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Posted 12/31/2010 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
i went to Doc appointment on the 22nd and my MRI shows as before with no significant changes which is good however still have major pain, mainly at night, lack of sleep and tried several different meds changes she now thinks i have fibromylagia, she said i should be on Lycria but disablity wont pay for it so we are trying Cymbalta, cutting out the hydromorph to one a day and increasing the Tyelnol 4 back up to the original dose of 8 a day as needed. Because i have mulitple disc degeneration, stenosis, herniated and bulging disks i can not have surgery. She thinks the Cymbalta will help with the neuropathic pain so we''ll see who it goes. I am so frusterated... I am going to check out the fibro forum and educate myself a bit more take care all Happy New Year....
Posted 12/31/2010 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Twiggy I guess that is decent news on the MRI at least. Sorry about the Fibro dx but that may explain a lot of things for you, and at least you know what is wrong, not knowing can drive a person nuts. Good luck with the Cymbalta, it helped me a lot for neuropathic pain in my feet.

Have a safe & Happy New Year.

Take care.
Posted 12/31/2010 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
yo twiggy, i think you need to have a consult with a neurosurgeon or a orthopedic surgeon who does a lot of spine surgery and then get a opinion from a second neuro. or ortho. because they all look at these things differently. if you have stenosis at anything worse than a very mild level it's serious. it sounds like you have a bad spine from the MRI and that is just one diagnostic study. have you had a myleogram? i forget that you take hydromorph contin and that is not perscribed in the US. your probably operating with a healthcare set-up different than mine to say the least and treatment steps might not come to quickly. i would like to know what your MRI report says. the fibromyalgia diagnosis maybe right but the DDD, stenotic lumbar ? spine and bulging disc in upper and lower is a major pain generator. if that be the case i don't know if lowering the hydromorphone by 6mg and adding 4 codiene/APAP #4s will help. the Lyrica may be very helpful for spinal pain and also Cymbalta but if your taking Zoloft are you going to D/C that? be careful and don't afraid to tell the doctor if the change is not great fot you.
Posted 12/31/2010 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Twiggy,

I'm inclined to think Spinal Soldier is right on target with this thing. I have serious back/spine problems and fibro too, but it sounds like the fibro diagnosis is just too simple for what you have given us from the MRI.

I use Ultracet (Tramadol/Tylonol) for the fibro and Xanax XR 3mg to help too. I'm allergic to SSRI's/SNRI's and muscle relaxers in general. I also use Dilaudid and Oxycodone for the back pain left from the failed fusion.

Not knowing your health care system, it's difficult to recommend what you should do, but my best recommendation would be to get a second opinion on everything. That was how I found out that my fusion had failed....because the radiologist refused to acknowledge that I don't have a disc at L5-S1 and kept saying that I had anoher bulging disc. Instead, the Ortho/Spine Specialist was able to see on the CT that there is bone growth from the fusion, but it goes in the wrong direction!! It looks like there is a bulge, but it's actually bone! There is so much open space on both sides of the funky bone growth that it causes intense pain and I have to be really cautions about what I do.

I hope you find some relief!!!
Posted 1/1/2011 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
Twiggy,
I would say give the cymbalta a try, it's also used as an antidepressant medicine.
I was okay with low dose of it and when it was increased to 60 mg. it gave me night sweats
and I'd wake up in the middle of the night, so try it at a low dose if possible, and also
withdraw from it slowly too if you can't tolerate it . I hope it helps you, maybe ask about
some samples of Lyrica to see if it helps, cause reactions can occur with any meds, it's
also best to try a sample sometimes so you don't have to waste money, so at the next
Doctor visit ask about a sample to try of Lyrica..
Good luck well wishes and healing hugz
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Twiggy))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Posted 1/6/2011 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for all the kind replies,. Spinal Soldier i never thought i would hear those words that even mild stenosis is a major problem i wish the doctors felt that way i love coming to this forum because people really understand. Unfortunaly they are trying consevative methods first how much longer i dont know it;s been a long time thus far..She says that specialist wont even look at me unless i have leasions or major problems i guess sever pain and numbess is area's doesnt qualify ...She wants me to try physio to build my muscles as she thinks the majority of the pain is coming from imbalances in my muscles which could be partially true but i dont think it will help all that much..That is why she thinks it could be fibro none the less i still have back issues that need attention I guess im afraid to as to see a specialist but everyone that i talk to thinks i should and so do i just gonna take some time to build up the courage to ask..I am taking 30mgs of Cymbalta and suppose to work up to 60 mgs going on day 4 i know not to expect any major things to happen im not taking the Zoloft any longer and i.ve had some emotional days but other than that no real difference in pain levels. I tried to go as high as 24mgs of the hydromorph but was not very helpful it did work but did not last as long as it was meant to. so that is why we stopped using the high doses of that and went back to the Tyenol 4 for not until we see how the Cymbalta does i still have 3mgs hydro for break through when needed.. Hope everyone has a good New Year and Low Pain Day will talk to you all soon.. Twiggy2
Posted 1/7/2011 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
that's crazy the MD would say they think your muscles are imbalanced or any other physio. or abstract reason is why you are in pain when there is concrete radiological findings all over your c-spine and l-spine. and don't worry about courage if your in pain and suffering, one way or another they are working for you and that is there job. try to get a referal to a spine surgeon just so they can look at your films and test results and remember that your MD has the tools to relieve your pain or at least manage it pretty good so hold them to it. good luck
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