Looking for info

OK, dear friends, I have another request and hope to get some feedback as my last request gave me a great boost, knowing that we're not alone.
This time I'd like to know if anybody ever had spinal injuries before landing up with a stoma. In my case before the four surgeries that got me into this mess I had two spinal operations, I wont go into details, but I was coping well with my herniated discs before I had all these operations in 2003, then about three years ago something happened to my spine and caused my left leg from the hip to the ends of my toes to go into this absolutely mind numbing pain and unlike when a disc pops out you know in a few days or weeks this will pass, but with this thing that happened to me has turned into constant pain and cripples the hell out of me. I make it a point to go to the grocery store almost every day just to keep this thing from from getting away on me. My doctor has said the surgeons would like to see me as much as I'd like to see them as the second spinal operation I had was ten times worse than all four operations, aneuryism, two ops for the ileostomy and another op to stop all the blockages I'd been having and then this piece of shit hits me and worse, my family doctor can't tell me a hell of a lot except I have spinal disc degeneration. If I go to see a specialist its a 300 mile round trip and I just know this would involve at least three trips and I don't want to go there, knowing sometime in the future I'll probably have to make that decision. I thought I remembered from sometime in the past someone had mentioned having similar problems and would like to hear from someone, thanks in advance, Ed

Can't help you out with any advice, but just wanted to say I feel for you. Never had much pain of any sort in my 68 years, but know people who have. I don't know which is worse: back pain or headaches, but I do know both are a pain in the butt... and are hell to deal with.

Hi, I have developed an arthritic spine, quite painful. I should really walk more, but I have given up on that. So now I go to the pool where I do aqua exercises. They seem to help a bit. The water takes the weight off my body, so I suppose that is why the exercises help loosen me up.

Sorry to hear that you have been having so much trouble. Hope you get some relief soon... keep taking the pills! LOL

Hello Gutenberg, here is what I know. I also have disc degeneration and can only stand for about 10 minutes, and then I have to sit down and take the pressure off my back, and then go again. But that is not the point. Here is my friend had it a lot worse than me and could not walk very well at all and was starting to get very crippled up. She went to a clinic in Irving, Texas and had microscopic (not sure on the spelling) surgery, went home the next day, and is great today. They put in two things, can't remember if called plates or what, but all done without invasive surgery. She had to wear a brace around her midsection for a while but not long (this may be the only upset in our case, get if the way of the stoma). I know you are in Canada, but I am sure they have places like that in Canada. I can get the name and address for you if you like, and you could see if they can refer you to someone up there. Hope this helps.

I don't know if this helps you, but I have been paralyzed since 1984 due to a car accident. I got a spinal injury which left me a quadriplegic incomplete, so I have been in a wheelchair. So, without making it too long, in '94 I had a urostomy done - a pouch which I do intermittent catheterization for (all because of the paralysis that I lost control of my lower extremities). I have done a lot of different things about my bowel, so in May of '18, I had my first colostomy. It did not work, so I got it redone on July 22, '10, and I have been battling an infection since. All because I did not want to drive to a colorectal surgeon that was 3 hours away. Now, 5 months later and a lot of misery, I had to go see him. My advice to you is to go see the right surgeon, no matter how far. Your life can depend on it.
Good luck.

Just saying THANKS for your replies, now I really have to make up my mind. I see my doctor on the 30th of this month and will set the wheels in motion, Ed

I used to visit people at the hospital. Once, I put my foot on the bottom of this lady's bed and she about flew out of that bed. Same pain you are talking about.

I don't know what she did, but before surgery -- I would look at a Medtronic Pain Stimulator. The Pain Management Doctor would have you wear a small belt around your waist for a couple of weeks with a tiny tube taking Morphine to the spot where the pain is. Then, if it helps, he would implant a small, probably 4" disc in your abdomen with that tube going to where the pain is. My father had a broken back. We always didn't want morphine. He was so goofy with all the other things, we decided to try that. It gave him his life back. He could straighten up and smile again. They can increase the amount that goes there as you tell them on a 1-10 scale where your pain is. Then, every month, you go in and they fill it with a syringe -- no pain involved in that. The difference is, the medicine goes where the pain is instead of all over your body. After seeing my dad struggle for so long, I'd advise that to anyone in constant pain.

Donna