a little about me....

I'm in the same place as you except I have had 3 crevical spine fusions in my neck. All you can do is try to realize that this is the way it will be. I'm 55 and pretty self sufficient, I think I'm a strong person. When the Pain Doc told me that I was going to live with this pain for the rest of my life I actually started to well up and almost cried........For me that was a mistake because the Doc then felt I should see a shrink!  The Doctors have no idea what you're going through and make wild assumptions based upon their superior experience. 

When it comes to your family, I'm divorced but my kids are with me, you need to sit down and help your family understand the consequencies, not how much it hurts you or the pain you have, unfortunately you are the only one that feels that pain.  I hope this helps

Boatman

Dew,

I am also fairly young (just turned 40 in April) for the DDD Dx that docs seem to label me.  I also have had several different dx's like Stenosis of lumbar spine, 'Failed back syndrome' (we all know there is no such dx, it's just a 'label' for a grouping of ailments that docs can't properly identify), 'ladder effect', sciatica, spondylosis, etc. etc.  I have been through so many tests, had surgeries, and still am no better. My employer sent me a letter about four months ago, saying that they can't meet the doc's limitations requirements, and they consider me un-employable due to those limits. I got hurt doing their job (Nurse Tech II in hospital), they reported it to Work/Comp and it was approved for claim, but that was four years ago, and now am fighting in court to get those benefits to pay for my treatments.  My private insurance lapsed due to lack of hours worked, but before it did, they (BCBSNM) told me I can't see a therapist for the depression from all the meds, the illness, etc, that it was a work comp responsibility!  Now, I am out of work (permanently disabled), no income, paying for medicines out of pocket full price - cash. Lucky for me I have a loving and supportive wife, she is losing her ability to carry the household all on her own, though. Already had one car go back to bank, couldn't afford it. Gonna lose the other (hers), the house, everything, if courts don't hurry up and get the case resolved.  The state (worker comp people) are dragging their feet in cooperating, and I think it should be illegal for this to happen, but there it is.

Anyways, I am in your shoes, and can feel your pain.  Lucky for me, my doc is willing to provide scripts for the (high doses of) pain meds.  Taking Oxycontin 60mg, two in am, one at noon, one at night; am taking Soma three times a day, am taking pills to pee, pills to poo, and pills for high blood pressure, all paid cash by my wife.

I am sharing this with you so you can know that you suffer with company.

Your thoughts are welcome.

Brian

brian_stenerson@hotmail.com