A Gardeners Forum Forums Members History Forum Life 2005 Asking a favor......

One of the things I love about this site is the way our buddies jump in at a time when you need them. So...I'am REAL "needy" today. We found out today that my man (hubby) is going to have to under go some VERY major back surgery. When they did his MRI about a month & 1/2 ago, the specialist told him that he needed the surgery BUT because of the high risk of permenant nerve damage they wanted him to try the epidural injections in his spine first....well, he had the series of 3 (one a week for the past 3 weeks) and they didn't work. So today the Doc gave him No options but the surgery. To make a long story...not quite as long....he has been off work for over a month now and wont get to go back for a LONG, LONG time. And we have the baby so it is getting kinda rough. So would you guys remember him (us) in your prayers! It always works!!!!!Thanks!

All prayers, always.



Merme

So sorry to hear that Vanessa. Loads of prayers headed your way

G-Mom

Oh Vanessa I am sooo sorry to hear about your hubby!

I go outside every evening at 9 pm (California time) and pray ....will be sending extra special prayers for your hubby, entire family/and friends/ surgeon for a steady hand and all others involved.


I wish I lived closer to you because I am the kind of person who would be right there to help you out!

Please keep us updated as often as you can!
Catlover

I too will keep your family in my prayers.....I hope that things take a turn for the better for you all very soon.....

adding extra little prayers just for you

Vanessa,
I know what you are going thru..
My husband was out with a back injury for 4 months, *Luckily, no surgery* but I know the up's and down's you are going thru.. *we had the two at the time and luckily I could go back and get WIC for the kids and a tiny bit of extra's for us.
and that helped alot!!! Would you be eligable for WIC? *Woman, Infants and Children* They give you checks for milk, 100% juice, cream of wheat cereal or cheerios, cheese, etc..

I will definately say a few for your entire family!!!

Weezie

4 months!!! I am looking in to EVERYTHING! It is REALLY bothering him about being off work...he hasn't missed in 22 years...but ...what can you do? They haven't set the surgery date yet because what he needs done is very complicated and the Ortho Doc wouldn't do it so we are waiting to hear from the Nuero-surgeon. They are antisipating that he will need pins & screws!I know that this is going to be a LONG ordeal...but he has NO options.I read the replys from this thread to him and he started crying! I told him you all were the best...NOW HE KNOWS! And we are VERY thankful for the prayers!You guys ARE the Best!

they can do alot more now toward back surgery then they use to. We'll be praying that they will help him alot. Back problems are so painful.

Vanessa, my hubby and I have suffered acute back problems for years. Yes we have been unable to work on and off for months at a time,my hubby was confined to a wheelchair, but by determination and true grit he managed to get on his feet again, we got through It and still do by our own resilience.
We tried all the different treatments offered, they did not work only caused a lot of unnecesessary suffering.
Will pray for you and yours.
Doreen.

Will be thinking of you and your hubby, Vanessa.

Hi 4Ruddy,
I know I am new to you all but will add your hubby and family to my list - all will work out as it should and do check into WIC in your area - can't hurt to ask and there are groups called SHARE in a lot of places that you volunteer or donate a small amount of money and you get a large amount of food.... our church in Az used to do it I know so if you have a church they might help too..... letting others help us when we need it is a wonderful blessing to them....

Sorry about you husband's back problems. Hope the surgery goes well and he heals fast!

I just can't begin to tell you the effect this forum has had on my hubby as I continue to read the posts to him....and all along he thought I was just GOOFING off on here! He has been unbelievably overwhelmed by your posts, PM's and prayers. And I again thnak you all. We didn't get a call from the Neuro-guy today....I think the "waiting" is almost as stressful as knowing it is going to happen. But I will for sure let you know the date of the surgery as soon as I know. I'm lovin ya'all!!!

Vanessa, I am, also, praying for you and your husband's speedy recovery. The Master Physician will meet all your needs. It looks like there are more than two or three gathered on the forum in His name praying for your family. Remember, He is there with you and will see you through.

