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1263062 tn?1289450701

Please Help:) back pain and numbness

Hello All and thank you for your help.  So a quick re-hap of this past year.  Diagnoised with Severe Spinal Stenosis and several herniated disc and other things.  Underwent Spinal Fusion of the C6-7 and Lumbar discectomy L5-S1.  Been in constant pain since, have not gone back to work, currently on Percoset, SOMA, Xannax type med and still in severe pain.  

Currently  I have the normal neck pain(average 5-6), migraines, arm & shoulder pain but increasingly intense lower back, leg, buttocks, knee, and foot pain.  If I stand up too fast I fall as quickly as I get up.  The pain in my buttocks and behind my left knee is a steady 8 and up to a 10 when the percosets wear off.  If I stretch my right foot  feel the shooting pain in my left lower back, If I lift up my left leg it is instant tears, if I arch my feet the bottom of my feet (both) have instant pins and needles.  The pan causes me to vomit and just be overall sick and GRUMPY to say the least.  Can't think of anything else but the pain no matter how hard I try. I have became physically dependant on Oxycodone and do not know if my pain levels are increased due to sensitivity from being on Oxycodone for a year now or not.  Hard to believe that two  years ago I never even took so much as a Tylenol.  Got a little off task there.  

I have moved to a new state and have lost my medical insurance.   I currently have a disability claim pending but have not been approved and now I am at the ALJ level and don't think that I will ever get approved.  I have LTD through my employer and pays me a monthly salary but less that what I made when working and no Insurance.

So, my question is..............

If I let my leg pain and weakness go will I have permament damage?  or will it just continue to be annoying.   (its been this bad for about 3 months now) I am only 44 and not ready for a wheel chair!  I can't afford to go to the doctor and can't afford not to.  I did get Medi-Cal but have a 1250.00 share of cost every month so it is the same as not having any insurance at all.  My main concern is I do not want any perment damage or to get so bad that I end up in a wheel chair permently because I waited to long.  Any suggestions?  Recommendations?  Experience in this would be greatly appreciated.  I am confused and in pain please help.  Also suggestions since I do not have medical insurance I am going to a doctor each month and getting my pain meds and dealing with it but have no resolution nor do I know if I ever  will have a resolution.  I do not want to blow my chance at ssdi for insurance purpose and income but on the same note I go back and fourth with why can't I work, I am educated and loved my job with the state and miss it so very much.  Any comments, advise, suggestions would help me dearly.
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1263062 tn?1289450701
I am sorry to hear all that you have had to go through.  And no that wasn't the answer that I wanted.  I have no insurance and my pain is getting worse and worse.  My family doesn't seem to understand and expect me to do all that I use to and I just can't do it. Then when they have a pain it is like well I can work through mine why can't you.  I don't know how to explain it to my family and make them understand.  I to am depressed, angry, anxious, and severely pissed at these doctors.  I can feel for your situation and feel bad that there isn't more that can be done.  I would be interested to hear how your workers comp case goes.  Mine is not workers comp but I have applied for ssd and currently am n line for ALJ trial, I guess that is what it is called.  Not haveing any insurance makes it hard to get the medical attention needed.   My only hope is to get back to where I was.  II loved my job and life and now this!  it ***** to say the least.   hear you   bascally save all month to pay for my doctor appt and get my meds with out them I would not make it from one month to the next.
Helpful - 0
1998601 tn?1368136348
First off I'd like to just say sorry I feel your pain. As I am a 41 year old with almost the exact same problems plus some.ANd to answer your Q YESthe longer you let it go the more permenant damage you will receive as was in my case same symtoms if they would have just got in there and did something about it. Right quik I wouldn't be in the boat I'm still in now. 1st off I ended up having surgery and I only took them 4 years to approve it haha ya what a joke! And the whole time I and my back just got worse an worse till I couldn't walk upright.I don't know if I should say I was lucky it was a work injury cuz workmans comp is covering the medical but I has been almost 10 years yes 10 years and I am in a worse spot now than before they started and they are wanting. Me to back under the knife again to finish the job he didn't complete the first time he was in there. But anyways I could go on like this for ever ! I to am on the oxy and I have stopped taking it for a couple o weeks and it was ugly the pain was unbearable even after I started taking it again the pain the it let me relize I had that the meds were covering up they don't cover up now . So I kinda shot my self in the foot haha. But it was bad all I can say is it doesn't get any better for me it has only gotten worse I can't sleep more then 2hrs at a time I'm so freaking depressed can't stand it .just keep getting kicked around by workers comp. My life is and has been passing me by I can't stand up for to long I can't sit for to long I can't lay down for to long .the only thing I'm sure of is ill be at my dr's appointment so can get my med refilled my life revolves around the pill bottle. So I hope you get ur self out of may GOD BLESS YOU AND RIDE SHOTGUN with u your going to need him. Best wish I feel for you!!!!!! I know this is probably not what you wanted to hear but the road you are going down is long bumpy and ugly! I almost wish someone would just put me out of my misery!! Almost!!haha good luck!!
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