Disk bulge, OA, DDD, Interspace narrowing

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Ashloo

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Hello all,

Thanks for a kind wishes.

Since posting my original message, I have undergone 1 round of Facet Injections (1 on each side for the L4-L5 level and one on each side for the L5-S1 level) as well as 3 rounRAB of epidurals at the L5-S1 level.

Each has given a very brieft period of relief - generally not 'working' until about 10 days after the injection.

My PM doctor has discussed facet rhizotomy, but otherwise indicates that he is stumped and at a loss for where to go next.

So, I guess at this point - just wait and see what happens.
 
Hello all,
I’m a noobie here, looking for some guidance. (I apologize for the following being so long, I wanted to make sure to include the necessary details)

I’ve been going through an extended period of low back pain. My PCP prescribed physical therapy for me. I’ve been in therapy 3 times a week for 7 weeks now and still no relief. For the first 20 minutes, they put me on a heat pad with e-stim electrodes connected (10 mins of pulsating, 10 minutes of vibration), then the rest consists of strengthening and stability exercises. I seem to go through episodes where I can feel almost normal for 3-4 days followed by perioRAB of a week or more of intense aching, stiffness and pain in my lower spine. These episodes normally increase in intensity over the course of a few days. I generally have a high tolerance for pain, but this is really starting to disrupt my lifestyle and ability to concentrate. My PCP has me on Ibuprofen 800MG 3x daily, Metaxalone 800MG as needed and Vicodin 5-500MG as needed (and before bed so I can sleep). I really have a tough time taking the vicodin during the daytime because I have a 50 mile drive to / from work (which takes over an hour in lovely Phoenix rush hour traffic).
I started seeing a Pain Management doctor. Have only had one appointment so far at which time he ordered an MRI of the lurabar spine and did a full exam. He discussed that he really didn’t want me on narcotic pain meRAB or muscle relaxers as he feels that I am too young (23 years old) to take aggressive medications. We also discussed that my issues are probably stemming from me being overweight.
MRI results indicate that I have ‘mild broad based disk bulge’ at 4 levels as well as ‘mild osteoarthritis with small Effusions’ at 3 levels, ‘Minimal Degenerative Disk Disease’ at 1 level and ‘mild disk space narrowing’ at 3 levels.
I see the PM Doctor again this Friday. Last he said (before the MRI) was that he could try shots. I took that to mean Facet Joint injections, Epidural Steroidal Injections or some sort of nerve block – not sure yet as he didn’t specify. Now that the MRI has show that everything is minimal with no nerve interaction, I hope he doesn’t disregard the pain I’m in.
So, I do have a few questions for you all; First off, what is the difference between Degenerative Disk Disease and disk space narrowing? I seemed to think they were the same…?
Has anyone has these problems (not in advanced stages) and had any of the above procedures? What were your outcomes? I’ve read a lot of the stories of bad outcomes, but at this point I need to try something.
If procedures are on my horizon, what is the highest level of sedation that can generally be provided? (I have extreme procedural anxiety and shake uncontrollably, even with valium).
I am also a pituitary (brain) tumor patient, so I am familiar with the physician run around process and like to get my bearings on an issue / diagnosis before I dive into any treatment options.
I thank you all for your help and wish you good health!
 
Hello everyone just wanted to ask if anyone else has buzzing in legs due to degenerative disc desease and has been treated for it. I have had it so much but no backpain i want to know if the buzzing stops or will i suffer from it forever already had it for months now and am really fed up. The dr says it could be from my back or could be hormonal but cant give me an answer. I do have some ddd but is not serious. Just need reassurance. Anyone out there, thanks.
 
I had nurabness and tingling in my right leg for 3 years. My MVA was in Mar 2008 and I had surgery in Nov 10. By the end my right leg was nurab for entire days, weeks and months. I had a stabbing pain behind the knee that made me sit down where ever i was at. Sometimes walmart, the mall etc. I could deal with mine on a daily basis while taking nerve and pain medication. But i didn't want that to be the answer and asked to see a neurosurgeon, after everyone up until that point said it was just DDD. The neurosurgeon found numerous things to fix (in my sig) regarding my nerves as a result of arthritis and DDD. It is something I would say to continue to monitor. Go to the doctor, if they brush you off then ask for a neuro appt. The concern with me is that after being impaired for so long, will my nerve return to form or has the timeline caused permenant damage.

Let me know if this helps.
 
Hi, not sure if you have had an shots to help with your pain. I can sympathize with you. I have neck issues. I had a cervical epidural with light sedation. I did not feel anything. I was extremely nervous about having a shot in my neck to help alleviate the pain from DDD and many other issues. I had 2 of them and they did not do as much for my pain as I wanted. This PM dr. did not recommend another epidural nor did he offer me any other options. I found a 2nd PM dr. who offered me a selective nerve root block. He would not complete the procedure with sedation only Valium. I was desperate so I went for it. I will be honest, it was very painful for the length of time of the procedure and it did help with the pain. I had 2 of those. Unfortunately it was not enough and i had surgery. Still in the recovery stage. Hope you are doing oky.
 
