Discussion
Ructions said:
If I had come across Prof O’Sullivan before I had my fusion I’m not sure that I would have gone through with it. It’s a big operation, much bigger than I realised and the recovery has been a lot longer and much slower than I expected. I had a previous op on my cervical spine which was a success so I didn’t hesitate when I was told I needed this.
Luckily your job will mean you can get lots of different opinions, ask as many people as you can before making a decision on which route you take but surgery should be the last resort. You have mentioned that you have a heavy workload, you can forget that after major surgery on your spine in my opinion. Others will be along with a different view but I can only describe my experience as traumatic.
Thanks for the reply and an honest insight.Luckily your job will mean you can get lots of different opinions, ask as many people as you can before making a decision on which route you take but surgery should be the last resort. You have mentioned that you have a heavy workload, you can forget that after major surgery on your spine in my opinion. Others will be along with a different view but I can only describe my experience as traumatic.
I'd had a general read on the fusion operation, and to be honest, all the NHS like sites seemed to point towards a couple nights in a hospital, four or so weeks taking it easy with bed rest and then six months of recovery and you're as good as new. Being on full pay and getting it sorted once and for all made it a very choice to be honest.
The more I read about actual people's experiences the more I've gone from 'let's get it done and fix me' to dear god how do I not have it done!
My worry is going to be a neurosurgeon that just want's to operate, employers that want it fixed for good with no-one willing to let me try the O'Sullivan/CFT method.
What I'm leaning towards is going to see the GP as she's fairly young and seems on the pulse and hope she's heard of CFT. I'll have the scan at the end of September, going in with the knowledge they mostly likely will find something. Have a chat with the neurosurgeon when it's time, again hope they've heard or have someone they can send me to with the CFT method. I'm under The Walton Neuro hospital, so I've my fingers crossed I can be a test at the very least.
The other hurdle will be convincing work that CFT is the way to go, I can already see them telling me it's snake oil and I'll be unsupported. It doesn't help that I'm looking like I'll have to put in for compensation after the work injury as it's costing a bomb going private, costing loads in child care, cost the wife KIT days at work, all while she's on 0 money maternity pay. That's not taking into consideration the toll it's taken on my mood, my anger, my marriage and my time with two small ones.
Having had exposure to people coming off opiates and having an addictive personality, I'm going to do my very best to stay clear of the likes of Tramadol so not having an op heavily figures in that. I've no issue being off work, but not functioning is a big one.
Sorry, that seems to have turned into a bit of a longer post than I started out to make, but this thread has really opened my eyes to how the surgery isn't the gold at the end of the rainbow.
The few of us who post regularly on this thread are maybe not indicative of the average. I know others who have had spinal fusions and have made very rapid and very full recoveries.
I have posted on here before about my issues but even with hindsight I would still have the fusion done again as before my last series of operations I couldn’t even walk more than a few steps without unbearable pain and then a completely numb leg. I am now in a much better position than that.
At first I did put off a fusion and tried all sorts of therapies, denervation, decompression etc. but in the end none of them could provide a lasting solution to the physical condition of my spine.
I have posted on here before about my issues but even with hindsight I would still have the fusion done again as before my last series of operations I couldn’t even walk more than a few steps without unbearable pain and then a completely numb leg. I am now in a much better position than that.
At first I did put off a fusion and tried all sorts of therapies, denervation, decompression etc. but in the end none of them could provide a lasting solution to the physical condition of my spine.
1 year update.
It has now been just over twelve months since my fusion and so today I had a CT scan and saw my consultant.
It appears as though my bone graft is now fusing which aligns with the reduction in pain I am feeling.
So I am really pleased. Not a full recovery yet but heading in the right direction.
I can now start physiotherapy and restart Pilates (as long as I keep it gentle).
It has now been just over twelve months since my fusion and so today I had a CT scan and saw my consultant.
It appears as though my bone graft is now fusing which aligns with the reduction in pain I am feeling.
So I am really pleased. Not a full recovery yet but heading in the right direction.
I can now start physiotherapy and restart Pilates (as long as I keep it gentle).
The Placebo Experiment: Can My Brain Cure My Body?
Could the power of fake pills be used to treat some of our most common medical complaints? To find out, Dr Michael Mosley embarks on Britain's largest ever trial to investigate the placebo effect. He is heading to Blackpool to gather 117 people suffering from backache - one of the leading causes of chronic pain - before trying to treat them with nothing but fake pills and the power of the mind.
Working with experts from the University of Oxford, Michael discovers that the placebo effect is more than just a medical curiosity. The brain is actually capable of producing its own drugs and these can be more powerful than prescription painkillers. Michael's volunteers come from all walks of life, but they have all suffered with bad backs for years and feel their conventional medication isn't up to the job. They include Stacey, who is struggling to keep up with her two energetic daughters, wheelchair-user Jim, who longs to be able to get back on a boat, and poker player Moyra, who is looking for a painkiller which doesn't affect her performance.
They think they are taking part in the trial of a powerful new painkiller, but their blue-and-white capsules actually contain nothing but grounded rice. Can this fake treatment make a real difference? And how will the volunteers react when Michael reveals the truth? Michael also finds out about some remarkable placebo experiments from around the world, including a woman in Oxfordshire who experienced a near miraculous recovery after undergoing fake surgery to fix her chronic shoulder pain. Plus a team in Lancashire who want to see if the placebo effect can cure a broken heart. And Michael discovers a team in Germany working on a placebo that works even if you know you are taking it, which might improve the lives of transplant patients. Michael also tests this out on himself - attempting to train his own body to respond to a fake treatment - a foul-tasting green drink - as if he were taking actual drugs.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bmblb8
Tonight BBC2 at 9pm
Could the power of fake pills be used to treat some of our most common medical complaints? To find out, Dr Michael Mosley embarks on Britain's largest ever trial to investigate the placebo effect. He is heading to Blackpool to gather 117 people suffering from backache - one of the leading causes of chronic pain - before trying to treat them with nothing but fake pills and the power of the mind.
