walking with a stick

Published on October 23, 2004 By dharmagrl In Misc

I had to see the neurologist yesterday about my back.

He's referring me to the neurosurgery department at Barnes Jewish hospital in St Louis..thinks that the time has come or is coming for me to get operated on. I have a herniated disk at L2 and osteoarthritis in L1 and L2. Rather than do a diskectomy, he thinks I should have a spinal fusion done instead....have the disk taken out, then use either cadaveric bone or some taken from my pelvis to fuse L1 and L2 together. This is just the neurologist's opinion though, the surgeon might say something totally different.

In the meantime, he suggested that I consider using a cane to walk with on days that my back really bothers me, or if I know I'm going to be walking for a while (like when I'm shopping etc).

Surprisingly, I'm for it. I thought about it, and realized that I'll probably be able to go for longer and be in less pain afterwards if I have a little assistance. There was a time when I would have rejected the notion straight away, I wouldn't even have entertained the possibility. Now, however...if walking with a cane means that i can walk around the park with my family and not be up all night in pain afterwards, then I'm all about that.

Besides, it'll be useful in getting the sympathy vote. People will be more likely to give up their seat for me on a crowded Metro-Link tram if I'm using a cane...LOL

Comments (Page 2)

MasonM

on Oct 24, 2004

There's always going to be some nerve problems though, but it gets better than before the surgery and it certainly doesn't get any worse.

Boy do I wish that were true. In my case at least, the nerve pain was and still is far worse than it was prior to the surgery. Leg works better, as the doc promised, but the pain is far worse even today. The doc warned me that could be the case.

I'm not writing this to cause you worry Dharma, in most cases the pain is helped a lot by the surgery. Just want you to have an honest picture of the possibilities. It's something to ask your doc about.

To paint a full picture, I will have to say that I put my surgery off for over 9 years before the loss of movement in my right leg forced me to have it, so the continued pain caused by permanent nerve damage is my own fault for waiting so long. Good luck with yours, best to tackle it now than to wait.

dharmagrl

on Oct 24, 2004

Mason:

I'm aware of the possibility of failure. I know that there's no guarantee that it will resolve all of my pain. But, if I don't do it now, i run the risk of causing myself permanent damage. I'd rather try and fix it now before it gets any worse than wait...and I'd rather do it when I'm young, healthy, and my husband is in the military and our healthcare covers 100% of the cost.

Of all the people I've spoken to who have had this problem and had it surgically fixed, 90% or better have reported a marked improvement in their level and frequency of pain. Those are some pretty good odds, as far as I'm concerned.

You still in Louisiana?

MasonM

on Oct 24, 2004

You're right about that. The sooner the better, and yes the odds are very good. Again, good luck.

Yep, still in Louisiana. Picking up a military truck at Ft Polk in the morning.

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