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1st Visit w/Back Pain Doc

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Posted 11/21/2009 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All

Have not been on much this week been in alot of pain some from my fibro but mostly from back.  I am pretty new here but have talked with a few of you.

I finally made it to the Back Pain Specialist today.  He was very nice and knew what he was doing much better than the one I saw like 2 yrs ago.  The Doc also found something else to go with the DDD and 2 herniated discs L5 and S1 he noted a large area of Osteo arthritis in same area.  So that may be why I have had some added or different pain lately.  It was not there or noted in my last MRI in Feb 08. 

Anyway he will schedule me for bilateral L5 floroscopic steroids injections soon as Insurance approves it and he prescribed me percocets for BT pain.  We hope to settle down some of the leg pain with these injections.

After that if we can get the leg pain decreased and if the back is still in pain we can discuss surgical options and other procedures/treatments for arthritis.  So I am hopeful and thinking positive I can get this back stuff under some kind of control.

Yes was also told again NO bending NO bending,,, also no heavy lifting and such have to really watch that sometimes I forget and just find myself stooping over to pick something up or getting into dishwasher etc but it really does make me feel worse.

Now if we can find a cure for everything else we would all be feeling like spring chickens heh?

You all have a great weekend.

Rhonda

PS Question Has anyone ever tried the zero gravity or stressless recliners???

 

Posted 11/21/2009 6:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Rhonda,

I have a collapsed disc at that location and it's mighty painful when it pinches the nerves that go down the legs. I had a series of the steroid injections you are talking about. Unfortunately it didn't do much for me but it sure is worth a try. I will be hoping for the best for you. I also have arthritis in my spine. Right now the worst area is my neck. Sound like we have similar problems going on. I do hope you get some relief!

Chutz
Posted 11/21/2009 7:38 AM (GMT 0)
FunnyGurl

I do hope the steriod injections help you, some people get good relief from them, other don't but the Docs often like to do them first to see how it works for the patient. Even if you only get just some relief for just a short time it can help the Docs allot. I know when I had mine I got three days on one of the injections and the next one I got a whole three weeks! But my surgeon said that by getting the injections and having some relief from them was a good indication that ( for me and in my case) surgery would be of help to me to fix it! I had a C5-6 Diskectomy and Fusion done just 6 or 7 weeks ago the 28 th of September. Right after the surgery my left arm pain was completely gone! Anyway I do hope it all works out well for you, but in the mean time Please do be CAREFUL and do your best to not do the things you shouldn't be doing!!

I wish you only the Best and Good Luck to YOU!!

White Beard
Posted 11/21/2009 11:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Funnygirl,
Would like to introduce myself.

I am fairly new to the Forum, and its just been a wonderful support network already.

I am sorry to hear of your conditions, i to recently have been diagnosed from osteoarthritis in the spine, and i too expereinced an intense increase in pain, which prompted me to re-examine my Scolosis.

I do hope that you recieve quality PM and hope the injections can assist in Pm.

I am from Australia, and have never heard of the med Perecot ? What type of Med is this, there is a fair few people on this forum who take this for breakthrough pain. Is it effective?

Hope you are keeping well and please take care of yourself.
Regards from the landdown under
Punchfit
Posted 11/21/2009 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Punch, Percocet is oxycodone with tylenol (aceteminophen) added to it.
Posted 11/21/2009 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning All

Hi Chutz yes it does sound like we have alot in common unfortunately heh?
I had this series of injections done 2 years ago I believe it helped my pain
by about 20% for a while.  Maybe about 10% longterm it is very hard to measure
that I think.

Whitebeard  Wow it sounds like your surgery was a great success good for you.
I am a bit afraid of surgery in general but I believe everyone is to some degree.
I had a neurosurgeon consult on this in Mar 08 and he said lets let it ride out for
a year or so and see how it goes we do not want to open a can of worms yet.
My new Doc said that was a good suggestion at that time but we will consider it again
soon if things do not change.  Can't live like this for long and with fibro on top of it.
Thanks for the advise.

Hi Punchfit Thanks for the encouragement and I believe Jag answered the question better than I.
Have a great day Down under!  A great summer day right?

