Does anyone have a lower back protruding disc but have pain EVERYWHERE?

Hello, don't mind me while I am stuck in limbo-land waiting on a complete diagnosis. It helps me to write out my symptoms and see who can relate.

Quick background: started with hip pain that lasted for 7 months before I finally got a doctor to refer me to a neurologist to get an MRI. By that time, I had also developed tingly feet and hands and also pain in my right foot. So I got the MRI and it turned out I have a protruding disc (still don't have an answer on if that is similiar to a herniated disc) in my lower back (L5-S1). I am assuming that is what is causing my hip pain, though it is strange b/c my back hardly ever hurts, but my hip always does.

Anyway, in the meantime, I also got a nerve test and have no perpipheal neuropathy, and also got a blood test and everything came back normal. I had started to develop pains in my arms and legs as well and started getting light headed easily (especially while hot) and muscle twitches. When I told the doctor that my Aunt has MS, he wanted me to get a brain scan to rule that out. So I got that and a neck MRI at the same time. Everything was fine-- no lesions found and no bulging discs in neck. The only thing found was "minute degenerative disc disease" in parts of my neck..... but I am assuming "minute" is nothing to worry about, right? They also found a retention cyst in my sinus area but said it is only a concern if my right cheek hurts and I said it doesn't bother me at all so I guess I will wait and see what happens.

I still have frequent arm pain and it gets worse according to how much I am using my arms. It even hurts my arms to swing them while walking on the treadmill. I do not have shooting pains, so it does not feel like siatica. I just get all over body aches and my hands get crampy sometimes. I can't hold heavy glasses. I still get light headed and muscle twitches but not as bad as it used to be. I swear I feel worse when i am hot and it has been cooler here lately.

Is it possible to have all these symptoms only from a protruding disc in lower back?

My other thought is that is that maybe it is fibromyalgia. It even hurts to lightly touch my skin and that can be on of the symptoms. And I seem to get fatigued easily. So I am waiting to get a referrel to see a rheumotologist.

But in the meantime, I would love to hear from those who ONLY have back problems and what all of your symptoms are.

thanks!

Kellie

I too have HORRIBLE back pain from extensive disc damage.  My scoliosis is not just curves, but twisted spine, severe osteoporosis, and 3 areas of stenosis.  I am 3 and a half weeks post op from c5-7 fusion, doing pretty good except my lower back is KILLING me.  I know they started with my cervical spine, because the stenosis was most severe there and my spinal cord was being damaged.  The damaged and detereriated discs in my lower back are causing my legs to go numb and I simply fall over or flat on my face...depending on which way I am facing or going at the time.  I am on a multitude of pain meds and muscle relaxers just to be able to get comfortable.  I feel for you, lower back pain is miserable!  My legs have little feeling in them, but at the same time they ache comstantly.  I am hoping that my neurosurgeon decides to do something SOON!

 Hey Kellie , Sorry to hear your expierencing such difficulty . I think tingling senations can me anthing from circulation to back problems butI would put these questions to your Doctor . There are probably folks here expierencing similar symptoms and attempting to benefit from their expierence is wise as well . Be patient and I'm sure someone will post with some useful relevent info . I don't have those issues but wanted to offer you my support and encourage you to post whenever , this is a great Forum with giving , supportive people , Good Luck to you and I hope your pain subsides . Mikel

to "finally really crazy".... I like your user name.. lol.... i think I should have the same name! anyway, so, your arm pain was from your cervical spine? I had that checked out on the MRI and it just said "minute degenerative disc disease".... I would be shocked if something called "minute" would be causing this much pain. I do have a follow up appt. with the neurologist on the 20th, so I will wait and see what he says. If he says he can't help me, I will get a referrel to a rheumatologist to rule out Fibromyalgia (esp because my mom has that too)

Antybuggy....I rarely come to this forum but am glad I stopped in today....I have disc compression(and or bulging, I forget what the doc said....Fibro Fog) in L5 and T3 and suffer from the exact same pain symptoms that you do and was baffled by it because my rheumy told me I would not have bilateral tingling, buzzing/pain in both legs from this condition!  My right side is the worst and the aching/burning/tingling butt, thigh, down the leg to the knee keeps me up at night.  I just chalked it up to fibro as no doctor has actually ever discussed any symptoms I would get from this.(I think he might have mentioned sciatica but from what I read that is stabbing pain)  Glad I visited today...sometimes these forums help us more than our doctors.  I wonder if spinal stenosis causes some of these symptoms also???  I also feel like my legs and back are crawling with bugs!

Donna

Donna yes, stenosis will cause many of those symptoms of the lower extremity that you have described if the stenosis is in the lower back.

Bridget your neck pain will cause symptoms in the upper extremity only and your lower back will cause the same in the lower extremity, its is the path of the dermatones being followed. Hope this helps.

Hi Bridget. I've had 2 surgeries for herniated discs (lumbar) and I also have fibromyalgia, so I have a little bit of experience with both.

My lumbar issues did not cause any problems from the waist up. I had the typical sciatic pain, leg pain, hip pain, etc. I since have developed sacroiliitis in both hips, and I have trouble with piriformis syndrome, so it's really hard to tell what is coming from where, now, but at the time, I only experienced below the waist issues.

However, I sometimes have EXCRUCIATING arm, shoulder and neck pain just from the fibro. Often it is related to overuse or bad sleeping position, but sometimes it seems to come out of the blue. I also have trouble with my hands. It definitely sounds to me like some of your symptoms could be fibro related. You might want to pop over to the fibro board and read "Fibro 101." There is a wealth of info there.

I hope you get some answers soon.

Hugs - Austen

Edited to add: I just saw the part about the retention cyst too. I also have one of those on the left side. It would fill up with fluid and just gush out uncontrollably. They thought I was leaking CSF fluid (scary) until I had a CT. I keep mine in check with Flonase spray. I haven't had any problems with it since I've started using it.

Post Edited (AustenFan) : 8/12/2010 1:05:02 PM (GMT-6)

Kellie -
Sounds like sciatica for one thing, which does not have to have "shooting" pain, only going down hip and sometimes all the way to the toes. Sciatica is not i the arms, but it sounds like there is something pinched in neck as well.

Fibro can make you feel like you have pain in all sorts of places. Usually muscles are involved. Do you have the pressure points that are sore when someone presses on them?

You can get a copy of the reports on all your tests from the places that did them. The disks of the MRI too. Some places make you sign a paper releasing the records - silly when it's to yourself. If you say it's for your PCP it should be free. You can make copies yourself for other doctors you see. I'd certainly be seeing a rheumatologist!

oh, and it affects both legs... sometimes just the right.... but a lot of times, both legs at the same time. I am also extremely sensitive to touch.... i had a light massage it it put me in a bad flare for a few days.