Thanks for all the comments wish'n me good luck........but.....
If ya remember, I'm go'n to the "auto repair" to get my carburetor fixed. The service guy (needle doctor) is a automotive painter an' he don't know nuttin bout carburetors. He asked me all kinds of questions.....like, "when ya step on the gas, do it go"? "What do ya feel when I do this"? Stuff like that.
Then I'm off to the x-ray department. I says "Oh boy, I gonna see some bones an' what they do'n". Two are sit'n on top each other. The disk just ain't there no more......gone, poooof, just like that. I'm think'n they can install a brand new disk in it's place. That ain't what the doctor says. He says....it cain't be fixed (just verified that with my son Robert). I was much let down with his analysis of fix'n carburetors.
Then the doc gave me some options. Ha, you won't believe it, but he suggested I get me some shots....paint over the injury. His second suggestion, after I tole him shots would be a "last result" remedy, was a medication to see what it would do. A Dr. Fronkinstine experiment in my book. I said what the hell, what damage could medications do. Then I read the side effects. My god, I could die. Swell up like a freak'n balloon. Gain a bunch of weight. Commit suicide....shit like that. For my internet nurse....Gabapentin, 300mg 2 times a day.
I Googled patient reviews on this medication. Bout 30 of 'em. Not one had good results an' most had facial and body swelling....one of the side effects. Further research of the side effects....33% do not have side effects, while the other 66% do. To me, that's not good odds.
An MRI is scheduled with in the next couple weeks. This will "show" what is wrong and what possibilities remain to "fix" it. This is when I want to talk with a surgeon.
Ok, Robert run me all over town yesterday. 5 freak'n stores look'n for shelf liner to put on top the new desk/table. Nope, nuttin was found that was acceptable. I was wored slap out, had to lay down.
When I waked up, I was pissed bout that damn doctor an' the whole affair. Head filled with all kind of stuff....again. How far is it back to Texas????
Ok, I'm gonna try to get my mind straight....go work on my project for a bit.
If ya remember, I'm go'n to the "auto repair" to get my carburetor fixed. The service guy (needle doctor) is a automotive painter an' he don't know nuttin bout carburetors. He asked me all kinds of questions.....like, "when ya step on the gas, do it go"? "What do ya feel when I do this"? Stuff like that.
Then I'm off to the x-ray department. I says "Oh boy, I gonna see some bones an' what they do'n". Two are sit'n on top each other. The disk just ain't there no more......gone, poooof, just like that. I'm think'n they can install a brand new disk in it's place. That ain't what the doctor says. He says....it cain't be fixed (just verified that with my son Robert). I was much let down with his analysis of fix'n carburetors.
Then the doc gave me some options. Ha, you won't believe it, but he suggested I get me some shots....paint over the injury. His second suggestion, after I tole him shots would be a "last result" remedy, was a medication to see what it would do. A Dr. Fronkinstine experiment in my book. I said what the hell, what damage could medications do. Then I read the side effects. My god, I could die. Swell up like a freak'n balloon. Gain a bunch of weight. Commit suicide....shit like that. For my internet nurse....Gabapentin, 300mg 2 times a day.
I Googled patient reviews on this medication. Bout 30 of 'em. Not one had good results an' most had facial and body swelling....one of the side effects. Further research of the side effects....33% do not have side effects, while the other 66% do. To me, that's not good odds.
An MRI is scheduled with in the next couple weeks. This will "show" what is wrong and what possibilities remain to "fix" it. This is when I want to talk with a surgeon.
Ok, Robert run me all over town yesterday. 5 freak'n stores look'n for shelf liner to put on top the new desk/table. Nope, nuttin was found that was acceptable. I was wored slap out, had to lay down.
When I waked up, I was pissed bout that damn doctor an' the whole affair. Head filled with all kind of stuff....again. How far is it back to Texas????
Ok, I'm gonna try to get my mind straight....go work on my project for a bit.
hi BB , if you are not happy and satisfied with one doctor there are what they call 2cd and 3rd even 4th opinions for different doctors ,and especially back surgeons , i see on tv all the time a commercial advertising for the rio grande valley laser back surgery . it seem's like these surgeons specializes all day long on fixing painful backs . i think they claim to fix you right in there office ,no hospital stay .
ReplyDeletenext time i see that commercial i could take the phone number down for you if you like ?
i just do not want you to just give up because one doctor never knew how to fix you . i think like you do,they can install a new disk i bet if you found the right specialized .please what ever you do ,don't give up until you are pain free for lfe with out medications or needles ,don't loose hope .
Louie, I did my research on laser back surgery. It wasn't as good as advertised on TV. I won't be doing that.
DeleteHa ha....this morn'n I did feel like giving up....but, this is just one doctor an' he ain't no surgeon an' he is just a rookie....7 years experience in spots injuries.
Pain free, I don't expect that. To be like I was just a few years ago would be fine.
"Now where the hell did I leave my"hope""???
Ok I take gabapentin 800 mg at night (4 hrs before bedtime) to keep me from ripping my cpap mask off. I haven't swollen up. Are you looking at good reference material on the net? Don't forget the drug companies have to write every possible complication or they will get sued. Ya know you could try it and see if it works or if you get the complications. If the complications come stop the medicine, and they will go away. Oh ya, the people who are motivated to write scathing reviews are the ones that had bad results. Think of the millions who don't write anything because it never crosses their minds as they are happy.
ReplyDeletePs It has helped my back too. I just never put the two together. You made me think about the two of them. My back problems are no where near yours though. I just thought my back was better because I'm fully retired about the time I started the Gabapentin.
