Help needed to keep working after knees gave out

[BES]

Had the surgery nearly three years ago basicly rebuilt bottom third of spine usung titanium rods screws and cages. It was a new proceedured i was only second in uk to have it done had 25% chance of completly fixing it , 50% staying same and 25% making it worse. Although better not good enough to let me go back to physical work and sitting for long periods.

 

[Englishman]

Had the surgery nearly three years ago basicly rebuilt bottom third of spine usung titanium rods screws and cages. It was a new proceedured i was only second in uk to have it done had 25% chance of completly fixing it , 50% staying same and 25% making it worse. Although better not good enough to let me go back to physical work and sitting for long periods.

Apparently the top minds are now moving away from surgery in most cases as it often just moves the issue to a different art of the spine, and there is also a new, less invasive surgery that is starting to become common. I won't know the success rates until we see exactly what is going on, I'm hoping it will be good but don't know. The fact that in two months of rest, it's got worse, doesn't look good, but we will see.

Thoracic disc herniations are a certainty, and I think there is a lumbar and cervical herniation as well. The thoracic has caused it all though so in hoping that physio will cover the rest once the thoracic is sorted.

 

[BES]

Got it all on paper somewhere what was exactly the diagnoses had that many scans. Started off with injections into spine put on morphine patches for pain relief tried working again but just got worse then got offered this new proceedure. Biggest thing for me was the mental side of it all exepting that i couldnt do something i loved doing. Good luck to you.

 

[Dave OCD]

Hi guys thanks for taking the time to reply much appreciated

Some good ideas

Jay - thanks for the info on the Cert ed courses - food for thought; although I may end up on Valium after nearly thumping a few of the kids now and then . Also the info on TAQA - will definitely look into this

As fern mentioned above for me to start a new business with employees etc. although sounding good in principle is not an option that is viable for me

Peg - thanks for your posting; will give it some thought about transferable skills sets - trading standards advisor hmmm??

Cheers for your responses - you " mixed bunch of advocates"
Will take this away and have a think

If anyone has any other ideas feel free to post any thoughts

Sorry if this suggestion has been mentioned already but I've noticed that a fair few counter staff and even some managers in Electrical Wholesalers are ex Sparkies or have a link to the trade. Not sure if the money would be enough for you but with your knowledge and experience you'd be a real asset to a wholesaler, also you'd be dealing with the trade so could offer good advice and have a bit of banter.

 

[telectrix]

my sympathies to OP and other posters who have these problems. my back and knees can still cope, albeit with a struggle at times, and care being taken not to overdo things. still, can't grumble, got a 29 year old brain in a 69 year old body.

 

[Englishman]

Got it all on paper somewhere what was exactly the diagnoses had that many scans. Started off with injections into spine put on morphine patches for pain relief tried working again but just got worse then got offered this new proceedure. Biggest thing for me was the mental side of it all exepting that i couldnt do something i loved doing. Good luck to you.

Thank you my good sir.

The mental side is something that I've been coming to terms with for the last month, but I don't think it will help. Just looking forward to getting the whole spine scanned this week and seeing what's up. Just walking kills me at the moment, let alone doing any actual work.

 

[BES]

I can still do small jobs for freinds and family but it takes me all day sometimes longer !!! stopping and starting to do a job which used to take me an hour. Not really practical lol

 

[Richard Burns]

I have had a herniated lumbar disc partially removed by general surgery and this stopped the radiating pain for ten years, the muscular spasms still occurred in the back and I was stiff to move but could still manage OK.
Overall the surgery was not too bad but I did overdo it straight after, once they said I should get on and do things, so I had to have another bit of disc removed.
Last year I have had another bad episode and I am slowly recovering but I am slow at work. I have had an MRI scan showing slight lumbar herniation and overgrowth of bone; I am due to have a steroid injection in the nerve to try and narrow down the problem.
Best of luck with identification and resolution.

 

[NDG Elecs]

p.s. Only kidding about thumping students

From my college days the ADT lads on the same course always needed a good thumping. Once in morning and again after lunch!

Good luck BS, whatever you decide.

And after reading all the other posts on this thread good luck and health to everyone. I am yet to fall apart at the seams but can sense it is probably not that distant unfortunately.

 

[Englishman]

I have had a herniated lumbar disc partially removed by general surgery and this stopped the radiating pain for ten years, the muscular spasms still occurred in the back and I was stiff to move but could still manage OK.
Overall the surgery was not too bad but I did overdo it straight after, once they said I should get on and do things, so I had to have another bit of disc removed.
Last year I have had another bad episode and I am slowly recovering but I am slow at work. I have had an MRI scan showing slight lumbar herniation and overgrowth of bone; I am due to have a steroid injection in the nerve to try and narrow down the problem.
Best of luck with identification and resolution.

My pains started on and off back in July and August, all chest and stomach. The back pains was just a constant ache and didn't think the chest and stomach pain was related but have since found out it's a clear sign of thoracic disc herniation. Struggled through work but continued as usual.

And it's got a lot worse since November, I've now not worked for two months and it's showing no sign of improvement. Got a scan and consultation this week so should know what's going on soon. Other than the thoracic disc issues, it's hard to tell because pains could be muscle spasms rather than disc issues.