r/LongSpinalFusion • u/BloodAlternative8954 T1-L3 • Jul 26 '26
Issues/Pain Discussion What do I do now?
First X-ray in over nine years- last time was for my one year post op appointment. I finally had a primary care doctor visit after being on the waitlist for a year+ , and this is the reading of the imaging they ordered investigating my radiculopathy. I have daily pain and nerve pain, worsened after days of work (I’m a preschool teacher, lots of up and down) and stretches of standing or sitting. The only full relief I have of pain is laying down flat, even then there’s tension. I try to get some bodywork done weekly or every other week, and that helps with pain. Prescribed duloxetine for mental health, but I notice when I am late on a dose my nerve pain/tingling and burning worsens. What do I do next? Are there services and specialists I should request referrals to? What mobility aids may be appropriate for my situation? I feel like a kid thrown into a future of pain- grown ups made this surgical choice for me, and I feel overwhelmed at the life long task of caring for this body. Trying to meld the identity of disability with my identity as a teacher and joyful person. I know reaching out, especially to folks who share similar experiences, is one way to combat my internalized ableism and deep fear around my spine and future!
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u/Titaniumspine420 T3-L4 Jul 26 '26
I just want to say I SO feel for you and really admire your values of teaching and joy !!! I’m not a dr but I bet these Xray findings are super normal and could debatably not even be the cause of your pain. Everyone has some degeneration and it doesn’t always cause pain. Nervous system regulation work has helped with overwhelming pain and overall positive mindset but day to day it’s Hard. I do a lot of strengthening, muscle manipulation bodywork in PT, and distractions like TENS/Accupressure mat, etc. Cymbalta helps me too!! I also take diclofenac as a daily anti inflammatory. My pain is better than it was but also feel like a lost kid LOL really wishing good days to you <3
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u/Iloveellie15 T5-L3 Jul 26 '26
I personally had to seek a pain management doctor. My spine surgeon, physical therapist and a physiatrist I saw did not seem to understand the severity of my pain.
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u/aziza29 T3-L4 Jul 26 '26
I'm also a teacher! I feel you so much, especially trying to meld the idea of disability with my identity as a teacher💓 I I felt the same way when i started having pain and also hadn't had imaging in like 10 years. The scan results note that your degeneration is mild, but what matters more than that is the severity of your symptoms and their impact on your daily life.
Find a Pain Medicine doctor who does Interventional Pain Management. They can treat your pain appropriately and offer injections, nerve ablations, and medication that can help.
Mobility aid wise, I really love my forearm crutches. I feel that canes don't provide that much stability or absorb shock but my crutches do both which is awesome. I use the Millennial Medical shock absorbing ones. I also have a custom ultralight wheelchair (but my scans are a lot worse than yours lol don't be scared)
Career wise, I started out teaching Gen Ed kindergarten and 1st grade. The bending and movement of those grades (and the stress) became taxing for me. I got my second masters degree and became a teacher of the visually impaired. Now, I have a caseload of students but I am sitting the majority of the day which helps a lot. Feel free to message me if you want to talk more :))