DeleteKristine, because I believe in you, I will take me one them damn pills....see what happens. If'n I swells up, I'm come'n look'n fer ya.
DeleteYes I know how reviews work. But....dad gum it, there weren't even ONE person that said this medication works for them.
Works for me,, neuropathy in my feet. It's for nerve pain. Take 1 late in the pm, cause that's when my feet hurt,, when i go to bed.
Deletehi BB ,just to change the subject for a minute
ReplyDeletei sent in my $680 along with my usa citizenship application to U.S.A. homeland security in april they acknowledged receiving it april 28th 2014 by mail.
then they sent my a notice by mail to appear at homeland security in harlingen tx may 22 at 3pm for finger printing so they can make a extensive criminal record search .
now today i have one more notice ( one more step forward to the process, this step is called the N-659 naturalization interview document check list) notice to appear at homeland security in harlingen tx at 11am july 28th 2014 with a list of things to make sure to bring with me. i also must be ready to answer the 100 civic history and government of the usa.questions, i have to get at least 75% right.
i am hoping on that day they don't give me a free one way airplane ride to central or south america .lol.
it has been since april 28 so you can see it will be only 2 months so far and 1 more month to the next step.
now if anybody would like to wish me luck . i am now accepting good luck wishes . thx at this rate i will be an american citizen before you see texas again.
Congratulations Louie. I'm proud of ya for you for join'n the American team. Good luck on your tests.
DeleteCongratulations on getting some real information on the trouble. Now it is a matter of choosing which of the options that you want to live with. It is like my left shoulder that I do daily exercise for. That was the option I chose instead of drugs and slowly losing use of that arm. I know you will gripe and complain while checking the options but you usually finally choose one of the good options. Best of luck to you while making your choice.
ReplyDeleteActually Barney, I don't have any "real" information yet. The MRI will tell the story of what's go'n on back there. I hope so anyhows.
DeleteOK I thought that "Two are sit'n on top each other. The disk just ain't there no more......gone, poooof, just like that. " was real information you had gotten. Sorry, I misunderstood.
DeleteBB, the laser 'surgery' has been advertised here in north FL and there may be some in GA somewhere too. It is quite simple and done in the office with a small incision. I've never heard of installing new discs, but I know they fuse vertebrae together, and I'd think longer about that than any other type treatment. That has been done since the early 1950s. Sometimes it doesn't help much, or it didn't in my Dad's case; he had three or four over 20 years. I have had back problems for 40+ years and I'm your age but I don't have the pain I used to since about 1989 when I slipped into what is called "foot drop". Meaning I can't raise the toes on my left foot, but the pain went away too and I;me satisfied with the trade off, although that took some doing. I caused it by leaving an ice pack on my back for too long one morning. If I were you I'd be looking into laser surgery, from what I hear it has a very high success rate to get rid of the pain.
ReplyDeleteGary
Gary, laser surgery has limits to what it can do. I think I am way beyond "a simple procedure" by laser.
DeleteThink'n it's gonna take a doctor with a chain saw an' a jack hammer to fix things. The scheduled MRI will give a better picture of what needs done.
I think you made a good choice not to use all that medication. Hope you get fixed up real soon. Good luck, which ever way you go.
ReplyDeleteYou need to check out some of the sports medicine doctors in Houston! They seem to know everything that is back related! Tiger Woods has one on his payroll to use as an excuse if his golf is not up to par at certain times!
ReplyDeleteWhat you need is a neurosurgeon and once you have your MRI, that should be the next step. I suggest making an appointment with one ASAP. Then you will need to see an orthopedic surgeon. Depending on what is causing your problem, one or the other will likely do the surgery depending on the cause of your problems. They usually like to consult each other to rules things out. Or just go see an orthopedic surgeon first.
ReplyDeleteAs to the Gabapentin, it may or may not help. Every person responds to drugs differently and some never have any side effects at all. If the pain is unbearable give it a try or just keep using what you already are using for pain control.
Contessa, that's exactly what I am doing. As soon as the MRI is taken, I will be talking to a orthopedic for his opinion. I'm think'n, if it's broke, it can be fixed.
DeleteLike you say wait and see what the MRI shows and go from there. You can always get a second or even third opinion because no one but you knows how much pain you are in.
ReplyDeleteWhatever you do don't go to San Angelo for said opinion. The neurosurgeon my mother consulted was an idiot and so was his staff.
Another opinion, and another doc, never know what will happen. Don't give up yet.
ReplyDeleteHi BB. orthopedic docs are for knees and hips and such. Neurosurgeons are for nerves, etc. Most back pain is nerve pain most of the time. Bones do not cause 'pain'. I had back surgery in 1984 and 1987 and I do not have any back pain whatsoever (knock on wood). The first surgery was to trim a buldged disc the second was to remove that disc because it became dislocated. Over time the disc fused themselves. An ortho doc said there was nothing that could be done and I was hurting so bad I could not clean my own hinny. A neurosurgeon did both surgeries. I have a 1 1/2" scar. Get a doc that knows what a nerve looks like when he sees one. That is my two cents worth based on experience.
ReplyDeleteNot quite true, bones can and do cause pain. For instance if you are bone on bone then you will have a lot of pain not only in the hip or knee or elbow, etc areas but also referred pain in other area and often the back. A lot of the referred pain is due to how you hold you body to avoid the first pain ( where it is caused ) which puts your body out of whack to put it simply thus creating a whole lot more pain. That is why if the first surgeon can't fix then the other can.
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