How I Decided to Have Back Surgery
December 21, 2007
by: Dawn
This is my story about having back surgery that went very well. I think the key for me is that the surgery was done for the right reasons, I had researched my surgeon by talking to other patient’s of his who had the same spinal fusion done, and I had read up on the Internet on some good sites, including www.spine-health.com, to help with my decision to have surgery and help with my expectations.
2 1/2 years ago I was diagnosed with Spondylolisthesis Grade 2. After many years of pain in my legs now I finally knew why. I tried just about everything to avoid the surgery. I used a natural anti-inflammatory (Wobenzyme) to keep the inflammation down, I used a rolling pin and rolled my legs everyday to help lessen my leg pain through-out the day. I also tried numerous therapies. I read some of the bad stories on message boards on the internet and didn't want anything to do with the surgery. I really felt that the message boards were discouraging, there wasn’t anything positive regarding the surgery, and everything I read was so disheartening.
I was out to dinner one night and ran into a woman who also had spondylolisthesis. She had surgery to correct the spondylolisthesis 5 years earlier and has had no complications. She had the same surgeon that I had.
In September of 2007 I finally decided to go ahead with the surgery. At this point my leg pain was so bad I could not sleep through the night; I would wake up in pain and toss 5 or 6 times per night. I could not stand for more than a minute, sometimes two. I would have to sit down, and sometimes it didn't matter where I was – my leg pain was nearly unbearable. I could not stand in a grocery line or at the movies.
The anxiety of spinal fusion surgery was another obstacle. With surgery, the “What if’s” are horrible.
- What if I end up in a wheel chair?
- What if the surgeon slips?
- What if they fix the wrong thing?
- And then there is the ultimate" what if I die"? I don't want my children left without a Mother.
Like I said "What if's are terrible!" I even talked to yet another patient (with the same surgeon) who had the same surgery for spondylolisthesis a few months earlier. She gave me the extra strength I needed to go ahead with it.
Admission into the hospital on Oct 1, 2007 at 5:30am, now the stressful “sit and wait game” started 5:30AM; the next 2 hours were the longest 2 hours of my life. Finally they took me into the operating room it was about 7:30am. I asked how many people get up, change their minds and leave. And I felt myself float off.
I was out of surgery at 9:30AM and awake at 11:00AM. By 1:00 I was drinking broth and visiting. At 1:30 I took my first walk down the hall and stood at the end of the hall. As I stood there tears filled my eyes, I turned and looked at Tom (who’s arm I held) and remarked “I'm standing and I have no pain”! I was standing there in the middle of the isle, I let go of him and stood there for a few minutes. This was the first time I stood in one place for more than a minute, possibly 2, without being in horrible pain, and sitting down. While walking or standing I was always looking for a place to sit because I knew it would not be long before I was forced into sitting down. And I was still standing! It was like a taste of freedom, being trapped in a body that can't do the things you would like to do is horrible. I HAD NO PAIN! I STILL HAVE NO PAIN!
I checked out of the hospital the following morning, once home I began walking a 1/2 mile the first day, 1 mile the second day. I'm walking 1-3 miles per day. I have no pain in my legs!! I sleep without pain!! I have truly gotten a part of my life back that I thought was gone. I hiked a mountain in Utah last week; I'm looking forward to so much now. Thanks to my surgeon.
I am not writing this to encourage surgery. It’s just that when I was thinking about spinal fusion for my spondylolisthesis I read so much negative stuff on the Internet, I wanted to write to let people know about a positive experience.
Sincerely,
Dawn
Subject: pain level
How has your back been since the fusion? Are you pain free and how is your range of motion?
My doc is recommending a fusion but I am scared to death....
June
July 25th, 2008
Subject: surgery
Cathi,
How did your fusion go? I hope it has eased your pain and you can have some sense of normalcy back. My surgeon is recommending a laminectomy and a lumbar fusion, and I am seriously considering it, but of course have reservations.
How is your pain level now and how are you?
June
July 25th, 2008
Subject: re
The hospital is assignment writing really great. The professionals were great in explaining everything, alleviating all assignment help of my apprehension, I know I was in the right place.
