Advice of upcoming specalist appt...

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Kathy. it wasn't unusual to see you up so late really, i'm that way often as well. Although i have not had any surgeries as of yet for my back issue i am not sure if it was even suggested if i would do ,due to all the things i have seen everyone else go through! I mean i thoiugh a month a go or so it couldn't get worse, yes i was wrong even so it's bad enough, but it's a risky thing to mess with a pesrons back! I hope your appt. goes well, let us know how it turns out!
Melissa
 
Steve, as you might have read i am going to see another specialist on the 20th. I am wondering what kind of specialist did you see? I have all my recorRAB and the cd;)this time to back things up! I don't think/feel i very prepared but maybe it was a good thing as the Neurologist had to rule out the extreme MS i know. I hope you are doing okay?
Melissa
 
Hey there goRABenRAB! I have an upcoming appt. with a specilist it's nearing sooner than i can keep up. I am wondering what are some good questions to ask concerning back pain and issue? Also I looked back for future and present reference on the piriformisce muscle pain and i knew i was right. My old Dr. i had to see in a pinch had stated that i don't have real pain and i know my new dr. believes it is all real ect. and as did the other dr. at that old office that i normally saw. What really gets me is that she stated i was having muscle pain. Okay, this is i believe, yes it may be muscle pain but doesn't mean it's that alone per what info i ran across that would cause the extreme pain:

Piriformis syndrome is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve. Pressure on the sciatic nerve is caused by:

Pressure caused by shortening and tightening of the piriformis muscle.
Pressure caused by spinal stenosis. This is caused by uneven pressure and compression in the vertebral column.
Pressure caused by Isthmic spondylolisthesis. Isthmic spondylolisthesis occurs when a vertebrae slips or moves.
Pressure caused by a herniated or bulging disc! And omg! I had my hubby rub on my Piriformis muscle last night, not only could i feel the difference in feeling with the nurabness location but i could barely walk today this am and then i got nurabness and pain in my heel ugh. And i rencently started the Lyrica and it has been a week without any relief but may have to increase to the twice a day. Thankxs a bunch for any input!
Love, Monkey
 
Hey there! I have something that is making me very discouraged with my back pain. Yes i take meRAB and just started Lyrica recently. What i don't understand is for example all along i deal with this pain daily for about two years Recently when i over did it it got worse and i couldn't even walk bend sit or anything to be comfortable. Okay it has been a month at least since then. Yes i did rest ect. for about two weeks now i feel back to square one where i was at beforehand. What i don't understand could it be the bulging disc and all the other things that that made this so intense then? Because i would think if i had a herniated disc that i wouldn't have been back to the square one at that time, unless a herniated disc can make it that severe and then with rest not so bad? The only other thing i can think of is between the SI problems the partially fused vertabrea the irritation on the Piriformis muscle/sciatic and maybe throw in if i have arthritis Could have did this if i bulge the disc back out? I am not sure as this is what i was told two years ago by psychiscal therapist that discs can bulge in and out? Thanks for any input i am just curious to know because like yesterday i did what i look at is alot for as far as yard work plus laundry ect. and yeah i was hurting and i was concerned some that i might not be able to even move the next day but i was only the same maybe a little more stiff wich isn't so unusual in my case but when i was doing the little bit of yard work my attitude was well i am going to hurt ithier way so at least have a reason to hurt! But why didn't it bother me like a month ago when i couldn't walk stand up straight get up or down. Also i think the Lyrica is helping and maybe thats why i was so bad then versus now maybe? I don't understand it at all!
Love Monkey
Okay dah should have looked it up first i guess but you can still replly all the help i can get on this!

Symptoms vary greatly depending on the position of the herniated disc and the size of the herniation. If the herniated disc is not pressing on a nerve, you may experience a low backache or no pain at all. If it is pressing on a nerve, there may be pain, nurabness, or weakness in the area of the body to which the nerve travels. Typically, a herniated disc is preceded by an episode of low back pain or a long history of intermittent episodes of low back pain.
 
Don't feel bad. I did the same thing last Sunday. I went outside and saw what a beautiful day it was and decided that I was going to cut the lawn, so I took an extra pain pill and hopped on the rider. That was the first time since last year, spent the rest of the afternoon in bed with the heating pad on my back and the air conditioner on my face, duh ! I know what you are feeling, and I am so tired of living life around this pain. I hope you get the answers and the help that you deserve.;)
Steve
 
Hi Melissa Getting back to your first post. Yes, I would get copies of everything you have. It makes it easier for the doctor, because doctors get kind of funny about "sharing" info, and I'm sure the doctor will be happy as well. As far as Lyrica, it is usually prescribed for nerve pain. My neuro explained to me that due to instability in my spine, even my bulging disc can get irritated because of doing something I have no business doing. I know this because I pay the price all the time. I was always independant, and self sufficient, but my life, as I'm sure you all know, has taken a complete turn. Now I'm waiting to have a revision done. I used to love mowing my own lawn, taking care of all my flowers, now I stand outside like the lawn police watching my lawn service do MY JOB! Sick right? But you have to laugh at yourself, and I do. I hope I have been of some help to you. Kathy
 
Hi Monkey, long time no talk too. I can't give you any real advise, I'm still a real newbie when it comes to all the terminology, but I just wanted to wish you luck! Make sure you get there a little early, (we got lost in the parking structure) and for God's sake, make sure that they listen to you and explain exactly where your pain is ! I was going to drop you a good luck note a little closer to your appointment, is it still for the 29th? Please keep us all posted.
I will keep you in my prayers. ;)
Steve
 
