So, how was my Tuesday?
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Background...
D4 has a history of back issues.
In 2016 she herniated her L4-L5 disc. After a trial of PT, epidural steroids, she ended up with a microdiscectomy. She did well...for about 4 months, and then reherniated it. In hospital for a week for pain control, hoping things would settle down, and ... they didn't. She had a repeat microdiscectomy with good results. For about 6 months.
More pain in the leg, obvious nerve compression and she ended up with a spinal fusion in early 2017. She did really well. Off meds, good mobility. Pregnant twice etc. About two years later, started having more back pain, and sometimes pain down the leg, in the distribution of ANOTHER nerve root. This was in the L5-S1 distribution. Still, all in all pretty functional, and pain controlled with medication.
Early this month, June 2, sudden increase in nerve pain, again in the L5-S1 distribution. You have to understand that this is nerve pain. Shooting down the leg causing an electric "crazy bone" sensation that, in addition to being annoying, is painful AF. Unpredictable, horrible lightning shots down the leg. She was hospitalized for pain control and an MRI showed a herniated disc at L5-S1 - one level below the fusion.
She spent 9 days in the hospital, on IV dilaudid, steroids, and a host of other medications. Finally, it became apparent that no progress was being made, and she had an endoscopic discectomy.
There was dramatic improvement in symptoms. Almost no surgical pain, and a gradual improvement of the "zings" down the leg. She spent 1 day post-op and came home.
Yesterday, symptoms of the "zings" came back. Again, you can't understand this type of pain. This is "give me a towel to bite on," "I want my leg off, NOW," trembling pain. Unpredictable. Horrible stuff.
Went back to the hospital yesterday AM. IV narcotics, gabapentin, toradol, steroids...
MRI shows compression of the L5-S1 nerve root at the foramen (the hole which the nerve passes through).
As of now, it looks like repeat surgery is in the offing. Though nothing has been committed, she was made NPO after midnight last night, with the hopes of surgery today. It'll be a fusion this time.
By the way, talking to the surgeon before the most recent, he said that an endoscopic discectomy with her clinical presentation has about a 70% success rate. However, once he got in there, the disc was larger than he anticipated, and he said there's a 50% chance she'll need a fusion in the near future.
And here we are.
By the way, after her second discectomy the surgeon snapped a photo of the extruded disc. Imagine having this pushing on your nerve. This is from 2016.
Poor kid. 4 back surgeries in 8 years, and we're looking at #5.
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Oh, sorry George, this sounds awful, and must be heartbreaking for you to watch.
I was only joking
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That's terrible, George.
Really sorry you all are going through this. -
What an ordeal to have to endure. I have learn that chronic, crippling back issues like this are a living hell. My MIL went through similar a couple years ago. She lived in a clamshell for close to a year and could only stand or lay down. In the end they fused her backbone. She seems to be fine know.
Hope all works out for D4 and that she can take comfort knowing thst she has her family’s unconditional support behind her through it all.
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Wow!!!! That is tough, and especially when so young.
Sending positive thoughts and hugs to everybody at your house!!!
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Oh, sorry George, this sounds awful, and must be heartbreaking for you to watch.
@Doctor-Phibes said in So, how was my Tuesday?:
must be heartbreaking for you to watch.
You have no idea. I'm sitting next to her, and she's on a cart. Writhing in pain, trying to find a comfortable position. Every now and then, she yells out when a particularly bad "zing" goes down her leg. Tears, and "just kill me."
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Oh man. I pray that she’ll recover quickly and thoroughly
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