OMG – My Back!

True story.

One night I remember shooting pool and a faint pain began to develop in my lower back. I noticed that with each shot I took the pain increased. I took a time out, I was in league play, and informed my teammates of what was happening. Their solution to the problem was tequila shots, after all Tequila cures everything (eye roll). I wanted to win my match not become intoxicated and miss the cue ball and the object ball! I managed to make my way through the next two matches and won the points for my team.

After shaking hands with my opponent I proceeded to tell my teammates I would be leaving because I was having terrible pain in my back. After the 25 minute ride home I had difficulty getting out of my car. I drive a sports car that sits low to the ground, once I parked the car, I had no strength in my left leg to get out of the car, and relentless pain in my back. This was the beginning of what I recently found out would be a life-time struggle. Something I will have to “live with” for the remainder of my life. On that night in August of 2017, my life changed forever.

My threshold for pain is very high. I was told by my doctors the level of pain I am capable of tolerating without medication is beyond what the average person would be able to handle. With that being said, my back pain and associated leg pain was very difficult to treat. My first appointment for treatment was a visit to a spine and pain specialist. Based on my MRI results, I had two bulging discs, one of them leaking fluid and inflammation in my lower back at L4, L5, & S1. I was immediately scheduled for a set of three spinal injections consisting of two shots each visit, administered via X-ray, by an anesthesiologist over the following six weeks.

With all of my injections completed, my pain had not resolved and began to get worse. The next stop on my treatment plan was a chiropractor. My chiropractor was awesome! He made a few adjustments, massage therapy, and other techniques and I thought he had performed a miracle. The miracle only lasted about 30 minutes each time. Trust me when I say that a mere 30 minutes of having no pain was worth the visit each time, it was worth it. However, the treatment process lasted longer than my relief.

Eventually, I decided to visit with an Orthopedic surgeon. He viewed my MRI results and recommended a laminectomy. Two laminectomies later, about six months apart I was in the worst pain I had ever been in. I went back to the surgeon and he order a spinal block via X-ray. The pain that came with that injection was horrific! I vowed it would NEVER happen again, and besides it did not work.

Five months later my pain was at its worst. I spent countless hours in tears and I was taking high doses of Gabapentin (nerve medication), Vicodin (pain medication), and a combination of Cyclobenzaprine and Methocarbamol (muscle relaxers). I went back to my surgeon to discuss the next step, spinal fusion. My doctor told me to go home and think about the spinal fusion surgery and I politely told hie there was nothing to think about. Let’s do the surgery.

In early fall of last year, I had spinal fusion surgery on my L5-S1. My disc was removed , an artificial disc placed, along with a rod, and brackets to hold everything in place. Here I am 8 months later and still in pain. I recently visited my surgeon this week who was so caught up with other patients so my appointment was scheduled with his surgical assistant. After explaining to her I was randomly falling because of the pain in my back and leg were oftentimes unbearable, she stepped out of the room to consult with my surgeon to discuss if a CT-Scan or MRI would be best to determine if the nerves in my back were once again the cause of my pain.

When she came back into my room she informed me my surgeon suggested an MRI. The surgical assistant also told me I needed to suck it up because I was going to have to learn to live in pain for the remainder of my life. Bitch…! The surgical assistants bedside manner almost got her kicked in her face. As far as my surgeon he chose to not acknowledge me and he was standing less than 10 feet away. At this point in my life I have an extremely low tolerance for bullshit and made the decision to walk out of the doctors office before I was arrested. My mother was with me at my visit, as she has attended my appointments faithfully, and felt the exact same way. I wanted to toss that entire medical practice. I was enraged!

I am seeking a second opinion and I am currently searching for an orthopedic surgeon to lay a fresh set of eyes on my case. It is important to take charge of your own healthcare. Get second and third opinions if you must. I live in pain everyday from many different ailments. My back slows me down and keeps me from doing many of the things I love about and in life. I am working to learn how to live with pain and not live in pain. I will continue to find ways to deal with my pain through exercise, meditation, psychology, etc…

Whatever it takes.