side effects a year and a half later!!!!!

My back has been hurting me terribly ever since six months after surgery. So much so that I had to leave my teaching job. Now, after tons of medicines, massage, acupuncture, aqua therapy, MRI's, CATS, pain patches and injections, we FINALLY have an answer. My Orthopedic Neurosurgeon said that a seated MRI shows two herniated discs and a tear in my spine. I got these when I slipped and fell back in 2002. But they didn't start to really bother me until after the weight loss surgery. He says that because of the dramatic weight loss, I now carry my body differently and that is why it is hurting. The cure? None. The Treatment? An epidural injection into my spine while anesthized in the hospital. YUK! It may not work and if it does it is not permanent. Anyone else out there had this epidural to the spine? Or back problems? I HATE needles!!!!!

Oh No, I'm so sorry to hear this. I've never had to have anything like that done, but I wish you the best of luck and hope that this is not permanent. You're in my thoughts! Tracy B 328/152 5'9

sorry your back is hurting you. I have back problems too. I have spondylosis. It basically is from a car accident when i was in high school. I hit a bridge head on. It fractured my vertabre. I now have chronic back pain. The more weight i lost, the more aggrivated my back got. I have had physical therapy off and on for years. I also have had trigger point injections in the office. These go into the painful trigger spots in my lowerf back. I found great releif, although temporary with these. I only had an epidural when i delivered my daughter. Not sure at all if its the same thing. I can only get permanent relief if i have a spinal fusion surgery. Doctors dont recommend this as only a very last resort. So i live with chronic back pain. The more i walk, the more pain i am in. I can so relate to you. Hugs to you, and let me know how your doing.

Hi Lou Ann! I am so sorry to hear that you are having such a difficult time with your back problem. I can completely understand what you are going through because I went through the same thing right after I had my daughter. She was born in October, 1978 and three months later I found myself almost unable to move and in excrutiating pain!!! From that point on it was completely downhill........ I tried everything from chiropractor, massage, reflexology, muscle relaxers and nothing worked. Also, as time went along my bouts with the back pain were getting more frequent and lasting for longer periods of time. I was surprised that I was able to have my son who was born in October, 1981. My obgyn told me that our bodies somehow protect us during a pregnancy and I was able to carry him for 9 months. Right after I gave birth about a month later, my back problems started again. I was originally diagnosed with 2 herniated discs (L4 and L5) in my lower back. I was too afraid to consider surgery and so I suffered for 7 years with the pain. One day I noticed that I was experiencing numbness in my right leg and I knew that I had to do something about this. Sorry for being so long winded. Regarding your question about the epidural into the spine. I did have those shots done by my neurosurgeon 3 times. Although, he actually just gave them to me in his office. I was actually standing bent over next to the examining table. It was pretty scary the first time. He had to move the needle around until he found the right space in between the herniated discs. The medication would take a day or two to start working. Each time that I received the shot the relief would be for a shorter period. Finally, he decided to take an MRI with me standing and injected a dye at the same time. As soon as he did this, he immediately told me that the two discs had actually ruptured, and I was scheduled for emergency surgery two days later. He told me that the two discs were actually wrapped around my sciatic nerve which is what was causing the numbness in my right leg. By the way I had my back surgery in December, 1985. I thanked God that I found a good neurosurgeon. My surgery was a complete success and I became a new person. I still have some numbness and tingling in my right leg from the nerve damage, but the horrible back pain is gone. Be sure that you find the best neurosurgeon to take care of you. Don't take any chances. I wish you all the best and take care. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me. Aloha, Pat

Oh, Pat,... Reading about your troubles made me so sad for you, but did give a lift (misery loves company). I am glad someone else understands. My Mom just tells me to "Exercise more and eat better." HUH?????? My husband is very supportive, but my "former"employers were less than nice. I missed a lot of work, and my principal was NOT pleased. I don't know when I can work full time again or even if I can. I can't sit, or stand for more than 15 minutes without pain. I can't teach lying down, so that is a problem. My injury is L4 and L5, also. I slipped on the ice in my driveway when we were living in Bloomington, IN. At the time, I also severely sprained my foot, so I didn't worry about the back pain as much (figured it would go away.) I should have had an Xray at the time but I didn't. On the lighter side, I went clothes shopping yesterday and found that I had lost weight again and didn't know it. I went from a size 3(at Chico's that is a size 16) down to a size ZERO!!!!!!! Wooo Hoooo!!!! I bought a pencil skirt (my first) and it looks great! Adios, Lou Ann

Lou Ann, I feel your pain as I herniated the L-5 disc about 5 years after a fall on some ice. Like you my diagnosis was very delayed and by then the scar tissue that had formed and eliminated me as a candidate for surgery. I went through months of physical therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic visits and accupuncture....some things helped temporarily, but nothing gave lasting relief. I had an epidural and steriod injection and luckily that reduced the swelling and nerve impingement and I've not had any major problems since. I do have to watch how much I lift and some times my back strains easily, but for the most part it's been okay. Being in chronic pain is horrible and people just don't realize how much it impacts your quality of life unless they've been there themselves. My husband herniated the L-4 and L-5 (falling at home like me so it couldn't be charged to workers compt) and he had to have 2 epidurals and really should have gone back for a third, but he's stubborn and didn't want to take anymore time off of work since he was out for over 3 months. His job is physical and he lifts a lot of freight so that doesn't help his long-term outcome...he still has back pain. Hope you find some relief soon. Congrats on getting into a smaller size!! Mary Ellen

Thanks for the support! I am taking it very easy this week and taking anti inflamatories. I feel a little better today, but I did spend most of the day lying down flat. Lou Ann

Hi Lou Ann! I'm glad to hear that you are taking it easy!!! I noticed that you mentioned that you are taking anti-inflamatories. Not to alarm you, but did you check first with your WLS surgeon? The reason I'm mentioning this is because I was taking Celebrex for a torn ligament in my right knee, and my WLS surgeon told me not to take any anti-inflamatory medications after my gastric bypass. You might want to check with your surgeon just to be sure. Take care and hope you feel better!! Have a restful holiday tomorrow!!! Hugs and aloha, Pat

Thanks for the info, Pat. I'll check and see. Lou Ann

Lou Ann, I can soooo relate! I am a true needle phobe and when I had to have spinal steroid injections for severe back pain (I have partially herniated the lowest 2 "L" disks - I can never remember the numbers) they had to give me Valium to semi-knock me out in order to do them! I had a series of 3 injections - the first injection helped some, the 2nd worked wonders and the 3rd helped a little more. I haven't had the injections re-done in several years, but know that I may need to sometime in the future. I may eventually need surgery, but for now, I get by with occassional Tylenol. I hoped the weight loss would "fix" the pain problem, but it has not. It isn't as bad as it used to be, but it is still there. Good luck! Vickie J.