o/t back surgery pic

[Voxx66]

I've been talking about how bad my back surgery was and how for me it was worse than chemo. I don't want to scare anyone as mine was really bad. I found an MRI pic and thought I'd post it - pre surgery. It isn't pretty and you don't need to be a doctor to see I was screwed.

[Voxx66]

L5 there has slipped 9cm as the vertebrae was malformed. The disc between l5 and s1 has exploded and is pretty much gone. This is a slipped vertebrae or Spondylolisthesis. This is also why I am not so sympathetic to people with slipped discs ha. (What - your disc slipped? I wish I had a disc to slip. Why let me tell you about slippage...haha)

[weisssoccermom]

Hubby's lower back is all messed up. He knew it was a problem 7 years ago when he had his cervical fusion and was told to get it taken care of. As usual, he didn't and now he's paying the price. MRI showed back was all messed up and the discogram proved it. Hubby said the discogram was the worst test he's ever had.....pain 'redefined' what a 10 could really be!

Our neurosurgeon is awesome. Hopefully he'll come out of this as well as he did his cervical fusion. Time will tell.

[Voxx66]

My neurosurgeon was highly recommended and arrogant - but he screwed me up. I could have and should have sued but then along came cancer and I had other priorities. It doesn't help that this happened: http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/2013/10/20/3116039/

Yep - my surgeon did that. I guess things could have gone worse.

[Lee]

OUCH !!!!!

Are you saying your surgeon caused this problem?? Or did he try to fix it?? That looks painful.

Lee

[Voxx66]

That is the before pic. My surgeon used an experimental bone bag from a company he is a paid consultant for which burst and caused the instrumentation to twist and the vertebrae to slam back together. He only mentioned using it 20 minutes before the surgery.

[vilca11]

Horrible... This doc deserves severe punishment from Universe and he will get it at some point... I am so sorry, Voxx... Money rule in this world, and that is especially sad when it comes to medical profession and outside interest these people might have...

Hugs, Vilca

[alanams]

Good evening Voxx,

I'm sorry, and as well, horrified, about your back problem. I recall years ago instructing some of the employees about proper lifting techniques, in order to minimize stress on the L5/S1 region.

What is your secret for maintaining emotional balance and resiliancy?

I hope you feel better and heal real soon!

Best regards, and best to all, Alan

[weisssoccermom]

Well hubby told me I had my locations all mixed up. His are L4/L5 and S1. I guess I had the L's upside down!! Silly me. So, it will be what you had Voxx....although I'm not telling him about your experiences.

[Voxx66]

Mine was a congenital malformation so I suppose this was destined to happen sooner or later. Honestly I didn't keep my balance so well during the worst parts of the aftermath of that surgery. (thinking back it wasn't just the pain which would hit 10 on the scale but also the helplessness. I couldn't walk more than a few steps even with a cane or walker. Even sitting was a major problem. This phase lasted for almost 6 months) But it made dealing with cancer and chemo easier I think as I had experience with unpleasantness. Mostly I try to keep busy and keep interested in things. I think when you stop being interested is when the depression creeps in. At least it seems to work that way for me.

[Voxx66]

Yeah - don't scare your husband as if he needs the surgery he really has no choice. But you might want to prepare for it being harder than you may expect. I think with your experience with illness however you will prepare well. One big tip - get him a body pillow like women use for pregnancy. This makes sleep so much easier. He can thank me later ha.