Welcome to the forums Ashloo! I myself am also new to these boarRAB. I was recently diagnosed with an extremely herniated disk (L5 S1). I had 2 nerve root blocks done with minimal help, then had a laminotomy (Dec. 15th 2010) which I am still recovering from. The nerve root blocks really didn't help the nurabness in my foot or the pain in my leg, but my father had a nerve root block done to a bulging disk he had. That coupled with about 2 weeks of rest and he was back up on his feet good as new, so they are capable of fixing. I believe the epidural and the nerve root block have a higher success rate with bulging disk patients instead of fully herniated. I won't lie to you the root block wasn't exactly a sunny walk in the park, but they hit you with a nurabing agent shortly after injecting the steroid so the pain is short lived. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck and hope things work out for yah. Keep in touch on the boarRAB and let us know what you decide.
 
Good luck with your recovery and the possibility of the facet rhizotomy procedure.Waiting is the hardest part. I find that I am so in tune with my body I notice every single twinge, ache or muscle change. Then my mind wanders, was the surgery a success or are the pre-surgery symptoms returning. Keep us posted.
 
Good luck with the recovery. I did not realize that they only took out part of a disk and left some in. That certainly helps with the recovery. Glad that they did not have to cut through the muscle as I heard that is a very painful recovery.
 
Hi, Sheenameena. I am not sure what you mean by "buzzing" so could you perhaps explain it a bit better?

What kind of doctor have you seen? Have you considered a second opinion? If the dr. isn't a spine specialist, then you should make an appt to see an orthopedic spine specialist or a neurosurgeon who specializes in the spine. Sometimes new eyes can spot something that someone else missed, but I wouldn't settle for being told such "soup to nuts" kind of diagnosis.

Hopes this helps. let us know how you are doing, okay?

Carol....p.s. It might be best to post your question in a new discussion so more people will see it.
 
Hi bylm85, What exactly is a laminotomy ? You are right the nerve root block is not walk in the part. I was in extreme pain during the procedure and couldn't wait for the pain meRAB to be put in and take affect. Thankfully you are right it is short lived. Hope that your recovery is going well.
 
A lamintomoy is basically where they make a 1-2 inch incision into your back, push away the muscle and nerve, extract the herniated portion of the disk, then clean out a little of the disk actually in the spine to help keep it from reherniating while it hardens. The surgery lasted all of about an hour, and I was able to go home once I woke from the anesthesia. It wasn't too terrible. So far the recovery is kinda hit and miss. Some days are better than others. My nerves in my back and legs (both now not just the right like it was pre op) are playing games with me. I'm definitely better off now than I was before the surgery, but I have weird pains and sharp pains pretty regularly (they don't last very long). I go back to the Docs on the 25th of this month. Hopefully everything to this point is okay, I just keep praying and doing as little as possible.
 
Hi, Ash. I think at this point it is time for you to see either an orthopedic spine specialist or a neurosurgeon who limits his practice to spinal issues. This doesn't mean you need surgery by any means; however, these doctors are the very best at reading MRI's etc. and at devising a course of action best suited for the patient.

Having had all these injections already, I feel I should warn you that you have already reached your limit as far as having steroid injections safely. More than 3-4 doses in a 12 month span has been accepted as the limit as too much steroid can cause bone thinning, cataracts, high blood pressure, and more. So a pt must be very aware of this as some pm's are a bit too aggressive with these injections.

You could ask your pcp for a referral to a dr. who specializes in the spine. You have been a good pt, doing all that is asked of you, but I think it is time to become proactive, do some research, and see a doctor who is able to help with something other than injections.

I hope you will continue to post and let us know how you are doing.

Carol
 
Ash,

1st post on this board for me but I have been having similiar pain to yours for the last 3 years. I am in the military so I was pushed aside for the longest time and made to think that everything is in my head. Finally i got to see a pain specialist and he just kept giving me injections and pain pills. I had a nerve ablation in 2008 so I could continue flying in the F16. After 1.5 years the ablations had worn off and I was in severe pain. Went back to the doctor and they tried it again. This time it didn't work at all. After expressing my pain after the 2nd nerve ablation they agreed to send me to a neurosurgeon. That was in Septeraber of 2010. I had surgery on Noveraber 8th, 2010 after the neurosurgeon finding nuraberous issues that could be fixed. Including having a completely pinched L5-S1 sciatic nerve.

So my point in all this is, pain management although it can help for a while, is not the answer. Ask to see a specialist. I was diagnosed with everything that you were and told that I could get through it with medication and time. Well 3 years is a long time and now it might have caused me to lose my career. Surgery is not always the answer however, but you can't make an informed decision if you do not know exactly what is going on. I'd look into it more.

Hope my situation helps, if so, just let me know any questions you may have.

Thanks!
 
hello maltluver and thankyou for replying when i say buzzing i mean sort of like a current running through my legs yes i have seen a neurosurgeon who does have expertise in the spine but he could not explain the buzzing his theories were maybe it's restless leg symptom or could be hormonal or maybe it's my pine but not sure even with my mri result he said that it did'nt show any serious damage or maybe it could be low iron folic acid or low calcium which i did have been on meRAB since 6th noveraber and have to take until march. Been to see physio therapist who did not seemed concerned and gave me a relaxation cd and told me to come back in two weeks. I feel like i'm left in a lurch my drs say that the neuro has done all his test and that i do not have anything like ms or als and all the twitching was due to anxiety. But i'm not anxious i think that i will demand second opion it's all weird that i have this buzzing but no backpain.
 
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