Just had surgery..again! Bad news
 

Those of you have have had prblems with engine builders listen up. Im about to make you feel better about your woes. For those not flollowing the saga, a brief synopsis. I had a two level lumbar spinal fusion on 9/10/02. If was a ***** and somthing I was glad to have gotten past.

Last Monday, I began havig severe pain in my right leg. I called my Dr. who attributed it to healing pains. I knew better and on Wed. demanded a CT scan of my spine be performed. To make a long...very long...story short, during my surgery they used wedge shaped bone implants from a donor which were driven in between my vetrbra after the discs wer removed. These wedges are barbed to prevent then from backking out while the fusion becomes solid. Well, one of mine backed out and actually cut the dura (the lining the your nerves runs through and contains your cerebral spinal fluid). I was directed to retun to the hospital immediataly fpr emergency surgery. They had to completely reopen my 6" incision, loosen all the hardware (screws, rods, etc.) and replace the bone graft that had falied.

Two weeks after a major surgery, I had to go through the entire thing again. I had just gotten to the point where I could get around but now Im back to square one. I can barley walk and typing this is exhuasting but I nneded to vent.

According to my Dr. at the University of Chicago and Medtronics, the maker of the implant, this has b=never happened in thousands of uses.....lucky me.


So thats all for now, Im going to surf for a few while and then back to bed. I hope this makes sense as Im pretty doped up. Take care and be safe.

SO sorry to here I1. WE ALL wish you GOD SPEED in a healthy recovery!!

:) :) :) :) :)

Chris,
I'm so sorry to here this. Your last post I remember seeing that you were outside walking. I hope everything works out ok. Was there any permanent damage done to your nerves? Scary stuff! I'll keep you in my prayers. Get well soon.
Dan

I1 my best friend just had spinal fusion surgery with a lot of hardware, I know how bad he feels and he cant get around at all and for you to have it done twice. I feel for ya man.

Be stong and hang in there buddy, it will all come back to you. Good luck and God Speed.

Intolerant1,
You're not alone , my wife had her jaw broke a week before Thanksgiving to correct a TMJ problem. She was wired shut for 6 weeks (there really is a GOD LOL). also had 3 screws in each side. Right after New Years she was unwired and a week later 2 out of 3 screws on the right side pulled out and her jaw was pivoting on the 3rd screw. Quickly back to the hospital and they installed a titanium plate in her jaw and was then wired for 12 weeks because she was healing so slow. That's what caused the break after the first operation. By this time it was the middle of April and after not moving your jaw for that long...you guessed it:( . She could hardly move it. It is a little better now but she starts therapy next Tuesday. On a funnier note after losing 38 pounds , all summer I was threatening to buy her a THONG bikini:D :D. Her response was somthing like NO F#*@ing WAY:rolleyes: . Here's to a speedy recovery THIS time;)

Man I am cringing (sp) just reading that. Dude I am so sorry to hear about that. Best wishes to you in your 2nd attempt. I have a hydrosyphalic shunt (drains fluid off the brain) and a few years ago it broke at my shoulder. The pain was so bad I was passing out. To have to go back in not only was scarry but also angered me. I was just glad to get it over.

Jon

I had a head on collision in Hockey the other night my neck collapsed, bit my tongue, and dropped to the Ice.
Sat still a moment, collected my thoughts and thought about my son.
I was fine, shaken up, but I thought about everyone like yourself with real problems...
Get well my friend, GODSPEED

been through two back surgeries, single parent, small children, no money, life was hard so if you need someone to talk with e-mail me and we will talk, years later life is good, just remember this will pass ............. Phil [email protected]

stay away from pain meds if you can

Ahhh...the big question, who is responsible. Im guessing I will never know. The surgeon, who is the Chief of Neurosurgery at the University of Chicago, is supposed to be one of the best in the world. Im guessing there will be finger pointing between the installer and the manufacturer. Kind of like a crank failing. Ive always hated the idea of lawsuits but the way I feel right now, and the absolute hell my wife has been put through, I deserve somthing. Both trips to the hospital she stayed by my side 24/7. She also owns and runs a succesgul business. This medical problem of mine has cost her thousands.

Hang in there Chris
 

Dude, that hurts just reading it!

Sorry to hear about your setback, but hang in there. Hopefully it will be as worth it in the long run as mine was.

May da Schwartz be whitchew !!!!

GET WELL SOON!

Chris,

That is terrible !!!! I am sorry things went bad for you. Hope your up and around soon and ready for next summer. Call if you need help with anything.

Dennis and Cheryl

that sucks man...

at last they caught it now before it casued and major nerve damage.

cheer up and feel better.

I1, Sorry to hear about your surgery malfunction. It hurts just thinking about it. This definitely puts a perspective on boating problems. There are no money back options when it comes to health problems. I hope they got it right this time, then you can heal up over the winter and be ready to go next summer.

Now I'm off to Tech Q&A section to compain about my boat problems.

Hang in there man! I'll hope for a speedy recovery.

Dont know what to say other than take care and get well soon I have had knee surgery twice the first time was a ***** second one went much better. Kind of like my marrages :p Good luck.

I1,
Sorry to hear that. As a fellow thre level fusion I can sympathise with you. God speed on your recovery.:)

Get well soon. I, as most of us know, a back pain can be the worst pain a person can have and based on what you have posted we have not come close to feeling the pain you have been going through. I hope you get through this, and the problem is taken care of.

