves. The peripheral nerves to arms, legs, bowel and bladder and now increasing pain happening more and more were becoming constant. In 1998, thorough testing (discogram, MRIs, EMGs, i.e demonstrated I had a "bad" back). I almost fell off the litter when the x-ray doctor told me.
These were extensive and because of years of the "failure", permenant nerve damage has remained even though some did get better. I had a posterior cervical fusion C4-C7 and 6 weeks later anterior cages and posterior fusion L3-S1 Lumbar area. I developed a post-op hematoma and infection of the lumbar fusion which worsened the neurogenic bowel and I needed 2 bowel operations and am left with a functioning colon but only 18 cm. The neurogenic bladder did become better in time.
I am sorry this is so lengthy but if I can help anyone, just a little more. I know length can turn people off! I developed scar tissue in the spinal cord arachnoiditis (lumbar area found in my testing before my refusions) that causes a lot of chronic pain, had nerve pain and chronic pain, which worsened as the years have gone by. Due to the nerve damage to my bowel, plus certaain medications, gastroparesis (decreased contraction of the nerves to the stomach) which can be very serious. I had botox to the LES plus take medicine to help the stomach to contract. Also, my fusion healed crooked, and I have "torticollis" (very painful), and get botox every 3 months. Many of my problems went undiagnosed for years, thus causing permanence of my symptoms to some degree.
I do apologize for the length. I do not want to bore or act like I have it worse than others. If I can help anyone or if anyone can help me. I greatly would appreciate it. I have tried many "mental" and "physical' therapies plus my TENS unit as an adjuvant but still need my chronic pain and gastric medications. Some of the chronic pain medications are continuing to "destroy" the stomach nerves which really upsets me. I'd love to get off everything but after all these years and all the complications, am loosing hope. I keep praying.
Best to you with your ankle. I am sure you have your good days as well as bad and the "weather" isn't always your friend. It is funny how so many have told me they can predict the weather from their "bone'' injuries and I must agree LOL. Take care. Joan
Replies to "Thank you Justin and I gladly will share my story if it can help anyone. It..."
@jlfisher56 and @tennessegirl2, thank you so very much for such quick replies to my question about TENS. I have a dr.'s appt. first thing tomorrow morning and this will come in very handy. In 2014 I had something similar to this at my chiropractor's. I later even ordered the kind that you put around your forehead with electrodes positioned underneath on each side of your head. The tiny one at the chiropractor's worked better for me. Again, many thanks for your replies, and good luck. Take care, @cognac
Take care. I'm glad I was able to help and please keep us posted!
Edda my name is Judy , I have been taking pain pills for at at least 5 yrs now and had trouble with my bowels , I started taking 1 probiotic 4 psyllium pills daily . It has helped a lot if I miss going even one day that night I’ll take 2 Tbs magnesium for the next morning. Also they have a pill out now called linzess that helps . This may not be your problem at all but hopefully good information .
Conscious the tens machine is like what is used in physical therapy it sends The tingling waves through the part of the body you put it on. Hope that helps
Welcome to Connect, Judy (@jfsherley). Can you tell us a bit more about what brings you to the chronic pain group? What pain are you managing?
I too welcome you to the Mayo Connect community and the Chronic Pain thread. I am not a medical professional and cannot make medical diagnoses or give medical advice. I can and do, share my experience with you and give you support and information when I can. I understand the problem with constipation caused by pain medications. I too began taking strong prebiotic which were very helpful. I didn't like the stool softeners, but had to rely on them pretty regularly.
If you're willing to share more information about what your pain is from and which pain medications you take, those in this community will be able to communicate with you better and offer ideas and support. That includes me. I just signed a petition from NORML, which is a group actively working to have marijuana made legal at the Federal level. The use of Marijuana derivatives of CBD and THC has helped me and others withdraw from opioids for treating chronic pain, and therefore no longer need the laxatives. Please let me know how you feel about the possibility of replacing your current pain medication with marijuana. I personally was taking Tramadol 50 mg, which worked for my pain, but I wanted to be off it. CBD helped my withdrawal from the Tramadol.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Gailb
Volunteer Mentor
Judy, sorry for not writing earlier. I am taking your advise and purchased some psyllium, in powder form at Walmart. Besides I take Ducalex plus stool softener every day. But it was not helping all the time. The psyllium I got, is to mix with fluid. Is that the kind, you take?
@Hi jumping in here about constipation I had a problem hadn't gone in days the O T C didn't help so the Dr.told me at night to eat 3prunes or drink the juice mixed with milk of magnesium till regular again after this eat 1prune before bed I did this and it worked like a charm ,or course do this if no bowel obstruction.Hope it helps
I'd recommend you take the psyllium in capsule form along with at least an 8 ounce glass of water. Yes, prunes help.
The capsule form is far easier to get down the throat. It is not sludgy as it enters the mouth.
Miralax did not help me for a period of about 5 days while I was in the hospital with my heart surgery, and then the amount of gas generated by the movement of the stuff was horrible and far too embarrassing for words to tell.
Also, eating apples, blueberries and of course, the prunes will all help, Just be sure to balance the fruit with some vegetables and the proteins you need.
Eileena
Connect
@cognac T.E.N.S. (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation). which are predominately used for nerve related pain conditions (acute and chronic conditions). TENS machines works by sending stimulating pulses across the surface of the skin and along the nerve strands.
The stimulating pulses help prevent pain signals from reaching the brain.Tens devices also help stimulate your body to produce higher levels of its own natural painkillers, called "Endorphins. It uses electrodes attached to the painful area(s) on your body.
Usually 4 sometimes 6.
Your Dr can prescribe plus you may
have seen OTC ones available. They are used to help neck and back pain caused by trauma or continual strain. The body responds to such pain with muscle guarding, an attempt to immobilize the painful area by tightening the muscles. Muscle guarding impairs circulation in the affected area. The decrease in blood supply leads to a decrease in metabolism with an accumulation of waste products. TENS therapy (transcutaneous electric nerve stimulator) can help break this pain cycle and aid in the normal healing process. Some people get relief, others may find it intolerable. Talk to your PCP or other medical provider. If you have access to the internet check them out on Google or other search engine.
I probably got a little verbose here. I did medical billing for medical equipment for
years. Medicare, as well as other carriers cover or did..@ that time..a one month trial so you can see If it provides relief. I hope I helped a little. There are a lot of knowledgeable folks on here and all are here to help you!!!