THE "SAGA" OF LUCIE

My name is Lucie and I am a divorced, 52 year old lady living in Southern California. My saga starts in late summer of 1984 when I was diagnosed with degenerative spondylolisthesis. My internist sent me directly to an orthopedic surgeon who, a couple months later, performed a fusion on L4-5. Although I need to wear a body cast for months, I had a very supportive family who helped me thru the lengthy recovery.

My husband, Dan, helped in every way he could and still keep his auto repair shop open. My oldest daughter, Julie, who was 16-17, took over the grocery shopping and most of the cooking, not to mention the care of my youngest child, Becky, who was 8, at the time. My son, Steve, had to put off getting his license and first car because I was in the hospital for his 16th birthday! He helped as much as he could with the household errands, as well.

I had no back or leg pain for years after that! I worked out daily (an hour of aerobics with weights in the morning and aerobic walking in the afternoon). I felt in the best shape of my life! I even started selling real estate after Becky was old enough to take care of herself and I wasn't needed as much at home.

In late 1997 and early 1998, I started having problems again. After months of "conservative treatment" (i.e., epidurals, cortisone injections nerve blocks) I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon at Stanford who performed a fusion with instrumentation in Dec. 1998. My daughter Julie and my son, Steve, got married in 1999.

At Steve's wedding in April, I was still on the pain meds but made it through the ceremony, then left for home shortly after. At Julie's wedding in June, I thought I should be better, but was still on the pain meds and the pain seemed to be getting worse. By the end of 1999, I knew something must be wrong. I went back to a neurosurgeon who said the only thing he could do for me would be to implant a Spinal Cord Stimulator. He did that surgery in the end of January and I got almost immediate relief! My pain level (other than the pain from the surgery) was reduced almost in half! And, I had high hopes of returning to work soon.

By then, I had been divorced from my husband, Dan, since 1996. Because I had been on my own, and Dan had refused to help, I had almost lost my home to foreclosure and was battling with the Social Security Administration regarding my being "disabled" and unable to work. I have recently moved to Oxnard, CA from the San Francisco Bay area because the kids wanted me closer to at least one of them.

My daughter, Becky, now 24, is getting married this year! And, I had hoped to be able (for this wedding, at least) to help with the wedding since I was unable to even help with the planning of the others. It wasn't until last month, at an appointment with the physiatrist I had been referred to, that the diagnosis of "Arachnoiditis" had ever been mentioned. I came home, booted up my computer and was astounded at the information I found. That is when I signed up for the COFWA support group.

Later I joined the ASAMS support group. I thank God there is these groups of people to help others like me deal with the frightening news and diagnosis!

I just wish that these terrific groups of individuals didn't have to know from experience what I am going thru and what I may be facing. My battles with Social Security are over and they have "granted" me the $474 a month disability payment. My battles with my former husband are still ongoing. And, I suppose I will have many more battles to come with this diagnosis.

It is good to know that I have support groups to help me with some of the medical "battles" and questions and that, at least with regard to this, I am not alone.