New Member with Spinal Stenosis, DDD, PCOS and Sciatica seeks help

Hi, I'm new to this website and I didn't know where else to put this so I'm putting it here.

My name is Corynne, and I'm 21 years old. I weigh 365 pounds (guessing) and am 5'10". This is the heaviest I have ever been in my life. Why? Because I can barely move.

I have been heavy all my life. Depression from a broken family and rape didn't help the fact, and I have always been gaining weight. In January of this year, I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and was told this may be the cause of why I am so heavy.

When I was fourteen, I was diagnosed with Genetic Spinal Stenosis. It didn't dampen my life until May of 2008, when I decided to kick up my excercising by walking a mile every day. Sadly, three days into my excercising and I developed sciatica. The sciatica would come in episodes: bad ones that would land me in the ER after hours of pain. But they lasted a week or so, and were never keep me out of comission for very long.

Until July of 2009, I was active. I went to Curves three times a week, and was heavy, but was keeping my weight in check. What happened to make this all end? My sciatica kicked up again, and this time, it stayed.

I had to drop out of college (I was a senior) because I cannot sit up for long periods of time anymore. I can't sleep without being heavily medicated. I walk with a cane. I cannot stand up for more than three minutes and that's on a good day.

My life as been stolen from me. I now lay in bed on a heating pad most days. I cannot work (currently battling Social Security for SSI). I have medicaid, but that will not cover a bariatric surgeon (but I have found one for when I get medicare- if, I get medicare). But in the meantime I cannot excercise, and I'm sad so what do I do? I eat.

Lately, I have started to try and do things. I'm going to start an aquatic exercise program designed for people with arthritis and bad pain such as mine next week, and have decided to start reintroducing myself into sitting up by taking driver's education.

I'm sharing my story in hopes someone could relate and tell me what they did to get through this.

One things for sure: if I can ever walk normally again, I will never, ever take it for granted.

MediCARE, the Federal program, DOES cover WLS. MediCAID, the state program, varies from state, and, if you have both, is considered a secondary insurance. SSI is supplemental income---if you're disabled (which you are), you should be applying for SSD. At your age, you can ONLY get MediCARE if you're considered disabled, and even then there's a waiting period.

I'm not trying to be discouraging, just trying to make sure we're both talking about the same thing.

How are they treating your sciatica?

I wish there was more I could tell you, but I just don't know what to say. I was dx'd with arthritis at age 20, and I'm 52 now. I was 45 when I had my DS (paid for my Medicare), and while it's made a world of difference, I still take NSAIDs each and every day.

Hope things get better for you. Come visit the Main Board, and the Duodenal Switch board, too.

You're right, I have Medicaid. I get the two confused constantly.

I would apply for SSD but I haven't worked enough/put enough money into the system to qualify. But the lawyer I have is working me through all this... hoping to come away with something.

I'm going to a new doctor on Thursday, but before I was treated for my sciatica with a combination of steroids, muscle relaxants (either valium or flexeril) and a painkiller (usually vicodin). For now I'm only taking Aleve and Tylenol. I'll see how the new doctor handles it.

I will make sure to do that, thank you.

I understand your pain and frustration. I have bulging discs up and down my spine, Spinal Stenosis. I am going to have my lower back fused in a couple of months. Hopefully that will help. I just had the VSG surgery in late March so that I could lose  50 lbs before going under the knife again. Like you, I spend most of my day in bed because the pain is so horrific. Luckily my Dr. provides me with 3 extended Release Oxycontin, per day,  which barely controls the pain. But at least I am no longer suffering, and I am working towards a solution. See what coverage you can get under medicaid, and come up with a plan to get your health back. That's what I am doing, and it's a long process. But you matter. Don't give up.

Hi, I also have spinal stenosis.  I went and had epidurals which did nothing and then
I went to Dr Bridwell in St Louis at Barnes-Jewish.  I got direct nerve root injections which helped.  I didn't have any problems until a year ago I hurt my back working out in the pool.  They gave me oral steriods which then killed my hip.  I can not say enough wonderful things about Dr. Bridwell.  I worked in medical malpractice for 23 years and am picky about Dr, this man is a God.  Now I am waiting for weight loss surgery to lose enough weight to get a new hip.  I will keep you in my prayers.  It will get better, it will.  Barb