Posted by Christopher Farley on April 8, 2004, at 11:54:20
In reply to Re: Chronic Pain, posted by snapper on April 7, 2004, at 22:37:47
Thanks for the reply. Yes, they have and I know exactly what the root cause is. I had a Lower Lumber Lamenectocmy (sp?) with a 4 inch incision and a 4 day hospital stay. All was well until two weeks later. Unknown to me, I had caught an infection at the spinal cord and my spinal cord started to leak like a sieve. I was in hospital for 5 weeks on 6 major doses of intaveneous antiboitics to prevent Spinal Menegitis. Those two problems led to 3 more major surgeries at the same spot, the final surgery was to close the wound which had been enlarged to an 8 inch diamond which was left open for about 9 days. Closing the wound involved reconnecting the muscle tissue layers they had to cut through to get at the other two prolems. Both my neurosurgeon and the surgeon who closed the wound were two of the most prominent physcians in the US and these problem were no fault of theirs. They did the best they could.
The problem now is that I have scar tissue pressing directly on the L5 Nerve Root which is why I have the pain I have. I got a second opinion from again one of the most prominent physcians in the US (The Head of Surgery for Brain and Spinal Surgery for babies at NYU Medical Center) and they all told me the same thing. The prognosis is that they do not cut out scar tissue as it will just return and that maybe over time the scar tissue will decrease in size of break up a little.
So I am left with the pain in a country that is terrified of prescribing narcotics because of the litigous society we live in.
I have seen 3 different Pain Specialists and the want to implant a device that send eletrical impulses to the Nerve Root. I am not going that route because there can be complications and I will go through no more complications. I have had enough. So I am now looking at alternatives to get the medication I need.
> Hi Chris, has any doctor ever given you a reason for the chronic pain? The root cause? Have you ever considered the possibility of impinged nerves? just guessing. Certainly AD's can have pain reducing properties., but probably not to the degree you are looking for!Cheers,
Christopher
> let us know
> snapper
poster:Christopher Farley
thread:333790
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040407/msgs/334104.html