Lumbar L4-S1 ProDisc - phylly

[phylly]

Hello,
I am a newbie to this forum and have read quite a few posts. I feel as though this is a supportive group with whom I would like to share with. I had back pain and horrible sciatica for over two years after a fall on icy stairs directly on my tailbone. I went to numerous doctors, had injections (15 different ones), mri's of every area, a bladder workup (nuerodynamic testing), nerve conduction testing, etc. I increased my narcotic medications while working as a school psychologist as I had to sit for long hours in meetings and write very long reports on students. The pain was finally so bad that I went out on sick leave. I finally retired in June as I saw no hope of ever working in that capacity again. I really liked my job other than the meetings/reports. The last step was a discogram which diagnosed both discs with large tears and leakage. I was unable to have a microdiscectomy. I went to 5 surgeons who had 5 different variations on a theme from a double fusions to fusion with ADR to single and double ADR. I decided on the prodisc at two levels. My insurance, two seaparate policies, denied my claims and my IMR was also denied. I had waited so long and had been in more pain than I could stand so my husband and I went ahead and paid cash for the surgery November 27th.

The first two weeks were fairly awful as most of you have experienced. Since then I notice slight improvements daily. If I do too much moving around one day the next day can be bad. I am concerned that the one area that shows no improvemnet is my sciatica. I worry that I might have permanent neve damge but maybe it is too soon to tell or it is from another area of my spine that was not addressed during the surgery? The doctor says that it still may take more time as it is only a little over 4 weeks. My other problem is pretty bad bladder leakage if I wait too long to go to the bathroom. Granted there is my age and I have had 3 children but my urologist reported left sided bladder nerve damage.

Have any of you had these symptoms clear up slowly? How long did it take? Should I still be hopeful that it can totally clear up? I want to feel as though I will be able to live a normal life with less pain. I really want to think that I can ski again. (maybe foolish?)I am trying to cut down on my narcotic meds but that is also difficult. I have a wonderful pain doctor who I believe can help me. I get discouraged with my slow progress and don't know how much to try to do?

I am really encouraged by some of the positive outcomes of the group. I hope this post was not too pitiful. I would appreciate any opinions/help. Thank you for any reponses.

Phylly

[Harrison]

Phyllis,

You’ve been through a lot mentally and physically! And yes, your hunch is right…it does take a long time to heal. Some take a few months to get back into light activities, but almost everyone has some pain to contend with in the first few months. But there is a very wide range of pain levels in the first year of recovery.

It sounds like the urological issues are the result of surgery – is that correct? Is this getting better since surgery?

Thanks for posting, we are here to help!

[Terry]

Phylly:

Your surgery is very recent and you will experience healing slowly. I had nerve pain and distraction pain for quite awhile after my ADR surgery and took up to 400 Mg of Lyrica daily. It definitely helped with the nerve pain. I have been off of it since June of this year and you need to gradually wean yourself off of it. It is also now recognized in the treatment of Fibromyalgia, neuropathy, diabetic shingles, etc. You may experience a little weight gain though this is a small consequence for some potential major relief.

Go with God and hang in there.

Terry Newton

[phylly]

Hi Harrison,
Regarding my bladder issues, I had them before surgery which led me to the urologist but I feel as though they have been worse since surgery along with the sciatica. I hope that it is the swelling from the surgery that is causing this. Walking also seems to increase the sciatica. Sometimes I feel it is the corsette poking me in the back. sometimes I have no clue what I did to myself. I appreciate you taking the time to write to me. I will wait a bit more before I panic.

Terry,
I already take nuerontin for neck issues and my PA just told me to increase it to 20000 miligrams. I am really dizzy today so I may try to back off to the 1600 I was taking. I find that it makes me brain dead. I tried Lyrica and it made me cry and feel sad so I stopped it. All these drugs have so many side effects and I feel like the walking pharmacy. I am hoping all my symptoms are just from the distraction issues and surgery. I would love to hear more about your Maverick discs. They sounded great but we were not able to go off to Germany. I can't beleive that you had your neck and back all done at the same time. what a trooper you must be. Keep in touch.
Phylly

[JudyW]

This first part of recovery is very scary because you wonder if you did the right thing. You then realize you did because the alternative just wasn't working. I am a very impatient person so the waiting is the hardest part(a little Tom Petty thrown in). I will be 5 months post op tomorrow and still have small issues to deal with.

My biggest mistake was thinking I was going to be completely better. I'm not sure where I even got that notion. No one told me that, except myself. I've had to come back to reality and know that ADR only made it so I will not be consumed by back pain, depression, and pain meds anymore. That is HUGE...and I'll take that over the alternative.

Everyone's experience is a little different so read the forums with caution. I used the information on here as a "kicking" off point for my own research. Never as an absolute Gospel. Do your own research and if you trust your doctor, rely on him/her for the main answers. Good luck. Hang in there

[phylly]

Judy,
Thanks for the words of encouragement. I guess I was thinking just like you and I may need some readjustment. What is a PARS deficit? Thanks for answering.
Phylly

[JudyW]

My understanding of the pars defect is that is the same as spondylosis. Mine is bi-lateral, which means I have bone fractures on both sides of the pars interarticularis (excuse spelling errors). When those bones in the spine fracture they can allow one disc to slip over the other. There are different levels of slippage. I had the fractures but very little, if any slippage. Fortunately a bone scan showed the fractures were old and they weren't mobile so Dr. Watkins could go ahead with my ADR on L4-5 the level above the pars defect at L5-S1. Sorry, long explaination. Again, I'm no doctor but this is my crude understanding of the issue

[phylly]

Judy,
Good for your Dr. that he was able to find this and test the strength of your back. I agree with you, I use this forum as a place to understand what issues there are with back surgery. I may never be pain free although if I can get rid of substantial pain I will be happy. I already feel less sad and more hopeful. I just have to realize it all takes time and there is no magical end. The forum has helped so much with support. that has been huge to know others out there have similar issues and I am not alone.
Phylly

[phylly]

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL and wishes for a great/better year. I just wanted to ask if some of you actually feel better without wearing your braces/corsettes? Sometimes I don't even want to put mine on but I know I should for the support. I will follow instructions but it seems to poke me in my muscles and that gets my sciatica going even more. I will get s fitting appointment. Perhaps my stomach is smaller and I need a smaller size. I feel like I had a reverse Tummy Tuck. My stomach after 3 children was already large and now-oh my-lots bigger. Oh well, I guess this is the least of my problems. Again, Happy New year to all,
Phylly

[Harrison]

Phylly,

If you can, do a search on "braces" and you will find many, many past topics that you may find interesting. Have you used the "find" tab yet? You can search through single or multiple forums...