1. < Spine Health

Are my working days over?

Posted by billyrgibson @billyrgibson, 4 days ago

I’m 55 years old and have been a self employed carpenter for 35 of those years. I do it all, from framing to trim. It involves lifting, bending, reaching, pulling and pushing. My back has progressively gotten worse over the last two years to the point that I have stopped the carpenter work and started doing gig work for Walmart Spark delivering groceries to make ends meet and provide for my wife and two small children. Ow the pain has gotten so severe I can’t pick up a 12 pack of soft drinks without pain. A CT scan was ordered then came physical therapy but I’m convinced they were trying to kill me!! Next was steroid injections but no help at all. Then came radio frequency ablation. This made it worse. Insurance finally approved a MRI. Findings were
Advanced lumber spondylodegenerative changes with multilevel disc bulges. Reduced height of T11, T12 and L2 vertebral bodies.
Level-by-level analysis: T12/ L1 diffuse broad-based disc bulge measuring 4.4 mm is seen indenting the thecal sac and partially encroaching on the exit neural foramina causing bilateral mild neural foraminal stenosis with thickened ligamentum flavum. No spinal canal stenosis.Facetal arthropathy is seen. L1/L2 diffuse broad-based posterior disc bulge measuring 4 mm indenting the thecal sac and encroaching on the left exit neural foraminal causig mild stenosis with hypertrophied ligamentum flavum is noted .No spinal canal stenosis.Facetal arthropathy is seen. L2/L3 left posterolateral disc protrusion measuring 4.5 mm indenting the thecal sac and encroaching on the left exit neural foramina entangling the corresponding nerve root ,hypertrophied ligamenta flava is noted.No spinal canal stenosis. Left neural foramen moderate stenosis. Facetal arthropathy is seen. L3/L4 diffuse broad-based posterior disc bulge measuring 4 mm indenting the thecal sac and slightly encroaching on both exiting neural foramina with hypertrophy right ligamenta flava.No spinal canal stenosis.Facetal arthropathy is seen. Bilateral mild neural foraminal stenosis. L4/L5 diffuse broad-basedposterior disc bulge measuring 4.3 mm indenting the thecal sac and encroaching on both exiting neural foramina with hypertrophy right ligamenta flava.No spinal canal stenosis.Facetal arthropathy is seen. Bilateral moderate neural foraminal stenosis. L5/S1diffuse broad-basedposterior disc bulge measuring 4.1 mm indenting the thecal sac with hypertrophy right ligamenta flava. No spinal canal stenosis. Facetal arthropathy is seen. No signficant neural foramina stenosis.
I’m scheduled to see a neurosurgeon 08-20. I don’t know what to do. Are my working days over? I can’t stand for over an hour without the need to sit down. I can’t sit down for an hour without the need to stand up. I can’t lift, pull or bend. I have numbness tingling and pain in my legs and feet with severe stabbing pains in the lumbar area. It seems like there is no relief. Am I wrong if I try to get disability or am I eventually going to be able to work again? Just hoping to get some opinions from people who have gone through this type of situation. I’m not even sure of the severity of my diagnosis and won’t know until I see the neurosurgeon. Am I just being paranoid?

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linda6101 | @linda6101 | 3 days ago

Hopefully you will have a great neurosurgeon who can help you. Have you ever gone to a pain specialist? I'm sure a neurosurgeon can hook you up with one.

REPLY
billyrgibson | @billyrgibson | 3 days ago

Thank you for your well wishes. Yes, they did steroid shots then nerve blocks and finally the ablation. Something that does concern me is, with my line of work, if pain management did help, would it be giving me a false sense of security. My wife says the pain is there to let me know not to be doing whatever is causing it. If the pain is masked and I continue with the lifting and bending am I only hurting myself more?

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2 replies
slarson14 | @slarson14 | 3 days ago
In reply to @billyrgibson "Thank you for your well wishes. Yes, they did steroid shots then nerve blocks and finally..." + (show)
@billyrgibson

Thank you for your well wishes. Yes, they did steroid shots then nerve blocks and finally the ablation. Something that does concern me is, with my line of work, if pain management did help, would it be giving me a false sense of security. My wife says the pain is there to let me know not to be doing whatever is causing it. If the pain is masked and I continue with the lifting and bending am I only hurting myself more?

Jump to this post

Apply for disability now.
From my own experience, and I too did NOT want to be labeled "disabled" and loved working.

