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JERSEYOT UPDATE: I broke my back - in hospital

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  • #61
    I'm sorry you are in so much pain, but it is encouraging that the Dr.feels the fracture will heal without surgery. That has to make you feel so much better.
    Karen

    Surgery-Jan. 5, 2011-Dr. Lenke
    Fusion T-4-sacrum-2 cages/5 osteotomies
    70 degree thoracolumbar corrected to 25
    Rib Hump-GONE!
    Age-60 at the time of surgery
    Now 66
    Avid Golfer & Tap Dancer
    Retired Kdgn. Teacher

    See photobucket link for:
    Video of my 1st Day of Golf Post-Op-3/02/12-Bradenton, FL
    Before and After Picture of back 1/7/11
    tap dancing picture at 10 mos. post op 11/11/11-I'm the one on the right.
    http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k630/pottoff2/

    Comment


    • #62
      That's very encouraging news. I know that throughout the hardest part of my recovery, I always felt that it seemed a bit less painful when I knew that everything was in place and okay. At least the fear factor was eliminated! Be sure that you're taking enough pain meds to function properly -- that's important for your emotional outlook too.
      Chris
      A/P fusion on June 19, 2007 at age 52; T10-L5
      Pre-op thoracolumbar curve: 70 degrees
      Post-op curve: 12 degrees
      Dr. Boachie-adjei, HSS, New York

      Comment


      • #63
        That's part of the problem too - at this point, I thought I'd have ALOT less pain and be taking ALOT less pain meds. I think my body is just used to the meds and so they're not working like they used to. And my Physiatrist from the rehab hospital just decreased my one pain that I take every 12 hours in 1/2. It's terrible - I can barely move in the morning - it takes me HOURS to get going and I don't have hours to spare....the kids have their daycare and soon camps to be taken to and from - and at that time, I can hardly move from the pain. I don't know how I'll do it when my parents leave in 2 weeks. I'm so scared. I rely on my Mom for everything from taxi driver for the kids, meals making, caretaking of the kids, food shopping etc. it will be quite an adjustment when they leave...and that scares me....
        Last edited by jerseyot; 05-19-2012, 04:56 PM.
        1993/1995: PSF w/ Harrington rods T3-L4
        Jan. 24, 2012: ALIF of L4-L5, L5-S1 w/ cage spacer and BMP
        Jan. 31, 2012: PLIF of L1-S1 w/ pelvic anchors
        Scheduled Nov.15, 2012: Fusion T2-S1 w/ pelvic anchors to fix T12 fracture
        http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ot/myback2.jpg - BEFORE
        http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT2342x406.jpg - AFTER
        http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT1410x229.jpg - AFTER
        www.jerseyot.blogspot.com

        Comment


        • #64
          Originally posted by jerseyot View Post
          That's part of the problem too - at this point, I thought I'd have ALOT less pain and be taking ALOT less pain meds. I think my body is just used to the meds and so they're not working like they used to. ....
          What about friends ? Do you belong to a church or temple?

          The comment that you made about the meds not working is my problem as well. That is why I cannot get any relief from pain from narcotics

          Hope you start feeling better soon
          Melissa

          Fused from C2 - sacrum 7/2011

          April 21, 2020- another broken rod surgery

          Comment


          • #65
            Yeah my church and friends have been amazing but this has been going on since January and I sorta feel like ive over done asking for or accepting anymore favors or dinners etc. - my MOPS group arranged meals for me and my family 3x/wk for 5-6 weeks when I came initially in February. When I broke my back and ended up spending 5 wks in hospital and then rehab, the help was a lot less and the offers to help sorta dwindled - and people moved on as they should - and meanwhile I'm still struggling with the basics like self care - child care - and then I'll have to do pretty much everything on my own --- laundry food,shopping etc - it's just very dissappointing to still be in so much pain - I wish it would just ease up more than it has. I'm starting to feel like the meds aren't working as well anymore so now what?!?! Isn't the goal to wean yourself down off the meds - and here I am complaining that the meds I'm on aren't working anymore....just feeling very down right now...
            1993/1995: PSF w/ Harrington rods T3-L4
            Jan. 24, 2012: ALIF of L4-L5, L5-S1 w/ cage spacer and BMP
            Jan. 31, 2012: PLIF of L1-S1 w/ pelvic anchors
            Scheduled Nov.15, 2012: Fusion T2-S1 w/ pelvic anchors to fix T12 fracture
            http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ot/myback2.jpg - BEFORE
            http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT2342x406.jpg - AFTER
            http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT1410x229.jpg - AFTER
            www.jerseyot.blogspot.com

            Comment


            • #66
              do you qualify for any kind of home health aide assistance thru
              whatever insurance you have....???

              jess

              Comment


              • #67
                Does your surgeon know you are in so much pain? Why did the Physiatrist cut down your meds? Your pain needs to be under control so that you can function. Is there a pain clinic nearby where you could go. Some people just need to be on pain meds longer than others.
                I hope you can get a solution very soon.
                Thinking of you, Sally
                Diagnosed with severe lumbar scoliosis at age 65.
                Posterior Fusion L2-S1 on 12/4/2007. age 67
                Anterior Fusion L3-L4,L4-L5,L5-S1 on 12/19/2007
                Additional bone removed to decompress right side of L3-L4 & L4-L5 on 4/19/2010
                New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
                Dr. Frank F. Rands735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/butterflyfive/

                "In God We Trust" Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.

