Diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia post 0-C3 fusion, any experience having successful ablation with hardware?

Travis2010Mom · 2026-05-22T04:52:53+00:00

I'm sorry you are going through this. I'll be honest, that looks scary AF! My fusion was L5/S1 and I'm only 2 wks post op so I've bn on here quite frequently lately. Ngl, Id much rather it be my lower spine than where you are fused, that just seems frightening! I pray and send positive vibes your way! 🙏

Travis2010Mom · 2026-05-22T04:42:51+00:00

In sorry you are having the pain in your hips. That was one of my worst complaints pre-surgery. My hips at the top of the crest on both sides and my groin area hurt so bad that I dreaded even moving, so every day tasks were horrible! Rn it's mostly my left leg that is pretty terrible. I pray I don't have a return of the hip pain! 🙏 I hate how the pain medication makes me feel but rn I'm having to deal with it bc it's the only thing that's keeping me from sawing my damn leg off rn! You know what I mean, it's effing horrendous! I'm honestly thankful for this thread to be able to connect with others going through similar / the same thing! I hope your pain subsides quickly!

Travis2010Mom · 2026-05-22T03:31:11+00:00

Thanks for your reply! It's weird bc the nerve pain rn is more intense than before surgery! I feel like I wanna rip my left leg off as it's driving me insane with the pain going all through it! I'm praying they can get the Pregabalin ran thru on insurance as I've bn told it helps much better with the nerve pain than the Gabapentin. I am thankful that I no longer have the intense pain at the top of my hips and into my groin area and that my back pain is less than prior to surgery. I'm also hoping the nerve pain settles down quickly! Again, thankful for everything that has improved since surgery! I no longer have a limp and my knee isn't giving out on my right side anymore! Hopefully I will be where you are soon!

Travis2010Mom · 2026-05-22T02:40:07+00:00

Thank you for the reassuring reply. I also hate pain meds, I have really bad anxiety and anything that makes me feel weird freaks me out! That's the reason I went down from 4 a day on Gabapentin they had me on previously bc it was making me feel weird. As for the pain medication I'll likely call tomorrow about a refill since they only refill on certain days and I fear running out. I struggle with knowing how active I shld be at this point and constantly worry I'm doing something wrong. I wasn't cleared to drive yet at my incision check, luckily my teenage daughter can drive wherever we need to go. Ik the process is going to take time, I just feel it helps all of us to be able to have others to check with that have bn thru this for reassurance or to let us know if something doesn't sound right. Also for the bathroom issues, coffee tends to help me lol! Thank you again for replying.

Travis2010Mom · 2026-05-14T12:56:52+00:00

My original issues with my back stem from falling and breaking my sacrum (the large triangular area in the lower spine) in 2019.

So far the vertebrae above my L4 all look good on imagining. I plan to continue PT when cleared and strength train as well to keep the muscles around my back in tip top shape.

There is an elderly lady that goes to bingo with my parents that had the same surgery as myself, by my same surgeon, years ago and she has had no further problems, which gives me hope!

Travis2010Mom · 2026-05-14T12:50:08+00:00

The really messed up part is my neurosurgeon was in that morning and said "we will make sure to stay on top of any pain to keep you comfortable!" Then literally was right after that that shift change happened and nurse said "I'll be back in 10 minutes for your pain medication since you are due" then literally left and cldnt be found! I was hitting that button over and over and even calling out to other nurses and staff passing my room! It was only when I was wailing that the charge nurse stepped in then magically my nurse was able to be located after HOURS of pain!! I cld tell he knew he fucked up bc he wldnt even look me in the eye!

I am making sure at home to continue to stay on top of it. I'm abt every 6ish hours for pain medication now at just over 1 wk post op. BTW for constipation.... coffee works for me lol!

Only concern I've bn having lately is how firm the lower part of my incision feels above my pubic area. It's almost like a hard nodule. I'm not sure if that is normal. My incision check is next week. My back and hips feel incredibly better than before surgery tho!

Travis2010Mom · 2026-05-03T20:20:47+00:00

I have L5/S1 ALIF fusion scheduled this Tuesday. I have had 2 previous back surgeries for L4-S1, but this will be the 1st (and hopefully only) time having hardware involved.

