03-04-2010, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Lycoming

Orthopaedics is a wonderfully skilled form of surgery. But, it's a big but, it's going to look like butchery in years to come. In the same way we look back at the acts of carnage in the orlop of HMS Victory and shudder at the thought of a piece of leather between your teeth while your mates hold you down so that the 'medic' can hack off your leg.

The discectomy is simply part of the process, the list of hoops you have to jump through prior to the final op. Good luck.

Thanks mate. Yeah it all seems so simple easy and uncomplicated to some, but honestly the fear i have is genuine and to be operating sooooo close to a nerve root has me scrambling to the morphine packet, and then trying to convince myself that the pain is ok
I KNOW i need to do this and am thankful its covered by our Veteran Affairs, but on top of that i have worked my whole life from the age of 16 and the thought of having to sit at home doing nothing is a bigger scare. Going to go and get that 2nd opinion though, and the way our health system is it will be a while to see another specialist. Million things running through the noggin ATM lol


Cheers

05-27-2011, 10:10 PM

Update !!!!!!!

Over the last 12-18 months my back has got considerably worse to the point of being on 100mg Oxycontin (Morphine) a day. I need these tablets or i just can not function. The one time i just hadnt got to the pharmacy in time for a repeat those couple of hours with no pain relief im knotted up in the stomach, headache grumpy and sore. Yes i am now addicted to them
But the reason for this update is i have recently met someone that has inks in the RSL (Returned Services League) and further more with the DVA (Department of Veteran Affairs) and Repatriation. Now he is a ex soldier currently with his Gold Card TPI which is the veterans entitlement card, getting a pension off the government every fortnight with assistance in Car Rego, rental allowance etc . . . .
Now years ago bc they (DVA) dont let on and help you out to know what is involved and what your entitled too i have never pushed for more pension and upgrade the now already worsening injuries. (Honestly i was afraid it wouldnt be enough to comfortably live on) so i thought work was the best option.

Now to get to the point this person asked for my Med Docs and is going to 100% take on me and my case and work with me to get my TPI Gold Card and to have me retire in the near future. Apart from my back there is Knee, both ankles as well that are already accepted disabilities and he says going through my Docs that i have a great chance to get the other 35% i need to get my 100% incapacitation.

Now im not a dole bludger by any means and i have paid my dues i think. It sort of exciting in a way but to not ever work again is going to be one tough time for me. Even with the pain i am in daily and have been for the past 16 odd years i have worked every day of that but im looking forward finally being looked after by the government and to have the time i need to get the operations i so need.
Im hoping it = is not going to be a long process but the Government really like to drag things out and run by the book when trying to get it but once i have got it they will bend over backwards and offer more than they need to . . . . . Retired by 40 yea, i can get in that fishing i miss lol And be afraid M-F be very afraid, ill be around a lot more lol

So yes this is it, the start of this chapter and with a Dr's appt on Mopnday to start the ball rolling . . . . .


Cheers

06-10-2011, 04:20 PM

@Lycoming Mate I appreciated the PM and is good to know im not alone and that someone understands me and what m going through. It does mean so much and now through my reply i understand im worse of than i first thought. I will fight this all they way now even with the hurdle that was just chucked in my way.

Bc i was a Black Hat (Armoured Corps) i go in for hearing and breathing test on Tues. Hearing bc a good % of black hats end there days with loss of hearing due to the close proximity of the gun, and breathing bc of all the cordite breathed in. And my back will be re assessed . . . . . . . Fingers crossed for Tuesday.

Now just as a query, if you had to retire at 40 what would you do or have always wanted to do and didnt have the time to do, that you would do now bc of 40-50 yrs ahead of you not working. ????
If/when this pension comes about, im only aloud to work to supplement the pension 8 hrs a week, so i wil have so much time to do other things.
Im going to sploil my self and upgrade and get a decent iMac and learn myself IOS development and hopefully i could get a help into a UNI course on coding or something??
So just wondering what others would do, with serious answers please.

Cheers

06-10-2011, 04:27 PM

"Im going to sploil my self and upgrade and get a decent iMac and learn myself IOS development and hopefully i could get a help into a UNI course on coding or something?? "

You got it in one. Just as soon as the grand sprogs have grown up. Then it'll be great grand sprogs so the bank will never be in the black again.

Of course now that i have new knees my ballet shoes are useless. Any offers chaps.




Here they are in use.




As my dear wife has just commented. "Mad as a Mongoose."

06-10-2011, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by Lycoming

Of course now that i have new knees my ballet shoes are useless. Any offers chaps.