1) It takes two years of being on disability to get Medicare, which you will need because your back is not likely going to get better anytime soon, regardless of what treatment path you choose.
2) Getting on disability at your present age is not terribly difficult considering your medical history and attempts to fix this. However, whatever amount they give you for disability will be what your SS check will be for the rest of your life - unless your spouse has higher SS when she retires than you have when you go on disability.
3) I also attempted work at something other than my chosen career field to stay afloat financially, but it was very difficult;
4) When you ARE on disability the SSA will allow you to work if you choose to, and they also have retraining programs you will be eligible for;

Are you a veteran? Got some pointers there, also, if so.

As far as the options, from what I have read (and although I am in the medical field I am not a spine doc) you have done everything possible to work and fix your issues.

If your spine is already bulging into the sac surrounding the spinal cord, something is going to have to be done before it gets worse. You do not want long term impingement of any nerves in your back - nerve damage can be permanent if you do not fix the issue.

My Dad, more than 30 years ago had back surgery. He was a firefighter and hunter/fisherman type person and chose to have back surgery to relieve pain. He did really well and said afterwards "I wish I'd have done it sooner"....

I have had several surgeries - skeletal type and have never had an issue and am about to have cervical spine surgery, after I get done with a total rt shoulder replacement. I just got done with hand surgery and nerve surgery (ulnar nerve release) and it is one week post op and am doing great.

I am 70. After 50+ years in the medical profession - in several roles, to include being an ICU nurse - my philosophy is to do it now rather than later. First because of your age - you will recover faster and second, you will be able to get through it, then be retrained - thanks to SSA - for a new career to support that family of yours.

A VERY important question: do you smoke?
Are you at a reasonable weight for your height?

REPLY
2 replies
slarson14 | @slarson14 | 3 days ago
In reply to @billyrgibson "Thank you for your well wishes. Yes, they did steroid shots then nerve blocks and finally..." + (show)
@billyrgibson

Thank you for your well wishes. Yes, they did steroid shots then nerve blocks and finally the ablation. Something that does concern me is, with my line of work, if pain management did help, would it be giving me a false sense of security. My wife says the pain is there to let me know not to be doing whatever is causing it. If the pain is masked and I continue with the lifting and bending am I only hurting myself more?

Jump to this post

Am not a proponent of nerve blocks or ablation. I won't let docs even inject steroids because those are band-aid solutions to an underlying problem - a problem that can likely be fixed. Yes, it will give you a false sense of security; your wife is 100% correct. Pain occurs for a reason: and yours is the wear and tear on your back due to your profession/active lifestyle.

Yes, if you mask the pain and continue to lift, twist, work, it just further deteriorates your already deteriorated back.

REPLY
gilkesl | @gilkesl | 3 days ago

It amazes me you are walking at all. Try not sitting too much. Use whatever position feels best.
The good news is the spinal cord isn't pinched. The bad news is you have severe arthritis and may need multiple surgeries. You have multiple " slipped discs" and 2 shortened back bones. Make sure the neurosurgeon is from a large teaching hospital with excellent reviews like the Mayo Clinic. I think the advice to apply for disability now is good. You may also want to see an orthopedist and an endocrinologist.
Is there any possibility of being a contractor and hiring subs?

REPLY
billyrgibson | @billyrgibson | 2 days ago
In reply to @slarson14 "Apply for disability now. From my own experience, and I too did NOT want to be..." + (show)
@slarson14

Apply for disability now.
From my own experience, and I too did NOT want to be labeled "disabled" and loved working.

1) It takes two years of being on disability to get Medicare, which you will need because your back is not likely going to get better anytime soon, regardless of what treatment path you choose.
2) Getting on disability at your present age is not terribly difficult considering your medical history and attempts to fix this. However, whatever amount they give you for disability will be what your SS check will be for the rest of your life - unless your spouse has higher SS when she retires than you have when you go on disability.
3) I also attempted work at something other than my chosen career field to stay afloat financially, but it was very difficult;
4) When you ARE on disability the SSA will allow you to work if you choose to, and they also have retraining programs you will be eligible for;

Are you a veteran? Got some pointers there, also, if so.

As far as the options, from what I have read (and although I am in the medical field I am not a spine doc) you have done everything possible to work and fix your issues.

If your spine is already bulging into the sac surrounding the spinal cord, something is going to have to be done before it gets worse. You do not want long term impingement of any nerves in your back - nerve damage can be permanent if you do not fix the issue.

