Elaine - Spondylolisthesis Story
I had my surgery 11 years ago. I did feel a bit better after I had it done, but I feel bad again now. I've never been, what you call 'pain-free,' but just carried on. I'm having grating nerve pains in my lower back now, and a ripping sensation on my skin, which I think is nerve damage. Just general pain all-around really. I am glad I had it done though because I don't know how I would've been otherwise. Plus, I think my pregnancy would have felt an awful lot worse than it did. Gets me down loads.
I was only 27 when I had the L4 & L5 fused, so that's probably contributing to things now. Plus, all the other different pains I am feeling. Like I say, I don't regret having it done, but I suffer with depression now and I don't think I would be able to go through with another stint in hospital ... spent too much time in them, what with one thing and another.
Backache was moderate whilst carrying my daughter, but after no one listened to what I wanted at the birth, I ended up having a C-Section, as she got stuck. Back-pain was terrible afterwards, plus I had the extra pain from the C-Section site. I didn't get pregnant until 3 years after my back surgery, but wanted a C-Section right from the start ... but no one listened!! Some nerve pains occured whilst carrying, but at the minute I'm dealing with three totally different pains, rolled into one.
1. I have the dull, constant lower back-pain. 2. The grating, nervey pains, which I think is the framework. 3. The ripping sensations on my skin, which I think is maybe nerve damage. They all happen together, which is not nice at all.
I've always had twinges in different areas, but I think my consultant found this rather 'silly' if you like, and I don't think she believed me to be honest. Like I said though, everyone is different, and personally I can't see how you can be totally pain-free with that structure inside of you, if you know what I mean? I've never been able to lie flat on the floor on my back Post-Op, as my structure sticks in me; sounds weird, but true. Depending on the style of a chair too, the back rest will stick directly into the area where my structure is, which is a very unpleasant sensation. I haven't had any X-Rays or an MRI for a long time because I am afraid, although I am going to ask to be refered again and see just what's happening inside me. I think that's as far as I'm going to go too, as I dont think that I could deal with things as well as I did 11 years ago, as a lot of things have happened in my life since then.
If I can help someone else ... then I'm happy. I've always wanted to talk about what's happened and how it's affected me in every way, but you get to thinking that people get bored of hearing it. But, at the end of the day, it's no small issue to deal with! Its' hard as hell mentally and physically, and very difficult to come to terms with what was, and still is.
- Elaine
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| Elaine's Post-Op Fusion X-Ray |
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