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  • 2 Surgeries and still problem walking

    I had 2 surgeries the last from L4 to L7 no rods or screws just fusion. My problem is not curvature but calicum build up in the spinal column. Since the surgery I still have back pain when walking and get short of breath. I have ruled out other things that could cause the same problem. I don't like taking pain pills but getting to my wits end because the condition is getting worse as I get older. Has anyone had any good result with Acpuncture? Or has anyone had the same problem and found a solution. They tell me to excerise but after a few minutes I am puffing like a steam engine so I have to stop.

  • #2
    Jkoehler,

    I'm so sorry that after 2 big surgeries, you're still having so many problems. I also hate taking pain pills but did fold to using high-dose codeine + ibuprofen in increasingly frequent doses in the years before this fusion surgery just gone (#3). I hated the druggy sensation - fuzzy head, poor memory, plummeting planning skills, etc. - but most of all, hated that I was so dependent on a pill to be able to get any semblance of a life back....but I had to use them. As my surgeon & GP both told me, being in major pain is a significant stressor on the body, and mind. I couldn't do much of anything. When it came down to it, I wasn't doing my body any favours by refusing meds. If you need to, I really hope your doc will be able to find one to suit you, even if just to take the edge off. That said...

    I was really taken aback in my recent 10wk check-up with my surgeon. I was talking to him about horrid neck problems that were causing "cervicogenic headaches with migraine features" (caused by nerve interactions activated by my extremely tight neck muscles). Was saying that my magnificent physiotherapist had used moderate pressure on very specific areas in my upper neck (where the cervical & trigeminal nerves run close together) - pressure caused agony maybe a minute long, then eased the headache SO much. And it's a method I've been able to use successfully at home, whenever needed. Anyhow, my surgeon was really happy about that, but also did mention acupuncture! This surprised the pants off me (well, almost ), because just a few years ago, it was considered quackery here. Yet, here was one of the most prominent spinal surgeons in Australia, telling me I should try it if I needed to! And I've since found out that a GP (general practitioner - family physician in the US??) who I know to be excellent is offering acupuncture.

    I've no idea of the extent of any clinical trials trials or their findings on acupuncture for spinal pain - but I do hold in very high regard the opinions of these two guys. My surgeon said that quite a lot of his patients had found relief with it. Sooo...after all that rambling (sorry! ), I guess really what I mean is if you want to try it, find someone who's experienced, preferably recommended by someone you know - and try it! Either way, it's not something that will harm you. At best it brings you relief (HURRAH!!), at worst it doesn't help you.

    Re. exercising - sure, it is great...but you can only do what you can do, and pushing yourself beyond your limits will bring harm, not improvement. If you can only exercise for a couple of minutes at a time - just do that, but do it a couple/few times a day. If there's one particular type of exercise that you find more comfortable, mostly stick with that. Work around your limits, & work to your strengths

    I'm sorry I can't be of more use...except to say, I'm thinking of you, & hoping you find some relief very soon.

    Take care, & please keep us posted.

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    • #3
      Thank You for your reply! I have an Acpuncture office right around the corner. My wife is Chinese and one of my Sister-In-Laws swear by Acpuncture who is a Doctor, but I wanted an independent view. To have my Sister-In-Law work on me I have to go back to China, otherwise I might have tried by now.

      My Best to you and I wish good health for 2009!
      Jkoehler

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      • #4
        I'd be curious to hear how it works out, if you do give it a go. Hope you'll come back & let us know!

        Take care. And best wishes for health & happiness in 2009 & beyond

        Comment


        • #5
          Calcium build-up in spinal column

          had 2 surgeries the last from L4 to L7 no rods or screws just fusion. My problem is not curvature but calcium build up in the spinal column. Since the surgery I still have back pain when walking and get short of breath. I have ruled out other things that could cause the same problem. I don't like taking pain pills but getting to my wits end because the condition is getting worse as I get older. Has anyone had any good result with Acupuncture? Or has anyone had the same problem and found a solution. They tell me to exercise but after a few minutes I am puffing like a steam engine so I have to stop.
          by jkoehler

          Calcium build-up in the spine???? Who told you that? That's what a spinal fusion looks like on x-ray. Have you recently consulted a scoliosis specialist--not just an ortho? Your symptoms are what I had 40+ years after my 2 surgeries at age 14. I would get some second or 3rd opinions from scoliosis experts--especially if you get out of breath--like I did.
          Original scoliosis surgery 1956 T-4 to L-2 ~100 degree thoracic (triple)curves at age 14. NO hardware-lost correction.
          Anterior/posterior revision T-4 to Sacrum in 2002, age 60, by Dr. Boachie-Adjei @Hospital for Special Surgery, NY = 50% correction

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          • #6
            Calicum build up

            Thanks for your info.... the device that told me that there was calicum depoists around the spinal cord was my MRI's. also my Neurosurgent who had to use a hammer and chisel to remove the deposit that were so thick on the second operation. The Neurosurgent, I had is one of the best in Florida and came highly recommended.

            I wish your a healthy 2009 and beyond!

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            • #7
              Hi,
              I have tried acupuncture, but I kept getting dizzy with it so I stopped. I have had to take tablets now to function but to limit the tablets I have to take, I am also using a tens machine, which is great while it is on but the pain does come back when you turn it off.
              Claire

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              • #8
                Hi Cherrybird,

                I going to have my 4th Acupuncture treatment this week. I have added massage theropy after the Acupuncture treatment. I was getting some dizzy spells and in my case the Acupuncture resolved the problem. The massage theropy is losing up my back but I still get the pain. Doctor has found that I have a mild case of COPD which can explain the shortness of breath. He said need to have heart functions tested doesn't like my last EKG. So it comes down to a number of things that can be causing my problems will have till wait till all my test results come in. Hang in there one of these days they may come up with a cure for our problems!!!

                Comment


                • #9
                  I have to agree with Karen. You need to see a scoliosis specialist and not just a doctor who works on those areas. What you are describing sounds like a description of a fusion. I just underwent an extensive fusion and part of the operation was taking the hardware out of the existing fusion at l2-l5. The description of which sounds very much like your neurosurgeon's description of your "calcium" deposits. It really sounds a bit fishy and just for the sake of making sure, please find a scoliosis specialist to look at your spine. A neurosurgeon doesn't usually do those kind of surgeries and just as you wouldn't want your gp to do brain surgery you really don't want a neuro working on your scoliosis.
                  avis
                  Last edited by theizzard; 04-01-2009, 02:42 PM. Reason: i can't spell as i age
                  1987 Lumbar Laminectomy (forget which levels)
                  2005 A/P fusion, L2 - L5, 2/2005
                  2009 2 Posterior fusions, T6 - Pelvis, 2/10 & 2/18,
                  Dr. Frank Rand, NEBH

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Hi...

                    I'm thinking that jkoehler may have spinal stenosis. If that's the case, it can be pretty tricky to get the issue resolved.

                    And, for what it's worth, I've tried acupuncture treatments with several different practitioners. With the last one, I got fairly good relief, but it was very short-lived.

                    Regards,
                    Linda
                    Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                    Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

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