Here they are in use.




As my dear wife has just commented. "Mad as a Mongoose."

I concur

06-10-2011, 07:00 PM

If I was retired with 40 active years ahead of me I would do two things:

1) Go back to college and take whatever appealed to me
2) Spend a lot more time with my Nikon, especially landscape and wildlife photography.

I might also do a bit of traveling.

Hope everything goes well for you.

Mike

06-24-2011, 06:38 PM

Having a little hiccup with my claims atm

Not liking the way the system is working. here in Aust the government has 2 Rehabilitation Schemes. One for injuries before Mar94 and those for injuries after. Now under the 1st DVA you need 100% disability for the TPI GoldCard and the other scheme 100% to basically be pensioned out under there scheme. What is putting a hurdle in my way is i have about 80% disability on both schemes which is 160% all up, but still cant seem to have it seen as 100% disability to get either one or the other.
Basically im crippled but still forced to work though all the pain everyday just bc the writing on the wall isnt in my favour. Its bc of this writing they could not Medically Discharge me 16yrs ago. i dont know a life without pain and this was my stepping stone to that. More bloody fighting. The Government knows how to wear you down. . . .

Thanks for reading my gripe

Cheers

06-24-2011, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by TattooedMac

i dont know a life without pain

Thanks for reading my gripe

Cheers

I can't say I know exactly how you feel, but I am very aware of that phrase. I have Spinal Stenosis and have been in pain since 2006. SS is a problem where the spinal canal is restricting the spinal chord. I have both cervical stenosis and lumbar stenosis. I have forgotten how life was like without the knife in my back, and have gotten used to it...feels like this is normal
This life-long diagnosis is what made me chose my career as an anesthesiologist.

Feel better, friend!

As for reasons why procedures to relieve spinal injuries haven't risen yet, it has almost everything to do with the delicacy of the many nerves, as well as the fact that touching/damaging any nerve will have something to do with a certain function of the body. That's why so many spinal surgical procedures get refused. Surgeons know there is a huge risk involved, even though most patients would easily sign any relief of liability forms. I have an option of having a laminectomy, but thinking of what could go wrong petrifies me! Spinal surgeons have one of the largest insurance rates because their patients usually come in with a very low risk of death to begin with, while the procedures usually have a high mortality or life-long paralyses. Of course, there are plenty of exceptions to this. Believe it or not, anesthesiologist have one of the lowest insurance rates, even though they could kill someone with a drop of fluid, because patients who come in usually have a mortality rate of 35%+, with a wide range of variations depending of the city. They'll do anything, because it's expected, without having unintended consequences.

06-24-2011, 08:31 PM

^^^ Thanks for the input idrinor . Glad your one of them bc i also did a thread Where does your mind go once under anaesthesia so you might ease my mind there lol. That was for a Shoulder reconstruction.

As to my gripe here, i have had one epidural, which did work for a whole 6 days, and then 6 spine blocks after that. Not once did they hit the nerve or get to where it could pick up the injection. I walked out still in pain and did so after 36 hrs. So i know everytime i went for one after the 3rd that they wouldnt work, hence me not going back for more.
I was approved to have a ????ectomy Shaving the discs the release the pressure on the nerve running down the back of my leg, and then if that did completely work 78% i think the stat was, i would be looking at a fuse

Whats another days wait after 16yrs . . . . . Ill fight until i have what i need

Cheers

06-24-2011, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by TattooedMac

^^^ Thanks for the input idrinor . Glad your one of them bc i also did a thread Where does your mind go once under anaesthesia so you might ease my mind there lol. That was for a Shoulder reconstruction.

As to my gripe here, i have had one epidural, which did work for a whole 6 days, and then 6 spine blocks after that. Not once did they hit the nerve or get to where it could pick up the injection. I walked out still in pain and did so after 36 hrs. So i know everytime i went for one after the 3rd that they wouldnt work, hence me not going back for more.
I was approved to have a ????ectomy Shaving the discs the release the pressure on the nerve running down the back of my leg, and then if that did completely work 78% i think the stat was, i would be looking at a fuse

Whats another days wait after 16yrs . . . . . Ill fight until i have what i need

Cheers

Spinal fusion is really not as bad as people make it out to be. It relieves major stress caused around the disks. The only problem is that there are real fusions of bones, or metallic join-fusions. The bone fusions need to be carefully watched for unwanted growth, but in the long run, it much safer, and can be grown so the bodies own immune system accepts it. When this is performed, the spine only gets limited in movement where it was fused, but lets you go back to your regular daily movements. Having a structure placed to lock the spine usually requires continued spinal surgery down the road because you have a structure that blocks the spine from moving, common sense says that stress put on that can cause more damage, or the vertebrae can crack. That is why doctors will tell you that it's very important to limit heavy lifting, and movement. Bone graft fusion is definitely the way to go. I think it's an absolutely fascinating knowing about it!

