Doctor's Appointment's

I'll start out with this . I knew the day was coming but had hoped it would be many years down the road.

Let me explain. My pain management doctor told me today that when he saw my cervical area (have forgotten which disc's are effected by the degeneration that is happening rather quickly now.)when he performed my epidural steroid injection 3 weeks ago it is getting worse. That I really do need to get the surgery performed. I told him that maybe when the new school year begins because of the huge responsibility (and a fun and great one at that) I to take care of. He understood.

He put me on some new medications and discontinued one so I would not be too sleepy. He is on his last ditch effort to keep the pain and headaches at bay. Have been in a no sleep too much at night mode because I do not want to wake up with headaches. Not the best way to handle it as I get extremely tired and irritable during the day but don't know what else to do right now. Hopefully the new medications will help more than the old one(s).

My lumbar region (L3,L4,L5) is doing pretty good. No real pain there because he performed an epidural steroid injection a few months back and it is working. That helps tremendously because at least I do not have to deal with pain there also as I have been doing all these years. That is definitely something to thank God for and have an attitude of gratitude.

I am at my wit's end (even though I am a person of strong faith)and it is causing a good deal of depression. Thankfully my doctor's (neurologist, neuro-surgeon and pain management) understand this and are willing to discuss it and have given many words of encouragement.

I am a strong individual in many ways so this is not a poor me post. Just venting in a place where people understand (maybe not all but some) what has been written.

This too shall pass and will be a stronger person because of it. Have to look at it this way or else the depression would be worse.

Thanks for listening.

Hey,

What condition do you have exactly? I have a chronic condition relating to my colon so I can kind of understand your frustration, tiredness, and depression. I will require medical procedure throughout the rest of my life, and I'm only 25. I also face the real possibility of losing my colon when I get older (I'm a real contender for colon cancer).

Oh well, we gradually get better at coping with things, whatever shape our body is in!

Kevin.

Chucky wrote:Hey,

What condition do you have exactly? I have a chronic condition relating to my colon so I can kind of understand your frustration, tiredness, and depression. I will require medical procedure throughout the rest of my life, and I'm only 25. I also face the real possibility of losing my colon when I get older (I'm a real contender for colon cancer).

Oh well, we gradually get better at coping with things, whatever shape our body is in!

Kevin.

It's taken a while to respond and for that I offer my apology. Your disorder is far worse than mine as yours will last a lifetime. Hope you have a good doctor(s). How do cope? Not so sure I could do but then again sounds like you are a stronger individual then I am right now.

You asked me to clarify myself. My conditions are cervical disc disease (basically arthritis in the spine) and lumbar spinal stenosis (narrorwing of the spinal cord) that might be able to be corrected with surgery. I say might because surgery is not a guarentee. While this is not that uncommon most people have one or the other but not both so says the doctors. Mine is partly genetic and the rest is due to traumas (working hard, car wreck and falls).

As it stands now and even after the sugery if I ever fall or get in a wreck there is a real chance could become paralyzed for good. Am extremely careful at all times but there is nothing that can be done if someone hits me while driving.

"Oh well, we gradually get better at coping with things, whatever shape our body is in!" Am working at doing that it is just taking time. I do believe what was said in my closing remark "this too shall pass and will be a stronger person because of it." It just will take time.

Hey again, don't worry about taking a while to reply.

You think my condition is worse? - After reading your reply, I think that your condition is worse! To have something like we do must seem scary to other people who are otherwise physically healthy. However, we gradually grow with our problems and get stronger, like you have said.

I cope pretty well I think. My gut is either in pain or discomfort at all times but I am used to it by now. I cannot remember what it is like to have a normal gut but I don't think about it too much. If I did, it would just end up bothering me.

Take care always,
Kevin.

Each day can so different from the day before. Just like yesterday, no pain hardly at all. I was worn out all day from the high level of pain that had occurred for many days in a row. It would have been nice to have done more than I did especially since the weather was so beautiful. One thing that helped with the pain one of my doctors took me off of a medication for another condition that was actully making it worse. It happens and now we both know that I cannot take it ever again.

Have watched my dad over many years cope with his back and he does so much better than I do. He has had surgery on his lumbar area and it helped in someways and made it worse in others. Maybe it is because he has a stronger "peronality" (not quite the word I am wanting to use but it will do for now). Maybe it is because mine is newer (about a year) then his. I just do not know and wish I had his strength but I cannot not because I am not him.

You are correct it must seem scary to other people who are otherwise physically healthy. Maybe it seems scary to them because it could happen to them one day. Just a thought.

Glad you are coping with what is going on. Some days I cope better than others. Maybe one day we will both get better at coping with things. Might happen.

Thanks for your willingness to discuss this. Just having someone who "gets it" really helps.

ONAMERICANSOIL wrote:You are correct it must seem scary to other people who are otherwise physically healthy. Maybe it seems scary to them because it could happen to them one day. Just a thought.

Wherever you look, people are coping with things that they probably thought they never could. Think of paralysed people: The thought of being paralysed is frightening but you would eventually adapt your life to it.

My condition has been great recently and my doctor will be pleased the next time I see her.

Anyway, take care my friend.

Kevin.

Chucky wrote:

ONAMERICANSOIL wrote:You are correct it must seem scary to other people who are otherwise physically healthy. Maybe it seems scary to them because it could happen to them one day. Just a thought.

Wherever you look, people are coping with things that they probably thought they never could. Think of paralysed people: The thought of being paralysed is frightening but you would eventually adapt your life to it.

My condition has been great recently and my doctor will be pleased the next time I see her.

Anyway, take care my friend.

Kevin.

I am glad your condition has been great recently. I hope that is still true.

I am having surgery some time in the next couple of months. Once this is done hopefully things will be better. Not sure if the neurosurgeon is going to tackle the cervical or lumbar region first. Won't know that until after he runs a test. We will see and just do it and be grateful.

Take care.

Hi,

I was wondering where you had disappeared to. My conditin has been up and down as usual. At the moment, I find it hard to stand up for too long without getting a sharp pain over near my appendix. I'm pretty sure it's not my appendix though, and is instead just my intestine being inflamed.

hmm... surgery. The only time I've ever needed surgery was when I was a baby and I obviously dont remember anything about it. Are you nervous about it at all?

Kevin.

I'm here off and on but haven't posted much. Sorry about that.

Ouch, sounds painful. I hope it gets manageable again. Isn't there anything the doctor's can do to help you out?

Yeah, when I made the decision to go ahead with the surgery I was really scared. I had a really restless night but when I awakened the next morning that had subsided for the most part.

Had two surgeries (pretty minor) last year and didn't have any major difficulties with healing, etc. Sure I was sore for a while but I am not the kind of person who likes to be laid up for too long. I probably did more than I was suppose to but everything turned out okay.

Will be around again soon and will post more then.

Been a while since I have posted. Lots of tests have been run. The final decision by the doctor is to tackle the lumbar region first. No dye flowed through L 4&5 during a myleogram and that is not a good thing. So on July 24th I will be having the surgery. Basically all the junk will be taken out of L 4&5 (not the nerves of course), rods and screws will be put into place and a bone graph will be done. I think the doctor is going to insert a electric stimulator to help the bone graph heal quicker. I requested the electric stimulator because of the research and overall success rate is greater.

The cervical area actully looked okay but will need to be done at a later date. Not sure how it got as good as it is now compared to the last time I posted but hey it's a good thing.

Not looking forward to the restrictions but hopefully it will all be worth it.