Thanks again all
Rhonda :)

Posted 11/23/2009 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
FunnyGurl
I had seen a neurosurgeon several years ago for my neck and he told me the same thing and he wouldn't do surgery, then earlier this year I started having severe left arm pain, it reminded me allot of the pain I had back in 1985 when I had to have the emergency surgery for a massive herniated disk at C6-7 anyway my Pain Doc did an MRI and sent me to the neurologist who did the EMG studies on my arm and then the Pain Doc did the Epidural injections and sent me back to a neurosurgeon. This time the nerve impingement was severe and I got the surgery! Actually the surgeon said I was really lucky because usually after having a fusion done the disk above or below that fusion goes bad with in ten years, I got close to 25 years before mine went bad! That is pretty good! One day I will get L4-5 taken care of! I have foot drop because of that disK!! Nobody will touch the herniated disk at T-12 Anyway most good surgeons do not want to do that surgery if they can avoid it as they know when they do disk fusions, that it puts more strain and pressure on the adjacent disks and that they have a very good chance of going bad because of it!



Anyway I do wish you all the best FunnyGurl!



White Beard
Posted 11/23/2009 4:13 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks White Beard

I do not what the future holds but do know I am having a rough time tonight with the back and leg pain.  I am hoping the injections can help the leg pain and we will see from there.

Thanks for the info and hope you are doing well yourself!

Rhonda

Posted 11/23/2009 10:57 AM (GMT 0)
I was like White Beard, I didn't have the cervical done until my left arm started giving me such problems that fusion had to be done. As far as my lumbar fusion I only got 3yrs from it before a disc above the fusion site has gotten a bulge in it. Mine did skip a level which the doctor said was odd. My work required alot of bending and twisting though so this could have accelerated things. Good Luck with your pain issues and get ready for a long haul!
Posted 11/23/2009 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
OOH  "get ready for the long haul" you said Jag made me queasy!

Anyhoo left you a long message/reply under post my back is hurting or something?  Can't remember name right now.

But anyway yes right now Doc told me like 3 times adamantly Do not Bend No Bending

NOT to Bend  Besides the obvious of it hurts is there something I should know?  Can I hurt something else?  I am scared now.  I caught myself a few times bending over the weekend. 

BTW I have severe DDD and 2 bad hernaited discs L5 and S1 with Arthritis in same area.

Thanks for all the info All!!!

Rhonda

Posted 11/23/2009 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
I've been told no bending too...it's very hard when you drop things and your not allowed to bend down to get it...
I drop things as I have pinched nerves in the cervical area, I droped something at the store the other day and lucky someone saw
and picked it up for me, which was nice...but also somewhat embarassing (sp?) so it'll be very hard with no bending...
Hope your new doctor continues to be good to you...
Lots of soft hugz
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Rhonda)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Posted 11/23/2009 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
I know isn't it embarrasing heh Chart.  I am only 41 but not so good at squatting like I used to be able to do.  So it is difficult to do things like pick things up, do laundry, use dishwasher, feed the pets, wow the list could go on all day! :)

I guess the Doc said No Bending just not to increase the pain, I thought maybe to prevent something worse like a pinched nerve like you have or something.  So I thought I would ask.  So I should not be that afraid if I forget now and again then?

Yea I hope my Back Pain Doc is looking out for me.  My Internal Medicine Doc who is my reg doc and treats for Fibro, migraines and all my issues says he is a good doc.  Also I am seeing a psychiatrist again for awhile to work me thru the double depression that reared up again because of increased pain (getting better btw) also said he knows him and he is a great Doc.

So I think he will be a good Doc for me!

Thanks again and cu on the boards!

Rhonda turn

Posted 11/23/2009 3:35 PM (GMT 0)

Hi PRR

Let me try my psychic skills you live in a small town, shop at CVS, have an electric throw am I right so far???  Not psychic just stayed at a Holdiday Inn Express last night :)

No I looked back at an old post Yea about this darn back go figure, but you had given me some good advise and told me about the electric throw on sale at CVS.  Well I told hubby and He came home that night and surprised me with the plaid one.  Love it and well so does my sweetie kitty.

Sorry about all your back troubles.  Wow it must have been really bad to do the surgery as an emergency heh?

Did it heal okay?  Some people say you may have problems with discs close to the one fixed did that happen to you?

Thanks for the advise

Rhonda

Posted 11/24/2009 3:01 PM (GMT 0)

pp

I think you are referring to the heated throw yea they are wonderful,  One night I had it on high when I was sleeping.  Woke up so hot had to turn it up.  So I leave it on low when I am sleeping from now on.

Hope all is well with you.

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