I hate to mention it since you are going through so much, but I will relate what I am going through today. About three months ago my heart specialist said I needed agioplasty with a stent to fix a blockage I had. I did it without even a question after researching the procedure. I didn't even post on OSO because it sounded like less than having a tooth pulled. I had the surgery and felt great immediately and bragged to all my friends what a simple deal it was and how it helped me. Last Friday one of my friends went in for the same procedure and complications occured, we buried him today. Age 58.

My point is, medical technology is great and they are able to take care of problems unheard of just a few years ago, but, things can go wrong. Feel fortunate, your doctors will fix you and you will keep on boating.

Take it easy, kick back and give yourself a chance to heal. Hopefully they will never have to open you back up again. Its getting cold, and time to put the boat away for the season anyway.

Have a speedy and PERMANENT recovery.

Chris
I'm sorry to hear that you had complications after it seemed you were doing so well. Heal up the right way this time and lets go boating next year. Try to smile:D it helps with the healing.

CHris , Sorry to hear that ! I have back problems that everyone keeps saying ,"why don't you get it fixed "? Well , It scares me a bit ! And your experience shows me not to fool with it unless it HAS to be done . I realy hope things work out better for you this time . Sure makes our boat problems seem stupid ..........

Best wishes , JOE

TulsaLarry,

Your experience losing a close friend is exactly the kind of thing I keep in mind every time i fell sorry for myself. While in the hospital. on both occasions, my room was directly under the helipad. That chopper comes and goes no less than six times a day at all hours. I just keep thinking of the folks they are flying for whether it be patients or organ donor transports.

I have a 16 year old niece that was fused at 8 levels at age 11 do to advanced scoliosis. She has been strength every time I start feeling sorry for myself. My life will never be pain free, but i will enjoy it anyway.

Thanx all for the kind words.

BEST WISHES AND GET WELL SOON!

Its a good thing you're smarter than your doctors!! Good luck and I hope for a speedy recovery!

I really feel for you.........my wife lives in pain all the time. NO..it's not me. I hope for a speedy recovery for you and with as little pain as possible.......because I know it always comes with it.
Get Well Soon

Ouch is right.

Get well soon is all I can say.

Chris,

Good luck with your recovery this time. I recently had another knee surgery and recovery isnt going as I expected (the age thing im sure). Over the past few years I have had numerous leg and knee surgeries due to an accident I was in, however I have always you dont need to look to far to find someone in a worse situation. Hang in there REhab and recovery are sometimes a ***** but they sure beat the alternative. Good Luck:)

Chris,
Get well soon, and hang in there buddy!
MD

Chris... all I can say is OWHHHHHHHHH.

Good thing your not into snowmobiling. Rest up and have that lovely wife of yours spoil you for the winter months to come. I'm hooked up with a new contract so a trip out for a week will not be coming anytime soon. Get well my friend.

Trevor

Damn...even your post feels painful.
Get well soon...wish you a speedy recovery.

Ouuuuuch!

Get Well Soon....

Holy cow! I'm at a loss for words about this screwup! Get well soon man. :)

Chris,
Sorry to hear that. Just take it slow.
Hope everything goes well this time.

Mark

Man are you ever right – that puts the engine problems in its proper perspective! If you want to vent, doped up or not, we are here for you bro! Fight hard, and if you don’t think you can, talk to us and we’ll get you through it. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!!!!!!!!

Geez I1, I can only imagine the pain you must be experiencing. I'm sorry to hear that your surgery did not turn out well, especially after you were so undecided whether to go through with it or not. Those bruises on your a** must hurt from kicking yourself. Try to keep positive, you've got a great woman by your side. Keep your chin up and give Kathi (and yourself, of course!) our best.

Your friends from the north,
Canunks in the Trunk

Nooooooo... she is monitoring and posting.... my last great freedom of expression has been torn from my fingers. :p
Where am I to go and vent now!!!!! :D :D

Same thing ( almost) - different Dr.! I hade ruptured discs in L-3, L-4, L-5 & S-1. The Dr. also had to remove some 'arthritic' groth in the spinal column. 5 weeks later, I lost the use of my left leg. The dr. said the same thing, just healing pains. On the 6th week I had an MRI, revealed a "water baloon" of spinal fluid sitting on the nerve to my leg. The Dura had a 1/4' hole in it. I have never hurt so much! In surgury that night, for the second time. This was done in April of 1999 at the UCLA spine ctr. After the 2nd surgury, the relief was almost immediate, but to date, not complete. Last month, the Dr. was recommending a fusion .............................

I feel your pain, been there / done that, and I know what its like. I hope your last surgury was successful, and you are back on your feet soon.

Just for info, I had another Orthopaedic Surgeon, a friend (does kness and elbows - no back anymore), tell me that this is fairly common, and it is usally caused by the surgeons tools ........... they just don't like to admit it. The excuse on my back was a "fish hook" shape of bone was left after the spinal column clean out.

Good Luck to you

Hope you feel better soon.

And...while you are recovering...should you ever feel that your boat should be taken out and thoroughly run I will at no charge come and take it out for a day or two.

But seriously...I hope this is the end of your health problems and you recover quickly.

Good luck Chris.

Steve