My story after all these years/ update/02/03/18 back surgery yesterday

[Alchemist]

I know that some of you may read the update headline and think, "Bobs get gynecomastia surgery"?  No, I'm not I'm hoping to get rid of some pain surgery AGAIN!

The VA called today to schedule my SI joint fusion surgery. I had said in a earlier post that I wanted to wait after deer hunting because I had missed the last two years because of this damn pain and that I got the ATV for hunting this year. Now, we also found out our youngest was coming home on leave too and was hoping to be here as well, so I requested after thanksgiving and as requested I'm going in the second week of Dec! So I will get hunting in and just maybe my daughter will still be here as well.

As any of you know that live with chronic pain you never can rid yourself of all of it, you just hope to get a break from some of it, and that is what I'm hoping for. I know that I'll have some of this forever, but if I can do something to help some of it I have to at least give it a try! I'm good at dealing with surgery after all that I've had.

I tell my kids when they say, "dad I wish you didn't feel like this"! The day that I wake up with no pain is the day you can plan my funeral, because it will be the day that I died.

Hi Bob,

After having been in chronic pain for 50 years I don't even know what it is like to not be in pain.  While various treatments have been partially effective at controlling pain, I have not been pain free in that period.  However as Bob indicated, each time I have had an NDE I can tell I've died because the pain shuts off like a switch.  Unfortunately such relief doesn't last very long, just one eternal moment eye blink.

I hope you get a good break.  My partner had a dump truck run into her.  She had a two level fusion on her neck.  However, her SI joint has been nothing but pain and trouble the past 8 years, and getting worse each year.  I believe her to be in more pain now than I am and I wouldn't wish that on anybody.

[hammer]

I know what you mean my friend, I wouldn't wish this pain on my worse enemy! Three years of failed injections and now we will "try" fusion! No guarantee here, but I've got to at least give it a try!

The fact is that the SI joint is only a small part of the pain factor, but it is the one we are focused on now! Among others, there still is C4,5 and 6 in the neck that I am scared to death to do anything about.

I've got good news to report! I had several appointments on Wed at the VA and one was my yearly eye check up. As a diabetic it is always a worry of going blind. Just as you get nerve damage in the feet as I have called neuropathy, you can get neuropathy of the retina nerve causing you to go blind! I've had bad feet for a long time now putting me in a wheel chair for any distance walking and I've always said I'd give up both of my legs to keep my eyes! Well, I was told that I no longer even need my glasses! I started wearing glasses in 1st grade and the last few years my Rx has been getting less each time I got new glasses. I do need to still use reading glasses.

I will take anything that is a good improvement in my life, be it a little less pain or no more glasses.

[Alchemist]

I know what you mean my friend, I wouldn't wish this pain on my worse enemy! Three years of failed injections and now we will "try" fusion! No guarantee here, but I've got to at least give it a try!

The fact is that the SI joint is only a small part of the pain factor, but it is the one we are focused on now! Among others, there still is C4,5 and 6 in the neck that I am scared to death to do anything about.

I've got good news to report! I had several appointments on Wed at the VA and one was my yearly eye check up. As a diabetic it is always a worry of going blind. Just as you get nerve damage in the feet as I have called neuropathy, you can get neuropathy of the retina nerve causing you to go blind! I've had bad feet for a long time now putting me in a wheel chair for any distance walking and I've always said I'd give up both of my legs to keep my eyes! Well, I was told that I no longer even need my glasses! I started wearing glasses in 1st grade and the last few years my Rx has been getting less each time I got new glasses. I do need to still use reading glasses.

I will take anything that is a good improvement in my life, be it a little less pain or no more glasses.

My partners fusion was C5-C7 I think, and boy did it help the pain. Her docs might start suggesting injections more strongly. She had the titanium cage and electrostimulated bone growth collar instead of a bone wedge, done by the best surgeon we could find.  It was also front entry surgery.

[hammer]

I was told if I had the neck done they would also go in from the front normally, but being I'm diabetic they would do it from the back to help the healing be faster and less chance of infection.

[hammer]

My SI fusion surgery is finally going to happen after three years of failed injections except one I'm going in Monday Dec 9th to have it done! The procedure that is used now is less invasive then the old way, but the down fall is they have no history on how long it will last! I figure as we all did (me, Debbie and doctor) when I got my knees done at such a young age that because I'm not very mobile it should last longer then normal. I'm not sure if you all know that knee replacements don't last for ever!

