Kayley,

I am not sure how I work with this either. I just take Ultracet, Arthrotec, Tylenol and work. Some days are horrible and I am in tears in the bathroom, others aren't too bad. I saw the neurosurgeon today and he said that I definitely have 5 herniated discs in the thoracic, two of which are pressing on the spinal cord. I have one more herniated in the cervical and one I just had fused. I talked to him a long time and he said he would wait until I just cannot take it anymore for surgery because it is a very difficult surgery and the % of paralysis from it are very high. He prescribed a TENS unit and said to keep taking the pain med. He also said he didn't think I was premature at all with thinking about disability but that it would be a hard fight.

Quote from JenEbean:

Kayley,

I am not sure how I work with this either. I just take Ultracet, Arthrotec, Tylenol and work. Some days are horrible and I am in tears in the bathroom, others aren't too bad. I saw the neurosurgeon today and he said that I definitely have 5 herniated discs in the thoracic, two of which are pressing on the spinal cord. I have one more herniated in the cervical and one I just had fused. I talked to him a long time and he said he would wait until I just cannot take it anymore for surgery because it is a very difficult surgery and the % of paralysis from it are very high. He prescribed a TENS unit and said to keep taking the pain med. He also said he didn't think I was premature at all with thinking about disability but that it would be a hard fight.

Hi Jen -

You know, it just may not be as difficult a fight as you (or your Dr.) might think. My sis-in-law had a 4 level fusion in the c-spine - apparently there had been some impingement near/at (I forget now!) the spinal cord. She had surgery a year ago but continued to have various neurological simptoms - numbness, tingly, other odd sensations, plus, much dizziness. She, too is an R.N. and could no longer perform her duties, she didn't even have any pain. So she applied for S.S.D., was denied, then she asked for a hearing. S.S. had a Dr. there, plus a vocational consultant. Being that I had won my case w/orepresentation, I helped her write the letter that she sent to the Judge beforehand, so she had no attorney. The Judge found her disabled on the spot.

It sounds likw what you have been going thru is MUCH worse, so I can't help but think it may be an easier process than you may think! In either case, good luck to you!

Char :wave: