Good morning brother,

It's obvious from your pictures that you and I have something in common.  Too much scar tissue! 

How long since the fusion surgery?  I know it took me a full year and maybe more before I knew just what I was going to live with.  My decline started shoveling snow, one of those heavy ones in March.  Blew out my L5-S1 and went downhill from there.  I also injured a knee in a bike accident years ago and at 50 it's pretty "crackily".

As far as pain meds I can suggest Oxycontin for the best, consistent "extended release" help.  I know it has a bad rep because people crush it, snort it and sell it as a street drug.  Please, don't believe that reputation as it is a very helpful med for people who use it as a med. Talk to your Dr about Lyrica, a nueral blocker that has helped me with stabbing and sharp pain but the side affects really bug me, mostly memory stuff.  It was hard to get used to Lyrica.  Up the dosage slowly to let your body/brain get used to it.  I also have break-thru oxycodone with napricin but only use it on low barametric pressure day (yes, it can really affect people who are not old and bent over).  Start to look on weather.com and see if your worst pain days are when the bar. pressure goes below 30.00.  It's just a warning to me to take it easy.

A couple of other thoughts:

-If you haven't found thermacare heat wraps go buy some in XL(more coverage) and try them on your back.  Wear a t-shirt underneath.

-Bad news: lose some weight if inactivity effected you like me, I needed to.  Lost 20 lbs over 5 months and it really helped.

-Find a good cold wrap for over-active days.  Even long after surgery(my fusion 2001) two periods of 20minutes on and 20 off, then let back or knee get to room temp and then warm up on low with a heating pad (again XL covers more area).  That routine really helps me some days.

-Last if you are having a day that really sucks just put on the heating pad, get into bed, take a xanex to calm down and hope tomorrow is better.  Some days are just going to be like that.

After 8 years of some level of daily pain I am now going to do a trial for an intrathecal drug delivery system (medtronic pain pump).  I go 9/19 to see what it brings.  If it works maybe it is something you can look into.  I resisted for many years as it is not without some risk and another operation.  I think the trial holds little downside as I can just back away if it doesn't work.

Good Luck and peace, Bill

PS - I noticed not lots of posts.  The pictures are true but startling.  Maybe some can't get past them to read the post.  Just my opinion.

medicfl1

3/ 6/08 1:26pm

I actually lost this site. My computer failed and I bought a laptop that now has Vista. That has caused me nothing but problems, knocking out my wireless network adapter. Anyway I lost this site until today and that was only because they sent me an email.

 

How has your pump worked out?

 

Was it overboard putting the pictures in the post? You were the only reply.

 

I have now moved on to 300mg MS Contin twice a day w/ Percocet 10/325 for breakthrough. Morphine is actually worthless, Fentanyl was better but I could not get the patches to stay on.

 

As for the Surgeries, I had three within seven month's in 2006 and am still awaiting a social security hearing. I originally applied on June 6th 2006. Then requested a hearing on Jan 12th 2007. after the paper turn-downs. I have been waiting ever since.

 

I have Binder & Binder (no help) and have had Congressman Weldon write them twice to no avail.

 

It was odd seeing your post today as I lose all health insurance on March eighth. I have no clue what's next as my house is going into foreclosure.