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Posted 8/3/2006 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
I wasn't sure where to put this post, so thought I'd give it a shot here. My doc dx'ed me with "loss of curvature where I should have it in my spine". Wasn't that a lovely scientific medical dx? LOL. Anyway... I've been having increasing pain/spasms in my upper back, neck area. I attributed it to just fibromyalgia, and so did my doc. BUT.. I have noticed that I have a large curve in my spine where the thoracic turns into cervical. I started messing with it, trying to straighten it, pushing on it, etc.. and whoa NELLY did my pain shoot up. So obviously, the pain is from this, not fibro. I did my own research and came up with the name of it, kyphosis. Or commonly known as "Dowagers Hump".

I'm currently working on trying to get the doc to refer me out to an orthopedist, I suppose that is where I need to be anyway? Is there anyone out there heard of this/dealt with this? I have no idea what to do, what not to do...etc. Except keep swigging down pain pills. I have tried to straighten it up and I can only hold it for maybe one full minute before the pain is so bad that I have to stop.

Thanks for listening!!

Sarah

Posted 8/3/2006 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Sarah, isn't it amazing what we can find for ourselves? What did your doc say when you told him of your discovery? Is he going to refer you out? I'm not familiar with this, but I will try and look some stuff up for you and see what I come up with... I know Erin will be a long here in a bit to lend her knowledge as well... Good luck to you and keep us posted on what happens!

Duck
Posted 8/3/2006 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Sarah,

OOfah!  Kyphosis is typically treated by your PCP or a Physical Therapist or Rheumatologist or Spine Specialist.

So a person with kyphosis stands and walks kinda hunched over.  I have this...it's from chronic pain, RA, and AS, emphysema and some bulging discs.  So in many ways it is easier for me to breath in a kyphotic state, and on assessment by Drs they see I'm kyphotic by the way I sit /stand....also known as a "chronic pain stance".

One literally must retrain oneself to stand properly. Use of back braces, belts, PT and abdominal exercises will help keep the core strong and thus keep the back straighter.

Unfortunately, by my being bedrest the past year...the kyphosis has got a lot better!  But still, after an hour of being up I start to tilt over.  Really not a major complaint of mine...but it's usually how people tell I'm ill at first glance, that or by my gimp.

Need to get down to the root of the cause of your stance.  If you are near menopause you must be weary of osteoporosis and degenerative disc disease.

I'll write some more tomorrow about clinincal findings and interventions about kyphosis.

take care Sarah.

sincerely,

erin 

Posted 8/3/2006 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
Erin, I don't think I'm near menopause, I'm 32.. but I already have DDD in my lower spine. Had an mri on my neck in past year, was told it was unremarkable. I would share this with my doc if I could ever TALK to him..lol.
All I know is it hurts like **** and I can NOT straighten all the way up any longer. Tho, I have nver had my thoracic region mri'ed.. maybe I should push for that?
Thanks
Sarah
Posted 8/5/2006 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I finally got a message on my machine that said something mumbled about calling the office back about xrays and ortho. Couldn't make sense of it, and of course the office was closed when I got the message. They DID spinal xrays on me. I don't think my spine changed in three months..lol. Oh well. At least they finally CALLED back. Now we start the phone tag game.
All I know right now is I am in pain. Debilitating, agonizing, burning, PAIN. I tried taking a whole lortab yesterday (normally just take half, very very med sensitive) and it made me really sick. Won't try that again. I can not get comfy in any position. I have a really high pain tolerance, especially for someone with fibro, but this is eating away at me. I thought it was muscle spasms, so got some flexeril from doc. Helped me sleep..lol. BUT didn't do much for the pain. Then I got online and started looking and looking... and found it. And thought.. well, guess a muscle relaxer isn't going to help THIS.
I know that doing anything to help this is going to hurt. PT, a brace, whatever. But I am willing to go through it. I can't stand the pain I'm in daily now. And I can't stand eating these pills day in and day out just to keep the worst at bay. Doesn't help the pain level when you are bent over a toilet.
ARRRRGGHHH... don't mind me.. just needed to vent!!
Sarah
Posted 8/5/2006 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Sarah... well, like you said, at least he called you back huh? I never realized that there was a difference between "muscle pain" and "bone pain" until I got Arthritis... is horrid isn't it? You hang in there, and vent away, that's what we're here for... take good care, try and rest easy and let us know how you are doing... Duck
Posted 8/5/2006 2:26 PM (GMT 0)

wow Sarah i'm so sorry hon.  what a shame.

so these pain meds they make you sick to your stomach? vomit?  if pain medications make you very dizzy, nauseous & vomit...you can take advantage of antiemetics.  meclizine (AntiVert) is very VERY good.  12.5mg didn't work well enough for the "pukiness" (if that's a word) but the meclizine 25mg (can take up to 3 times) helps SOOO MUCH with the nausea & vomiting i get from the prednisone.  i would inquire about that, it would at the least help you tolerate your pain meds.

i think we all know & can empathize with you. 

