lower back sugery

If you haven't applied for disability then you better get started. The doctors are hedging their bet with you by trying things out, fully aware that the procedures have an extremely slim chance of working. The longer you deal with a problem, especially with your spine, the less likely it will be fixed. It is difficult to admit that you are unable to be fully functional. I injured my neck bak in 1986 and have been in pain ever since. I now take vicodin on a daily basis and the doctor has mentioned my giong on methadone for pain relief...so you could say I have a little experience. My doctor approved my having a handicap placard just about 3 months ago and I got dismissed from jury duty during January because I cannot sit in those hard chairs, pop vicodin in hopes that my pain won't flare up, and still be a decent juror. I can still work parttime outside of the home,but if the weather changes I stay at home and deal with the pain. There will be times, like now, where everything that is going on with your condition just seems really stupid. There will be times when you think that maybe you are using it as an excuse, until you try to do something that seems normal and you end up paying for it for the next week with extra pain. If you like, I can hustle up some websites for people who have chronic pain conditions and get them to you. ONe site is called partners Against Pain and you might be able to just type that as all one word and slap a .com on the end and find the site. Even though you are depressed, its normal. You keep banging your head against this brick wall and get nowhere. I would like to toalk with you more about some options and things that I hae done to at least maintain my sanity, just let me know if you feel up for a chat on yahoo.

I really feel for you and know exactly what you are going through. i had a lamanectomy on my neck 3 years agoand had part or my L4 and L5 removed. This was to help me apparently and most likely cure me. A year later i was rushed back in to hospital due to continuing nerve pain which sometimes results in me being completely crippled by the pain. I wa given another op called a discetomy where they removed the discs completely and put in 2 metal discs. Unfortunetly most the nerves around my neck are completely damaged and I am still in constant pain. i wishi never went through the operations as I alot worse than i was before them. i am also battling depression due to this. The strange thing is if I had a chance to back on to the rugby field and play, i would jump at the chance.

Well sweety.I have been there,i was 24 when i first herniated my L4/5 and had surgery..then L3/4 and the discs above that taken out..lots of hardware,and now im 33..and i have degenerative disc diease,and degenerative arthritis..and i am in so much pain some days i just cry all day while my son is at school..i wont let him see me cry it breaks his heart..i will never work again..and in the beginning the first 5 yrs were the worst..i miss my jpb and the people.,but now i look at it a gift,sorta..because now i can watch my son grow up and not miss a thing..but i do get depressed alot..all i can say is get swimming..join the YMCA,,its great on the back and you get out of the house..and in the summer if theres a beach around swim..its the best exercise for it and you see and meet other people..and they have arthritis class at the Ymca as well and maybe u can meet new friends with your situation? thats what i do..im a single mom as well btw..and i know exactly how your feeling..and if you get too depresed ask your doc about Cymbalta..it works wonders on me..or Effexor..i wish you luck!!

My husband also had back surgery about 7 years ago on his lower back. He also had a bone graph so there is about 6 inches of his spine that is fused. He does not bend over to pick things up now because he can't. After surgery, he wore a turtle shell like brace for about 4 months. The doctors wanted him to wear it for 6 months but he was determined to not let this situation take him down. Two weeks after surgery, he was back on stage playing his guitar. He had to sit on a stool because he could not stand for long periods of time. He walked everyday no matter how much it hurt. At first, he walked slow and not very far but each day he went a little further and his pace started to improve. There is still some pain but he deals with it by using Tylenol occasionally. For Christmas, I got him a heated back massaging pad that he uses when the muscles try to go into spasm. I asked him and the only advice he would like to share is: walk, walk a lot, take a break and then walk a little further. I saw the recommendation about swimming that someone else mentioned. I also recommend the swimming. It is good for you but make sure you are in a pool with steps, handrails and other people around to assist you if needed. My husband did try the swimming and it was wonderful while he was in the pool but he had great difficulty getting out of the pool because it takes a lot more than you realize to lift your body out of the water. So use caution in all that you do. To lift your spirits, make a point to get out of the house once a week even if it is just to go have coffee at the local cafe. Good luck to you. (ask your doctor if he recommends steroids for pain management also)