UPDATE ON MY BACK PROBLEMS

Well as I told you last week, I was scheduled to visit a Pain Management Dr in Indianapolis on Thursday. The results were much like the past two, very depressing. He also said there is not much that can be done due to the degenerative condition of my lower spine. The only thing that might possibly help is the implant of a stimulator. The stimulator works like a pacemaker. They do a trial run with the generator on the outside of the body to make sure it will give relieve before they put it into the body. What is involved is running a wire to the top of the spine and then inserting the wire into the spinal chord. He has had good results for leg pain but only about a 20% results with back pain. The other big issue is that the cost is around $50,000.00. He gave me a DVD to look at and to let him know. The bottom line is that he wants me return to my regular Pain Mgt Dr and get on a drug program. He feels the pain meds I have taking is very low key and needs to be stepped up. I am not sure I can deal with that because what I feel like now with the pain meds I am taking. I feel like a zombie and can not concentrate or do I feel like doing anything. Of course this is affecting my weight loss. I seem to have to put something in my mouth all the time and no exercise. I am going to go see my local Dr on Wed and see where we go from here with the meds or injections. I know lots of you have this type of pain. Of course we all know it came from carrying a lot of weight around for so many years. Like the Dr told me last week that the damage is already done even though the loss of 200 lbs certainly makes it easier now. So you younger folks who are thinking about WLS remember this. Bottom line is doing something before it to late. I will be 64 next month and although my medical health has changed like all of you who had surgery, the beating my spine took during all those fat boy years is not fixable. I really appreciate all of those who have written me regarding their own back issues and what is being done for them. I know CB has almost identical back problems as mine but fortunately he is young enough to get some benefits from the WLS. So I will turn it over to God and see what happens. I may just have to grin and bare it! Thanks for listening to me, thanks for your thoughts and prayers, and most of all Thank You for being my friends. Dan

There are tons of ways to fight the pain.. Injections, Medication.. you would be amazed to find out everything Ron is on and he still drives!! the Dr said he can!! The proper pain medication for the right pain is different then someone who doesnt hurt..and just taking it. Ron wasnt/ still isnt really, a zombie for the first 10 years of his medicated pain management. He is breaking down... his resistance is low but believe me he has been very active these last 10 years and rides a Harley!!! No his back can never be fixed but it is possible to learn to live with it with the proper medication.. Please dont just grin and bear it!! There is life out there.. and possibilities... sometimes God sends us to good drs. Love ya, Linda

Dan, I keep hoping u will get some good news. I will keep u in my prayers that u make the right decision for you. I totally understand what u were saying about getting this surgery as soon as u can before any more damage is done. I tell my patients that all the time. I cant tell u how many of my patients have problems with their wt and how many of them I give a printout of dr C's info. I must have sent her 11 patients so far that I know of.... I was wondering have u tried massage. I know it wont heal up any of the damage but it sure feels DARN good. Andy saids Hello too and he hopes u are feeling better soon as well. Pamela

Dan, I have been wondering how you were doing, I had not seen you post in a while. I am so sorry that the doctor didn't have better answers. I also have degenerative disc disease. I was functioning fairly well with my celebrex before surgery. With all my complications after surgery, I ended up on Coumadin. So I can not start my Celebrex again and I am miserable right now. I am a school teacher and am on my feet a lot. I am still on medical leave, but I go back to school Thurs. Feb 15. I have started taking quick release Tylenol to get a little relief, but it is nothing like my Celebrex. I am not sure how I will fare once I return to school. I understand pain. I am definitely paying for the years of abusing this body. I am down 49 pounds since my surgery so really pleased about that and I know that I will feel better as the pounds come off. You are in my prayers that they find something to make you more comfortable. Karen

i read about your back problems , and my husband had several spinal fusions but they all maid it worse. hes on oxyconten and oxycodiene ect..... you might see if they can try a morphane pump that they usasly give cancer patients ............they put you in the hosp one night and do like a epaerdural what it does .they make a pouch in the smotick to go around to the spinal cord then it tells the brain there is no pain........your pcp will inject morphane into your pouch they made every month or three months when you go to the hosp for the one night the sample epridule if it works that night on you then it will tell them if this will work on you. so then they will do the surgery to put it in. st francis pain center has this prodedure.....good luck its worth a try ..................oh yea you can not fly on air planes which this for the flying will make the pump relise too much morphen...................

Hi Dan, I have missed you on here and have kept you in my prayers. Thankfully you have 200# off your back- I too know what you mean- "if only I'd had it sooner" it might have saved our backs. As it is, we have to keep moving and do the best we can. Even a few steps at a time counts- so try to keep moving! I know what you are going thru and hope you can find some relief. I've tired alot of things to relieve mine, and find that what works one time might not work in 6 months. No moriphine for me- !! I am on Celebrex and a tylanol 2 x a day. That is all I can take. I've done alot of pain management as well. Massage helps if you find someone who knows how to do a spinal patient. Keep us posted and your spirits up - we are here for you! (((hugs))) to you and Ann, Ellen