Spondylolisthesis and DDD

Also try pure peppermint oil on your back. It's better than biofreeze it gets deep into the bone and muscle especially if you have heating pads out of all over your house like we do.

Did you have an injury? Or just all of a sudden started

What area do you live in or what state or city

@babette Hi, I didn't see this, the reason I didn't reply. I'm having trouble finding my way around here.
After the ordeal with the horrible pain from the Gabapentin my husband called my Dr's office and explained the situation. When I got a call back from a nurse she told me I was to continue taking it anyway. I felt talked down to like I was just an annoyance to their day. I was so stunned that I didn't stick up for myself and tell her no way, especially after reading about that med.
Unfortunately I live in a very small town in northwest Iowa and have no idea where to begin to find specialized help. I haven't been seen by a pain Dr. Just my Dr, who has sent me for three epidurals, then when the pain returned, prescribed 12 Tramadol. Otherwise I'm on my own with only Ibuprofen. My story is so long.
All I really want is a referral to a pain Dr. No more meds that I can't tolerate, no more epidurals etc. I just want to start over from today to try and find someone who will listen. I feel really stupid for telling my Dr last Friday, the 3rd, that I'd like to try PT again. That's when everything backfired. My husband has been doing most of the talking for me because I've become too depressed and am not able to express myself and what I want at this point. Sounds like it's time for me to begin seeking the help I really need on my own. That is the best advice I've been given! I hope we can keep in touch. Thank you so much!
One thing I have started making myself do is walk. It helps unless I'm in too much pain to get moving. And I have learned some PT exercises that I do that I know are safe from two PT's on You Tube, one of whom has Spondy. I think their YouTube is Bob and Brad. They're also on Facebook I think.
Sorry this got so long. I'm just so greatful I found your post.

Hi Chris, I am not familiar with Robert Weldon Trout. Most of my family that I know of is in Michigan and there are a fair amount of them. I was adopted by Caroline and Jerry Trout when I was six years old. Most of my research on family has been for my birth name. "Franskoviak". Trout sure is an easier name to have. :).

get more opinions! I had 4! And my stupid neurosurgeon (who I saw for 20 years) would have had me in a wheelchair NEVER doing surgery! When I saw the 4th ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, he showed me on a simple Xray how my disc fell completely out and my vertebrate grafted together. (my own self-surgery!) I wondered why the electrocution pain stopped. My major nerve roots were SQUASHED and I was on my way to permanent disability and lack of mobility. I said "do it" before he even finished his explanation. I was in surgery L3 - L5 with all the toppings on top of the sundae in a month (after 20 years of horrible back problems and two hip replacements which only took care of part of the problem). I got my LIFE BACK. @anoyymous123 6 years ago! You didn't say enough to help but to say GO BACK. If you don't trust the surgeon FIND ANOTHER. Sometimes scar tissue grows and there are NON SURGICAL interventions. Sometimes other modalities will help. They have for me! My back has continued to degenerate over 6 years. My surgeon who I adore is not sure what to do - so I explore other modalties. They work! But in that process I am learning MORE about what is causing the pain. My surgeon probably should have done more in the first surgery but my work is physical and he was trying to aid in my need for flexibility . This was always going to be my path. I have degenerative issues as does your wife. She should get a second opinion if she is in more pain than before or go to the original surgery. I hope she is doing her exercises, in p.t. where they can monitor her and going to her surgeon for post-op visits. She can go get MFR therapy (there is a section here on that), and try botox and acupuncture. There are many reasons why should could have pain - which could be resolved but you have to advocate for her and try all the things that may cause the pain.
About the shifting - it happens. Sometimes, it happens because the core muscles are not strong enough to hold things in position. That isn't the surgeons fault, nor the surgery. It could be the patient not being able to exercise enough, or continued degeneration. There are ways to cope with that but you need to get to pain mgt. or p.t. and continue with your doctor (or another). I went thru unbelievable double surgery in my neck. It is taking me TWO years to recover. (I am 68.). I just learned that the last vertebrate outside of the FIXED rod they stuck in my back is slipping too. Not pleasant news. I am working on my posture and strengthening my core. Some surgeons try and act conservatively. Their patients would be mad if they immobilized TOO much.
My suggestion is to keep moving forward with what you got! And don't get a bad attitude or you will give up and then its a revolving door of NO going forward. Get up and get engaged with getting rid of that pain. Try myofascial tissue relief therapy (MFR). Check for scar tissue (that's a biggie! and there are many options to deal with that). Trigger point injections, steroid injections and botox. But get the scar tissue checked first. best, Lori