                Comment


                • #68
                  Jess: yes I do qualify for A home health aide but they'd only help with bathing and dressing which I'm able to do. They don't help with household things like cleaning up or light housekeeping unfortunately.

                  Sally: I was referred to a Physiatrist closer to home so I need to make an appt and discuss these issues with him. I'm just very frustrated - I need to be up and ready and MOVING by 7am each morning so that I'll be able to feed my kids (3 and 5), get them dresed and take them where they need to go. Good thing is where they need to go isn't far but the pain I feel in the morning is just awful.
                  1993/1995: PSF w/ Harrington rods T3-L4
                  Jan. 24, 2012: ALIF of L4-L5, L5-S1 w/ cage spacer and BMP
                  Jan. 31, 2012: PLIF of L1-S1 w/ pelvic anchors
                  Scheduled Nov.15, 2012: Fusion T2-S1 w/ pelvic anchors to fix T12 fracture
                  http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ot/myback2.jpg - BEFORE
                  http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT2342x406.jpg - AFTER
                  http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT1410x229.jpg - AFTER
                  www.jerseyot.blogspot.com

                  Comment


                  • #69
                    i am so sorry that you are in so much pain...

                    i wish i knew what kind of aide my aunt had...
                    the person she had used to clean for her, do laundry, and grocery shop as well...
                    my aunt is gone now, so i cannot ask her...but i know the
                    person who came in a couple of times a month was a big help....

                    hope you can work out answers to this frustrating problem....
                    and that you feel better....

                    question....any chance of hiring a high school kid to help out this summer....?
                    maybe pay someone by the hour....???

                    jess
                    Last edited by jrnyc; 05-19-2012, 08:56 PM.

                    Comment


                    • #70
                      I would say that at this point, it's unrealistic to expect to be up and moving freely by 7 a.m. I wouldn't hesitate to ask friends to help...perhaps the offers to help are coming less because people assume you're okay by now. I found that most people were more than willing to help when I asked them for something specific at a specific time -- like a trip the food store or picking up my daughter. My husband helped a lot of course but he usually wasn't available during the day.

                      As far as pain relief goes...my physical therapist urged me to see a pain management specialist when I was about 3 months post-op and still in significant pain. My surgeon and my family physician were hesitant to prescribe any more meds, so I was referred to a guy who helped me find the right combination of drugs to decrease my pain to about a 4 or 5 out of 10 so I could function. He also assured me that I was not "addicted" just because I needed narcotics to function. He monitored me carefully and I weaned off everything at about 8 months post-op with his help, and although it wasn't fun, I managed fine.

                      My feeling is, that if you're taking the drugs at all, you should be taking enough to effectively manage pain. To me, physical dependency and withdrawal was a small price to pay for the ability to function as I healed.
                      Chris
                      A/P fusion on June 19, 2007 at age 52; T10-L5
                      Pre-op thoracolumbar curve: 70 degrees
                      Post-op curve: 12 degrees
                      Dr. Boachie-adjei, HSS, New York

                      Comment


                      • #71
                        Jess: great suggestions but money is already so tight with now Being in one income and my short term disability (which wasn't much) is long gone. I applied for Soc Sec Disability back in Geb Amd I'm still waiting to hear if my application was approved. I hear they deny EVERYONE here in Nj first time Round so im hoping I'm the exception - all they have to do is look at my diagnoses - so here's hoping. That pay would be retroactive all the way back to my first day I became "disabled" (1/6/12) so that would be a much needed big check. Right now we just don't have the extra income for payed help unfortunately. We're in the red each month digging into our savings as it is

                        Singer: I thinkid I'm not feeling considerably better by my next appt with my surgeon on June 11 then I will ask him to refer me to a PM dr. --- I hate being on these meds but I just don't have a choice. Food suggestion. Thank you, both of you!
                        1993/1995: PSF w/ Harrington rods T3-L4
                        Jan. 24, 2012: ALIF of L4-L5, L5-S1 w/ cage spacer and BMP
                        Jan. 31, 2012: PLIF of L1-S1 w/ pelvic anchors
                        Scheduled Nov.15, 2012: Fusion T2-S1 w/ pelvic anchors to fix T12 fracture
                        http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ot/myback2.jpg - BEFORE
                        http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT2342x406.jpg - AFTER
                        http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT1410x229.jpg - AFTER
                        www.jerseyot.blogspot.com

