About Me: Male, 35, Chico - CA, member since Nov 2007
A few years ago, I had a gastric bypass. Afterwards, I experienced a very good outcome in weightloss.
But I also had severe leg pain,numbness, and tingling from my upper
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[More] thigh to the bottom of my feet.
After a few years of physical therapy, chiropractic, and massage therapy, "pain management" via epidurals, I visited U.C. Davis Medical Center Spine Clinic.
It was discovered after an MRI (which showed mixed findings) I had a CT scan mylogram. My spine had multiple disc compressions (bulging discs) in my thoratic spine. After a year, which the doctor at the Spine Center, I decided that surgery was my best option. I was experiencing increasing weakness in my legs, pain in my chest area radiating from the mid-back to the front (sometimes thinking I was having heart problems).
The Dr. sugessted a multiple laminectomy on my thoratic spine. After, I had 8 discs laminectomied and two discs removed. This surgery really tested me. The pain based on a 14 inch incision is imense. The doctor's do not do a great job on explaining this.
I am a rarity. Most people do not have this type of surgery, and especially the significant extent of the surgery.
I healed very well, but still experience severe pain. I had my surgery on May 9th,2007. I am now currently working full-time, but was off for almost 5 months, and went back to work on a part-time basis. I suggest to everyone, and especially Doctors, to fully explain the pain of this procedures involving the spine.
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