Back Surgery

Ok, where do I start? Kirk,,,,, I fell and crushed one of my Vertibrae. I said do not touch my back. Two days later they put concrete in the crushed area. I was able to walk. Thank God. But my pain thru-out my body seems to be the result of my back and neck pain and my RA. So, next Monday, I am getting shots in my neck and the following Monday shorts in my lower back. I have to tell you, I am a bit frightened. I have pain in my body and hopefully this will calm it down and not hurt to much when they are doing it. I guess they numb the area. I doubt I would let them do anything else to my back. The concrete had to go in if I wanted to walk. Now I am walking without a cane. BUT, I wake up in the morning like my neck is being forced to stay in one place. By noon I have my headaches. This is same with my lower back. Dr. said that if this does not work, they will try something else. What could that be?

Hey Oregon Girl not to worry, I’ve been getting Steroid shots in my back and neck for over 20 years, also my hips, shoulders and ankle! They give you freezing via syringe before the shot! There is also a procedure for neck and back called a Rizotomy or Neurotomy which extends relief from 7 - 12 months or more in my experience. Mine are done by an anesthesiologist.

Yes Mine are going to be done by an anesthesiologist. When I crushed my Vertibra, I also had an anesthesiologist doing the repair. They are doing my neck first and week after my back. I can hardly wait for the relief. The doctor told me that if this does not work, they will give a stronger dose. At least that is what I thought the nurse said. All I know is when they corrected my back with Concrete, I could walk. Up until that moment I was thinking I would never walk again. I was so stubborn about anyone touching my back. Thanks for your information. Monday I will reply with what they did.

Pitser, Do you think the shots will also give my body relief from the RA? I usually get a small shot at each visit to my doctor. This time, she passed on it. Probably knowing how much I would get Monday. I don't know.

@kikake
Hi!
I am facing lower back surgery, too. I had 2 discs replaced about 5 month ago. My violent headaches and neckaches are gone but I still have issues with my arm. My neurosurgeon is stumped.
I also have issues with my lumbar spine and I definitely need surgery on at least 2 discs.
Currently, I am having strange symptoms. I have pain just below my buttocks (both cheeks) and down to the back of my knee and what I call my right hip. But that is not the strange thing. I am losing the strength of my legs and walking is very difficult. Also, my right ankle, when flat on the floor, won't turn and I can't lift the toes on my right foot.
That's the now. I also, like many of us, have been taking shots in my lumbar for years and on my cervical spine on occasion. I've also had facet shots, radio ablation, PT, acupuncture, cupping and chiropractics. At this point, NOTHING helps, not even pain meds.

In the last few months, I've had a thoratic (sp?) MRI several x-rays and an MRI on my cervical spine and an MRI on my lumbar, an EMG on both legs and 2 special kinds of sonograms on my legs to check the vascular workings. Everything seen on the all the images do not point to the symptoms I am presenting with. My neurosurgeon says I present like someone who has had a spinal trauma (which I haven't). Next? The doc says he needs to go back to the beginning and re-review all films and reports. In addition, he has ordered a Mylogram CT. He says this test is much more accurate that the MRI and can see things in the spinal canal that the MRI can't. It does not sound like a pleasant test. What I know about it is it is done in the hospital. They inject dye into the spinal canal and watch how it moves through using a flourescope (sp?). They say I will be in the hospital for most of the day. I hope this test will tell us something.

Until this test is done, my surgeon will not make any plans for the lumbar surgery since he thinks he may also have to do more work on the cervical spine.

Sorry if I am rambling. I took a pain pill about 15 minutes ago and it is kicking in.

Anyway, hope some of this information helps.
Good luck!

Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

@oregongirl
Each and every person reacts to each shot differently. It depends on the meds used, quantity used and the doctor giving the shots.
I went to 5 doctors over more than 5 years before I found one who got all the combinations right and provided me with relief. Not only did he help me, the pain relief lasted anywhere between 6-10 or so weeks depending on how I treated my body. If I did too much, the shots did not last as long.
One more thing, I don't know that an RA doc knows enough about pain management to give you the right combo of shots. Usually, although not all the time, a specialist does these shots. That all they do. Many of these doctors are actually anesthesiologists.
Hope this helps.
Here's to a good day!!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

@kikake

Welcome to Mayo Connect. I'm sorry to read that you've had problems with your back that now require major surgery. I am a Volunteer Mentor and not a medical professional, therefore I cannot make medical diagnoses or give medical advice. I do offer my experience, knowledge, and support for members of the community.

