elkoholic Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 Well, if anything it should be in my back, but most of it is in my legs and walking or standing has been extremely difficult the past month or so. MRI showed a herniated disc at L4/L5 on the left side but strangely enough more of the symptoms are in the right leg. I had an ESI/SNRB yesterday and tomorrow there is EMG/nerve conduction testing scheduled. All of this to assure the surgeon of the right approach as surgery in the form of a microdiscectomy and possible fusion is looming. With the opening of archery season on September 6th, I doubt the elk have little to worry about from me this year, but hopefully I can at least look forward to sitting on stand for some deer hunting before archery season ends in mid October. Then, there is always rifle season in late October through the end of November. One thing that gets me at these doctor visits is the, rate your pain question and the diagrams where you draw in where the pain is and is it aching, tingling/burning, stabbing or is there numbness. Rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the worst imaginable. Hmmm. While I've had some flashes of pain and spasms that may have pushed a 10 I'm not sure. I'm thinking being skinned alive would be pretty bad, or being boiled in oil, or how about high voltage being shot along a nerve (thinking about my nerve conduction testing). What is the worst pain you could imagine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 The worst pain I can imagine is being burned real bad and having to live with it! I have seen a couple of burn cases and it was horrible! I have had a lot of pain in my life, but nothing like those two people who were burned! One finally did die and it was a relief for him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerforged Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 Prayers sent elkoholic, I feel your pain. I had the same problem 15 years or so ago but in my neck at C4-C5. ended regular bowhunting for me, had to change to a crossbow. Hope your recovery time is faster than mine, I was down for 7 months. Primarily because the D*** insurance wouldn't approve the surgery until all other treatments proved useless. Surgeon said the other treatments only made matters worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 Hang in there, elkoholic, pain hurts otherwise it's not pain. If that made any sense let me know. After three heart surgeries I can relate a bit. Prayers sent! Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 You're in my prayers too. I'm no stranger to back pain either, with the same problems you have. You've pinched your sciatic nerve, that's why you have pains down your left leg. I can't stand answering those questionnaires about rating your pain. All I can think of is there are plenty of people way, way worse off than me, so how the heck do you rate your pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 As a nurse I've been exposed to several chronic pain clinics in my area. I feel for anyone with chronic pain. I'd have to say Orlan makes a good point about pain associated with burns. The good Lord has blessed me with good health. I had a bridge placed over a decayed tooth a couple years ago. The anchor tooth (a molar) became infected and began to drain. The bridge prevented the abcess from draining and therefore continued to build up under the bridge. Of course this all happened on a Saturday and my dentist office wasn't open until Monday. He did order me Vicodin, but it made me severely nauseous so I had nothing for the increasing pain from Saturday night until Monday morning. By Sunday night the pain was so bad I was trying to pull the bridge out myself to relieve the pressure. Monday morning came and I was in the parking lot waiting for my dentist to arrive. He saw me first (without an appointment) and I was never so glad to get a root canal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 i'm lucky to have a real healthy life overall. i can only imagine the pain you have. sure do feel for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Prayers on the way for you Dave. Herniated discs and the effects of them can be painful for sure, have had my share of low back and neck problems, feel for you. Worst pain I could imagine would be burns as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Wow, I am also home because of back pain today! But I didnt see a doctor, yet! Getting sick of sitting here with a heating pad! Hope you feel better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superguide Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 I saw a young bronc rider have a 1500 lb saddle bronc step on his cash and prizes on the weekend-there were about 500 other cowboys feeling sympathy pain for him for sure. I think sneezing with broken ribs is right up there-I've broke my back too but dislocated ribs and a good sneeze rate right up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagleboy Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 Hang in there elkoholic. Prayers sent. I have been there several times with two microdiscectomies in two years and a spinal fusion in February of this year at the L5/S1 level. There is no greater pain than pain in the leg as you can't get out of bed or get out to go to the bathroom. Before surgery I was confined to my bed for two and a half weeks awaiting surgery. The leg pain got so bad I couldn't walk. Hang in there, better days are coming. If your surgeon decides to do a micro, chances are you will hit the woods this year. I had a micro in Mid Sept and I was bowhunting the end of Oct. Good luck with everything and if you need info PM me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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