Slight Dilemma

[RayvenQ]

So, as some of you may know, I have a bad back, what I don't think I've said is that while there is surgery available to fix it, the neurosurgeon plainly refuses to do it because, in his words "There's a high risk of putting you in a wheelchair or worse."

The pain is just below unbearable, I'm managing, though I don't go out much and when I do it's with the aid of a walking stick, but It's slowly creeping up to higher and higher amounts.

But I'm thinking of pushing for the surgery, but I don't know as, whatever happens, it won't just affect me but people I know. Putting me in a wheelchair is something that I don't know, I'd manage, because I'd have to, without it really affecting people around me, it's just the "or worse" that gives me pause, because I'd rather rather go through all the pain and keep on suffering in it, before doing something that would put them through something terrible.

The only real way is to go through with it and find out, but with the odds that he's given me, its not something to jump into without thought.

[Der Cute]

Do the pros and cons, (Me and logic). Weigh the odds. what's the location, what's the problem if you don't mind.
Can you chat with a pain management specialist to see what you can do w/o surgery? Besides benzos and painkillers, what can you do personally? Does your diet possibly inflame/piss off your back? (just a thought).

Remember we yelled at Plaid to get a new opinion when his doc said "you're too young for a new hip" and we told him to hobble to a new doc and get the damn thing fixed. You can get a 2nd opinion, easily.. Chat with a doctor YOUNGER than yours, the newer doc might know a procedure that's newer than the oldschool stuff. Research via internet of the disease/condition and see what other people do.

Hell, I've been checking books out like crazy for BiPolar and learning about it.

[Food Lady]

I agree; get a 2nd opinion. Maybe there's something besides surgery. I always say avoid it if possible. I'm sorry you're in so much pain.

[Mytical]

Not sure how widely available it is, or anything, but there is a new chiropractor thing called Disk Decompression Therapy, touted as a surgery alternative. Doesn't work for everything, but might be something to look into.

[Seshat]

Alternatives:

* Do a pain management program.
* Have occupational therapists work with you to improve your home, and improve how you do the things you do in your life.
* Have pain-specialist physiotherapists help you reverse the "pain->reduced activity->muscle atrophy->greater pain" spiral.
* Get chiropractic or osteopathic work done on your back.
* Get massage.
* Have a podiatrist check your walk, making sure your feet/knees/hips aren't aggravating your back. (Hey, you could be!)

* Get a TENS unit or one of the other assorted electronic devices they're discovering as pain management tools.
* There's this weird electronic implant thing they can do to disrupt pain signals, as well. I don't know much about it, but this sounds like the kind of condition it was created for.
* Heat or cold signals can disrupt pain signals, so it can be worth strapping a heat or cold pad to your back where it hurts.
* Heat/cold rubs (such as Icy Hot) work the same way, and are worth a try.
* Pain signals have priorities. This is why rubbing an itch sometimes works - the 'pressure' signal has a higher priority than the 'itch' signal. I'm failing my google-fu on pain signal priorities, but your pain specialist can give you the priority sequence. Basically, when you have a low priority pain (such as 'aching') that is causing you suffering, replace it with a higher priority signal (such as 'warmth') that doesn't cause you suffering.

* Reduce other forms of suffering or stress from your life. Every person has a stress capacity.
Assume the bar below is your stress capacity, total.
==============================
Now, the *** is the amount of your stress capacity taken up with pain.
*************====================
Let's say the +++ is stress capacity taken up by your job.
*************+++++++++++++++=====
And ### is family responsibilities.
*************+++++++++++++++##########
ooops! We overflowed your stress capacity! No wonder you're yelling at the kids!

Point made?
You can only control your pain level by however much the tools and techniques I've mentioned can work.
You CAN use de-stressing techniques such as art, music, entertainment, love/friendship, massage and other loving/gentle touch, sex/intimacy, and cuddling pets to help reduce your stress levels.
You also need to manage your manageable stresses. If your job eats up more of your stress capacity than you can allow it to, find a way to make it less stressful, or find a different income source.
If your family responsibilities overload you, hire a cleaner, lean on a grandparent more, or .. something.

The point here is not so much to control PAIN, as it is to control SUFFERING. As long as you keep your stress levels below your stress capacity, you can still be in the same pain level, but you'll be suffering less.



.... and if none of this works, and your pain management doctors can't help, then start talking about medication and/or surgery.


I hope this has been helpful!