October 15th, 2010
Subject: Spinal Fusions
Ok, I have been reading the blogs on back pain and all the Dr.'s and procedures that have been tried or done to help cope with the pain. I will begin to tell you my story, in hopes that someone can help me.
Well, the back pain is not me but it is my sugnificant other. He has had some back pain for the last 8 years. ( He is only 28 now ) However, in November 2007 he fell asleep at the wheel of his car and rear ended a full size truck. Totaling the car. ( By the way we just met in August 2007, moved in October 2007 and then the accident November 2007) He owns his own business and has not been able to work sense the accident.
So we had saw a neuro sergent and he said that he could not find anything wrong to cause the pain. So then, we seeked another opinion and was told he was way to young to have that bad of a back and the pain. So then, he continued to see his Chiropractor but that was not helping. We have visited the ER by this time at least 5-6 times. Where we also were told that he was not in that much pain and just wanted pain pills.. So we went to another specialist to get another opinion, ( by this time I am getting mad because of the tossing around these dr's are doing and saying that he is not in that much pain) I start telling the dr about this and that with the things I witness everyday, morning and night.. He then looks at me and tells me that I don't know what I am talking about and continues to say that there was nothing he could do for us. Not even evaluating him to see.. So we left there and never returned. Visited the ER a few more times due to horrific pains. So I then went serching on the web to find other solutions and situations like ours. We found a laser place that does laser surgery on the spine. Very scepitcal that I am researched it and found a few people that had this done. And for them it had worked. Years later still working. So, I contacted the place to set an appointment up to evaluate him and see if they could help.. They said that he had a 80% chance of the procedure working, but the thing is, is that our insurance did not cover the procedure. So we had to come up with the cash which was $8,000. Just for the first procedure. But because he had the problem for so long it would most likely take 2 procedures. So it is now June 2008, dealing with horrible muscle spasms that would literally throw him out of the bed onto the floor.. He could not walk, sit, lay down, nothing. So we move forward with this surgery. It only helped with one side of the lag pains. So then a few months later, we go back and they want to do another surgery to remove the pinched nerve. So we do, and it costs another $4,000. ( Aug 2008 for that surgery) So now it is November 2008. A year later and nothing has changed other then the really bad muscle spasms. He still has spasms and leg pain. Can't sleep, walk, work, sit. This has him depressed everyday. We have not had time to have a life. We have 3 wonderful children and he can't even play with them. We have no relationship nor are we able to go out and enjoy life due to this horrible back pain... No one is able to give any answers to help. He is on so much pain medication and it is not even touching his pain. They are wanting to fuse his spine and we are waiting until it is the last resort. Any answers please help.. It is his L4-L5 S1... Thanks Kelli
November 20th, 2008
Subject: hi
i was ready and seen that the doc did the same thing. im 25 bout to be 26 and have bin in pain since i was 13 and the doc's act like im not in pain but its at the point that i cry bc no one will help me and i cant work so i have no money and no help from the state well any ways sorry to bort u did yall ever get the fuse done and if so hows it working
ps
i hope his pain is gone
Boston
April 28th, 2009
Subject: hello
would u know a way for some one with DDD to get ride of the pain?
im 25 and every doc i seen said there was nothing to do one even said ( i dont give out pain killers od how are your headheaks doing ) ya those were his first words to me and im scaird to ask about pain killers ever since bc they look at me like i just want the drugs and not getting when i tell them the pain is makeing me cry and how some times i stop walking and fall ( the pain and not being able to walk is the wrost thing ) so i was hopen u would know a way to fix me well ty for your time if u read my boring story
Boston
April 28th, 2009
Subject: best regards
I'm really glad for those, who made the choice in this serious business where you can never be 100% sure of what is right or wrong. I've recently seen the video videorolls.com/watch/Why-I-Decided-Against-Back-Surgery that impressed me greatly and gave me food for thought. who knows, maybe this option is worth trying.
July 6th, 2010
Subject: It looks like you had a good
It looks like you had a good call on this one, after all you tried everything before the surgery. In this kind of situations steroids with the inflammation and lower the pain but obviously you tried that too and your condition was too advanced at this stage. It's great you shared your experience, it will help others decide for the best on their spinal problems.
November 19th, 2010