New Member Introductions
Posted on: Tue, 12/02/2008 - 04:39
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New to forums, but not to pain!
I have known low back pain for 13 years now & I still haven't gotten used to it. I didn't even know what was causing it other than I fell & have had pain ever since. I go to the VA for treatment because it happened while in the military. They have done VERY little for me. I finally screamed loud enough to get a CT scan. New diagnosis & (third one) I think they finally got it right. Spinal stenosis at L-5 & S-1. I also have a cervical injury, but they can only deal with one problem at a time it seems. If I don't receive timely & appropriate treatment I will go to an Orthopedic on the outside with my husbands insursnce. The pain is unbearable & I can no longer walk very far & use a scooter thatwas my Dads because the VA doctor gave me a walker & I feel I need more for the long walks we take. I literaly can not make it back to my car if I am at the mall. I use their scooters, but sometimes they don't have one & the wheel chairs don't have wheels you can push yourself. Some one else has to push you. No thanks I don't want to be under the control of some one else. I hope to learn coping skills & get much needed advice & support from this forum. Thank you for making this available to those like me.
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Double laminectomy L4-L5, bulging discs, DDD, Bone spurs, nerve damage in left leg and hip, DJD, and that to familiar visitor,arthritis
Thank you for responding to me. My family does't really understand my pain, except my Mom, she went through 2 neck surgeries. Along with my lumbar pain my neck has been causing numbness in my face and hands. I went to my doctor and thought once again nothing would be done. But he surprised me with ordering an MRI. It is scheduled for Dec. 22. will post about my results. Again thank you so much for your concern.
It breaks my heart to know that our Military does not have the quality healthcare that those serving or who have served our country so deserve. I'm glad you have private insurance and can take advantage of it if you need to. We're here to help in any way we can. Welcome!
ACDF 5/6 Oct. 7th. .After a semi slammed me into a rock wall. I thank God for every day I am able to post here.
"But we have this faith- that a lifetime's bliss will appear any minute, with a smile upon its lips."
I too am sorry that the military medical is not any better than it is. If you are able to use private insurance you really may want to consider doing it. I am from a military town on the east coast with a navy and va hospital and both have terrible reputations. I understand completely about learning to accept our limitations. Much of the time that I go to a grocery store I must use the electric carts. It was hard at first bit now I realize that I must take advantage of things that are out there to help me. Either that or stay home 24/7. Do you have a lift on your car for that electric scooter? If not it may be worth looking into. Good luck and please keep us posted.
I am in no way associated with the medical field. Anything that I post comes from personal experience only.
DDD, Facet Arthropathy, DJD, Sleep Apnea
PT, Epidurals, Facet Blocks,Medial Branch Block, Rhizotomy,Discogram,Annular Tare L3/L4 Endoscopic Microdiscectomy,Laser Surgery
Methadone, Percocet, Soma, Welbutrin
I feel so isolated. I live 50 miles from the nearest large city & I don't have friends out side of my family circle. My husband is great but works swing shift, so I am alone a great majority of the time. Traveling hurts and exhausts me, so I decided to try this forum. I too use the scooters at the stores and I wish I had a lift for my chair but I think they might be a bit more spendy than I can afford. My hubby is in the process of designing a ramp for our mimi van. I have made a decision about my VA probs, I'm going to use our insurance to see a specialist and add the info to my VA med records so I can file a disability claim. I will also go to the patient advocate at the clinic and point out the probs with Veterans getting adequate care for service connected injuries. I am going to do everything I can to help other Veterans while helping myself, enough is enough. I have new symptoms, my left arm was totally numb & unusable one morn. Numbness in legs, face, arms & hands everyday, I have started having tremors in my hands & head along with cognitive probs. Putting words in a sentence that make no sense, forgetting the names of items I use all the time, it's so frustrating. I am fed up and fired up. X(
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Sorry to hear about your pain too. I'm even more sorry the military wouldn't or won't help. Regular Dr.s out here are sometimes just as bad. I spent 20 years just waiting for a Dr. to listen to me about my thyroid. Finally found someone 2 years ago and really helped me. I think the Doctors just think they know it all and if you actually act like your informed they resent it. I too had that unbearable pain and couldn't walk, That darn sciatica nerve is the worst. I recieved my first epidural injection today. Hoping for the best. From what you have its sounds like you will probably need surgery. I hope they help you fast. Good luck.
So far only epidural injection ( 1 ). also trying spinal decompression (traction) , I've had 5 treatments so far. The 1st Epi didn't do much. I've had some relief with the decompression. Had second epidural on Dec 17th. this one did alot more then the first. I was actually able to do some Christmas shopping. I also went and saw a neurosurgeon who suggested I not baby myself after the shots. I was doing alot of sitting around because it didn't hurt. but I think that was prolonging the pain. I started to walk more and I really started feeling better. I have one more shot on January 7,2009. I am hoping all leg pain will be gone and I will start PT. This has been a long process since pain started in Sept 2007. Unfortunately I know others have had it much worse. My heart goes out to all of you.