Working with experts from the University of Oxford, Michael discovers that the placebo effect is more than just a medical curiosity. The brain is actually capable of producing its own drugs and these can be more powerful than prescription painkillers. Michael's volunteers come from all walks of life, but they have all suffered with bad backs for years and feel their conventional medication isn't up to the job. They include Stacey, who is struggling to keep up with her two energetic daughters, wheelchair-user Jim, who longs to be able to get back on a boat, and poker player Moyra, who is looking for a painkiller which doesn't affect her performance.
They think they are taking part in the trial of a powerful new painkiller, but their blue-and-white capsules actually contain nothing but grounded rice. Can this fake treatment make a real difference? And how will the volunteers react when Michael reveals the truth? Michael also finds out about some remarkable placebo experiments from around the world, including a woman in Oxfordshire who experienced a near miraculous recovery after undergoing fake surgery to fix her chronic shoulder pain. Plus a team in Lancashire who want to see if the placebo effect can cure a broken heart. And Michael discovers a team in Germany working on a placebo that works even if you know you are taking it, which might improve the lives of transplant patients. Michael also tests this out on himself - attempting to train his own body to respond to a fake treatment - a foul-tasting green drink - as if he were taking actual drugs.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bmblb8
Tonight BBC2 at 9pm
Any updates, Is the cold and damp affecting anyone else? Noticed that over the past week or so I am in a little bit more discomfort than I have been for a while. It’s not bad enough to think about some form of medication, but it’s slightly concerning that as soon as the weather turned the pain returned.
The placebo experiment was interesting, it seemed like quite a few people did experience a reduction in back pain and some even kept the benefits when they were told it was a placebo. Never quite sure how much to believe of what is on TV though.
This morning the temperature was over 10 degrees and my walk to the office was relatively pain free again so the colder temperatures are definitely causing issues.
This morning the temperature was over 10 degrees and my walk to the office was relatively pain free again so the colder temperatures are definitely causing issues.
Scrump said:
This morning the temperature was over 10 degrees and my walk to the office was relatively pain free again so the colder temperatures are definitely causing issues.
Same experience here. I left Dublin this morning it was cold and very damp and I was a little bit sore. I’m in Belgrade this afternoon it was sunny and warm and didn’t even think about pain. But a lot of it could be psychological, do we associate cold and damp with pain? Excuse me for late arrival first I have seen this thread..
My brief story, ex Police, was jumped from behind during a drunken struggle with a group of guys. Both L4/5 and L5/S1 went boom!
2009 L4/5 artificial disc replacement &
L5/S1 spinal fusion. The main Ops were carried out at Stanmore orthopedic hospital.
Post Op wasn't pleasant, pain..then both kidneys failed. Two days in ICU it was.
This preceded by years of Co-codamol and Tramadol.....and post Op. Been off Tramadol for over 3 years now.....nightmare. Addiction is an insidious thing. Cold turkey and I thought I was dying!
So I am coming up for 10 years post Op and about to turn 47. Some pain still, but not like it was...and obviously there are triggers that aggravate. Cold days and standing still for too long kill my back! Oh and I have the 1 sweaty, 1 dry foot.. and left quad/calf muscle twitching at night.
Apologies for dull story, but it's settling to read others experiences.. Not alone and all that
A little worrying is a recent increase in pain. Had an MRI 2 weeks ago.. waiting on results.
My brief story, ex Police, was jumped from behind during a drunken struggle with a group of guys. Both L4/5 and L5/S1 went boom!
2009 L4/5 artificial disc replacement &
L5/S1 spinal fusion. The main Ops were carried out at Stanmore orthopedic hospital.
Post Op wasn't pleasant, pain..then both kidneys failed. Two days in ICU it was.
This preceded by years of Co-codamol and Tramadol.....and post Op. Been off Tramadol for over 3 years now.....nightmare. Addiction is an insidious thing. Cold turkey and I thought I was dying!
So I am coming up for 10 years post Op and about to turn 47. Some pain still, but not like it was...and obviously there are triggers that aggravate. Cold days and standing still for too long kill my back! Oh and I have the 1 sweaty, 1 dry foot.. and left quad/calf muscle twitching at night.
Apologies for dull story, but it's settling to read others experiences.. Not alone and all that
A little worrying is a recent increase in pain. Had an MRI 2 weeks ago.. waiting on results.
I have the one sweaty one dry - weird isn't it!!!!!! i have found good cream for the dry one though - anything with Urea in it. Sounds grim but works a treat! Standing also does it for me, so currently paying the price of standing on a stationary train like a sardine yesterday for 90 mins (40 mins at one station due to delays 
)
)dreamer75 said:
I have the one sweaty one dry - weird isn't it!!!!!! i have found good cream for the dry one though - anything with Urea in it. Sounds grim but works a treat! Standing also does it for me, so currently paying the price of standing on a stationary train like a sardine yesterday for 90 mins (40 mins at one station due to delays )
Excuse the pun, but i feel your pain.. even if someone i'm talking goes on to long..i get fidgety. Luckily i dont have to stand around on cold train platforms, so i feel for you with that. Last year though i visited Ypres and the Menin gate, something ive always wanted to do...but, we must have stood there 3 hours+, and it was freezing. I almost couldnt cope. Thats the worst for me. )The urea thing have never heard of, but i will look into it.. cheers
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