EMETROL is an OTC antiemetic you can find at any drugstore, around $8.00

if you take your pain meds & remain still and in bed do you think that would make a difference?

{{{{{{{{{ big hug }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

erin

Posted 8/5/2006 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies!! I can't ever, ever lay still in bed before 10pm. I have four kids..lol. I can take half the pill and not have any problems. I just tried taking a whole one and discovered that was a no no. In the past, I've been taking a half a pill, then an hour later the other half.. and it does help a little bit. So I figured, well take the whole thing and it would help more... sometimes I do really dumb things..lol.
I was rereading through this today, and realized that as many times as I've sat and talked to my doc, he never "caught" this. It's obvious to my family, my friends, etc... but not to my doc? Geez.
I keep stretching, kindof pushing my chest out and pulling my arms back to try to relieve some pressure. And WOW do I "grate"... really badly when I do that. Seems like every bone I have is rubbing somewhere..lol.
Right now.. my own unofficial "diagnosis" (lol) is that this is seriously affecting the muscles around the area. They are rock hard and "pop" in my neck when I turn my head. I try massaging them and it feels like I'm bruising them. I do have muscle relaxers, and I bounce back and forth between those and Klonopin at night. A couple nights of Klono, a couple nights of muscle relaxers. This way, I AM getting some sleep.
I know this one is reaching.. but is there anything that you have found to alleviate some of the pain? Maybe a certain exercise or position or stretch? I know it will be a (sigh) good wait before I get into an ortho.
Thanks.. this board is so wonderfully helpful!!!!!!!
Sarah
Posted 8/5/2006 6:35 PM (GMT 0)

hi Sarah,

some things to alleviate the back/spine pains?

ok...this is gonna be a little hard to believe & do as a matter of fact; but ya know those big exercise balls?  they're like super huge?  i managed to slide myself on one of those bad boys & with the help of 2 people, got on my back.  and i let my body fall backwards & take the shape of the ball.  oh man!  it felt great!!!!!!!!  the stretch in the back, abs, and it feels like everything is falling back into place & falling back into alignment.  so it looked basically like i was doing a backbend, but you're fully supported.

also, the back pain makes me feel like i wanna hang myself by my toes from the ceiling!  lol.  so what i do is get on the bed, and inch my way to the very very edga of it, and kinda hang over it while on my back and let my arms over my head and fall to the fall as much as they can go...that feels good too.

mind you....ya need people to help ya get up from these Cique du Soleil positions! 

keep smiling

erin

Posted 8/6/2006 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Erin.. LOL.. I love those two. I do have one of those exercise balls. And have two teenagers if I get "stuck". Right now, I'm doped up and feeling fine..lol.
A note here... working on your computer will highly agitate this condition. As I am finding out. Have a virus, or been hacked or something... spent all week trying to recover this machine and learning very quickly that it is NOT a good idea..lol.
I will try those two stretches in the morning, when I'm SURE I will not get stuck..lol.
Thanks again!!!!
Sarah
Posted 8/8/2006 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
Okay.. finally got a call in to the doc and actually got to speak to a PERSON instead of answering machine..lol. And was told that my insurance is SO picky, that I have to have a physical exam by doc, more xrays, and more mri's. Then I will probably see a neuro, not an ortho. My last cervical MRI was a year ago.. and my doc said it was fine, but nurse today said it showed some 'slight bulging'.. well okay.. those slight bulges can wreak havoc with some people and not bother others. I think that makes my mri not FINE.
I'm starting to hate this merry go round of doc visits and tests. But ya gotta do what ya gotta do, right?
Sarah
Posted 8/10/2006 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
Sarah,
First day on here, have been diagnosed for 3 years with advanced DDD in c spine, reversed lordosis, 3 herniated discs...blah, blah. It sucks being in pain all the time. Unlike you, I cannot take NSAIDS at all, so I have to take the narcs. They do help, but I am not sure if it kills the pain, or just takes your attention from it. Anyway I wish you luck. I have had steroid injs, nerve blocks, radio frequency nerve ablation. Some works, some didn't. Have done alot of research on the web and there a million different things people say work and dont work. Go easy and carefully get a good D.O. or Pain management specialist if at all possible. Good Luck Check out Spine Universe
Posted 8/10/2006 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hey KadoKitty & welcome to HEALINGWELL!

