night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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I didn't mean to hijack somebody else's thread with my own issue, so I'm posting here for my update.
As I said, I fractured T7. They shot some dye up my spinal cord and watched a real-time xray (I THINK it was called fluoroscopy?) and the fracture at T7 was candidate for the "injectable cement" procedure. They injected the cement to help support the fracture and here I am at home only 3 hours later.
I only found out about the fracture yesterday at the pain management appointment. I wasn't entirely certain what they were going to do today until they did it. I was awake and unsedated for the whole procedure--which took about 1.5 hours.
It didn't help the pain at all--in fact made it worse, but they upped my methadone dose to 40mgs (I was only taking 1/10th that amount) and gave me Ultracet, too. So, I'm doing pretty well right now, with of course, quite a bit of pain and residual nerve twinges from the irritation to the area.
I was quite surpised that they were able to "fix" the fracture with such a simple procedure.
Thanks to all who sent me their best wishes! BTW- No laptop...just a quick post before leaving for the hospital. I'm the one who'll be late for my own funeral!
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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kayleighbear
Member
Reged: 12/01/03
Posts: 101
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Wow Nightshade! I've never heard of that procedure. Hopefully after the irritation calms down, you'll have better pain relief.
Good luck and keep us posted how it goes!
Kayleigh
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prettyday
Threadhead
Reged: 02/09/03
Posts: 924
Loc: Coastal Sage Scrub
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(((((((Night)))))))),
that is amazing! Is that totally new procedure or has it been around for a long time?
They must have been just tapping their feet at the door when you walked in for the operation, but I think you were very cool about the whole thing! Please let us know how you feel as the days go by, and what this means long term for the rest of your back problems!
    
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
- Mahatma Gandhi
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Anglwink
Veteran
Reged: 04/29/03
Posts: 605
Loc: East coast
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Night_Shade,
you are a real trooper! thanks for sharing the info on the new treatment. hope you feel better soon! sending gentle hugs, Anglwink
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"Believe"
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zoe11
Journeyman
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 87
Loc: Other side of the moon
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Hang in there Nightshade. I hope you feel wayyyyyy better soon.
z
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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I don't know about the "injectable cement" procedure. As everything happened very quickly and I wanted to avoid major surgery, I happily volunteered for the less invasive option. It was offered to me after the fluoroscopy and I signed the consent form while I was in the OR. Really fast and simple and certainly relatively painless. YES, it hurt, but not unbearably so. In fact the nerve test I had many years was FAR more painful than this procedure.
I got to see the films from the procedure and it was really interesting to see the spinal cord and nerve "branches" in your back and how they look when they are all "lit up" by the radioactive stuff. Looks like a very straight tree!
I will ask the PM doc next Thursday what the injectable cement procedure is called and what criteria is used for candidacy.
I'm very sore today from the irritation to the area, and it isn't likely to save me any pain, but it WILL make the "unstable" T7 less prone to future fractures. If I fracture it again (this time was the 2nd time in 12 years) I will HAVE to have the surgery.
Thanks again everyone who sent their recovery wishes! YOU ARE ALL 5 STARS IN MY BOOK!
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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turcica
seeker
Reged: 12/21/03
Posts: 312
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Glad to have you back night shade. They have been doing the injectable cement for a bit of time now. Indications for its use are for relatively stable fractures to "sure up" and make it more stable. If it had been an unstable fx then more invasive tactics would have been necessary. As most surgeons are opting for "less invasive" modalities these days ( higher incidents of infection when more invasive tx used) and you were a likely candidate for this course of repair, thats why you had your fx stabilized this way. Hope you heal fast and pain is controlled well by the dosage change. Keep us posted. Bye the way. I was the laptop comment and I was just kidding. LOL. turcica
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turcica
The only failure is not knowing how to be happy
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Edited by turcica (02/19/04 04:44 PM)
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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I have to admit that seeing all the "best wishes" comments in other people's procedure/surgery threads have made me not post before with similar sentiments because I felt I was simply being redundant, but I must say it was VERY NICE to read each and every well-wisher post for MY stuff and I plan to make sure I always post a wish for others.
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE WHO POSTED IN BOTH THREADS! I really appreciate your time and sentiments!
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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