Case Summary  |  Back problems Back Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, degenerative disc disease, failed spinal fusion in lumbar. T.O.S with extra ribs in neck.

In 2005, I was fishing, and I could not step down when I had gotten out of the boat, there was severe pain, in my legs, hips and back. I was out of work for 8 wks. In this process my doctor ordered a Cat Scan , MRI, and numerous blood work. The 3 Lumbar disc's were injured. One was ruptured, and the other two were bulging. The doctor ordered Physical Therapy, and Epidural treatment ( for only 3 times ) Those made the pain severe after waking from sedation. I ultimately ended up admitted after the second time, for pain control medications. The doctor canceled further epidurals. Then I had a surgery called Spinal Fusion, this surgery was to put rods, plates, and spring like metal between vertebres, with Cadivere bones placed to allow my vertebre and the Cadivere bones to heal, and grow together. It did not work. There was a 30% chance being a smoker that it could not fuse together.
Since then I have now been put on many medications, including but not limited to, Hydrocodone, Diazapam, Flexeril, Prilosec, Amytriptaline, morphine, and Phenagren for the nausea from the pain meds. That is now the current treatment I am on. I see my doctor once a month, we have just found out that there are bulging discs in my upper spine by the neck. I have chose to not have that surgery due to the Thoracic Outlest Syndrome, as I have the extra set of ribs in that area, that have grown into and around the nerves, muscles, and ligaments. I have lost the feeling in my lower right leg, from the nerve damage after my Spinal fusion.

My Amytiptaline is for chronic pain, it does help at night. Also the pain killers do help me with the pain. Flexeril and muscle relaxers help very little, it does not take care or the chronic ongoing pain.
Diazepam, helps me with muscle spasms, Prilosec is given to protect my stomach with all of the medications. It also helps for any heartburn from my medications.