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Hello, my name is Diane. 3 years ago, I was diagnosed with aracnoiditis. I have had back problems for years before this diagnosed. I had lumbar surgery about 7 years ago when my spine was fused at L5. No problem for 3years after that. Then the pain returned, down the leg pain. Had several shots, nothing worked. Found a wonderful pain management doctor. Put me on hydrocodone and after not much relief. Then came the Fentayl patch. About 6 months, he found marijuana in my system. I explained it relaxed me to the point I could tolerate the back pain. He prescribed Dronabiol. Medical marijuana . My state, South Carolina, will most likely never make it legal. So frustrating .

Hello, my name is Diane. 3 years ago, I was diagnosed with aracnoiditis. I have had back problems for years before this diagnosed. I had lumbar surgery about 7 years ago when my spine was fused at L5. No problem for 3years after that. Then the pain returned, down the leg pain. Had several shots, nothing worked. Found a wonderful pain management doctor. Put me on hydrocodone and after not much relief. Then came the Fentayl patch. About 6 months, he found marijuana in my system. I explained it relaxed me to the point I could tolerate the back pain. He prescribed Dronabiol. Medical marijuana . My state, South Carolina, will most likely never make it legal. So frustrating .

Actually, I'm new here and I'm not sure I signed up correctly. I also didn't give a very complete description of all the issues I'm dealing with. The MRI they did showed a compression fracture at the C7 in my neck, a herniated disc at my L4, pressing on my right side sciatic nerve, the L5-S1 pressing on my sciatic nerve affecting my left side with acute pain several times over the years.

On December 22, 2016, I had outpatient surgery for the L5-S1 problem and have had immediate relief. I will start on Physical Therapy in February. I am very happy with the results of the surgery. However, I have had chronic pain from my sciatic nerve on the right side since March, 2016. It awakens me every night 1 to 3 times. Sometimes i want to cry or scream the pain is so bad. I can't walk far or stand for any length of time, go up steps, etc. due to the pain. My doctor's only been treating the pain, until the MRI was done for my left side acute episode. Now they said they need to do a major surgery to insert rods and pins to fix the problem on my L4, which is out of alignment 7.3 mm. Im good with this because the outpatient surgery was so successful. At my last appointment I saw a new PA in my surgeon's office (My usual PA is on maternity leave.) who wants to give me steroids first and see how I do. I have had a year of constant pain, and I really don't want to go through the shots in my spine. My regular PA had recommended the surgery. Both my older brothers have had the same problems--it's a genetic issue--and they ended up with the surgery. Is it reasonable for me to ask them to just do the surgery that is inevitable? And, how long after my current surgery should I wait? How long does recovery from the major surgery take?

Last, I am very concerned that the new administration will cut Medicare coverage, without which I will be unable to pay for this surgery. Thanks for any information you can give me.

Actually, I'm new here and I'm not sure I signed up correctly. I also didn't give a very complete description of all the issues I'm dealing with. The MRI they did showed a compression fracture at the C7 in my neck, a herniated disc at my L4, pressing on my right side sciatic nerve, the L5-S1 pressing on my sciatic nerve affecting my left side with acute pain several times over the years.

On December 22, 2016, I had outpatient surgery for the L5-S1 problem and have had immediate relief. I will start on Physical Therapy in February. I am very happy with the results of the surgery. However, I have had chronic pain from my sciatic nerve on the right side since March, 2016. It awakens me every night 1 to 3 times. Sometimes i want to cry or scream the pain is so bad. I can't walk far or stand for any length of time, go up steps, etc. due to the pain. My doctor's only been treating the pain, until the MRI was done for my left side acute episode. Now they said they need to do a major surgery to insert rods and pins to fix the problem on my L4, which is out of alignment 7.3 mm. Im good with this because the outpatient surgery was so successful. At my last appointment I saw a new PA in my surgeon's office (My usual PA is on maternity leave.) who wants to give me steroids first and see how I do. I have had a year of constant pain, and I really don't want to go through the shots in my spine. My regular PA had recommended the surgery. Both my older brothers have had the same problems--it's a genetic issue--and they ended up with the surgery. Is it reasonable for me to ask them to just do the surgery that is inevitable? And, how long after my current surgery should I wait? How long does recovery from the major surgery take?

Last, I am very concerned that the new administration will cut Medicare coverage, without which I will be unable to pay for this surgery. Thanks for any information you can give me.

Actually, I'm new here and I'm not sure I signed up correctly. I also didn't give a very complete description of all the issues I'm dealing with. The MRI they did showed a compression fracture at the C7 in my neck, a herniated disc at my L4, pressing on my right side sciatic nerve, the L5-S1 pressing on my sciatic nerve affecting my left side with acute pain several times over the years.

On December 22, 2016, I had outpatient surgery for the L5-S1 problem and have had immediate relief. I will start on Physical Therapy in February. I am very happy with the results of the surgery. However, I have had chronic pain from my sciatic nerve on the right side since March, 2016. It awakens me every night 1 to 3 times. Sometimes i want to cry or scream the pain is so bad. I can't walk far or stand for any length of time, go up steps, etc. due to the pain. My doctor's only been treating the pain, until the MRI was done for my left side acute episode. Now they said they need to do a major surgery to insert rods and pins to fix the problem on my L4, which is out of alignment 7.3 mm. Im good with this because the outpatient surgery was so successful. At my last appointment I saw a new PA in my surgeon's office (My usual PA is on maternity leave.) who wants to give me steroids first and see how I do. I have had a year of constant pain, and I really don't want to go through the shots in my spine. My regular PA had recommended the surgery. Both my older brothers have had the same problems--it's a genetic issue--and they ended up with the surgery. Is it reasonable for me to ask them to just do the surgery that is inevitable? And, how long after my current surgery should I wait? How long does recovery from the major surgery take?

Last, I am very concerned that the new administration will cut Medicare coverage, without which I will be unable to pay for this surgery. Thanks for any information you can give me.

Hello, my name is Diane. 3 years ago, I was diagnosed with aracnoiditis. I have had back problems for years before this diagnosed. I had lumbar surgery about 7 years ago when my spine was fused at L5. No problem for 3years after that. Then the pain returned, down the leg pain. Had several shots, nothing worked. Found a wonderful pain management doctor. Put me on hydrocodone and after not much relief. Then came the Fentayl patch. About 6 months, he found marijuana in my system. I explained it relaxed me to the point I could tolerate the back pain. He prescribed Dronabiol. Medical marijuana . My state, South Carolina, will most likely never make it legal. So frustrating .

It's medical marijuana. It has helped me twofold. I have an awesome pain management doctor on Hilton Head Island, SC. However, I would rather be in zero pain and not take any drug. Right now I take hydrocodone, I have a fentayl patch and because I can't sleep for more than 2 hours at most, I am taking amytriptolene and dronabiol at night. I wonder if, the Mayo Clinic could help me with my diagnosis. Talk with your doctor about prescribing the medical marijuana. It could help a lot.

It's medical marijuana. It has helped me twofold. I have an awesome pain management doctor on Hilton Head Island, SC. However, I would rather be in zero pain and not take any drug. Right now I take hydrocodone, I have a fentayl patch and because I can't sleep for more than 2 hours at most, I am taking amytriptolene and dronabiol at night. I wonder if, the Mayo Clinic could help me with my diagnosis. Talk with your doctor about prescribing the medical marijuana. It could help a lot.