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Pain Treatment Needed for Spondylothesis
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Question:
I fell down some stair Feb.28,1997, and injuried my back. When I fell, I
landed on top of some bricks at the bottom of the stairs. I went to the ER
and was refferred to the local Orthopedic Surgeon. He ordered the standard
x-rays and cat scan of my back, and said I had a herniated disc at L-5/S-1
and buldging discs at L-3/4 L-4/5 also.
With my congenital back disorder,
(spondylothesis, spondylosis and spondabifida occultta, all at the L-5/S-1
level), he said he could not help me, and sent me to the head neuro-surgeon
at the state medical center. This surgeon said I needed immediate surgury,
or I will not walk within 2 years.
At first, he said I needed 3 different
operations. The next time I've seen him, he said I would need a fourth
operation as well. The last time I've seen him, he said he was considering a
new experimental surgery along with the other 4 to follow. This totally
turned me off to surgery (along with the fact I met a nice fellow, who has
since become a friend, who has now had 8 surgeries on his back, and has no
relief from pain).
The orthopedic doctor sent me for all types of PT, and no
relief has ever come. I was employed as a CAT SCAN Tech before my fall, and
had to give up job because of the injury. I've been on welfare because I've
been unable to work. Now, they are saying they are ending the welfare,
because I refuse surgery. All this living in pain, getting worse everyday,
not being able to walk 50 feet anymore, or play with my kids, along with the
damn welfare department playing games with me is really starting to affect
my mental status.
I've considered ending my pain permantly, but couldn't
bring myself to do it because of my love for my wife and kids. But I cannot
keep living in the pain. Has anyone come across any kind of pain relief that
works, but leaves you "level headed"? I am really at the end of my rope, and
have no where else to turn to for help.
Answer:
In reply to your question requesting relief from chronic pain I have a number of
suggestions. First, have you had any treatment at a pain management center that
uses meds & other forms of treatment?
Second, have you worked with alternative
medicine therapies. I recommend you check out these two books, one with a web
site for great info on managing pain. Managing Pain Before it Manages You & Back
Pain Relief: The Ultimate Guide- www.backpainalternatives.com.
In the end run your relief will be found working with pain management
specialists and also working with a pain management plan that emphasizes
distraction, full activities, exercise and other physical and mental forms of
pain relief, together with appropriate medicines.
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