Back Pain Support Group
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. In fact, about 3 in 4 adults will experience back pain during their lifetime! The term back pain includes pain affecting the neck, midback and low back. Acute back pain may begin suddenly with intense pain but typically lasts fewer than three months. Usually, chronic back pain is persistent, steady, and...
I knew it was coming, but it is still hard to hear. My PM Dr. told me yesterday that it has now been well over a year since my tear in my disc and there is no longer a chance that it will heal itself.
My options right now are, 3rd epidural shot. First one worked for a week, second one (done last Wed.) made things worse for a few days, but now I'm back to my normal pain. Whatever normal is?! 2nd is to just deal with the pain and try to manage it with pain medications. 3rd option is to have a fusion done. He of course said he would send me to another surgeon (I have one surgeon who has already suggested it) to get additional opinions, but that doesn't help make me feel better.
So we are waiting a month now to see if this 2nd epidural does anything at all. And then discuss those 3 options at my next appointment. I knew when I was told this information over a year ago that I was just biding my time until it was going to be an inevitable surgery. I just am not ready. I'm ready to be out of pain, but not financially ready. Of course I'm not sure I will ever be ready emotionally. I have a hard time dealing with the strain I know it puts on my family.
Last night I had a nightmare and in it my husband was laughing at me because I couldn't talk and I was trying to mouth to him that my head hurt really bad. And all he could do was keep laughing until he was rolling on the floor. He woke me up (real life) because I was making noises and I told him the dream and he kinda chuckled and it made me just start bawling.
He didn't get it of course, but eventually rolled over and hugged me. At that moment that he laughed at me I though to myself "this is how everyone makes me feel, like I know your in pain, but get over it. Like everyone is laughing and making jokes about how I can't do normal things, and they tease and are trying to make light of it. And I know they mean well and are trying to keep things lighthearted. but when I woke up from that dream the flood gates just opened. I had a hard time getting back to sleep after that."
My options right now are, 3rd epidural shot. First one worked for a week, second one (done last Wed.) made things worse for a few days, but now I'm back to my normal pain. Whatever normal is?! 2nd is to just deal with the pain and try to manage it with pain medications. 3rd option is to have a fusion done. He of course said he would send me to another surgeon (I have one surgeon who has already suggested it) to get additional opinions, but that doesn't help make me feel better.
So we are waiting a month now to see if this 2nd epidural does anything at all. And then discuss those 3 options at my next appointment. I knew when I was told this information over a year ago that I was just biding my time until it was going to be an inevitable surgery. I just am not ready. I'm ready to be out of pain, but not financially ready. Of course I'm not sure I will ever be ready emotionally. I have a hard time dealing with the strain I know it puts on my family.
Last night I had a nightmare and in it my husband was laughing at me because I couldn't talk and I was trying to mouth to him that my head hurt really bad. And all he could do was keep laughing until he was rolling on the floor. He woke me up (real life) because I was making noises and I told him the dream and he kinda chuckled and it made me just start bawling.
He didn't get it of course, but eventually rolled over and hugged me. At that moment that he laughed at me I though to myself "this is how everyone makes me feel, like I know your in pain, but get over it. Like everyone is laughing and making jokes about how I can't do normal things, and they tease and are trying to make light of it. And I know they mean well and are trying to keep things lighthearted. but when I woke up from that dream the flood gates just opened. I had a hard time getting back to sleep after that."
If I were you, I would opt for the pain management . Pain is NEVER a reason for surgery. Surgery ONLY corrects mechanical problems. Most often after surgery, you're left with the same pain or worse. The chances of coming out of it pain free are VERY low. That's just the nature of the beast.
Also, you're never the same after surgery. You will also end up needing more surgery down the line -- that's due to the "domino' effect ~ the level above/ below the surgery site will fail ~ and it too will need surgery. This happens all the time after surgery. It's because that level has to take on more of the weight. Surgery just begets surgery. I've done LOADS of research on this phenomenon, and it almost never fails.
Just wanted to pass this along. I'd hate to see you be fused from the neck down ~ which could happen. God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee
Good luck. Hugs, Barbara
Hugs, whatever you decide..
Just wanted to clarify that cause it isn't really a "pain" medication. But as long as some folks are getting pain relief, who cares??
I have had a weird deformity right around my tailbone area that has me a little concerned. It is the same area as my problem & pain. It bumps out toward the right.