Hello everyone!

[Scar Tissue]

I'm new on this site and just wanted to say Hello! I am a 44 yr. old Class A Truck Driver with Failed Back Surgery in Jan'05. I had a Micrdiscectomy/Laminectomy at L/5,S/1. Shortly after surgery the herniated site filled with scar tissue, traveled through the foranim and totally encapsulates the S1 nerve root. I am now totally disabled, currently receiving TTD and SSDI, and suffering with Chronic Pain. And naturally the fight with w/c and the i/c continues. I've had 7 hearings so far with many more to come I'm sure, and no end in sight! Other than that, I'm perfectly fine and every things right with the world!!:eek: (LOL) Again, I just wanted to jump on here and say Hello! :)

[Mark N]

Welcome to this site. It is always a sad blessing when a new member comes on board. It is sad because another person has CP but a blessing because you will find nice people that will support you and also have some answers for you.

[ErinENj]

Welcome! Glad to have you here, but I wish you had no use for us whatsoever! ;)

I'm in pretty close to the same boat as you. I've had 3 surgeries, 2 of them were lami/diskectomies, all at L4/L5 and L5/S1, and now I have failed back surgery syndrome, a lot of scar tissue in those spaces, and pretty much no disk matter left there because of the first 2 lami/diskectomies. The third surgeon was just trying to save me from some of the damage those 2 surgeries had done. It didn't work. I've been in this for about 4 years now. I'm 25 and will hopefully soon be a college graduate after something like 7 years on and off at college. I'll be the very last of my friends to graduate, but as long as I graduate, that's all I care about!

I hope that we can help you in some way and maybe give you some answers if you need them. I can tell you that I know nothing about SSD, so that's something I can't help with, but anything else, feel free to give me a shot. I have lots of little random bits of information, and everyone here is really knowledgeable and helpful so between us all, you're sure to get lots of good info!

Welcome again and I look forward to hearing more from you! :D

[Scar Tissue]

Thanks for the replies! I've been at this about 2 1/2 years myself so if I can be of any assistance please let me know. And thanks again for the replies!:)

[Mark N]

Scar, things can get a bit slow around here at times so don't get discouraged about the responses. People will come around and say hi in a day or two. There are a wide range of people here. As you can see by my signature line I have been at this for a long time and still learning as I go. You can talk about different aspects of CP life. You are limited to just talking about technical issues or pain meds. I hope you come to appreciate this site as I have develop friendships here as you get to know people here. Many of us have been through the same things you have and even if we have different problems that cause pain be have common traits as a result of CP.

[BrokenBladder]

Scar welcome aboard!! I'm sorry you have to be here, but this is really a great group of people!!
I'm looking forward to you posting!! You will find that you can post about anything on here and someone probably went through it or knows someone who did.
Take Care,

[Scar Tissue]

Thanks again for the replies!! I'm on a couple of other boards and have made friends on them, and I'm sure I'll make some here! The reason I chose this forum is the other boards don't have a section for Chronic Pain, and unless you live it you can't get people to understand it. I surely look forward to talking with people who actually understand this pain, and I look forward to speaking with all of you!!;)

[Jo6]

As others have said, I hate you have a need to be here but since you are welcome to the fold. You are right, one dosen't understand CP until they have experienced it.

I hope you will get the help you are seeking and look forward to getting to know you. Take care, Julia aka Jo

[curiousforever]

Welcome to the site - glad but not that you're here. Wish this site had no need for being.

Lots of great people on here - who know what they are talking about!

[suede]

Hi Scar,
I replied to you on the SS site.
Welcome to the forum here I believe you will really enjoy and find some really good supportive folks here.
My DH is a truck driver he only runs regional so he's home every week-end and some times during the week.
Looking forward to "seeing" you around.
Linda