Chronic Pain

My name is Millie and I just wanted to introduce myself. I am a survivor of a 360/3level fusion fromn L2/to L5 that failed. I've had 5 Laminectomies after the fusion to fix all that is wrong with me. My last Laminectomy was a week ago!

I had a spinal cord stimulator installed in June of 08, and it had helped me incredibly with my nerve pain, but my mechanical pain is brutal! I am a social worker by trade, but I have been on SSD for the last 2 years due to all of my spinal issues.

I walk with a cane or a walker, depending on the day.... I live alone with my faithful puppy Malcolm and I am basically in pain 24/7/365 :-(

I read a lot and like to find out and be educated about my own condition, and I know that one of these days, someone will be able to put my humpty dumpty back together again!

Hello to you,
I read your post and believe that I share alot of your difficulties. I have spinal stenosis in both my cervical spine and lumbar spine and almost all of my discs are damaged. I have osteoarthritis throughout my body and had both knees replaced at the same time 20 months ago and my left shoulder replaced 2 months before that. I also have severe scoliosis and am shrinking (only in height).

I too am a social worker and worked with chronicly mentally ill adults for about 2 decades as well as with young adult clients with substance abuse issues. I have not been able to work since 1999. It was a huge adjustment! At that time I was diagnosed with Hep C and was in liver failure. Anyway it has been a long strange trip.

I was told that I needed spinal surgery but other illnesses took over and now I am just trying to find a way to manage all of the pain and still have a life.

I am also on social security disability. I thought that finding some folks who shared some of my reality would be helpful. My husband is my best friend but he can not really understand fully because he does not have unrelenting pain 24/7. So I hope to hear from you and I hope you also find the support you need through this web site.

Welcome, You have come to the right place. It helps a lot to talk to people who understand what you are going through. I've also had five lumber surgeries and suffer from severe nerve damage.I had a job I loved that I had to give up.I worked as a secretary in the ER for 20 years. I've been on disability for almost four years now.I've been helped quite a bit on this site.I hope you get as much out of it as I have. I hope you have a low pain day today.