Hi Tim - I have not see activity here in quite a while.  My husband John has spinal stenosis and is in constant pain.  He had the same type of surgery in July 06 only they "wedged" a piece of bone in his neck and put a sliver plate in so that his head would not fall down.  There's been some improvement but he is still in pain.  He has not had steroid injections but has had them before with no improvement.  He's basically on pain meds which as he states "take the edge off."  Next week he sees a pain management doctor for the first time at Rush University in Chicago.  They are supposed to have a good pain management program.

His pain is mostly in his neck and down.  If you even touch is neck, he's in pain.  He also is always cold and walks around with gloves on his hands (even in the summer!).  His walking is not too steady and he uses a cain to help him walk.  He is on disability.  He can't get comfortable too often.  We have a lazy-boy "big boy" chair which reclines and he seems to like that best.  We also have a hospital bed for him to use to get comfortable so between the two of them, he sometimes can sleep, but not usually for any long period of time.

To date, he's had three fusions in his neck, the last as stated above (with the bone wedge) was done by an orthopedic surgeon.  The other two were done by a neuro surgeon.  So unfortunately, after three surgeries, he still complains of pain.  Hopefully, the pain management doctor will offer other options that will help him.

I'm sure your condition is different as each one is.  I hope you only to feel no pain today and maybe your pain management team will get the program right for you.  By the way, what is Lortab?  Is that a pain pill or anti-depressent.? It seems that may be helping you and may be we can ask John's doctor about it.

Take are and best wishes and good health for the new year!

Jackie/John

--- In Cervical_Spondylosis@yahoogroups.com, "Tim" <monroeia@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> My name is Tim. I am new to this group. I was diagnosed with cervical
> stenosis in July 2004 after 4 or 5 years of pain and countless
> doctors.I have been trying to find a place to meet other people with
> this that I can talk to. I had a lamanectomy with fusion of c2-c6 a
> week after I was diagnosed. After the recovery evrery thing was great
> for almost a year then the pain started again. From what I have been
> told my symptoms are different from alot of people with cervical
> stenosis, I have pain in my neck and head.Severe pain.It gets so bad
> that I cant even touch my head or neck without making it worse, and
> laying down is not possible.Since the surgery I get an "episode" of
> this severe pain about every month or so and it lasts for up to a
> week. I have had about 10 epidural injections and they dont work
> anymore. Now when I get pain I go to the Dr. and he gives me a
> steroid shot,a pain killer shot and a prescription of lortab.If I am
> lucky, the steroid will start working before I run out of lortab.I am
> hoping to hear what other people are doing for pain.My Dr. seems to
> be out of ideas.The surgeon says "oh we will just have to do surgery
> again" which I am not wanting to do. the pain managment Dr.
> says "lets just keep trying the epidural and hopefully it will work
> this time or we can give you a patch to wear for pain releif" mwhich
> I have tried and it was absolutly worthless. My Dr. has tried probly
> a dozen different anti-deppresants but nothing helps. I don't know if
> I need to look for a new Dr. or what. Sorry to come here and sound
> like I am whining but I spent the evening of Christmas day on the ER
> and the gave me the shot of pain meds and sent me on my way and of
> course that is wearing off. Hope to hear from some people with
> stenosis or anyone else living with pain. I hope everyone had a great
> Christmas.
>
> Tim
>