Good to hear from you Monkey. I went to the spine clinic so I was seen by a spine specialist ( Orthopedic Surgeon ). The more information you take with you, the better it will help them to help you, and don't be afraid to take down some notes either, what causes pain, when, where and so on. I always seem to forget something every time I go to see a doctor and then I leave feeling like I didn't get my point across.
Hope you get some answers, and some relief.
Take care,
Steve
 
Steve, not sure like you if i will get any answers but i am also seeing a spine specialist as well. I am not sure of the name they scheduled the appt. and are sending the info soon! I have a good feeling on this and am keeping a positive attitude still despite everything thats happened!
Take care, Melissa
 
Kathy, thanks, i know what you mean! What do they do if PT, injections ect. doesn't work? Is there a way they can find out if this certain disc could be bulging or whatever like that other than an plain MRI? I was told when i went through weeks of therapy that like i posted somewhere that a disc can bulge in and out and the PT therapist said at that time possible that when they do an MRI or CT scan you are laying down and when i'm standing it just may be the case? Have you ever heard of this happening As to why they haven't detected where my pain is exactly coming from? And also could it be the case with a herniated as to that when one over does thier limit and then rest by the time they get the MRI ect. that they can't detect this? I know your not a Dr. but yours or anyones would help! Also as far as the Lyrica thus far when i walk my toes haven't been curling under like they did although i still have some of the pain down my leg by i feel as though i have came a long way from just a week ago and i still can take two a day!
Melissa
 
Hi Monkey
Do you have MRI reports or X-rays? Bring them with you. Also, I always find it helpful to write all my questions down, and bring it with you. I think we all get brain stall when we are at such an important appointment. Try to write down all of your symptoms, and or complaints, cause dollars to donuts you will get home and say, "I forgot to mention......." Don't be afraid to ask questions, even if you think they may sound durab. Remeraber, they are not durab to you, and if you were a doctor or neurosurgeon, you wouldn't need them now, would you? Luckily I have a wonderful, and sympathetic neurosurgeon who I wouldn't change for the world. He actually told me that he didn't want me to ever think I shouldn't ask a question because I thought it was insignificant. He said the only one that knows how you feel or what you are feeling is you! And every bit of information you give them is another piece of the puzzle, cause everyone is different. Good luck and God Bless.
Kathy
 
Steve, i just got my papers in the mail. The Dr. i am going to see is Chrisitne M Sawhney, does this sound familiar? I also got all my recorRAB from past MRI and bone scan and the CD. I really hope that helps! I have been going strong all week doing really well considering and then it hit me hard this weekend i have pretty much been confined to the couch not being able to get comfortable! Hope all is well! Take care, Melissa
 
Hi Melissa You are probably looking at the time of this post, and thinking what a nut. I have problems falling asleep because of the pain. I generally have to wait until everything kicks in to get to sleep. Bummer. Now getting back to you. Once a disc is herniated, its herniated. Also, some of my pain is due to scar tissue. I wonder if this could also be your culprit. Surgeons can go in and clear the scar tissue away, but it grows back, and sometimes worse! Also, I had an MRI done in a sitting positon. The chair looked like a dentists chair. With this type of MRI they can check flextion and extention. It can be done with or without contrast. I had it done this way before and after my L5-S1 fusion. It is a good way to see if any part of your spine is slipping, or if anything is getting squished.(like nerves) I can only have CT scans done now because I have an internal spinal stimulator. Its supposed to take the edge off the pain, but to be honest it is extremely annoying. I'll find out what my CT scan that I had done last Wednesday shows this Friday. I have an appointment with my neurosurgeon. Unfortunately, I have known that the spinal fusion I had done 11/06 did not fuse. This CT scan is a pre-op because I am facing another surgery. Hope I was of some help. Oops almost forgot. Its great the Lyrica is helping. Kathy
 
Kathy,
thanks! Now since all this began anything i had i have ithier gave copies or originals to other specialist ect, so should i go get all the past ones? I can that won't be a problem? I can just call and they will get them ready and i can pick up? I think i have pretty much all my main complaints as far as pain wrote down and where i believe it started and how it has progressed ect. and then a few questions i am just worried like you said that i will think of an important one but if it's a good practice i know you should be able to call the nurse back even so right? Oh and also every other quack i have seen in the past ! Because even per them telling me to go to therapy and them writting it on paper that i could not move my leg upward more than fourty degrees ect. and then to have the old Neurologist say i have no weakness ugh. It's very frustuating i'm sure you know!

Melissa
 
Monkey, the doctor I seen was Grazino. Good thing that you have all of your recorRAB, every little bit of information they have will help them get to the bottom of your problem.
Best of luck, I'll keep praying for you.
Steve
 
Steve, thanks a bunch! You and everyone just keep up the prayers because if i don't get anywhere theres going to be big problems! I am getting alot better at advocating for myself and my kiRAB! I actually called today as the Neurologist said he referred me to the spine clinic yet confused here because it says the dr. is with physical medicine and rehabilitaiton? I called and asked ?'s already as to what am i looking to accomplish with this next visit. What i got was that it is a consult and then go from there as to were to go with whatever they think. This all sounRAB so confusing as i don't need rehab, i already went down that road and i'm not sure if they are just going to look at all the info and say i need PT i don't want to waste thier time or mine with that. Si i guess what i'm saying is what at i looking at with this appt wich is the week after next? I am thinking actually to get back into my GP before then and see what she thinks or call the Neurologist to see if he can explain this all to me or if my dr. can refer me someowhere here in my are. Take care, Monkey
 
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