Not posted for a while as things have been pretty rough. One year and three months since three level lower spine fusion and things are pretty bleak. Spend 99% of my time laying on the bed due to pain. Have a wheelchair for going out to appts and aids for my bed and chair. I am waiting for a grant to get a stair lift, bath removed and replaced with a shower cubicle and a ramp at the front of my house.
Luckily DLA have awarded me higher rate care and mobility so this helps but due in court next week to get put in the support group for ESA. I still have a very supportive family and hubby even looking into giving up work to become my carer when my last child goes off to Oxford University in September. As now struggle to even wash and dress due to pain.
My hope from posting this is that anyone thinking of having a fusion needs to seriously think of what can happen. Whilst I was in a lot of pain before my fusion it was nothing like what I am left with now. Just cleaning my teeth leaves my back in agony! I know it works for some but not all. So please think.
Yes I think you are right. Fusion should be a last resort only.
I turned down a fusion because the odds of the surgery not improving my pain and instead making it worse or my ending up in a wheelchair were far too high. I really hope you find some peace and serenity. Good luck with the ESA, and it's good news about the DLA, but horrors what will happen to us all next year when it becomes PIP?
Hi Cassie
I know I dread to think what will happen when DLA changes, I do wonder if it is a way of the government cost cutting rather than as they state to help us!!!
How are things with you? Sorry my last post sounded so miserable, just having a bad day. Most days I am coping with being disabled. However if it helps just one person to investigate having a fusion rather than just go along with it as I did I will be happy.
Take care Wend xxx
Well, the warmer weather does help, but the rain and damp seems to negate that, I think back to when I had my accident and think of how I nearly jumped onto the operating table because of the pain, now I live with it and thank goodness I didn't have the op as we now know it was the wrong disc they were aiming for 🙁
You didn't sound miserable just telling it like it is, and I do hope it makes people stop and research a bit more 🙂