Had my 5th combat related surgery yesterday

11B3XCIB

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
960
Location
Lexington, SC
Thought I posted this last night but I guess the medication disallowed a successful post. Anyhow:

First 2 were reconstructions on my face to patch up the bones and allow me to breathe through my nose. Spent 3 days in Ibn Sina 10th Combat Support Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq in '06. and a plastics reconstruction for same problem in '07. Had major back surgery in 2010 and today a minor trial to help eradicate constant pain. If it works, permanent installment in 4-6 weeks. Need positive thoughts...not sure if prayers work on me.

Today: Supposed to be a stim unit to interrupt pain signals and improve my quality of life.
back2_zps977591fb.jpg


2010...18 staples,7" incision. 4 screws, 2 rods and lots of pain. And that pesky drain tube sewed to my skin...rollover wrong and OUCH!
backscar.jpg



I would do it all again. There was nothing I wouldn't have done for those on my left and right. I would like to reduce my narcotic level going 2.5 years but my options are slim.
 
Register to hide this ad
Had my 4th combat related surgery yesterday

WOW!!! :shock:

Hoping and praying that things get better for you. Prayers seem to work best when they are not for yourself, so I will definitely be sending plenty in your direction! :mrgreen:
 
Had my 4th combat related surgery yesterday

I have to say it again. WoW!

Take care and you're in our prayers.
 
Had my 4th combat related surgery yesterday

First off...Thank You for your service....I am sorry for your pain.

You are in our thoughts and Prayers.

Steve
 
Had my 4th combat related surgery yesterday

Thanks for your service and sacrifices
Positive thoughts work better than prayer
Stay strong friend
 
Had my 4th combat related surgery yesterday

It goes without saying my friend but I will say it again: A huge thank you for your service and your physical sacrifices.

My wife and I are praying that you get the relief you deserve and are hoping for. We hope that this is the best and the last procedure you need to go through. Now take it easy and no reloading for a few days!

Talk to you soon buddy.
 
Had my 4th combat related surgery yesterday

Thank you for your service. You will be in our prayers.

Dave
 
Had my 4th combat related surgery yesterday

Thank you for your service, I appreciate your sacrifices for our way of life. I will keep you in my thoughts &prayers in the hope that you will find the relief that you are needing.

Best of luck
- Jeff
 
Had my 4th combat related surgery yesterday

biganimal said:
Thanks for your service and sacrifices
Positive thoughts work better than prayer
Stay strong friend


Exactly. Thank you and stay positive!
 
Had my 4th combat related surgery yesterday

Thank you for your service, wishing you the best.
 
Had my 4th combat related surgery yesterday

Keep strong. I am hoping that it will get better for you and praying that the doctors will succeed and aid you in your latest fight.

Hope to meet you at the range someday so I can shake your hand.
 
Had my 4th combat related surgery yesterday

Well, the trial seemed to be a success. I walked around the local mall yesterday (not to shop, to get out of the cold air) for a while, and then walked my Dobie around for a few miles today. Didn't have to stop, stretch, sit, etc. one time.

I have dealt with my back pain for over 6 years. At first, it wasn't terrible, just occasional pain if I slipped the disc or exacerbated the herniation. Another deployment completely blew the disc out; full on tear. No way to fix it. To diagnose the problem, the doctors have to perform a procedure called a discogram (or discography). This is designed to induce pain for 2 reasons (to make sure no other discs are affected so any other problems can be fixed in 1 surgery and to make sure the patient isn't faking an injury). The dye was injected randomly, so I didn't know which level was receiving the dye, and the healthy levels just created pressure; no pain. When the contrast dye hit the torn disc, it was one of the top three most painful things I'd ever experienced. There was no way to make it stop and there was no pain relief available, by design of the test, which proved I had a torn disc. It felt like I'd been folded in half backwards, then lit on fire. A couple months later, I had the surgery because I was at risk for nerve damage. No more disc pain, but something still wasn't right. I fell back on my tried and true method of pain management: Suck it up; drive on. Two surgeons, one ortho and one neuro, both said they could find nothing to fix in me, and expressed sympathy for my being in my late 20s and looking at a life of pain. The neuro doc referred me to the procedure I'm finishing the trial for: a spinal stimulator. They implant leads in specific places, and I can use a remote control to redirect the signals to help block out pain when I need it, instead of popping pills that don't really work that well.

I tried not to get my hopes up, since this was really my last option besides a lifetime of opiate pain medication, since steroid injections (6 at a time) didn't do anything to relieve my problems. Aside from some mild discomfort at the incision site...I feel like a new person. I can't bend or twist right now because I could displace a lead, but otherwise I feel great. They will be removing the trial system tomorrow and I hope I can get the permanent installation scheduled as soon as they have an opening...maybe 4 to 6 weeks? But, I'll find out tomorrow, and make that one surgery number 5. It'll be a little more extreme because they will have to implant the entire contraption inside. Right now, everything is external except the ends of the wire leads.

I appreciate all the positivity. Hopefully I can make it out to Philson's Range soon when the weather gets slightly warmer (the cold hurts my back) and can thank ya'll personally for the well wishes. Even a week ago, my outlook on my future was not nearly this great.

Again, thanks, guys.
 
Had my 4th combat related surgery yesterday

hey let me know when you do feel good enough to go to philsons. ill come down, maybe Andy too.

just trying to be light heartening here.

ive seen that drain before. my wife had to have surgery and i had 2 of those bottles to empty, what was it, few times a day. they had me keep notes on how much was in each one each time. :shock:
 
Had my 4th combat related surgery yesterday

Thank you, Sir for your service! Glad to hear they are finding a way to ease your pain.
 
Make that my 5th surgery.

IMG951094-2_zpsfda906d6.jpg

You can see my fusion scar just above my waist line right along my spine. :|

Permanent implant of the spinal stim/neuromodulator unit was successful, now I just have to wait a couple weeks for the incisions to heal so I can turn the thing on. Big bonus: I actually got a brand new, much improved, not-yet-released version of the spinal stimulator from Boston Scientific...the rep told me I was the 4th person to get it and it'll be fully released in a month or so. Now I hope I can get my life back even though it's already cost me my military career, I'd like to pick up the pieces. The Army paid for my Associate's and my Bachelor's and now the VA is paying for my MBA, so I've got something to work towards.
 
Back
Top