Chronic Back Pain for Years

@grandmar @wisco50

I'm starting over, after losing what I wrote just as I was ready to click on post reply. I hate when that happens.

I did all of the heavy pre-winter work before surgery so I would only have to do things that aren't strenuous afterward. I'm not working in the yard as many hours a day as usual, taking it easier. I'm not sitting still or lying in bed either, because that makes my neuropathy pain significantly worse.

I haven't had pain from the stenosis surgery - I didn't have any related pain pre-surgery either. I was diagnosed with neuropathy in 2013, no diabetes, the only possible cause genetic, no treatment except pain control. It's following the classic progression of pn, faster than the neurologist would like.

All of my siblings had/have pn, as did my father. My siblings and our mother all had/have back problems, and I thought I'd missed the curse. I see I didn't.

I didn't know that I had a back problem until the neurosurgeon had an MRI done last winter to look at the possibility of a dorsal root ganglion stimulator implant. She told me that a disc was gone, with no mention of bulging or herniating, and it didn't appear to be concerning. I'll learn more about that Thursday.

I had a Burst DR spinal cord stimulator implant in June of 2017, and it is placed just to the left of the stenosis surgery incision - in fact, the same incision site was used for both surgeries - and when I lie on my back, the stimulator battery pack is what hurts, not the incision.

Gotta go. You all have a great day.

Jim

So sorry you are still having pain. Wish I could help but I do not know anything about the kind of surgery you had.
Hope you feel better soon!
Ronnie

The Four Noble Truths~~I think of them daily.

@jfsherley What you describe sounds normal to me. It sounds similar to my symptoms following back surgery. Two things that helped me a great deal: 1) dry needling: similar to acupuncture but goes deeper and breaks up fibers impinging the nerves; and 2) physical therapy to reduce pain and build strength. Your age does not matter. The therapist you are assigned to will tailor your "exercises" to your body and abilities. Blessings.

@jimhd Jim, please let us know how your appointment goes. I’ll be thinking of you

No edema , but to an effect yes . Neuropathy yes . Worst pain imaginable . Dominating the right side pain in the thorax through to the L-3 the hips both feet and toes burning . Miliogram C-scan Dr Clancy called me and said that the L-3 disc is ruptured . Dr Steven Klein at Northwest hospital ,Seattle Operated Sept 10, 2001 , I was recovering from discsection as the plane's flew into the twin towers. Dr Klein has retired . Dr Lazar the now practicing surgeon will be calling me on the 20th .

I do not want conventional surgery . I have had all the conservative procedures available , maximum amount of steroid injections for several years , spinal cord stemulaters and therapist. I have been carved into three times with some parts being thrown away with very little relief . Feels that we are in the dark ages . Innovation is boasted of and successful innovation of sound and light cures see Neogenetics and Novacure . But we continue to suffer intolerable pain 24/7 like shards of glass under the fingernails might be a viable distraction . Twenty years of back pain " CHRONIC DEBILITATING " I'm useless now and have lost the ability to overcome this pain nothing helps anymore , I'm very much afraid that another surgery in the same area is nothing but another twenty years of pain.

You should inquire about getting an intrathecal pain pump. You sound like me before I got mine. Too many bad spots in my back to fix, too much pain to cope with. I have a small pump surgically inserted in my abdomen and a catheter running into my spinal fluid that gives me about 4 mg of Dilaudid for 24 hours. It does not extinct my pain completely but it allows me to live a fairly normal life. I won't be training for the Olympics or going out for the high jump but I still Make art and do most of the things that your average 69 year old man does.

I really feel for you! I was that way for over 10 years and finally took an early retirement. I didn't and couldn't walk for over 3 years. I did all the non-invasive treatments and therapies, too. I tried a spinal cord stimulator and it did nothing. That is why 3 years ago I searched for the best neurologist I could find. I had 2 surgeries that were minimally invasive. I am pretty much pain free, although I do need to get a shot a couple of times a year. Only the worst parts of my cervical and lumbar spines were worked on so I still have arthritis and other things going on but I am in no way in the pain I once was so a shot every so often works fine for me.
I hope you read the post by Stephen, he has a great idea about the pain pump. You should also check into medical mariuana.
Good luck!
Ronnie

Yep too much damage . Thirty two years machine operator at paper mill , graveyard to days to swing three back injuries , jitney knocking me off platform etc. Couldn't walk for nine months. Worked through the pain fairly well with back surgery . Opioids, massage therapy , twice a week , steroid injections to the maximum amount allowed , Boston scientific nero stimulator implanted 2005 and replaced 2015 , attached to thorax . Unfortunately the stimulator has become painful itself as the contractions of the muscles and damaged tissue is painful . Built five homes , carpenter framer all finish work , mantels , tile and wood floors , pex certified with Dekow plumbing. But fell fourteen feet and split L-2 severely cracking L-3-4 Doc. Held up his thumb and said that the break is the size of his thumb .I Wright music and have a small studio I played in a band for many years but now I just can't concentrate or overcome the pain. When I stand I have about three minutes before my leg fills with blood and the pressure would blow your mind , mine sorry . Leland . P.S. I have heard that the pain pump will cause you to become very lethargic and without ambition or spark . I never have abused the opiates was on 6- 80mg oxicontine now just 4-10 mg , of course doesn't help but never have been short since 1996 .. rip thanks for listening ......, afraid to stand but need to get out scuba diving again because I'm the only one left alive that knows where the abalone are especially the ones we planted in the 70s I'm the only one here that knows where their is an abundance of weathervein sea scallops . But I'm useless now , we enjoy and dearly love our seven granddaughters I don't like them to see me in agony and I can't stand missing them either .