Hello Jennifer, my name is Michael I have had four surgeries on my
back. Two which were fusion's. The others were for mistakes and
misdiagnosesis. I would love to hear you story how you got yourself
into this horrible condition. I know that getting the Arachnoiditis
wasn't anything that you did. But what lead up to you getting the
fusion's and in two different area's of your spine at that. I had all
mine at the L5-S1 area. I had my first Surgery a spinal fusion in 1991
when I was only 36 y/o. I had a spondylolisthesis with a ruptured
disc. I knew something wasn't right about one year after. I ended up
with a failed fusion. But, I had to go through 2 more surgeries before
they found it. In 1996 they found the Pseudarthrosis (false joint) and
did the second spinal fusion on me. I was going to have a 360 fusion
in 1999 with cages put in the anterior and the plates and screws in
the posterior. But, when the doctor opened me up. He decided not to do
the surgery because of all the scar tissue and he just didn't feel it
would help me. I really was happy even though I knew that meant there
was nothing they could do to help me anymore. But, the thought of
another fusion and being cut open from both sides with steel in them
both. I wasn't looking forward to. I was glad to get all my hardware
taken out also. I noticed it helped my leg pain a lot. But I have done
nothing except go down hill since. I too get Social Security, and a
workers compensation pension also. But, I'm never going to be able to
make up for what I have been though. This was the time of my life I
was supposed to be making the most money in my life for the future. I
read that you are going to move to California. Is that because you
feel that the weather will help you down there. My Mother lives in
California. I own a house in Washington State. So that kind of makes
moving a lot more work. But, sometimes I think I would like to move to
a place with a lot more sunshine. I don't know if it would help
though. I would love to hear your story if you wouldn't mind telling
it sometime. I take pain medications and I don't thing I could make it
with out them. But it still doesn't help with a lot of the symptoms.
How do you cope with your pain. Are you able to do much. Take care and
have a great day. Sincerely Michael in Washington State


--- In Arachnoiditis@yahoogroups.com, "jbartenetti" <jbartenetti@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi my name is Jennifer, I currently live in Virginia, but I am moving
> back to California in a few weeks. I have had 6 fushions. Four in
my
> neck, and two in my lower back. I suffer from extreme pain and am
> unable to work. It took me three years to receive Social Security
> Disability Insurance. Are any of you guys unable to work as well?
> Medications do not keep from working as much as the pain just stops
me
> in my tracks. I've been approved for a surgery, an implantable pain
> pump. Does anyone have one of these? I'm so glad there are others I
> can talk to about this. I would appreciate any information you guys
> have.
> Thanks,
> Jennifer
>