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Avatar universal

Fusion surgery L5, S1 3 yrs 9mths still in horrible pain

Can anyone give me any ideas of how to relieve my pain so I can live a halfway normal life without being miserable everyday. My first surgery was in June 2008 and they trimmed my discs. After surgery I was still in pain so in February 2009 they did a fusion on L5 and S1. That night in the hospita I was in excrutiating pain, I cried all night I just couldn't get the pain to ease and the pain was unbearable. I can't expalin how horrible the pain was. The next morning I went home with pain meds that did not ease my pain. At home I couldn't get into bed myself, my fiance had to pick me up gently and lay me in the bed. I couldn't lay on my right side at all. This extreme pain lasted for over 6 months. My doctor took x-rays and an MRI and he said everything looked fine, I told him about the pain I was in and he did noting except to say it could take up to a year for me to heal. My family doctor tried to handle my pain with meds but they were not helping so I asked to be sent to another neurosurgeon. She referred me to a neurologist and he did a nerve conduction test on me and it showed I had a pinched nerve at L5 S1. He gave me neurotin and it didn't help. This doctor moved to California so it took a while to get my records. When we got the records I asked my family doctor to refer me to the doctor that gave my injections so I could try them again and that doctor gave me another nerve test and he aslo said I had a pinched nerve at L5 S1. After the injections failed I gave up. Again I got tired of my pain so I asked my doctor to refer me to another neurosurgeon. I'm not a quiter. That neurosurgeon gave me a test with dye and then a CT scan. The results were the fusion did not heal, he said the screws were in the wrong place and a screw was loose, it looked to me like it was hanging but I'm not a professional. At my second visit he said he would not operate on me and he can't tell me what the cause of my pain was. I was extremely confused. I just don't understand how the nerve test with needles show I have a pinched nerve at L5 S1 but the neurosurgeon said he can't tell me where my pain was coming from. I just need some ideas. If anyone has any ideas of what I can do next or what meds may work please let me know. I'm a single mom and I have to do everything myself, if I can get some ideas of how to relieve my pain or even end my pain it would be greatly appreciated. I am miserable and I am making my children miserable because I am always in horrible pain I'm ill at them all the time I can't even stand to hear people talk I don't even go out to eat every month with my friends anymore. It has ruined my life. I have not joined a forum before because I know people have it worse than me and I don't want to whine but I do want to live a better life. I'm just tired of being miserable and I can't seem to find a doctor that will help.
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Avatar universal
I'm sorry you have not had any relief. My surgery will be 4 yrs in 2/2013 and I can't give you any advice on how to ease your pain. I have realized that I just have to accept the fact I'm going to be in pain for the rest of my life and I have to find a way for me to live with it. I have finally accepted the fact that no one can help me or no one wants to help me.  I still stay depressed, I still cry and I continue to try to find someone to help me. I have not given up yet. Mt depression was so bad I was having horrible thoughts. I felt like no one undrstood and realy no one did understand. I was told constantly by my ex that I was not hurting I was just addicted to the meds. I could not get anyone to understand me, I was alone in my fight to find out what was wrong with me. This is why he is now an ex. Just don't let anyone make you believe that you are not hurting that you are just crazy. I have came to the conclusion I do not need anyone who doesn't believe me. I am now fighting this battle alone. Keep your head up you may get someone willing to help you. If you do let me know who it is. Keep your head up and don't let the depression get to you. Stay around positive people.
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Avatar universal
I am in the same situation.  I have had nerve blockers and a diskectomy  and laminectomy  3 weeks ago and nothing has helped.  My back pain is worse and my depression is also. I just cry all the time and want some relief so I can get back to life. It will be a year December 29th since the injury.
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