Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So I've spent the last month reading everything I can find concerning the ins & outs of the transition process, but I haven't come across anything about how spine conditions and transitioning (particularly HRT) may affect one another.

I'm definitely not looking for medical advice, just wondering if any other gals are in my same boat, and if there's anything in particular I need to be aware of moving forward?

For reference, I've had 3 surgeries in 3 years: discectomy, fusion, then fusion revision, and still take a variety of meds to keep everything in check.

I may be over thinking things, but you never know till you ask, right?  ;)
This spine stuff has ruled me for so long and I don't want it getting in the way of my new life.

Brittany

I am not a doctor but I don't see where HRT might be much of an issue. The complication might be pain medication conflicting with future surgeries however a good medical team should be able to work with them.

I had spine surgery (double laminectomy), and the nurses brought me my estradiol along with other medications while I was in the hospital. I still have nerves pinched by bone spurs they say they cannot do anything about, but it does not have any impact on transitioning.

I hope this answers your questions.

Quote from: BrittanyLianne on March 11, 2018, 08:40:07 PM
So I've spent the last month reading everything I can find concerning the ins & outs of the transition process, but I haven't come across anything about how spine conditions and transitioning (particularly HRT) may affect one another.

I'm definitely not looking for medical advice, just wondering if any other gals are in my same boat, and if there's anything in particular I need to be aware of moving forward?

For reference, I've had 3 surgeries in 3 years: discectomy, fusion, then fusion revision, and still take a variety of meds to keep everything in check.

I may be over thinking things, but you never know till you ask, right?  ;)
This spine stuff has ruled me for so long and I don't want it getting in the way of my new life.

Brittany

I just recently had spine surgery. Both lower discs were herniated. They trimmed both discs. Cut some bone from around the nerve roots and clipped off bone spurs. No issues with HRT. I was on a massive dose of gabapentin for the nerve pain. I still have nerve damage but they say it can be up to 18 months before I know if it is permanent or not.

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Thank you all for the replies and help. I guess I may have been thinking too much after all but Gabapentin is EXACTLY what i was concerned with causing problems.

Josie, I wish you the very best with the nerve pain and I hope it will improve soon.

Thank you Brittany. No issues with gabapentin or meloxicam or the half dozen things I was on after surgery. I was taking gabapentin and meloxicam for most of the time since last July just to make life livable. I can stay off the gabapentin mostly now unless I walk too much or sit in a car too long. I have both numbness and hypersensitivity in the nerves in my foot and toes. I hope in time that heal and goes away.

Good luck with your future transition plans. It can seem hard but for me it was the only way forward.

haven't had surgery yet.  but i expect to eventually end up getting spinal fusion. I have two discs (lumbar) in very bad shape.  Something that's been chronic for 15 years.   since i started HRT I've had two rounds of prednisone and I've been taking nabumetone.  I haven't had an epidural since HRT, but I expect to get that too sooner rather than later.  I've discussed all this with my Ortho and Endo and neither see any issue with HRT and my ongoing spinal treatment. 

I have bottles of Gabapentin/Neurontin...  Haven't had any issues.  I was also on Pregabalin/Lyrica for a bit. My primary care and endo both saw no issue with proceeding with Hormone Therapy.  My only real issue with either of those medications, was that it does very little for the nerve pain with the handfuls of pills you have to take.  I mean Gabapentin you eat like a bag of Skittles...  ::)  I took them through my first year of hormones, and ended up quitting both the Neurotin and Lyrica.  I just couldn't justify popping that many pills for what little relief it gave me.