My Dad, more than 30 years ago had back surgery. He was a firefighter and hunter/fisherman type person and chose to have back surgery to relieve pain. He did really well and said afterwards "I wish I'd have done it sooner"....

I have had several surgeries - skeletal type and have never had an issue and am about to have cervical spine surgery, after I get done with a total rt shoulder replacement. I just got done with hand surgery and nerve surgery (ulnar nerve release) and it is one week post op and am doing great.

I am 70. After 50+ years in the medical profession - in several roles, to include being an ICU nurse - my philosophy is to do it now rather than later. First because of your age - you will recover faster and second, you will be able to get through it, then be retrained - thanks to SSA - for a new career to support that family of yours.

A VERY important question: do you smoke?
Are you at a reasonable weight for your height?

Jump to this post

Thank you for your response. No, I haven’t smoked in 10 years a d it was just for a couple of years when I did smoke. As far as weight, I’m 5’10” and weigh around 220. Not severely overweight just a good eater shall we say. I also am diabetic but manage to keep my A1c down around 7.

REPLY
1 reply
gilkesl | @gilkesl | 1 day ago
In reply to @billyrgibson "Thank you for your response. No, I haven’t smoked in 10 years a d it was..." + (show)
@billyrgibson

Thank you for your response. No, I haven’t smoked in 10 years a d it was just for a couple of years when I did smoke. As far as weight, I’m 5’10” and weigh around 220. Not severely overweight just a good eater shall we say. I also am diabetic but manage to keep my A1c down around 7.

Jump to this post

Your A1C should be below 5.7. Are you seeing an endocrinologist? Eating low carb with lots of vegetables and adequate protein?

REPLY
elizadolittle | @elizadolittle | 1 day ago

I don't think you are being paranoid. You may have to change jobs. Or get disability. I don't know about your wife. You may have to become the caretaker of your children while she becomes the breadwinner. There's no shame in that. Who knows? you may be the one who becomes the neighbourhood child care centre. Don't dispar. I know what it is like--and I'm 87! I'm learning how to do things differently. It could be worse. I know that doesn't sound comforting. Trust me, there are. I wouldn't trade with one of my friends who are going through chemotherapy.

REPLY
laura1970 | @laura1970 | 1 day ago
In reply to @slarson14 "Apply for disability now. From my own experience, and I too did NOT want to be..." + (show)
@slarson14

Apply for disability now.
From my own experience, and I too did NOT want to be labeled "disabled" and loved working.

1) It takes two years of being on disability to get Medicare, which you will need because your back is not likely going to get better anytime soon, regardless of what treatment path you choose.
2) Getting on disability at your present age is not terribly difficult considering your medical history and attempts to fix this. However, whatever amount they give you for disability will be what your SS check will be for the rest of your life - unless your spouse has higher SS when she retires than you have when you go on disability.
3) I also attempted work at something other than my chosen career field to stay afloat financially, but it was very difficult;
4) When you ARE on disability the SSA will allow you to work if you choose to, and they also have retraining programs you will be eligible for;

Are you a veteran? Got some pointers there, also, if so.

As far as the options, from what I have read (and although I am in the medical field I am not a spine doc) you have done everything possible to work and fix your issues.

If your spine is already bulging into the sac surrounding the spinal cord, something is going to have to be done before it gets worse. You do not want long term impingement of any nerves in your back - nerve damage can be permanent if you do not fix the issue.

My Dad, more than 30 years ago had back surgery. He was a firefighter and hunter/fisherman type person and chose to have back surgery to relieve pain. He did really well and said afterwards "I wish I'd have done it sooner"....

I have had several surgeries - skeletal type and have never had an issue and am about to have cervical spine surgery, after I get done with a total rt shoulder replacement. I just got done with hand surgery and nerve surgery (ulnar nerve release) and it is one week post op and am doing great.

I am 70. After 50+ years in the medical profession - in several roles, to include being an ICU nurse - my philosophy is to do it now rather than later. First because of your age - you will recover faster and second, you will be able to get through it, then be retrained - thanks to SSA - for a new career to support that family of yours.

A VERY important question: do you smoke?
Are you at a reasonable weight for your height?

Jump to this post

Another reason not to delay applying for disability is that most people say they get rejected the first two times as a matter of course. Each appeal takes a while so it generally takes months to get social security.

If your neurosurgeon operates and you are able to work, I believe (though you should check on this) you can simply stop the application process, no harm no foul.

REPLY
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