                        Comment


                        • #72
                          JerseyOT,
                          Unfortunately, I've heard the same thing about disability. My ex got on it for his back and was denied the first time and approved the second time. His only problem was DDD as far as I know and no one would do surgery for some reason. But you are in a very physically demanding line of work AND have very serious back problems that prevent you from doing that work safely for yourself and the patient. I will forewarn you that they may put you through the ringer to get disability. I have a cousin by marriage that is on SSD for scoliosis and the disability doctor pushed her farther when she bent over for him. It about knocked her down or did, I don't remember which she said. They did the same thing to my ex. I would get a letter from your surgeon or something so they don't do that to you. I'm not trying to scare you. I'm just forewarning you so that you are prepared if they ask you to try to touch your toes. I just cringe to think what would happen if they did that to you, too. I hope that you get yours the first time around without having to go through the rigamarole of seeing "their" doctors.

                          You are in my thoughts,
                          Rohrer01
                          Be happy!
                          We don't know what tomorrow brings,
                          but we are alive today!

                          Comment


                          • #73
                            Hello all, sorry for the hiatus in checking in. It has been VERY difficult. My parents - (God bless them a they've been here since Jan.21 - just 2 days before my first surgery) - but hurt..to the bones...every little thing is an effort and doing it on my own now (getting 3 & 5 yr old up dressed fed and out the door on certain days, making meals, driving in this damn clamshell - all of it is just exhausting, painful and more challenging than I can take right now. My husband is trying to come home earlier to help out but something inevitably holds him up and he doesnt get home til 6:30 - handling12 hr days on my own right now is almost too much but what choice do I have?!?!

                            On a happy note, if you feel like voting for a good cause (Childrens Eye Foundation), I entered a picture of my son when he was 5months old - so just look for the photo called "bright eyes"!) the link is below:

                            http://www.childrenseyefoundation.or...ion/photo-page

                            Hope all is well
                            1993/1995: PSF w/ Harrington rods T3-L4
                            Jan. 24, 2012: ALIF of L4-L5, L5-S1 w/ cage spacer and BMP
                            Jan. 31, 2012: PLIF of L1-S1 w/ pelvic anchors
                            Scheduled Nov.15, 2012: Fusion T2-S1 w/ pelvic anchors to fix T12 fracture
                            http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ot/myback2.jpg - BEFORE
                            http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT2342x406.jpg - AFTER
                            http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT1410x229.jpg - AFTER
                            www.jerseyot.blogspot.com

                            Comment


                            • #74
                              I'm responsing now to this post from Linda because I'm just seeing it now. You made it back in mid-April. I assure you there is NO mistake in my signature...that's EXACTLY what I had done whether it makes sense or not. I know what I signed and it was clearly stated so nope, no mistake.

                              "By the way, I think you have an error in your signature. It doesn't make sense that you had ALIFs at L4-5 and L5-S1 AND PLIFs at those levels as well. (They're both interbody fusions, and there's no reason to have 2 types of interbody fusion at the same level.) I suspect that you mean that you had PSF at L1-S1.
                              Regards,
                              Linda"
                              Last edited by jerseyot; 06-06-2012, 05:05 PM.
                              1993/1995: PSF w/ Harrington rods T3-L4
                              Jan. 24, 2012: ALIF of L4-L5, L5-S1 w/ cage spacer and BMP
                              Jan. 31, 2012: PLIF of L1-S1 w/ pelvic anchors
                              Scheduled Nov.15, 2012: Fusion T2-S1 w/ pelvic anchors to fix T12 fracture
                              http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ot/myback2.jpg - BEFORE
                              http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT2342x406.jpg - AFTER
                              http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT1410x229.jpg - AFTER
                              www.jerseyot.blogspot.com

                              Comment


                              • #75
                                [QUOTE=jerseyot;140057]Hello all, sorry for the hiatus in checking in. It has been VERY difficult. My parents - (God bless them a they've been here since Jan.21 - just 2 days before my first surgery) - but hurt..to the bones...every little thing is an effort and doing it on my own now (getting 3 & 5 yr old up dressed fed and out the door on certain days, making meals, driving in this damn clamshell - all of it is just exhausting, painful and more challenging than I can take right now. My husband is trying to come home earlier to help out but something inevitably holds him up and he doesnt get home til 6:30 - handling12 hr days on my own right now is almost too much but what choice do I have?!?!

                                I am so sorry that you are hurting so badly and being so tired. I will keep you in my prayers
                                Melissa

                                Fused from C2 - sacrum 7/2011

                                April 21, 2020- another broken rod surgery

                                Comment

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