06-25-2011, 08:11 PM

Tattoedmac,
Have you had a back surgery yet? If so did they put any metal in?
Where do you live? Australia?
Research spinal decompression using the DRX9000 machine. Its a non surgical decompression treatment. It has only been around since ~2005 but it is 90% effective compared to 30% for the first back surgery and 5% for the second.
My father has been a chiropractor since 1968 and has been using the drx9000 since it came out with excellent results. Trust me you want to be evaluated for this treatment and if you are a candidate then do it.
Message me if you want. I will answer any questions you have. Or do it on the forum so the others can be educated on it.

06-25-2011, 11:10 PM

The DRX9000 *scam* has been under investigation after it came out. It's false advertising. Spinal decompression has been available for a long time before the DRX. They claim 86% "cure" rate, not 90%, when in fact it is far less than that from real procedures, and people have been coming in with more damage than before, even spinal disk separation. If you want a real spinal decompression procedure done, doctors don't need a machine that most insurance companies won't cover. These machines also go under the name of IDD or VAX-D. There is nothing specifically special about the machines that make them better than what has been used before! It's a huge scam that passed through the FDA due to the grandfather clause.

If you don't believe me, simply type this into yahoo/google: "DRX9000 scam," or "DRX9000 investigation."

05-05-2012, 08:38 PM

Hi Peeps
Long time no see. UPDATE :::::::

I have had to admit to myself today that i have turned into a junkie
As those that know me and from my threads. I have been living on Oxcycontin now near on 3 yrs and its only been in the last 12 months that i have started to abuse them, through no fault of my own. My pain seemed to increase where i have had to up my dosage and i was self medicating. I needed a job so i continued to work and couldnt afford to go to the Pain Specialist to get my dose upped and have time off to see him for so many sessions to do so.
Oxycontin is called the HillyBilly Herion and the withdrawls i am in now i can see why. I am no doing to well coupled with my PTSD, Sever Major Depression and co-dependancy, i have had to cave in and i will now be going to see a dr about it, and probably get put into rehab. I still need my pain relief as that hasnt gone but i need to be weaned off this cap bc it has ruined my life. I live to get my pills and having now deminished mine with 2 weeks to go before a refill i have no other option but to go get help.......

I love this forum i really do and have missed the good times here and no my friends will understand my position and why i am letting you know.
I ask those that prey please do for me and thoe that dont ill take anything you have got

I have no other place to turn and now im biting the bullet. Withdrawl i dont wish on anyone but i do need to get through this.
Wish me well and keep me in your thought and appreciate it all

Signing off to a better life

Brent

Cheers

05-05-2012, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by TattooedMac

Hi Peeps
Long time no see. UPDATE :::::::

I have had to admit to myself today that i have turned into a junkie
As those that know me and from my threads. I have been living on Oxcycontin now near on 3 yrs and its only been in the last 12 months that i have started to abuse them, through no fault of my own. My pain seemed to increase where i have had to up my dosage and i was self medicating. I needed a job so i continued to work and couldnt afford to go to the Pain Specialist to get my dose upped and have time off to see him for so many sessions to do so.
Oxycontin is called the HillyBilly Herion and the withdrawls i am in now i can see why. I am no doing to well coupled with my PTSD, Sever Major Depression and co-dependancy, i have had to cave in and i will now be going to see a dr about it, and probably get put into rehab. I still need my pain relief as that hasnt gone but i need to be weaned off this cap bc it has ruined my life. I live to get my pills and having now deminished mine with 2 weeks to go before a refill i have no other option but to go get help.......

I love this forum i really do and have missed the good times here and no my friends will understand my position and why i am letting you know.
I ask those that prey please do for me and thoe that dont ill take anything you have got

I have no other place to turn and now im biting the bullet. Withdrawl i dont wish on anyone but i do need to get through this.
Wish me well and keep me in your thought and appreciate it all

Signing off to a better life

Brent

Cheers

Hang on there buddy!
**In Rob Schneider's voice** "You can do it!"

05-05-2012, 09:06 PM

Hey Brent. Good for you for admitting you have an issue and getting help! Remember, if you need someone to talk to, we won't be going anywhere.

Good luck!