If your interested in what this procedure is you can google SI joint fusion using the Ifuse system. The surgery should only take one hour and home the next day, unless I would need blood transfusion or other problems.

What is done is a small cut on the side of the butt and three holes are drilled into the SI joint, then three titanium pins are inserted into the holes. The pins are ruff so the bone will grow around them.

I'll have to use a walker 6 weeks or more, but being I already use a cane in the house and wheelchair too I don't see any problem with that. I also used a walker with the other back and knee replacement surgeries.

I'll update as I'm  feeling better, as I'm not going to be able to do a lot for a long time. I planning to convert all my old records and tapes to digital CDs, I see that as a good sit down recovery project.


Bob

[Alchemist]

Hi Bob,

I hope everything worked out well.  Good health.

[walt]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery . Blessings to you and yours.

[hammer]

Thank you gentlemen! I'm home now, got home yesterday just one day in the hospital! Over all I don't feel to bad considering. I'm stuff and sore in my shoulders from lifting myself and I've got a big bruise on my left boob I'm sure is from being on my belly for surgery, and bruises where the IVs where in. The worse part is I feel like I was shot in the ass with a shot gun a couple time! I guess I should expect that from them drilling three holes and putting pins in the holes! Ha! Ha!
 
Now I know how my uncle felt in WWII! He was shot in the ass while digging out a couple guys that got trapped in a fox hole! He got them out before he got Medical treatment too, he was a tough old guy, he was the one I stayed with on the farm.

Once again, thanks for the kind thoughts from the both of you!


Bob

[phm]

Hope all goes well with your recovery Yankee.

[hammer]

Thank you my southern rebel brother! I also hope that all is going well with you these days!

[leosud]

Hello,
i'm a french 55's years old man.
My breast is 115 c-d, maybe 50 c-d US size, my chest started to develop as i was 15 years old.
Now I'm 6.22, 230. I look like a lumberjack.
I live with the acceptance of my body. In France it's not very easy all days. Sometimes I catch glances.
I always wear shirts and T shirts XXXXL, and so it's easiest to live with my breast.
I don't want chirurgical reduction because i've seen results not pretty and, at first, I think that it's my body, I prefer to live with big breasts nice rather than with a normal chest not pretty and painfull.
The result will be the same :  no "topless" (is it the right word), no beach in the day.
This forum is a good thing for me, I'm not alone !!!!!!!

[hammer]

No our French brother you are not alone! There are actually a lot of us that live with our large breast!

I was just in the VA hospital for surgery and I had a four man room! I had to be open on why I couldn't use a urinal while I was still in bed and that I needed to stand up and use it due to the fact that my penis was very small now that it has been years since I lost my testicles! My room mates said nothing to be bothered about, and I then said that I've also been blessed with these big breast, and they all said not a big deal to them and that there could be many worst things!

The plus side of this is it gets me back on my feet much sooner!

That same day things happen to each of them that others would find embarrassing, but when your among adults and friends or brother vets it is understood.

We do have an area that is dedicated for acceptance in this forum if you need advice.

Welcome to the forum.

[tony31]

hats off to you TS..

i was pissed by myself having this but when i red your story i just coudnt say a word..

[hammer]

Tony, we all have are own issues and God only gives us what we can handle!

I wish you well in what ever it is that you need to deal with my friend!


Bob

[hammer]

Here I am, it will be a week tomorrow and all I can say is "damn my ass hurts"!

I'm sure that many of you can relate to the fact that when I look back at surgery recovery it is hard to remember one being harder or easier over another! On the day that I came home I was bruised all over on my left butt cheek even though the cut is only about 2" long. The pain was all over the left side of the butt, down the leg to the knee but no longer in the back. The pain now at almost a week later is only in the left butt cheek area, no longer going anywhere, but more intense then is was at first, however the pain meds are great, and doing a great job of pain reduction! It is HYDROMORPHONE!

I can see why at this point that I can't be bending, twisting and putting any weight on the left side! I tell people all the time to follow their post-op instructions, so I need to do the same! It doesn't take much to make the pain bad enough to bring tears to my eyes, and I mean pain that will make you scream like a little girl along with those tears! All I need to do is let go of my walker and lean a little to turn off a light and that can hurt like hell!

I don't think I will be having any fun this winter, but then when is winter fun!


Bob