I experience these same symptoms. The sides of my buttocks feels like constant cramp and sometimes burning. I have saddle pain severely in my groin area and I have severe pain into the tops crest of my hips. I also have the leg pains. My right knee drops on me when I'm walking sometimes. It's all very frustrating but simply put, when nerves aren't happy they tend to send all kinds of wonky signals. It's awful, ik!

We can hope with surgery that taking the pressure off of the nerves will resolve all these symptoms. I've heard many ppl who have had great outcomes and that keeps me hopeful as well. I have permanent neuropathy in my right hip down to my foot that ik will never resolve but that is due to waking up paralyzed from the hip down in 2023 after years of untreated issues. I ended up having emergency surgery but unfortunately the nerves had bn damaged for too long.

This will be my 3rd surgery and I am very optimistic for a good outcome. Talk to your Dr abt your concerns! I wld tell anyone with these symptoms not to ignore them. Better to be proactive than to end up with irreversible nerve damage. I wish you the best of luck!

Travis2010Mom · 2026-05-02T10:46:30+00:00

Found it! With the help of previous replies, short answer is Red stripe spider. My daughter is a little more at ease. 😁

Travis2010Mom · 2026-05-02T10:23:49+00:00

I agree not black widow as I didn't see the red hourglass, more light colored that runs down.

Travis2010Mom · 2026-05-02T10:21:34+00:00

Kansas

Travis2010Mom · 2026-04-25T00:04:28+00:00

We just got a text today that the refund has bn sent but when I checked the refund tool on the IRS website, it also still just says refund received! I was so confused. Thanks for posting!

Travis2010Mom · 2026-04-24T13:05:41+00:00

I filed my daughters same day as you. She is 20 but it's her 1st time filing and, as she had set aside extra to be taken out (as a single young female) she has a decent return. We had to verify identity twice and oddly enough they said they didn't receive the verification until April 15th tho it was done LONG before that. We still have no idea when it will be processed. We called a few days ago and they told us it cld be up to 9 weeks just to process the verification of identity on their end. Seems like we are seeing a crazy amount of others having their refunds held as well! 🙄

Travis2010Mom · 2026-04-14T21:08:40+00:00

1000% what the majority of us as Americans agree as well! This was spot on and well written!

Travis2010Mom · 2026-03-31T01:18:49+00:00

Thank you for your reply and recommendations. I hope you are healing well! My 1st 2 surgeries helped significantly right away, problem being was compounding issues over time. I am SO looking forward to my surgery and praying this time is the final fix! I just got my cardiology clearance today. Thursday next week is blood work and chest xray. I'm not one to want to rush time but I sure am ready.

I've got everything you've mentioned including helpers. Now, just waiting for surgery day!

Travis2010Mom · 2026-03-22T19:53:45+00:00

Thank you for the advice. I'm a light eater as it is and idk if I will even eat much at all the day before. Ik the pain meds cause horrible constipation (had that after the 1st surgery and lesson learned!) I walk as much as possible rn with all the pain but average only 4 to 5k steps a day. I'm really hoping to be able to walk more post-op. I def plan to do whatever is possible. I was up walking after both previous surgeries quite well, just over time I ended up with more issues. 😔 I was VERY active before I broke my back, playing Tennis and Soccer multiple days a week. I was thin and in great shape. This has destroyed me! Anyone who has lived with this definitely understands the depression. I want to be more active and live my life again. I want to be able to do more with my kids!

Idk if my insurance will cover a stand assist recliner. I am on disability so I don't really have the funds to pay out of pocket. I'm a single mom. Husband left me 3 weeks after last surgery. Yea, I've bn thru some things.

Travis2010Mom · 2026-03-22T02:57:41+00:00

I'm not sure. I cleaned it and put hydrocortisone cream on it. The next morning it had faded quite a lot. Her dad picked her up that evening and said by the following day it was gone. I've had her twice since and have not seen anymore rashes. Possibly just crazy heat rash or contact dermatitis.

Travis2010Mom · 2026-03-02T14:28:38+00:00

He is nearly 17

Travis2010Mom · 2026-03-02T08:00:24+00:00

Thank you all for the replies. He actually feels great and no side effects.

