Spinal fusion

[BlondeOnaBusa]

I don't know how so many of you lived with it for so long. I suffered for about a year and it came to the point I was either gonna kill myself or go insane from the pain. I would think about hurting other parts of my body just so I could get some relief but then I would come back to reality and think better of it. If I got 3 hours of sleep at one time I felt lucky. I had lost my reflex in my right arm and lost the use of my triceps muscle. I couldn't even push the passenger door open in a car. My fingers and thumb was numb, my elbow hurt more than anything. I took 800 mg of ibuprofen, lortab 15's (two 7.5) and soma's. I ate that stuff like candy. It would make me real loopy and I wouldn't care if I hurt for a couple of hours...but the pain was always there.

I wish you the best of luck and God speed. I know how this feels and it's no way to live. I'll be praying for ya!

 

[Rocketman]

I checked with my buddy. He delivered my new machine. It is called the KenkoWave Infrared Treatment System. It really does work like crazy.

Nikken KenkoWave

It's about $250 - but I can get you a better deal through my neighbor if you want. Just let me know.

See my comments up above. I was exactly at the point where I couldn't take the pain any longer. This provided relief like no other. Lortabs, Ibuprofin, nothing worked to take away the pain. This took it away by at least 60-70%.

My kids are in disbelief... so am I honestly. If somone wants one, I can only get deals on about 3 or 4 of them at a time. Otherwise, you can order direct from the company.

Thanks again for the support and comments. It's good to hear others have gone down this road. Surgery is scheduled for Friday the 23rd... cut, slash, rip, screw, sew...

 

[FloydV]

I had my 3rd and finally successful spine surgery three months ago and it was a fusion of L3 and L4. This was by a third doctor and an orthopedic doc as opposed to the other two neurosurgeons.

I would say this to potential candidates for back surgery. When you have a bulging disc, demand a fusion or an aritificial disc. What most docs will want to do is a lamenectomy or similar half-assed "minor" procedure first, knowing full well that the disc will eventually rupture and you'll be back for the full fusion. The FDA will not let them put in an artificial disc if you have had any type of previous surgery. One reason being, if you have a lamenectomy, the supporting bone structure the art. disc will need, will have been removed.

I had leg pain that would force me to push around a walker with a seat, since sitting was the only way to temporarily releave the leg pain. After the second surgery, I had one idiot neurologist tell me to be glad that I wasn't in a wheel chair like some of his patients and to accept my situation. I was taking a lot of oxycodone and using Fentanyl patches--a path you don't want to go down. Most people don't understand that you will develop tolerance to any opiate to such an extent that you will be taking into the thousands of miligrams of the drugs to relieve the same amount of pain over time. Pain meds are not a fix. They are only a temporary fix.

The fusion, though a brutal experience pain wise, was a complete success. I no longer have pain in my leg or back, but the last three months were painful and very restricted. In two weeks I get out of the brace I am wearing and will be as good as new. This brace has been a horrible companion. I had to sleep in it the first 6 weeks, and I will try and post a pic. It rubs
constantly and the skin on my abdomen became so sensitive, I thought I would go nuts for the first two months.

In summary, I would do it again twice if I had to. It made a normal person out of a cripple.

BTW, in 3 more months (total of 6), I can ride my Busa again.



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[Rocketman]

So how long did it take for you guys to ride again? Fav says it took him a while. Did it take everyone 6 months?

How bad is it the first 3 weeks after surgery?

 

[silverfreak]

So how long did it take for you guys to ride again?  Fav says it took him a while.  Did it take everyone 6 months?

How bad is it the first 3 weeks after surgery?  

I was up walking 2 hours after surgery. with the aid of a walker.to hold on to and sit when needed.it took me 10 weeks before i climbed back into the seat.the doctors told me it would be 6 months.i would have gone completly nuckin futs if it had been that long before i could ride again.just be careful. everyones body reacts differently.and you are the only person that knows your limits and how your bodyfeels.