Crumbling Spine

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I’ve had back problems all my life subsequent to a car accident I experienced as a 3 year old. I was hit by a car and drug down the street while attached to the bumper because the guy did not realize he had hit me. I fell off at the stop sign. This accident made a mess of my spine.

My current back is a cornucopia of diagnoses. Osteoarthritis, stenosis, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, lumbar radiculopathy, etc. And most recently, osteoporosis. Life has become difficult as the pain is relentless.

I had been on opioid pain medications from the 1990s through 2023 when my doctor retired. New doctor put me on prednisone which was actually fine for a couple years.

In October I had a major new presentation of pain and functional impairment which has not responded to everything they’ve thrown at it. I take sometimes 10 - 12 ibuprofen a day. I also take some herbs and supplements.

I had a scheduled epidural injection today at a local pain clinic. The doctor was excellent but the news was distressing.

It is not comforting when the doctor cannot even get the medicine through all of the blocked spaces. At one point he was going to try to inject from the bottom up but somehow it trickled through. It has not done anything yet but I understand it might take some time to work.

My back is like the rubble of a collapsed World Trade Center, a puddle of shattered Jenga blocks.

The doctor said the shot might work but I will likely need to go through a series of different treatments including a rhizotomy. If that doesn’t work he mentioned some other things and gave me a booklet on a spine stimulator.

There is no surgery for this mess even if I wanted go that route. It’s just such a colossal trainwreck.

I can’t live much longer with this level of pain and impairment.
After this appointment I just feel despondent.

Maybe the stimulator would be helpful but I don’t know anyone who has ever had one.

If anyone has any experience with these let me know.

I will go through the treatments one by one and see where I end up.

2

I’m sorry you’ve had to put up with this your whole life, sounds horrible.

3

I have and have had my share of back pain in my life but nothing like that. The only thing that helped the immediate pian was opioids.

I had had some success with an inversion table but it’s a bit of a hassle and I’m sure my back isn’t in as bad as shape as yours.

Good luck.

4

I have never tired an inversion table but I do get some relief in my recliner with my right leg bent and propped against the side.

I really don’t want to go the opioid route again. I was on Fentanyl patches for 17 years and they worked well but the stigma and the lack of doctors willing to prescribe along with insurance restriction issues would make it almost impossible.

5

The fact that you get relief from the recliner gives me hope for you about the inversion table.

I will add that for me relief came after a session and not while I was actually on the table. It also works wonders for my occasional sciatica.

6

Thank you for mentioning it! I have never really looked into that particular treatment but I will now.

7

My heart aches/breaks for you.

May you find dramatic relief – soon, in large measure, and with zero unpleasant side effects.

8

(bolding mine)
If you mean the stigma to you, screw that. You deserve any relief you can find. Hopefully you can find a doc who’ll prescribe it again.

9

@DavidNRockies
Thank you

also @DigitalC
Thank you

10

It’s a struggle needing opioids and I have experienced it to some degree. But maybe that’s my perception which has been generated in part by the medication being such a front page drug information story.

11

These drugs can be lifesaving if you are in such pain without them. I have a terrible back too, had my 2nd fusion in August, and I have zero qualms about taking what I need when I need it. My doc agrees, although I haven’t needed anything continuously yet (knock on wood). It sounds like it worked well for you. Please don’t let the fact that people abuse it stop you from getting the relief you so strongly need.

Does Tramadol help at all for you? Docs seem less reluctant to prescribe it than other opioids. Mine initially suggested a stronger dose than I would even need (maybe overlooking my small size) after being hesitant to continue prescribing codeine or oxycodone.

12

Fusions sounds like a lot of pain. I hope they gave you some relief.

My old doctor was not afraid to prescribe opioid medications but the ones in my locality are all afraid of the various authorities.

Tramadol helped somewhat in the past but this new pain is something I have never experienced.

All I can do is keep plugging along looking for someone to help.

I do hope you continue to be well!

13

Agreeing with this. You need something that works. If that’s what works, then I hope you can get it.

14

Thank you.
I am going to work on my persuasiveness while trying not to look like a drug seeker.
It’s such a struggle!

15

My former wife has had a total of three spinal fusion surgeries due to a deteriorating spine. (The first two were planned together and were conducted just two days apart.) The third surgery was a few years later and was higher up (which is not uncommon). Basically about two-thirds of her spine is now fused and supported by titanium rods.

The recoveries were pretty rough (each lasting several months), but she got a tremendous amount of relief. She was ultimately able to stop all of her pain medication. And the last surgery was nearly a decade ago now.

I wonder if there is some surgery that might help you too. My wife consulted with numerous surgeons and neurologists prior to making the decision to undergo the first procedure. There are many different techniques, and they are always coming up with new ones.

16

Sounds like your wife had a rough time but that’s wonderful she eventually found some relief.

I’ve known surgery was never an option. I’ve consulted multiple different doctors throughout the years. There is just too much going on and now it’s worse.

Additionally there is no one around to help me during the recovery.

I am going to explore all options to remain upright and content.

17

Yep, I went through the same thing, and finally told my doctor that I felt like I’d be treated like a drug-seeker when clearly I needed relief. He apologized and gave me the script for Tramadol. You’ve got the medical charts and scans to back you up. I think they can tell the difference between someone with a crumbling spine and someone who wants dope.

18

I absolutely do. I will work on my new doctor next appointment.

19

@Ellecram has anyone at the pain clinic talked to you about an Intrathecal pain pump?
I’m not sure if it’s indicated for spine/back pain.
It sure has been a big plus for me. Tiny tiny amounts of pain meds. Getting ready for the implant surgery was the worst part.

I feel your pain :grinning_face: no really, I understand what you’re going thru

20

Thank you, @Beckdawrek

I know you have had your share of significant struggles with pain and medical issues.

Thank you for your suggestion and I will bring this into the conversation on this journey.

I suspect I have to undergo all of the least invasive treatments before scaling up the ladder with interventions.