Dianna

Vanessa, I’ve been praying for you and yours since I read the first post. I just haven’t been able to answer. My husband is also looking at possible back surgery, and I know it is scary. I just can’t imagine looking at it with a little one in tow! May God Bless you and keep you in His hands and may you know you are loved.

My dad has been through many back surgeries, it's been real hard on the familly but he's still going strong. He sounds alot like your husband in that he hated that he was missing work after the last one. They had to fuse two spinal colums together. The most important thing is the physio therapy afterwards. Make shure he doesn't let the scar tisue get ahead of him. My dad fell on his back and got in accidents, that's why he's had more then one surgery. A tip from him would be that going swimming helps alot. He should go to the pool twice a week once he heals. My dad always seems to love the pool so it must have a good effect the problem is he works so hard at work he forgets sometimes about getting better. I hope the best for you three, and tell him to focus on healing the life he has now as his first concern allways
Josh

okay...here is what I know as of yesterday. The Neuro-surgeons office called and can't get him in til Feb 7th!!!! That is a whole MONTH of just waiting to get the surgery date! I am going to call them back Monday and tell them they are going to have to get him in sooner or...they will have to call ME in a RX for valium!!!!!!

Vanessa...I went thru that before my hysterectomy. Couldn't get an appointment with the surgeon for like 2 months after I found out I had all those tumors in me! BUT...my daughter had a friend who used to work there...funny thing how all of a sudden they could get me in the NEXT DAY! There are always openings...just gotta find out how to get one of them!

And remember the old saying...
"The squeaky wheel gets the grease!"

Start calling every morning asking about cancellations for the day....
They will get you in quicker to keep you from calling everyday!

I will make sure to include your husband in my prayers.. I really do hope everything will be ok.

Black Thorn...you are a cutie pa~tootie! Tried to go in and see some of your "etchings" that was a way weird site! Thanks for keeping hub in your thought & prayers.
And..Cindy...you now I can be SQUEAKY!!!! As of today got the appt moved to the 26th of THIS month...I'll let you know how the call goes tomorrow!!!!!

Cool! Glad you got the appointment moved up!

Actually, to be honest, I'm a wimp when it comes to be squeaky!
Not good! I leave it up to others (my daughter) to be squeaky for me. Never have really been able to stand up for myself or say what I think. I hate that about myself. I would have waited the loooong time for my appointment if it hadn't been for her. And, thank God she was squeaky....because it was worse than they thought, and every minute counted.

Exactly!!! He is unable to get comfortable at all. Sleeps for an hour then has to stand up, then has to sit down...then his legs go numb or is it knumb???? Anyway...he is suppose to do that for a MONTH? I think not. His crankiness ENCOURAGES me to be squeaky!

Is he allowed to have hot or cold packs on his back?
Not sure which is which for his pain...

Hot for strained and cold for inflamed???

We found the Capsasin patches and gave him some heat where he needed it to relax.
And we got one of those tube vibrators to relax the muscle's too...
AAnd used the cold packs too! For swelling.
*My husbands' back didn't require surgery, so I'm not sure for yours...it was a pulled muscle and two disc's that were popped or something liked that. He's a very tall man and when he bends over, there's more distance for him to extend down to the ground to pick things up... and when he bent over and was picking up a 100lb item, the springs in his back sprung!!!!*

What is his back surgery needed for???
And you've got, Anything with Cortizone shots? Have they suggested those? I don't care for them, I think they do more harm than good.
But not sure what it is exactly!!!

Weezie

Let me see if I can explain this. The "cushion" between the lower 3 discs in his back have slid out. Usually they go to one side or the other..his have gone out to both sides of the discs cutting off the nerves (thus being why the Orthopedic Doc wont do the surgery...to much nerve damage involved)There is no swelling, nerve damage, so I am told does not present swelling. Although his right leg has been swelling enormously..they say it isn't from the back thing. The epidural injections I mentioned were cortisone injected directly into his spinal column trying to give him some cushion for relief of the pain...they just about killed him...did not work at all. So far not much (heat/cold/hot bathes/drugs...etc..) have helped. They say the ONLY thing that will, is the surgery.