For those of you that don't know, I fell on 11-19-2010 8', landing on my buttocks.
The fall resulted in a Blow-Out fracture of my T-11 vertebrae. I saw the images from my 1st MRI and it wasn't pretty.
I'm no doctor, but I knew the jagged edges on the top and all the cracks didn't look anything like the vertebrae above and below
That was over 5yrs now and I've been to quite a few doctors after it didn't heal in the 3-4 months that I was told it would.
Same story from all the doctors, cracks have healed in the bone, it's solid....No reason for you to still be in pain except for your part of the small
percentage of people that don't heal from this type of injury

I've been on a HVY pain management program ever since and HATE IT!

After waiting months to get approval from Workers Comp, on Monday I visited a doctor in Houston that had fixed a neighbor of ours on Lake Cypress Springs. She had had back problems that nobody could diagnosis and was also on pain management and blood pressure medicine due to pain. She visited Dr. Esses and he quickly found that her back was broke, she had a lower fusion and is now completely pain free and off all the meds.

Dr. Esses stated that they had discovered that the patients, like me, that had my type of injury and didn't heal, was due to the disc blowing out, not out to the side as is the normal way a disc ruptures, but downward into the cavity created by the compression of the bone. I lost 35% of the height on the front side of the vertebrae. He stated that all my records indicted this and was shocked that nobody else had known or wanted to check out the obvious
Belinda & I both were simply overjoyed to hear this and had to wipe tears back.

If he is correct in his evaluation, a fusion will be required, but it is a minimal evasive procedure with only a 2" scar. That's simply amazing as I had a Lower fusion done approx. 30yrs ago and have a LONG scar at the bottom of my back.

He has sent a request to Workers Comp to get a current MRI and a Bone Speck test done in Tyler, so it's back to the waiting game, but hopefully they will not delay the tests long.....how else would they expect him to do his job

Needless to say, I'm happy, HAPPY, HAPPY just knowing what's going on and that there's the possibility to someday not have back pain again, not have to take pain meds!

Heck, I'd sure like to be able to drive and not have to ride with Belinda

THANK YOU to all that prayed for me, IT WORKS!

Man, I thought I was about the only one. Did the same thing, same year. Retired and gave up 2011, surgery on one disc....results: now have 5 herniated discs!
Had to retire almost 2 years early
I hope things get better shipmate
God Bless
Lee

Awesome news Todd and I really hope they get you fixed up ASAP. I know how difficult it is to live with back issues and hope they can get yours corrected quickly.

Thank God. Congrats to ya, hope all goes well.

OMG, Todd will be loose on the road again, watch out everyone, and now you wont don't need that fancy Trolling motor anymore.




I hope they can get it fixed right - That's GREAS NEWS

Will keep you in my prayers. The power of prayer WORKS!




Side Note: It's great getting some good news!

I know it has been challenging to live with sever back pain, hope you are able to have the surgery and be able to live pain free going forward.

There is nothing worse than back problems!

Congrats Todd. We've got a couple prayers headed your way for you and your new medical team!

That is really good news man!! More prayers are sent!! SOON you'll be back to doin what ya love tenfold!!

Mark,
and you thought the crappie where in big trouble with Todd on the water. Just wait till he is back to normal. Them crappie won't have a chance. This puts pressure on me and now my back hurts....

Happy for ya Todd

Good luck ....hang in there!

Good fishin'
Gary

That is awesome news Todd! Hope pain free days are in the near future!

Thanks everybody!

It's awesome to have your support and to be part of this fishing community

Y'All ROCK!

Great News Mr and Mrs Box...God is good!!!

Great news Todd! Glad to hear there's a light at the end of the tunnel in the recovery process for you!