New here
I’m 54. I was diagnosed at 18 and qualified for surgery but I declined (1991). I had never heard positive outcomes of spinal surgery so I decided I was not having surgery- ever. However I said if I ever do need surgery I’m sure the technology would have improved. Long story short I began to have pain in my 30’s, it rapidly increased in my 40’s and finally at 52 I had the surgery. The sharp increase of pain was definitely because of peri/menopause. Hoping that someone else with long fusion is open to talk about living with all of that hardware but still having pain. As everyone on here knows you can’t explain how it feels and/or effects your daily life. The only time I don’t feel my hardware is when I’m lying completely flat and not moving a muscle. I thought that feeling would lessen but it hasn’t. Also I swear I get cold so much because of my hardware. My husband thinks I’m totally wrong but it is a different kind of cold like a chill you can’t get rid of. There are also many things that I am grateful for after surgery. Life is different now for sure
Hi. I am 53 and have had my hardware since I was 21. I would not say I am in constant pain but more like I always aware that it's there. I go through periods of discomfort but I try to stay very active. Ironically, doing more seems to help. Sitting is the worst as I am very stiff when I get up. There's so much I could say.....would be happy to communicate with you further if you'd like. I do not know anyone personally who is "like me" and it's only just recently that I've joined this group and a couple on FaceBook to hear other perspectives. (Your theory on being cold- never occured to me, but I am alwasy cold and once I get a chill, it's very hard to lose it!).