i hope to meet more friends as i have met in the old forum. something getting used to i will say. i wish all the new members soft hugs and a warm welcome to our family
soft hugs
maria

Hi there Priestess. I'm just trying to get a head start bumping my post count.

First let me say......I sympathize with you on the pain issues, as it appears everyone here does as well. Secondly, let me give you my background, and then maybe I can help in some way. I am only 45 years old, and have had 7 back surgeries....6 of which were in 5 years time!! Woo Hoo!! LOL

In July 1990, I ruptured my L4/L5 (right side) disc at work. After fighting with BWC for months, I finally had what was at that time called....Suction Discectomy. Basically, they pushed a hollow needle through my back and inserted another needle through that one, and sucked out part of the Nucleous out of the disc, so that what was pressing on the nerve on the outside, would come back inside the disc and the tear would heal. Much to my surprise, it worked for 12 years, with almost no pain after the initial healing.

Then in July 2002, the L4/L5 ruptured again, only on the left side this time. Again a fight with BWC and besides some therapy, nothing was done this time until November. So by the time I had my I.D.E.T. surgical procedure done, which was absolutely useless beside the extreme pain of the surgery itself, and then MONTHS later the Laminectomy (2003) was done, the disc was in bad shape. According to every doctor I have spoken with, excluding the one who did the first two surgeries for the 2002 injury, the disc itself should have been completely removed long before this time.....like the second surgery.

So in May 2004, I finally got a GOOD doctor, and had the Lumbar Fusion done on the L4/L5, which by the time he got to it and got it out, had completely bent over the vertibrae, and had the nerve so badly pinched, that it did not respond when the disc was moved, it remained flat. So as you can guess....I have permanent nerve damage thanks to all the useless surgeries and waiting to have it removed.

Then I began exhibiting some of the same symptoms you talked about. I had continuous pain in my low back, buttocks, and left hip area. And I was in so much pain, that I didn't even want to eat.....I lost 40 lbs. in about a month and a few days, so much so, that I could actually feel some of the instrumentation protruding. So after being diagnosed with "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome", the decision was made to have the hardware removed, to see if that was the cause of the excess pain I was having. I had the surgery in September 2005, and initially I did have some relief from the excess pain, even though I still had pain due to the permanent nerve damage, scar tissue, and arthritis (already!!) But I really believe having the hardware did help some, and when you get to the point I was, you will take whatever little bit of relief you can get!!!!

Then came another ruptured disc and Laminectomy in November 2006, on the L3/L4 disc, which from what I have researched, is common for the disc above or below to blow out, after any fusion. Needless to say, that only lasted until December 2007, when I had to have the fusion on the L3/L4.
Since that time, I have been declared Permanently and Totally Disabled by BWC and by the government. (SSD) I am also declared a chronic pain patient, and live on a large regimen of pain medications, and for those of you who know about living on pain meds.,you also end up taking a pill to counteract this, another one to counteract that, ect., ect., ect. I take more medication that my mom who is an invalid!!

I am not looking for a pity party, because I still feel very blessed. My specialist has told me that with all that I have had done in such a short amount of time, it is just a miracle that I am not in a wheel chair full time. I do use a cane, but again, it could be so much worse!! I still have my family, and can still play the piano for short periods of time, which is my other love of my life....only after God, my Wife, and my 5 daughters!! Yes....I did say 5 daughters!!! HELP!! LOL
I hate having to take so much pain medication, but it is either that, or be in bed all the time whining, and I chose not to do that....at least for now!!
Depression is a real part of Chronic Back Pain, but again, I take medication for that, and see a psychologist, so that is kind of under control!

I now have Degenerative Disc Disease, Degenerative Joint Disease, Osteoperosis, (spelling?) and Arthritis in my back, hip, and leg. So see....I could be so much worse than I am!! :

Now....after this book about my life (LOL...sorry), if you feel like you have Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, and the instrumentation is causing part of your pain, I say......GET IT OUT of there!!! As long as you have achieved a good fusion, it will not hurt anything to have it out. It might just give you some much needed and deserved pain relief!!! It did for me anyway!!
Good luck and GBU
Joe

Where is "Patient Forums"? and will there be a way on the new forum to search for your previous posts? And how do I get back to my profile. When I was choosing my time zone - there were no times to choose, only the day.Will things speed up after things get settled down? Right now it's slow as Christmas, and says there are errors on the page.

well here we are getting started in our new home. i hope there are plenty of visitors, old and new! this forum can be as good if not better than our old one. i welcome everyone, old and new, to join and make this a welcome place for everyone to visit! Jenny

i am so excited to be in our new home. i look forward to meeting old spineys and newcomers! this can be a great place if we all come together as the family we were before. here are to happy times and giving hope to everyone, new and old.

Yello all...decided time to become PET on the site instead of shooter, lol. out with my old...in with the new. hope this site is gonna be better than the last in navigations. so far so good.

Ric

Hey, one thing new:

If you click reply to someones post, you get posted right up under their post.

Cool

And another:

The reply's are upside down...last post first!

I just wanted to come on and say HI, I just joined like yesterday on the old site...I like this new one,LOL:)

hello all, i have not been on for about 2 months, but i'm back on board now!!!

anyone know how to display a signature????

Just checking out the new site - Loving it so far!!! seems fairly easily -- Welcome to all the new members!!

Michelle

Hey Miki, just wanted to say how nice it is to see you here. I was like Senior Member on the other site, now we're all newbies!!!!
I'm lovin' this site so far, can't wait till Everything is up and running and the bugs are worked out.

Take Care,
Beth

Just checkin' something out?????!!!!!!

Hi Miki,

I feel like this is a cocktail party mixer. I have never spoken with you before, but know you are a MOD and wanted to way HI and that I think you all are doing a tremendous job with SH. I would be lost without you guys! Thank you so much for this invaluable website!

Pebbles

Hi All,

I was heading to become an expert. Now I am a newby again.
Is this why I have new pains?

Good luck to webmasters and wish us all enjoyable forum.
Yona

Hi! It's nice to be here at the new site (had some technical issues) Looking forward to talking to everyone.

Anna