Some Things Never Change... Marmar is back, looking for Info

[Marmar]

Hello to everyone posting here. As usual, it's terrible to have to be here, but nice to know we are not alone. I'm an old timer from the 90's, as some may remember.

Long story short, I had 6 spine surgeries to date, and I can only recommend don't start having surgery if you can help it. My original L4/L5 herniation, while fixed, caused the dreaded domino effect, and I had an L3/L4 and L2/L3 herniation along with severe spinal stenosis. Most recently I was diagnosed with arachnoiditis, which I need to find out more about. I am seeing me neuro tomorrow. I need to find out my non-surgical options.

My horrendous pain is activated whenever I do anything other than sitting around my apartment. I went to A/C yesterday, and man oh man, am I paying the price... And I didn't even win anything LOL. My problem: I do not want any worse meds than the oxy I already take (60mg 2 times a day and 40mg once a day), because I am not in horrible pain all the time. Conversely, if I had better pain control I could do more without suffering so much. So I need help figuring out what to do. I also, thank goodness, have percocets for breakthrough. So, for instance, I probably had 6 percocets yesterday, but can go a few weeks without taking any, if I don't have anything planned.

But, I also don't plan anything because its so hard to enjoy anything... I've ditched friends, outings, doing craft fairs because the pain just cancels out the fun. I always weigh what I call "the fun factor", to determine if it is worth doing.

So, that's my quick update. There's lots more details, but that's for another post. I even sued, and won, a surgeon who not only cut my dura during surgery exposing my L3/L4 nerve and caused spinal fluid to leak (2006), but he also gave me MRSA. I had IV antibiotics at home for 6 weeks that I had to administer myself.

Anyway, enough for now, I'm getting depressed just writing all this. Maybe the neuro will order new images. We'll see tomorrow.

Thanks for reading this far, and I hope all those posting and "lurking" as we used to call it, can offer suggestions or info to help.

Love, Marmar

[Mark N]

Marmar, it is good to see you again although I was hoping we never heard from you again if you know what I mean. I understand your current situation with pain and the meds you take because it is the same place I am in. The difference is I think any additional meds would just make me less able to function each day although the pain levels would be better. I already have too many days I can't function so I don't want to do any thing to cause more of those days. It is difficult because we do lose friends and activities we once enjoyed.

Glad to hear you won the suit against the surgeon that screwed up during surgery. Do you have a pet or would you consider a pet? I am a dog person but my wife wanted a kitten so we have had our second cat [one at a time] for one week now. We didn't get a dog because I have days I couldn't care for one and a cat can use the cat pan and have enough food and water to fend for itself when I can't function. I have found that Samme has relieved a lot of my loneliness which was a surprise to me and it is the reason I ask if you have considered a pet. Samme will climb up on me when I am sleeping during the day and sleep the day away with me as I wake up to find him still on me. I have also found a good place for a massage and it has really helped my short term pain when things get really bad. I don't find any difference in my chronic pain but I do get some relief from it. Other than those two things I don't know what else to suggest.

I remember you from when I first got on this board back in 1998 and it is good to see your post.

[Marmar]

Hey Mark! Nice to see familiar names. Maybe the old crew will trickle back, if thy need to be here...

I have my baby girl Raindrop, a rescue cat I adopted from Petsmart in 2003, when I went out on disability. And when she was about 4, she was diagnosed with cardio myopathy and given a year to live. Well, she's almost 10 years old now, so go figure. I prayed and prayed she wouldn't leave me, and maybe He took pity on me for once LOL!

But yes, pets are invaluable for feeling good and having a reason to get out of bed!

Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone. I feel so out of the norm with these fluctuating pain levels. Right now, I can barely move, from all my activity yesterday and the 2 hour drive each way to AC. By Thursday, I'll be as if nothing happened, o it's crazy to take higher and higher doses of meds... I think I just need to concentrate on breakthrough meds.

My sister found an article about a doctor who invented a device to check out our muscles, which pain could be masquerading as back pain. I don't think that is my issue, but I'm going to ask my neuro tomorrow, I mean today. Better head off to bed.

Thanks again!

Marmar

[Mark N]

Marmar, it is good to find others that deal with some of the same issues because pain isolates us in many ways. One way to see if muscular pain is masking itself as spinal pain is to get a massage from a good therapist. I have started up massages again and it is shocking how many painful knots form in our backs and limbs. It doesn't reduce my spinal pain but it does reduce the additional pain and I have found I am having less muscle spasms. Something to thing about trying and you don't have to wait for your doctor to get the device/