Case Summary  |  Problems from the Vietnam War

Back in the 1970's I was shot in my back. I did not think the damage was severe, but several years after I had became a veteran of the war, an intense pain began. I asked my doctor what the problem was. After a close examination he told me that I had a Thoracic Herniated Disc. He said there was a presence of something called cauda equina so I had to immediately prepare for surgery because he told me it was "life threatening." So, I did just that. I put on a hospital gown and began my two week stay.

I do not know how long the surgery was, but my wife told me that the entire time she was very worried about me and did not know if something had gone wrong. I woke up several hours after the surgery with intense pain in my back. I was very uncomfortable but the nurses told me there was nothing they could do.

After a few days at the hospital my doctor visited me and wrote me a prescription for a drug containing Sulindac. He told me that I would need to take this until be pain ceased.

Several years after the operation I still had pain. I called up my doctor and asked if it was normal and he told me that it was. He said it was quite possible that I'd have to stay on the anti-inflammatory medication for the rest of my life.

To this day, I am still taking medication. I had the surgery years ago do the immediate threat has been removed. Taking the medication has become a habit of sorts but it does not make it any more appealing. I should just be happy I lived through the war.