Chronic Back Pain for Years

Hi All!!

For those of you who are newer to the group, let me re-introduce myself. My name is Ronnie, I just turned 64 years old, I live in Central Florida where I retired to 5 years ago because my hubby and I could no longer tolerate the snow and cold in New Jersey. I have suffered with chronic back pain for more than 10 years. It took me 5 pain management doctors and a move to Florida before I found a doctor who could help me. I was taking shots that lasted betwen 3-12 weeks. Considering I got ZERO relief before, this was a blessing and he was my hero. Sadly, about 1-1/2 ago, not only did the shots stop working, but my cervical spine entered the game. I hadn't had cervical issues in years and years. He could not help me with that either. By this time, I had enough and decided to seek out a neurosurgeon who specializes in spine issues.

I found my new hero! Approximately one year ago, I had 2 discs replaced in my cervical spine. Within a few days, the symptoms and pain I was experienced faded away. No more violent headaches, pains down my arms, or pins and needles. Next, we worked on my lumbar spine. This summer I had an X-lIFT fUSION on L4/5. It was a long, hard and painful surgery but once the surgical pain started to go away, I realized I was no longer in pain! Other than my osteoarthris pain, it was the first time in over 10 years that I was pain free!!!!!

Just before my 2nd surgery, I noticed that when my feet were flat on the floor and I was sitting, I could not move my right foot from side to side; I couldn't wiggle my toes and I couldn't move my thumb toe at all. The issue was in my left foot, too, but to a much lesser extent. We now, both my legs are weak, I lose my balance (even with a cane) and fall, my right big toe drops (causing me to trip, not fall), and my left foot is worse. My neurosurgeon says I presnt like someone with a spinal trama, which I haven't had. He sent me to a neurologist for a work-up.

Fast forward to day.....I already had extensive blood work done. Today, more tests. So, I have severe nerve damage from S1 and L5 and neuropothy in both feet, which are probably coming from my back. II also have nerves that are clustering together near my spine as well as more lumbar stenosis. We don't think surgery will be the answer, but of course, we can only speculate. We think PT in order to try to keep this from getting any worse. We don't think I can reverse the damage. In 2 weeks we will go back to the neurologist and right after that, we hop in the car to the neurosurgeon. Between the two, we are hoping there will be some sort of a plan for action!!

In the meanwhile, my hubby and I have been discussing what to do IF surgery is suggested. For the first time in years I am pain free. Do I want to take a chance that the pain will come back??? Guess a lot will have to do with the prognosis of doing the surgery or not. As we drove home from the doctor's office I began to think.....perhaps if I had this surgery before instead of trying all the other interventions, maybe things would not have gone so far. I thought I was doing the right things....imagining, injections, chiropractor, accupuncture, cupping, theraputic massage, land and aquatic PT....so on and so on. The imaging did not look as bad as apparently my spine was (and is).

Oh well, hindsighti 20-20. Guess I need a new pair of glasses. In the meanwhile, I am going to try to live my life to the fullest and do the things I want to do with the people I want to do it with. None of us know what tomorrow will bring.......

Only the VERY BEST for us all.....
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

@grandmar You have a very difficult decision to make if surgery is suggested. It's great that you are feeling so much better but if you have neuropathy that is causing you to fall, that is of course a big problem.
Best case scenario of course is PT if that will give you the help you need. I will be thinking of you and hoping that will be the case.
JK

@grandmar I sympathize with your back pain and resultant issues. I also sought out many "alternative" treatments to solve my back pain, which ultimately did more harm than good. I am praying for understanding and a clear plan of action following your appointments. Meanwhile, I highly recommend PT and a therapist that can provide dry needling. It helped me immensely with the post-surgical pain. I did not understand how traumatized my muscles and nerves were until I went through the dry needling and PT. Blessings to you.

@2011panc
Thank you for your thoughts. I have been through PT with bith surgeries but I have never heard the term 'dry needling'. Would you mind explaining it to me?
Ronnie

@grandmar I know very little about dry needling, but for me it is similar to acupuncture, but goes deeper and works on scar tissue and nerve endings. The needles are hooked up to a machine similar to a tens unit and the "power" is adjusted by the therapist according to your pain level tolerance.

Hi ,my name is bre316, I've had to surgeries on my back microdisectomy and lumbar fusion a rod imlpanted . I am in so much pain I wish I hadn't got the surgeries my PCP will only give me tramadol and muscle relaxers.I've had the injections that didn't work I don't know what to do

Hi ,my name is bre316, I've had to surgeries on my back microdisectomy and lumbar fusion a rod imlpanted . I am in so much pain I wish I hadn't got the surgeries my PCP will only give me tramadol and muscle relaxers.I've had the injections that didn't work I don't know what to do

@bre316 Consider adding a pain management specialist (preferably one who also has an anesthesia background) and an integrative pain specialist to your panel of doctors. Ask each of them to call each other and agree to work together on your care. My integrative pain specialist prescribes oxytocin troches and ketamine troches (they work together) for me and they are the best pain relief I've had in 15 years! They dissolve under your tongue. You may also want to talk to your doctors about ketamine infusions. There are also several other infusion options. Good luck & take care!

Do the oxy and keta make you sleepy? Peggy