TestimonialFailed Back Surgical Syndrome
In 1991, I was severely injured in an industrial accident whilst performing my normal employment duties. I was suddenly thrown into a solid wall by a large industrial floor polisher when it malfunctioned. As a result of this injury I have suffered constant pain and ongoing disability to the left side of my body including back and leg, and neck and arm. Between 1991 and 1994, I had numerous hospital casualty admissions, and on many occasions admitted for several days at a time for attempted pain relief. I have consulted numerous different specialist doctors and therapist with very little relief from pain regardless of the different medications, injections and treatments recommended. During February 1994 I began to lose feeling from my waist down. My specialist doctor admitted me to hospital for additional tests and within a matter of hours I was recommended spinal surgery for a ‘very bad disc compressing my spinal cord’. By this time the pain in my lower back had intensified dramatically and coupled with the fact that I had lost feeling from the waist down, I did not have any alternatives other than to go ahead with the spinal surgery. The surgeon assured me, that my pain would decrease and the loss of feeling would return with the procedure. For the next 8-months, I continued with strong pain medication, received extensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. I continued to be examined and reviewed by numerous insurance doctors. By this stage I was having nothing but problems with the insurance company. Unfortunately the pain did not settle but in fact my condition continued to deteriorate with me feeling extremely unstable in my lower back. I was devastated. I had been told that the operation would fix my back, instead I was worse. I became very depressed and emotional eventually requiring therapy with a psychologist and psychiatrist. I continued with these appointments for the next three and half years. Lucky for me, my treating doctor and therapists were very supportive of me, otherwise I don’t think I could have gone on. No matter what I did, who I saw, the pain in my back and leg and the pains in my neck were getting progressively worse. I was living with constant pain, I was severely restricted with any form of movement or activity, I used crutches for support and I was literally living on pain control medication. I was extremely depressed. My local treating doctor was and continues to be very supportive of me and I know that he has tried to recommend anything and everything he believes would be appropriate in an attempt to relieve my terrible pains. Under his direction I was receiving physiotherapy several times per week, massage twice a week, hydrotherapy daily. Medication included Panadol 2 every 4 hours, Panadeine Forte 2 every 4 hours, Zantac 2 every time before other medication, Zoloft 2-3 per day, Valium in various dosage 4-6 times per day, Endone several per day as required, Voltaren 2-3 several times per day, Aropax daily, Feldene and Aspirins throughout the day and many more drugs that I cannot recall. When I look back I know that my medication schedule was out of control. The trouble with chronic pain is that you become more and more addicted to the effects of the medication and when you are suffering terrible and relentless pain any form of relief is a blessing. I also had to wear a specially designed surgical back and orthotic leg support because I did not have the full feeling or control of my leg. I moved around most of the time with the aid of crutches, sometimes on a good day I may have got away with the use of one walking cane. When I was assessed during 1996 the specialist insurance doctor said I had suffered ‘permanent and irreversible damage’ to my spine. I was devastated and became totally depressed. Everytime I saw some form of back treatment, new drug or potential cure either on television or the newspapers, I would try and give it a go. Unfortunately, I never found any form of treatment or medication that seemed to fix the problem. In April 1997, I accidentally found the Spinal Rehabilitation Group. I did not even know what Hyperbaric Medicine was or what a chamber even looked like. As a matter of fact if I knew that somebody was going to put me inside a sealed chamber, regardless of the windows, I would have definitely said no and I would not have attended. But I was desperate. Dr Hooper examined my spine, requested new X rays and MRIs of my lower back and neck regions and took my case on a trial basis. I commenced HBOT and received physical therapy daily. I was so scared that during the initial weeks I took several Valium prior to going into the chamber to help me to relax me enough because I suffer terrible anxiety. As well as the chamber, I received other forms of treatment including electrical acupuncture, cupping and supportive chiropractic and physiotherapy. I was also recommend vitamins and received various injections. After 2-months of HBOT I was actually feeling quite well, I still had pain but I was completely surprised as to how well I was coping, not requiring anywhere near the same quantity of medication as before. My GP was also amazed at my quick response to this new form of therapy. He told me on several occasions that he had never heard of hyperbaric therapy for spinal problems other than it being used for the ‘bends’ as a result of diving injuries. He was supportive but I think he was still sceptical. Anyway, I continued to improve so he recommended that he begin to slowly reduce the amount of medication that he had been prescribing. I found it very difficult to withdraw from my medication; I suffered many episodes of terrible panic attacks. When I suffered these attacks additional treatment I received from Spinal Rehab Group helped me overcome these episodes which previously I would have been in a terrible state for many days on end. After 3-months of treatments, I stopped using the walking stick and I no longer needed the back brace every day. I have been unable to travel on public transport for the past 7-years because of my pain and anxiety attacks, I was totally dependent upon my husband to drive me wherever I had to attend. I am now able to travel more independently, I catch the bus, the train and I walk which has been a tremendous boost to my self-esteem, and relief to my husband. I have now had the best past 12-months since I first injured my back, I no longer require the same amount of medication and able to cope with the pain which is now considerably less. The episodes of pain and the frequency of attacks are significantly less and with the benefits of HBOT and treatment I seem to bounce back extremely quickly. I have now been enrolled in several courses at a higher education adult learning over the past year, which has been an absolute blessing. I am more confident, I’ve lost weight, have more energy, made many new friends and my general lifestyle and social activities have increased dramatically. I would like to thank Dr Hooper and his team for the special way they treat me and their patients and I thank God for a second chance. Lots of love Roze B”. |
