Living with Back Pain

I had to have 2 cervical fusions and 1 lumbar fusuion after an injury 4 yrs ago. My last surgery was 3 yrs ago.

In the last 3-4 months, I have been having alot of pain in my neck and also at the middle back(thorasic area) now. I just went to Dr today. After xrays were made, I now have severe arthritis(osteo)in my entire spine,curvature of the spine(thorasic area). I also am experiencing pain in left arm and tingling and numbness in left hand and legs. At times now when I walk,my left leg will completely go limp and I almost fall.

The pain is debilitating at times and all I can do to get releif is go to bed, this takes all pressure off my spine. I can no longer work and have been advised by my Dr to apply for disability. He says at this point, I will never be able to work again.

I am going for an MRI and a nerve test in my left arm next. He said we will wait for those results and go from there. He says there is a possibility of more ruptured discs above or below my former fusions. I am really scared for I do not want further surgeries, but I also know I can not continue in this pain either. I am taking pain meds and Celebrex for the arthritis.

I’m only 47 and I want to have a good quality of like, hopefully one day,pain free.

If you have simular experiences or are dealing with back and neck pain, I would like to hear from you and hear what you are doing, or have done for releif. Or if you have some ideas to share.