In December, 2016, I had a laminectomy on my L5-S1 that has given me complete relief of the chronic and acute pain on my left side I was experiencing at the time. I also have chronic pain in my right hip, leg and foot that my surgeon said will require major surgery involving rods and pins to fix. He recommended that I try everything else first to relieve the pain. So, that's what I did. After 2 rounds of physical therapy, acupuncture, and massage that didn't help, I read about Active Release Technique ( ART ) on Mayo Connect. The person who wrote about it said it completely worked for him. In an effort to avoid the same kind of surgery you are considering, I decided to try it.

Research online by Googling revealed that ART involves very deep muscle massage along with limb movement that releases muscles and nerves that are bound together as a result of some kind of trauma. I then researched practitioners in my area of Southern California, and found that they were all chiropractors. I was skeptical about this, so I looked for the chiropractor who had the most ART training and certifications. I also checked with some people I trust and the chiropractor I had picked was highly recommended.

Long story short, I was nearly pain free after 6 sessions over 3 weeks. Hard to believe I know, but true. Over a year later, I am still basically pain free. I go for monthly tweaks, and a couple of times I have overdone things and needed some extra sessions, but it has worked for me. I am off the three pain medications I was taking previously. Occasionally when I have pain now, usually osteoarthritis, I take Tylenol or use CBD tincture. If my back hurts, I take a half pill of my Tramadol 50 mg that I was taking four times a day previously. I rarely need it and when I do, I schedule an ART appointment immediately.

Avoiding back surgery has been my experience, along with the much simpler laminectomy. Prior to my outpatient surgery, I was in a wheelchair, and prior to the ART treatments, I couldn’t walk up or down steps. I do everything I want now, pretty much pain free. I don't know if your back is beyond where I am, because when the surgeon recommended shots I turned him down.

I had watched my brother get multiple shots in his back and they didn't work. Both of my older brothers have had major back surgeries. My 76 year old brother has had multiple back surgeries, and while they have helped, they haven't relieved his pain. My 72 year old brother has had 1 surgery that helped him tremendously at first, but now 3 years later he's having a lot of pain. He does too much though, and will not stop hurting his back. So, I don't know if your surgery will help your pain. As my brother's surgeon told him, the surgery will keep him out of a wheelchair, but not out of pain. He was pretty much pain free at first, but kept injuring it by doing physically demanding work.

I'm hoping that other members in addition to @grandmar and @oregongirl will chime in here. I invite @lioness to give you her wisdom and experience as well. If you're willing to share answers to my questions, it will help us support you.
1. How did you originally injure your back?
2. How long have you been getting shots and what kind are they?
3. Have you sought a second opinion from another doctor?
4. What was your diagnosis after MRIs and other tests?
5. Are you still ambulatory or do you need a wheelchair or walker?

Please share more with us in the community. I am hoping the best for you.

Gail
Volunteer Mentor

@kikake Goodmorning this is lioness thanks Gail for inviting me to this discussion I am a retired nurse worked in O.R.,E.R.everywhere in the hospital field ,nursing home and home health For myself I had a Triple by pass in 1996 with that said in 2005 I fractured my L2 a compressed fracture not compound fracture after being in a turtle shell brace for 3months and Aqua therapy 9 months the Dr recommended putting concrete in to build up my bone but I refused since I was afraid if a piece brook lose I would have more problems and with by pass and being on the other side of country from my son ,Im happy for Oregongirl that hers worked but I have seen to maney people have repeat surgeries on back ,friend that had back surgery not just once but several repeats because our backs arent meant to be messed with this is our skeleton that holds everything together so if you disturbe it your going to have problems Do everything you can to avoid surgery if you can Its been 13 yrs from fracture ,sure Im in pain but have learned not to lift heavy items nor pull or push anything beyond my strength Ive learned to say No I cant do it Rest during day P.T is great ,massage,chiropractor ART like Gail said water aerobics,or just get to n water Tens unit ,ice,heat there is so much you can do to help yourself Once you get your back fused you lose flexibility in that area.It depends on the area of your back you need to have corrected also talk with your Dr.and others about whatever problems you have ,get others opinions before doing anything Sorry this is so long good luck with whatever you decide Im still very active but know my limits Im teaching an exercise class where I live in a senior building I have gotten back injections but water aerobics help me the best

I too also thought concrete would break loose. I am trusting Dr. Oh my!!!!. Now Monday I am getting shots in my neck and following Monday my back. I am concerned that they stay away from concrete area.

I refuse to live in Senior living. I hate being around a lot of women. I have never been social. My kids have enough control of me, don't need another layer if help. At least in my own place, I shut the door, lock it and I am happy. I know I sound hard to be around but when I do have a friend I do my very best to be polite and enjoy their company. My sister on the other hand has been practicing for years on her crafts and pot lucks. She will fit right in. LOL