cervicalspinalstenosiswithbonespurs

My EMG showed that nerves continue to be actively irritated in my cervical spine. my next test is a bone scan.

In the meantime, I have pain beginning on my right side in addition to my left. I’m feeling like this is becoming more and more a long term issue. It’s been about 18 months now since I first began having symptoms and I’ve already had one spine surgery, a foraminotomy on two levels.

I feel so alone in all this. Meanwhile, I’m trying to work full time sand take care of my husband with stage 3 colorectal cancer. He’s doing well with chemotherapy, but...this is all a lot.

#bonescan #ChronicSpinePain #ChronicPain #cervicalspinalstenosiswithbonespurs #spinesurgery #spinepain

A few months ago, in October, I had a cervical foraminotomy on two levels. As I healed, I had a wonderful break from all my nerve pain.  It was glorious!  I thought my surgeon was a super hero.  (He still is...this isn't his fault, he's a great surgeon.)

Now, the pain is slowly creeping back in. The muscle tightness and spasms...everything starting back up. I'm starting on Gabapentin again tonight and hoping it will do more good than last time. I get a MRI on Monday.

The problem is, I'm a caregiver. My husband was recently diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. My son needs (non-cancer related) his own colon resection and cecostomy. My daughter just got out of the hospital for inpatient treatment for depression and anxiety and suicidal ideation.

I literally have no time to get this treated. I'm going to have to just live with it somehow until I can get everyone else well. I'm hoping they can do cortisone shots or something to get me through until we can treat this.

Did I mention I also have to keep working full time to support my family?
#ChronicSpinePain #CervicalRadiculopathy #cervicalspinalstenosiswithbonespurs #SpinalStenosis #ChronicPain #Caregiving

I have an alarm set so I don’t take my pain meds too early or too late. It’s set to play “Sound of Silence” by Disturbed. Do you have a med alarm? #PainMedication #CervicalRadiculopathy #CervicalDiscDegeneration #cervicalspinalstenosiswithbonespurs

A well meaning friend calls and seems to drone on and on, not really giving you a word in edgewise.

“Oh yeah, I had something like that a few years ago. It only lasted a few months and I just needed this one pill...at night.”

“Have you tried (names off thing you tried a year ago), oh, what about (thing that never helped)?”

“Can you hold on?” (Hollers grocery list at her family member while you’re waiting on the phone just wanting to hang up.)

Ugh...why call me at all, waking me up, just to ignore me?

It hurts even to breathe. No one understands or cares. Why keep fighting? I just want the pain to end. I woke up crying, fighting to breathe, my shoulder feeling like it was being wrenched apart. I just want to rest peacefully. I haven’t slept since last Saturday.

I just want to close my eyes and feel nothing. #Suicide

The spine care center isn’t returning my calls. I’ve been out of work a week, unable to sleep, and in constant pain. They just don’t seem to care. My surgery is more than a month out.

I don’t know if I can make it.

It’s taken me a year since I began having cervical radiculopathy, nerve pain down my left shoulder and arm, to get to the point of a surgical consult for a foraminotomy. Today, I found out the soonest surgery date...is November 1st.

I’m crushed. I’m in constant pain to the point I can’t work or sleep. I’m on pain meds. I did everything they told me to do, working through the year on physical therapy, acupuncture, posture. I’ve been living with this pain a year now and I’m worried I’ll lose my job or have to go on disability.

If you had a long surgery wait, how did you handle it? #CervicalRadiculopathy #DegenerativeDiscDisease #SpinalStenosis #Osteoarthritis #SpinalSurgery #CervicalDiscDegeneration #cervicalspinalstenosiswithbonespurs