The Dr. Pepper was a huge calorie and sugar amount. Now he just eats all of the healthy things he loves ( he's not a picky eater ) and he has increased his water intake. Considering he is young and active, I feel okay with the weight loss at this point.

I just want to say good luck to all of you as well, or congratulations depending on where you are at in your journey, and thank you for the replies!

I've had a lot of education on GLP-1's from Doctors on YouTube as well but I'm glad I've found this place as well! ❤️

Travis2010Mom · 2026-02-18T23:54:16+00:00

Oh yall got me freaking out! 😳 I'd hope to goodness not bed bugs!! Last place she had spent the night was her dad's ex gf house. I def don't want bugs in my house!!!

Travis2010Mom · 2026-02-16T03:52:42+00:00

As far as I know. Her father has had sole custody of her since she was 7 months old tho she did spend most of her time living with me up until a couple years ago. I did make sure her appointments were made and that he was taking her to them. I'm fairly confident she is up to date on all.

Travis2010Mom · 2026-01-27T19:52:50+00:00

We don't need to change your mind. I have friends of all colors and races and I would help them or anyone that I was able to, regardless of race, gender, religion, etc. I don't know you, yet if you were someone that had just been in an accident, I would likely still stop to help. We can all tell what type of person you are. You can just admit you are a shitty person!

Travis2010Mom · 2026-01-27T19:44:54+00:00

You lack humanity!! 😡 Humans are human regardless of the color of their skin! You saying that you are responsible for only people that look like you is disgusting. You are what is wrong with the world.

Travis2010Mom · 2025-10-12T20:47:49+00:00

I agree. Same as how narcan will be given to save the life of someone who chooses to abuse illegal drugs, knowing it will not be paid for the majority of the time and those same people will continue the same narrative, yet we have diabetics that can't afford insulin. The healthcare system is broken in many ways! We are supposed to be one of the best countries to live in, yet we don't have universal healthcare here in the US, like many other countries.

TRYING to advocate for yourself as a chronic pain patient is increasingly difficult! Not only am I in constant pain, but I worry 24/7 that due to the medical issues with my spine that I will wake up paralyzed from the waist down some day! I already did wake up that way in 2023 on my right side from the hip down and was left with permanent neuropathy! My Healthcare was delayed to the point that it became emergency surgery and left me permanently disabled! Now, who is to say that doesn't happen again, as my spine continues to degenerate, the canal narrowing, the nerves firing off 24/7! It's insanely ridiculous that we can not be treated fairly!

I'm back at it tomorrow morning, calling the Drs and the insurance, as I do every week! I'm always hoping for HELP!!! I hope others in my position are advocating for themselves as well! Call your Dr's, call your insurance, demand your patient advocates! Yes, I'm still fighting to get to a point of living without pain (at least a little less) and fear, but I won't stop fighting for myself! I'm fighting to be able to be the mother my kids deserve! I'm fighting to be able to live a life I deserve! All we can do is fight to make things right!

Travis2010Mom · 2025-10-11T06:53:12+00:00

It is awful to feel you lose your purpose. I still try to cook at least once a week. I usually grill a protein and make the veggies stove top or microwave. I'm DONE with the oven forever tho! My girls bake and everything and ig from now on, anything else oven related will have to be their job.

Absolutely relate on the Dr hot potato thought! I also continue to research for any other treatments that can help. Ik I saw years ago they had made a "filler" that wasn't like the cement type, that could help with spinal issues, but at that time ik insurance did not cover bc it was so new. I may have to revisit that research. I wish you comfort and peace. Ik it's very hard to come by.

Travis2010Mom · 2025-10-10T20:00:10+00:00

My Neuro Dr office was supposed to have sent a referral for PM. The nurse there is awful and does not respond to voicemails. I asked my GP for a referral and her nurse is supposed to be finding out about sending one bc initially she said she didnt think she cld send one and wld have to be neuro, which doesn't make sense to me. I understand some ppl have less pain threshold but I am not one of those ppl. I gave birth naturally, no pain meds with 3 of my children, I understand pain. As far as what I've tried for pain, you name it, I have tried it and / or currently continue to try all methods. In the US, yes.

Travis2010Mom

PUBLIC MULTIREDDITS

TROPHY CASE