I usually read posts, I never thought to write one. Or thought I'd have a need to write one. But I am having more questions than answers.
I am a 34 year old female - who up until recently was pretty good in the health department, minus a couple things here and there. I've only ever had surgery on my left knee in 1997 for an ACL tear. And I am treated for anxiety attacks that have been under control for years.
I began to have pain in my left knee in my late 20's following the birth of my son, which I assumed it was arthritis. My primary did and prescribed what was necessary, when it was needed. No heavy narcotics.
I switched primary care doctors last month and the new one suggested that the pain I was having in my knee might be coming from my back, and noticed that my left leg was losing sensation. (Not comforting for a first time visit, but I'll deal.) I had an x ray done of my lumbar spine. Came back that I had an exaggerated lumbar lordosis and narrowing of the L5-S1 (common disc area issue)
Well then the fun began.
Memorial Day weekend, I did nothing to injure myself, no falls...But my neck and shoulder blades were on fire. I'm talking hot volcanic fire poured into my spinal column. I used heat...nothing...cold...nothing....ibuprophen...nothing...
My hand on my left side started to go numb. I had an appointment that Tuesday, and my doctor informed me that my back was in a complete spasm and gave me a pain injection, a script for Vicodin, and 2 xray requests for my neck and thorasic area. Following that newer more bizarre things started to happen. The spasm would not release, or if it does it releases on one side. I began to lose feeling in my feet, and was waking up to muscle twitches in my legs, and an abdominal spasm that would come on once I went to bed. It is as if I had done sit ups, or someone was squeezing the air out of me. Started out as 2-3 lasting a few seconds or so a night, then tapered off to 1 every few days. Shorthly after that I started to notice that I wasn't urinating like I used to. It was like I needed a serious amount of concentration to go and even then, it stops and starts.
I had the x rays - cervical came back with a subluxation. Thorasic - clean. Had an MRI of my lumbar, and that too came back with evidence of paraspinous spasm, but otherwise clean. Primary seemed unconcerned with the other symptoms but told me if I wanted to see a specialist I could. I chose a neurologist, set an appointment and waited.
The spasms in my neck and back continued, along with all of the other issues. Pain is unbelievable. I saw the neuro on 6/21. He ran me through the gauntlet of press on this, push this, etc. I explained what was going on. He too did not seem concerned by any of this, but put me on Gabapentin 300 mg 3x day and steroids(7 day dose pack). Scheduled me for 2 nerve conductions and a cervical MRI( insurance denied me the MRI until 6 weeks of therapy)
The gabapentin makes a zombie out of me. The spasms continue daily, getting angrier by the hour. Whatever side it is in goes numb. (My left hand is the bad one today) and I have everything else continuing. Urinary stop and go, twitches, and abdominal how-ever-I-can-describe-it spasm. Lots of the symptoms I have point me here. I have not raised the question of this with any of my physicians, as they seem to take all of my complaints as no problem. Even the massive amount of pain from the spasm. I am not taking anything for the pain right now, as my primary feels the need to refer me to a pain management specialist (I have no history of abuse, I don't drink, and I was on the lowest dose of vicodin 2 x a day, to get me through it, for a month. He got angry because the pharmacy called for a refill and I didn't, so he had the pharmacy relay the message that I can see a pain specialist if I still have the spasms)
I know this is a lot. But I'm a parent of a 10 year old boy. I'm scared, but I'm plowing through it all. No one seems to offer up any answer, and most seem to brush them off. This makes me feel like I'm a junkie or insane. I know things can happen differently for all people, but can anyone out there tell me if the next appointment I make should be the Psych Ward? Can all these things happen at once? I know I can't get a magic wand answer, but if anyone can offer any insight to any of this....