Still waiting bulging discs and spinal stenosis

Hi mate yeah it's frustrating I'm taking targin 20/10 slow release endone 5 mg and lyrica 150 mgs I have also been trying the norspan patches with no success the medications do help but it's just masking the problem have alot of trouble sleeping as well I do a bit of driving with my work as well and that's hell on my back

That's no good yeah getting it sorted early is the key for sure but I'm worried about the time needed off work as well I've been loooking into using my super to fund the time required to have off

How long will you need to have off Wayne and will your sick benefit not cover you?

Hi Linda no im in Australia don't have that ability unfortunately so I've been looking into using my super as that is a way to cover it apparently if you get a letter from a specialist you can apply for using your super here where are you from and are u able to use sickness benefits

Hi Wayne, 

Sorry, didn't realise you are from Australia. Have you been able to get a letter from a specialist? I live in Northern Ireland and as I'm retired there was no sickness benefits for me. 😢 Hope you get something sorted 🤞

Not yet I was meant to have surgery in January but I put it off to try conservative approach which worked for about two months now gone from bad to worse we moved interstate during that time so now I'm just waiting to see another surgeon I tried acupuncture last week which did nothing 😞 Do you know anyone that's had it and worked ? They tried to tell me they have had heaps of people with this problem that they have helped think they were pulling my leg 😂 How is Ireland sad to here the news coming from the UK again

I had acupuncture a few years ago but it didn't work, in fact I had it a few times. Do you regret not having the surgery in January?

It's all quiet here in Northern Ireland, very sad what's been going on in England. My daughter lives in Manchester, she said it was very quiet the first couple of days, eerie quiet, after the incident there. In fact there was a big concert on tv last night from Manchester that was organised by Ariana Grande (don't think I've spelt her name right), loads of stars on it, quite a few Manchester bands/singers. 

Hope you get an appointment with 

oops, pressed the wrong button, it's an age thing!! 

Hope you get an appointment with a surgeon soon 🤞

Yeah I do regret not having surgery now have been told I need 8 to 10 weeks off not sure how accurate that is really everyone seems to have a different theory on this but in January they didn't pick up on the narrowing of the canal not until recent CT scan so not sure if that changes things

Standard TLIF fusion with rails and screws: 10 days in the hospital...many months in a back brace and rehab.

Simple LLIF (LATERAL) fusion with intervertebral device: 90-minute op, immediate relief, one-night hospital stay, zero rehab.

Search YouTube for "globus lateral" for cute animation.  See pic.  Lateral device at L2/L3 above my old TLIF fusion.

im in Australia so our medications have different names im on the norspan patch (morphine) using two 10 mcs I don't seem to get relief from them not as much as the targin anyway

I just had to put these drugs into an interaction checker...  Looks like the typical list of two or more together will make you sleepier (duh...) while the only major interaction is between morphine and alcohol.  A BIG no-no...

No alcohol at all huge no no the patch and the targin are not to be taken together only for last resort if pain is not under control I've been put on targin which was only working for a couple of hrs than he put me on the patch to try it does work but it only dulls the pain I personally hate taking any of these medications at only 38 surely they must take a toll on you body but until something is done what do you do catch 22 I suppose and I get drug tested at work you should see the faces on the security guards that don't know I'm taking the drugs when they see the results 😂

Awkward question mate do you know anyone with this back problem that has down stairs issues with it not working, is it normal it's starting to worry me, doctor doesn't seem to have an answer was hoping someone here had similar problems and answers

I'm not a doc but...

The pudendal nerve is the one that matters for "downstairs" and I believe that it emanates from L5/S1 or S1/S2.  Any disc problems there could impact it.  Gotta do more research...

Wayne...screw the security guards and, yes, the drugs take a toll.  My daughter at 26 had an L1 compression fracture plus micro-fractures of her sacrum.  She started on Vicodin (hydrocodone) and the pain never went away.  Found out two years later that her coccyx (tailbone) was completely shattered.  (ACSM- and ACE-certified personal trainer doing 310-pound squats when she slipped and fell on her tailbone...the weight hit her back...5' 2", 120-pounds of pure power...not a bodybuilder...just a trainer.)  

Anyway, her being on Vicodin for over two years started to rot her teeth...not good.  Also tough to give up the pills when you're on them that long...lots of withdrawal symptoms.  You have to get this fixed and get off the drugs...not good long-term.

You seem to have more knowledge than my doctor very much appreciated to get other people's experiences and thoughts

I've had 28 surgeries in the last 17 years, some major league (hip replaced, knee replaced, 3 back fusions, etc.) plus four kidney stones and more.  In addition, my second wife (for 25 years) was a pharmacist; current wife had been a nurse for 30.  You go through s**t...you pick up s**t...you learn s**t.  I'll be 70 next year; got 4 1/2 pounds of metal in me with another 2 1/2 pound knee planned for 2019.  I'm the TSA's worst nightmare at the airport.  Docs are turning me into a Terminator piece by piece...

I was doing some research of my own one page suggests the narrowing of the canal which I have can cause the problem down stairs as well as the numbness in my arm and burning sensation in upper back kinda makes sense they are all symtems I have go google 😂

You have to do the research!!!  The days of just believing a doctor are gone.  Get other opinions.  Know your options.  Be well informed as your own best medical advocate!

Yeah I'm starting to think that myself since being on this site been getting and googling more info daily to be more informed and have better understanding

Caution: Googler Ahead!!!

Wrote this for my TKR group but it really applies to everyone:

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/reliable-tkr-information-582123

Just sayin'...