So you've gone through it all eh?  Hah, narcotics...I feel they do both things; they make us not feel the severe pain by "anesthesizing" pain receptors plus makes ya drowsy enough where you're a little dopey & don't really give a crap! tongue   I wish opioids stopped the throbbing RA joint pain...but they don't, and like you I can't take NSAIDS either.

Steroids help, unfortunatley...but thankfully (if that makes sense).

 

Sarah,

Ugh!  I feel for ya. Got 7 bulging discs & they used to kill! Yikes.  When I'm up & standing or sitting up for too long they start to hurt really bad. Difficult to stand up straight too.

 

Well you both take care.

Sincerely,

erin

Posted 8/11/2006 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Well, my doc visit did not go well. He told me my pain would likely get worse as time goes on. And that I'm maxed out on pain meds with what I take, due to a severe sensitivity to meds. He also told me that when I get this new set of xrays and he gets it on paper, to go ahead and apply for disability. He said that what I have is "unfixable". Only thing is to keep it from getting worse anyway possible. So... I'm not a happy camper right now.
Sarah
Posted 8/11/2006 11:22 AM (GMT 0)
What?!?!?! He actually said you were "unfixable"? What the....? Ok, what is his suggestion for keeping it from getting worse? Can you get a 2nd opinion? Oh Sarah, hang in there sweetie.... we'll get through this... {{{{{[[[[[(((((HUGS)))))]]]]]}}}}}
Posted 8/11/2006 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
my pain doctor after 6 years told me the same thing but i heald my head high went to rumy and a new pain doctor and i haven't felt this good in 15 years so don't give up there is help out there DEB
Posted 8/11/2006 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Well, his suggestion was physical therapy to keep it from getting worse. Surgery MAY be an option in a docs eyes, but not in mine.. not til all four of my kids are grown and settled. Too much risk for me in surgery on the neck.
Went and had my xrays done today... the tech kept telling me to not arch my back.. I finally got fed up turned to her and said that the reason I'm getting the stupid things was for a curvature in my back.. therefor.. I'm NOT arching it, the stupid thing is doing it alllll on it's own..lol.
I think the plan now is to refer me to a neurosurgeon. My doc said the ortho's around here don't do much for the spine. My big issue is how much nerve involvement this is causing. Which I guess the neuro would be able to tell me.
Sigh... I'll get through it one way or another.. gritting my teeth, kicking and screaming..lol
Sarah
Posted 8/11/2006 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hang in there Sarah, let us know what the neurosurgeon says.... I see why you don't see surgery as an option right now, I would be the same way... there was got to be something that can be done... stay strong! And come here and vent so that way your teeth don't wear down too much! LOL

Duck
Posted 8/19/2006 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Sarah, I also have a similar problem and have been told it is 'flat back syndrome'  where the natural curvurature of the spine has been lost.  I have been trying to find out if there is a way other than surgery to correct this problem.  After being on my feet a short time, my body feels like it is is twisted.  I can't stand up straight and walking is almost impossible.  Terribly exhausted.  Have you tried an inversion table, exercise, Yoga, or anything physical to try and correct and strengthen your back?  I expect to begin PT at some point soon.

Sarahruth

Posted 11/17/2006 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
So you've gone through it all eh? Hah, narcotics...I feel they do both things; they make us not feel the severe pain by "anesthesizing" pain receptors plus makes ya drowsy enough where you're a little dopey & don't really give a crap!



LMBO!!!!! But you know, it is soooooo true. ;)
Posted 11/17/2006 1:47 PM (GMT 0)

How does this kyphotis relate to scoliosis?  I have scoliosis, dx by x-ray, which is a curvature of the spine, but I do not have associated pain with this?  I don't even think it needs tx unless it decides to progress--all of my siblings and my mother had this too.  No one received tx for it.

Elcamino

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