Patients' Stories

John Pothan's Story

Hi, My name is John Pothan.   I am like many others, with Failed Back, go back a long way.  I first hurt my back September 1978 and called  a Doctor the next day, Dr X came around and said he could fix it with a manipulation, this he proceeded to do on  the bed, The pain was unbearable, my wife came  in and stopped him. Pain continued and I was referred to an Orthopaedic Specialist, and he said that the manipulation had partially severed my Spinal Cord.  An X-ray was taken and I was sent in for a Plaster Cast. Six weeks down the line I notice I had Right Foot drop, Off to the Orthopaedic Specialist, and into Hospital for a Myelogram, and a week with thumping headaches, then the Knife. A laminectomy was performed, with another Myelogram.

Two years down the track back in for another Myelogram (by the way, these myelograms were with the oil base dye) and the knife with a wide Laminectomy and a fusion L3 4 5. And a Plaster Cast. Eight years later back in for another Myelogram( water Base)  with another wide Laminectomy and  fusion  L 5 6 & S 1.  Five years later I was referred to Auckland for an MRI, reports back that I required further Surgery, this was carried out with a clean up of L 3 4 5 & S 1 with a fusion of L 1 & 2 .

Some six years ago I was diagnosed that I had Arachnoiditis but I knew that I had it long before that. Life must go on though,  sometimes I find it very hard but with  Morphine everyday and Pethidine every other  day  I get by, Thanks to a very supportive Wife and Family I don't know what I would have done without them over the years.

My advice to anyone with a sore back is to not let anyone manipulate your back.