I was wondering if anyone has any HELPFUL answers concerning this serious situation.?

Question

yrs, 3back surgerys, and i'm still in pain every day . No it's not just a little pain I'm suffering almost day . I wake up at night feeling as if I have a 1000 lb. weight arround my waist . All that happened was I sliped in water at Work and fell. Sounds crazy but I was 50 yrs. old . We tend to break easier that younger people .They found a herniated disk, and other damage . 2 surgerys to fix these problems, and after each they had me go to P.T. Hurt my back after each session of P.T. Found out by third Dr. that even after 2nd. surgery I had a 1/2" to 1" gap in my spine { very painful } I've now had 3rd surgery { fusion } They keep telling me to go back to work but just like the other times I think something else is wrong . I feel I know my body . I've been on so many pain meds. for so long, and still suffer every day. Now I'm going to shrink for Depperession. This 1 I have is W. comp. {i do have ATTORNEY }
Should I go get another Dr. to see what is going on or what should I do ?

Answer 1

Sounds like you've had a rough time. I'm with JW about the fourth opinion, though I'm not sure I agree with the implication that you're putting this on for compensation!
After so long in pain many people find that their responses to pain have become abnormal. It may be that you'll have to accept that there will always be a little pain, maybe even a lot, but there are still some things to try: Some drugs modify pain (Tricyclic antidepressants, Neurontin). Some people in your situation have found acupuncture very helpful. Some people find Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (for the pain, not the depression) helps.

Forget Osteopaths. And by the way, they're not medical doctors.

Answer 2

Considering how serious you perceive the problem is, I would recommend finding another doctor. I'm not an expert in the field, but I've had family experience with lousy doctors. They tell you one opinion and expect you to take it because THEY are the expert, and you're only the patient.

Years back, my father was having some heart complications, but his doctor could not diagnose it, nor could another doctor that the initial doctor recommended. It went on this way for months until my dad's heart was in such bad shape, he finally took it upon himself to find a new doctor. It turned out the problem should have been picked up months before, and became a lot more serious because the first two doctors were so sure it WASN'T what he actually had (endocarditis). He then needed open-heart surgery, and it's been a battle with the hospitals since then, even seven years later.

Not quite related to a back injury, but it gives an idea of what I mean when I say that if YOU perceive the problem to be worse than THEY are saying, there's a good chance that you're right.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Have you tried therapeutic massage? Find a massage therapist that does medical massage. Gentle massage of your back and vigorous massage of your limbs might help. Also you are also caught in the medical hamster wheel of western medicine. The drugs, the surgeries, the endless doctor visits with no relief.

The surgeries they have done to your back have probably made a situation that could have healed with time much worse. You need to get as much exercise as possible even though at first it will be difficult. Just move around as much as possible. You will hurt sitting still so you may as well hurt moving. Are you eating a diet high in fresh vegetables and fruits? You need these vitamins to heal. Cut the meat out of your diet too, just eat fish. Whole grains too.

The doctors have messed you up so going to another one is pointless.

If you can find an alternative health practitioner in your area they could possibly point you in the right direction as to who to see.

I worked for many years as an RN on a surgical floor for mostly back problems. Surgery seldom made anyone better. No more surgery is something you should consider. Good luck.

Answer 4

If they've done all the proper MRI's, CT scans, xrays, and you've already had 3 surgeries, I don't think that going to another doctor is going to shed any new light.
Have you tried a pain clinic that deals specifically with chronic pain?
Work comp./attorney??? Are you looking to sue and maybe that's part of the reason you are not going back to work? Sorry , but I'm in the medical profession and I see it all the time.
You may also be addicted to the pain meds since you have been taking so many.

Answer 5

If I were you, I would find a D.O. - Doctor of Osteopathy. That's a medical doctor. There is a therapy called Strain/Counterstrain that is simple holding of your limbs and joints in somewhat oddball positions that really relieves the strain. I've got a bad back, and this has helped me very much.
Also, some mild exercise to strengthen that back will help. If you are over weight, you need to drop that gut. It's only adding to the strain.
I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 6

Obviously if you are having this much pain SOMETHING is wrong. Have you had CT's and MRI"S.Is there a possibility your
surgical sites are infected ? It does not sound as if surgery is
correcting your problem.DONOT return to work until your
attorney locates a physcian to do a through evaluation.You will
loose all of your benifits.Be aware of the potential of addiction to
pain meds. and your depression.These conditions can be used against you.

Answer 7

Candida of the blood, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromialgia all come from one traumatic event within your body, such as a weakness or injury. I would recommend a second opinion, do your own research on those three possibilities I have given you, and seek out someone who does good acupressure. (Like acupuncture, without the needles.) Hope you feel better.

Answer 8

You should go to another doc...ask for an ex-ray to see if they forgot something inside you first...
Tell him everything, & go from there. Research you choice in doc, get a good one who specializes in back problems.
A psyche for depression isn't a bad idea either, but make sure both doctors now about each other & what they are prescribing...
Best of luck to you...

Answer 9

I think after an injury and surgery left over pain would be normal.
But, I think you need a second, maybe third opinion.
Ask around and see what specialty, this can be ortho surgeon or neuro surgeon.

Answer 10

Go see another doctor. Likewise, ask your lawyer for advise if the medical practitioners have any legal obligation? Perhaps it is through their negligence that you are now suffering like this.