My story
by Nancy
My story isn't that long....I was very fortunate that when I absolutely couldn't take it anymore I got excellent help.
Seventeen years ago I was an older new Mom. At the age of 32 I had a four month old little boy, and a sixteen month old little girl. We were living in an old remodeled school at the time and the doors were very heavy and only had a very small hole in the door.
I was heading out to visit my Mom one afternoon and as I pushed the door with my back to open it, someone had left the lawn mower right in front of the door. I tried to step to the side, but I was carrying my new baby. Maddy, my little girl was walking next to me. When I tried to move beyond the door, I immediately lost my balance and dropped my son on the sidewalk. He was okay...he was in his carseat. I however, turned and fell backward over the lawnmower.
Thus began my journey to find relief. Rest was advised at first. I rested...as much as I could with two small kids to take care of. After a new months of this, I had to look further for help. I went to a doctor who did an MRI. He found I had a herniated disk. He said that it wasn't that bad. I should just exercise and try to lose weight.
We played this game for a very long time. My pain would be worse... but you didn't lose weight is what I would hear my doctor say. He felt that if I wasn't trying to do anything then he wasn't going to worry about it. Basically...it was my fault.
He did send me to a pain clinic where I began getting injections into my spine on a regular basis so that I would function.
About five years ago I started getting terrific pain down my left leg. I couldn't put any weight on it. I was taken to the ER they also thought it was my back. Another MRI was done, and they doctor told me that my pain was a pinched nerve in my groin. I got two nerve blocks that did nothing.
My Pain Doctor was the only one who would help me. He started me on the Duragesic Patch. I was started at the 25mg patch. by the time I was done with them I was on the 75mg patch. I was also taking motrin by the carload. I was exhausted and unable to do any of my daily duties. Finally the pain clinic doctor requested that I have another MRI. When these results came back they were yet again different. When I saw my original doctor again, he just looked at me and said, "Well, we could mix the disc. But, you know, I'd just have to do it again in a few years so what's the point! He about destroyed me.
The last time I went to get an injection I almost flew off the table I was in so much pain. I decided then and there that I had to see another doctor.
I was sent to see a different doctor at the same clinic this other guy was at. He walked in, told me that he couldn't fix my back. It needed someone with more skill. He told me that there was one man who could do the surgery I needed and that I would be fine.
They made the appointment, and I made the 150 mile trip to Minneapolis. The doctor was wonderful. He asked a lot of questions. Pointed out everything that was wrong with my back, and everything he would have to do to fix it. He gave me the rundown. I couldn't be alone for eight weeks. I would be in a large brace for six to eight months. I would be in the hospital app. one week. My surgery would take 10.5 hours. That was the one that really got me. I needed a three level fusion. I major problems with compressed nerves. Basically he opened up my spinal cord so it could move and my leg is no longer numb. He then had to realign my spine. The lower part was cascading forward. I was operated on front and back. There was a lot of healing to do.
When I woke up a little bit, I realized that my pain was gone. I was on a ton of drugs....but I knew things were better. It is two years now. I have not had any of the previous problems that I had before. Many people have said that I was one of the very lucky ones. Many people go through years of surgeries to try to get rid of pain. I feel it was a miracle. I also feel that I had the absolute best doctor around. I can never thank him enough!!