This is my first time with a blog so please take it easy on me if ya all could. I was looking for information if any one has had or is having back problems due to their disability and also if anyone’s fathers had been in the Viet Nam conflict. My dad has TypeII diabetes from Agent Orange exposure and from what I can find it looks like dioxin in the herbicide can cause a ton of birth problems. Thanks for any information and taking it easy on a new guy.
Thanks
Jeff
Comments
Welcome to the group!
Let us know what you find out - it sounds like a great question for the FAQ.
I have back issues, as well.
Hi Jeff,
I've never responded to a blog before so we're both "newbies!" I've been an above-knee amp for 47 years (since I was 8 years old) and had to have back surgery a year ago to address spinal stenosis (basically, arthritis inside and along the spinal column.) It has been modestly successful, but recovery has been long. I still have some loss of balance, "pins and needles" and weakness in my remaining leg, but am much better than I was prior to surgery.
Unfortunately, I am not back to walking since my prosthetist has been unsuccessful in building a functional prosthesis for me. I'm on to a new prosthetists and very hopeful that I may be able to walk again after 4 years of wheelchair use.
Hope that helps!
Nancy
Thanks for the reply. I am
Thanks for the reply. I am almost 35 and also have spinal stenosis. They did a discogram and found out that I also have severe lumbar degenerative spine disease. I have found out that I also will have to have surgery on my back. They are going to take out disc L5/S1 put in a spacer and also fuse my lower back. I have had bad pain for a long time. I did have my hip fused in 2006 it had been poping out of joint and I would have to put it back into joint OUCH. I had used a stright leg most of my life that helped with the back problems. They thought that the hip surgery would help my back. I was going to have a c/leg after I healed... when they did the surgery it left me without enough movement to swing the leg so I have had to go back to a stright leg well this has not worked either. I have been on disability since 1/18/2006 due to the severe back problems and have been fighting LTD insurance for a year. I was on short term disability for six months then light duty work for 39 days and then back off work on S.T.D when this ran out I was fired from my job they acted like it was a good thing.... that way I would be able to get my Long term disability insurance going. I have been fighting with them for over a year now. I had a office job the insurance says I can use a wheel chair or crutches for the job. I do agree if all i had was a PFFD that would probably work. The severe back pain is the problem I can't sleep in bed I use a recliner so i can sit up stright or lay back or pick up my leg to let of pressure from my back. It really makes me mad I worked a job I didnt like just so if i ever had a problem I had alwyas paid for LTD insurance but they have been fighting me for a year now. It seems so stupid, if you are a bad worker you can get unemployment if you get let go due to a medical problem you are broke.
Bad Back
sorry so long on a reply I am new with this and just did not see any one reply to me It seemed that it was only parents that were having kids that do or will have a pffd at birth. I am going to be getting the same surgery you had from what I can tell they had me scheduled for the end of feb of 2008 but I was not going under again till i could get my LTD insurance to start to pay some benefit I had fought them for over a year and a half and had to get a lawyer still dont know what I will owe him. I am finally off my old cobra insurance from my old employer and have medicare part A B D and thought it would be the best to also buy the other suppumental insurance you could by people have told me I did the correct thing I hope I did it wright sorry I am so bad with the spelling and writing errors thanks for the info Nancy and will reply sooner next time sorry on my end
Jeff
back problems
I also have a lot of back problems becausse of my PFFD. I've had them since I was about 15 yeurs old. I am now 38.
In the last two years it has gotten worse and worse. Because I've been walking with a walking-stick for 25 years now my right arm also is getting worse. My wrist, elbow and shoulder are getting irritated as well as nerves inside these joints.
My back problems are so severe, that I've not been able to hold on to a paid job.
Considering the way people with PFFD walk (as if 'one leg is much shorter than the other'), it's quiet surprising that you don't hear more about patients having back problems.....
The first time I ever heard any one but myself complain about it, was when I read your blog!
I hope more people who have simular problems will react now.
And perhaps any one can give my advise about how to deal with my pain.
Bad Back
sorry so long to respond not real sure on how to use site but anyhow. I am going to he having lower back surgery in the near future I did not want to do anything untill my LTD insurance started to pay me for being totally disabled. Wow what a pain in the but I took me a year and a half fight to get anything and I also had to bring a lawyer on board to help me get it. I know what you are talkiing about with your arm I have been using crutches only since 1-18-2006 my shoulders and wrists are starting to get some over use. I did't see anyone respond so I didnt come back to the site for a while I will try to look lots more now. I hate to have to say but the only real thing that has helped any with my back pain is with Pain Drugs. I have used oxycodone muscle relaxers but they help somewhat just hate to have to use them but what else to do. I see you are only about 3 years older than I am my back hurt for a long time but i just delt with it. When I finally went to do something about it that is when my hip went out of joint. They did surgery to fix it but when the doctors did that it took so much movement the only leg option is the same old stright leg that I used most of my life. Again sorry for not reply so long and also you will see my spelling and grammer are not too good at all well hope to hear back from you.
Jeff
back pain
Hai, I know what you mean when you say the only thing that helps you are the pain drugs. I also use oxycontin and tramadol for pain medication. It's the only thing that helps me get through the day. I have two children. Two sons, they are 17 and 15 years old. I raised them alone. My husband left me when our youngest son was only one year old. I was lucky to have my children when I was very young and still able to pick them up and care for them, with just a little help from my mother. And now that I'm getting worse, at least they can take care of themselves (a little, they're still children, of course).
The doctors took a lot of x-ray pictures of my back, but there never seams to be a clear problem to explain my pain.
Maybe I need to see a new doctor. They never seem to take me very seriously.
I have been wondering lately, if it wouldn't be better if I made the dicision not to walk anymore at all. Maybe if I don't walk but use a wheelchair instead, my back will stop hurting.
I have class D unilateral PFFD, and the doctors wanted to fuse my 'hip' also, but I dicited not to, because thát would make life much more difficult for me. I don't think I would be able to drive a car, for instance, or sit in a normal chair or wheelchair.
The reason they wanted to do the fusion was, that they thought it would make my back pain go away. Which I didn't believe, because they couldn't guarantee it.
I'm very sorry for you that you have so much trouble getting the money from your disability-insurance.
I am lucky to have been on benefit ever since I turned 18. But, this is the Netherlands, of course! Saying that, I have heard from a lot of people here, that they too have had problems getting their money.
I wish you luck with your fight for what's yours and hope to hear from you soon.
chronic pain issues
I have had chronic back/hip pain (mostly back) for many years now. I have been to Dr.'s all over. Mayo, Dr. Paley, Buffalo etc.... For the past 5 years or so I have been recieving injections to strengthen my ligaments. Prolotherapy is the proper name for it. I certainly can't say it has "cured" my issues by any means but I do feel it has helped a great deal. My left side was the main problem when starting these injections and the pain has subsided a great deal. This is not a solution, and it's not for everyone, however I would be more than happy to answer any question and/or give more info to anyone who is interested. I should say that I am BPFFD level D
sara