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Spinal Fusion of L1-L4: Managing pain, what works for you?
Spine Health | Last Active: Apr 6, 2016 | Replies (23)Comment receiving replies
Hi Martiska,<br />
<br />
I can't even imagine how you're caring for a 1 and 3 y.o. with that<br />
vertebral fracture. It must be excruciating. I'm glad my response helped<br />
you somewhat. Truthfully, having practiced in this field as a RN, I must<br />
tell you I never saw any of our patients return with a leak or another<br />
fracture. Good luck with whatever you decide.<br />
<br />
Sasaka<br />
Replies to "Hi Martiska, I can't even imagine how you're caring for a 1 and 3 y.o. with..."
Martishka,<br />
I really can only describe the actual procedure to you. The physician<br />
inserts a needle into your back at the level of the fracture, feeds a small<br />
catheter through it until he can visualize (uses fluoroscopy) the actual<br />
fracture, then injects a small amount of adhesive directly into it.<br />
Afterwards you lay flat for about one hour before going home. I remember<br />
having considerable discomfort on the 1-1/2 hour ride home in the car, but<br />
as soon as I was laying down again it was gone. The next day I was fine.<br />
The fracture has caused me no more pain. However, I do suffer from<br />
spondolethesis which is a narrowing of the foramens where the nerves feed<br />
through, and arthritis in the facet joints. These cause me considerable<br />
pain when I stand or walk for any long period of time. It is not the same<br />
pain that I had from the fracture. It can be relieved by resting and pain<br />
meds. I certainly understand not wanting to give up the grandchildren time.<br />
Mine are about the same ages and the last time I visited them (4 hours<br />
away), it was difficult to pick up and walk with the youngest who weighs<br />
about 22 pounds. He's quite the wiggle worm and is a challenge for me. Good<br />
luck with whatever you decide.<br />
Connect
Thank you Sasaka, <br />
The day after I have the kids (with the support of my husband, we do it together) I pay for it. The alternative of not having the children just isn't an option for me. I am going to have to stop picking up Tavio, (one) from the ground. But he is hard to resist with his arms up asking to be lifted! Your experience is very encouraging to me. I do hesitate though since I seem to have poor luck with my health in terms of a track record. I was born with some heart rhythm problems including SVT (a type of tachycardia) and I had 4 unsuccessful ablations and the fifth worked. I have two friends who needed ablations on their heart, they both went in, and came out cured! I feel that with my back I have fewer chances- going into the spine does make me nervous. I am googling studies about the procedure and still haven't found any reliable ones. The study that an endocrinologist told me about was not encouraging. IT reported that the two groups (one group had the procedure, and the other group had a placebo) were about equal in rating their pain or lack of it 6 months post "procedure". Those results don't seem like good odds. Any thoughts? <br />
martishka <br />
<br />