Chronic Pain Support Group

Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...

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Once again on shaky ground

yadlim
yadlim
After four months of working to come to terms that my spine will only get worse and never better, I don't know again.

I saw the Pain Management Clinic on Tuesday. It was a "lets get to know each other" hour long meeting. Well, hubby and I agreed that we want to keep on and see what they can do to help me work out how live with the pain. I also scared the poor Dr as she questioned why I had a PTSD Dx - but once I got off the floor she was pretty sure that the panic attacks are having a significant input to my pain.

The part that has me swirling is that she also asked why we pursued spinal fusion surgery. When I explained that it was the VA doctors who sent me out for fusion surgery, but the Neurosurgeon suggested instead Electrocordical implants (?) . But the VA doctor dismissed it out of hand and labeled me with Fibro instead - so she has put that surgery back on the table. We are now on hold again waiting to hear if the head of surgery wants to go that way.

I have four weeks to complete my Bachelor's Degree and have to find a way to concentrate on school not wondering if I will ever be functional again.

sigh - just venting

Alix and my Misha
billwfriend
billwfriend
Hi alex that is a little too much to deal with I assume....I know I could not handle it....I am curious is the surgery the doc put back on table the implant of electrodes or the fusion surgery?

hope this helps you no matter what as we all want to see the pain leave.....hugs bill
yadlim
yadlim
It is the electrode implants that are back on the table of possible.

According to the Bone Density Scan, my spine is stable - grr, but I will explain that in a minute - so a spinal fusion will do no good. The Neurosurgeon thought I was an excellent candidate for the electrodes (we have been calling it borging me out), but had to send me back through the VA system as I was approved for the fusion, not the borging. The VA doc just dismissed it and I figured it was off the table of possibilities for good.

But as for my spine being stable - yeah. 9 years ago, when I came off a bucking horse, the MRI at the ER showed that I had approximately 30% bone loss in my T6 from a crushing injury. In 2009, four years after the injury, my T6 was at about 50% bone loss and two collapsed discs. In 2012, there was just 30% of the T6 left, two collapsed discs, and 80% of T5 left.... but my back is stable.

I am scared about tomorrow. My daughter will drive me to the field trip where we will be studying primary productivity, waves, tides etc. It will be a two hour drive with a 45 minute ferry trip - just getting there will put me in agony. Then being on the beach I won't be able to use my walker - so it is just a cane. But it is using a cane with a torn rotator cuff.

But, to bring a bit of a smile, I will also have to find a hose before we head home because there is no way I want my big white fluffy dog who will have been standing in mud, muck, and ocean with me in the car without being hoses off!!!
jasmine0523
jasmine0523
Alex. Sometimes I think the docs are clueless. I think I would try and see a neuro out of the VA system in private practice and get another opinion. All this stuff they are throwing at you would make anyone crazy. What does your husband think of this doc?
Right now concentrate on school. It should take nearly that long to get an appointment with a new doc.
Try and stay as pain free as possible in the meantime. I am really proud that you are getting your degree. Laurie
annettearizona
annettearizona
Vent away..hope the dr can follow thru with the suggestions he has made and give you some less pain!
Hey-I could do your homework for school..ofcourse I never got past high school..would that matter? :)
yadlim
yadlim
How do I explain this - I am not functional this morning so I am having issues. The neurosurgeon who said no to the fusion and that I needed the implants was civilian - just paid for by the VA. They outsource for complicated stuff. The VA has doctors who preform the implants (borging), but it has to go through the VA slowness and had gotten derailed by the Dr who was sure I had Fibro.

Paying for my own treatment is out of the question. Hubby has been out of work for two years and we are living on full charity right now of my mom-in-law.

Three weeks and two fifty page research papers between me and my degree.

alix and Misha
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