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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/4/2008 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
I posted on the chronic pain board but wanted to know if anyone here has DDD that has caused herniated disk w/bone spurs.  I know the joint pain I have is from CD but in the past 2 years my neck is giving me the most trouble.  Anyway, the nerve roots are causing muscle weakness & pain/numbness & tingling down in my arm.  I went for a MRI, results on Wed.  The doc said no Physical therapy, I guess I'm past that point.  Anyone have similiar symptoms or have had surgery like a fusion?  Thanks.
Posted 5/4/2008 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
i haven't posted in awhile.
but in the last 4 weeks i have had the same trouble as you with numbness tingling in my left arm. according to a CT scan it's appears to be arthritis in my neck and my rheumatoid count is up in my blood work. is this something that can come from having crohn's ??
"The doc said no Physical therapy, I guess I'm past that point."
does that mean surgery for you ?? i go see a specialist on Monday and kinda want to be prepared for what he/ she is going to say.
Posted 5/4/2008 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
I have DDD in my lumbar and sacral area. I also have pressure on one of the nerve roots causing me some problems. While DDD is causing part of the problem, my AS is also causing some of it. Spondyloarthropathy associated with Crohn's disease can cause spinal issues. You might want to read the CCFA's educational brochure on Arthritis. Pay particular attention to the section on axial arthritis. It says that this causes problems in the lumbar and sacral areas but I do know of people that have had it primarily in the cervical spine.
http://www.ccfa.org/media/pdf/FactSheets/arthritiscomplications.pdf
Posted 5/4/2008 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Before you consider surgery, please consider seeing a well-regarded osteopathic physician specializing in neuromuscular disorders. Osteopathic treatment may help and is always something to consider before an invasive surgery...especially fusion surgeries. It's not all hogwash by any means! At least it better not be, because I'm spending 5-7 hours a week learning it in amazing detail...oy vey. I'm sorry to hear you're having these troubling symptoms!
Posted 5/4/2008 5:16 AM (GMT 0)
As well as AS,,I have so many spurs down my back and spine my Doc says its like a candle that has dripped wax all down its sides. His answer is pain meds when needed. I hate pain meds so I dont take them. I still ride my Harley but there are some bumps that bring tears to my eyes. This may sound wrong to you but what I do is push myself as much as I can. I'm determined to do as much as I can for as long as I can. I find that giving in and taking it easy for too long makes it hurt worse when I do move. The only think I can say really that helps is , I sleep ( yeah, right) whenever I sleep, on my side with a pillow between my knees and a small pillow under my neck. I find this keeps me about as pain free as poss. most of the time. Good luck to you. I hope you get some help soon.
Posted 5/4/2008 4:39 PM (GMT 0)

I have had two disc's fused in my neck.  I hurt my neck when I was about 19 working as a nurse in a geriatric hospital.  I had the first one when I was about 33 and the second one in Dec 2006 at 49.  I lived many years with unrelenting pain that even time released morphine didn't touch. For me personally the surgeries were a godsend.  I no longer suffer with that horrible nerve pain.

I still have back pain but that is nothing compared to the herniated disc pain.  The pain I experience now is from osteoarthritis which I think is caused by the Crohns.

Posted 5/4/2008 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
I am currently being tested for crohns... i have DDD and just had surgery for severe cervical myelopathy (spinal cord compression) due to several herniated discs.. if I do have crohns.. i wonder if it was due to spinal inflammation due to extra intestinal manifestation of CD.  I have read that viruses and inflammation can cause DDD.  Hope that helps

Nancy

Posted 5/7/2008 6:07 AM (GMT 0)

thank you all for your responses.  I am very nervous, tomorrow I find out if I need surgery.  The pain continues & with help of neurotin & vicodin goes away for a couple of hours.  I got in trouble today, as I requested my pain meds early.  The pain was so bad I went to an immediate care last week.  The spine doc wanted me to have an epidural steriod inj last week but the consultation isn't until this thurs.  I couldn't handle the pain, so I took more of the viodin than I should have.  My GI has been presc. it for me since all this started 1 1/2 yrs ago.  Took xrays then & nothing showed, so we thought it just was the cD.  I told the Othro doc I didn't need any more vicodin cause of my refill I had left.  Boy did Walgreens give me problems.  The insurance co even called to release early.  I had to call the GI & have the quanity changed.  The GI & I have a very good relationship, I also, see his wife on a weekly basis for psycotherapy.  I think I put him in a bad position, he knows I don't bs when it comes to pain & he is the one who sent me to the ortho.  I just didn't want another narcotic presc from a different doc when I already had some.  Anyway, the GI did call & get it released but said the ortho doc would have to presc anymore pain meds for me.  I understand if hes angry, but, now that we finally found the "nerve" root of the problem, maybe I won't need anymore pills if I have the surgery.

Medicalenigma, my herniated disks are also caused by DDD C5-6.  How did your surgery go. And what should I expect?  Thanks.

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