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galois45

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I'm 64 years old ....a runner in excellent shape until two weeks ago. After doing a bit of light remodelling, my lower back seemed a bit sore...nothing serious....but it got worse all day long I finally tried to get up off a chair and fell in the floor when there was this horrible stabbing pain in my hip, lower back and right thigh. It was so severe the parademics had to lift me off the floor onto a stretcher. I spent six days in the hospital ....wrongly diagnosed with a kidney stone...then finally after x rays, 2 MRIs, and a CAT scan they said I had arthritis in my lower spine and two disks that were "problematic". THe problem was that the pain I was describing did NOT usually match up with those disks. I was on hign doses of narcotics and it was so bad that when I went down for my second MRI I could not lie down without screaming....I have a very high toleance for pain as I am a former boxer...so I don't think this was just a "wimp" factor. they gave me a epidural and sent me home with oxycontin. Now the pain was tolererable....but over the next week, as I would walk or stand it would get worse or worse....just sitting, I'm mostly fine....but standing even to pee is excrutiatingly painful.....walking is torture...even with crutches.....sitting releives the pain within a few minutes. I guess I'm going back to the pain clinic this week.....dont know what else to do....could it be a blood clot? being a runner my cholesterol and all blood chemistry is better than mot 25 year olRAB....also I have always had headaches so I take more asprin than most people, so I don't see how a blood clot would be possible....I am a recently diagnosed diabletic...but nothing really super high...my morning glucose eadings wefe like 160....which I know is high....but I cant beleive that it woudl be causing nerve pain of this magnitude.....I am wondering also if it could be a muscle problem as I have absolutely no muscle strength at all in that leg. I mean it simply buckles when I put any stress on it.....I lost ten pounRAB while in teh Hopsital and I was alredy slim. thank you in aadvance as the pain is really unbearable when I stand or walk. the pain is centered in my right thigh but emanates from my lower back and hip on the outside.
 
Hello, When you were told you had 2 problematic discs did they discuss with you just what that meant? It is hard to believe you didn't g et any explanation. What type of doctor were you seen by? And all they did for you was to give you pain pills and an epidural and sent you on your merry way. And now you are going to the pain clinic. Did anyone give you any kind of a diagnosis with regarRAB to your back and leg problems? Personally I would be knocking down my doctors door and demand that he gets me to a neurologist or at least do some neuro testing. If you have pain in your back radiating down your leg you have a nerve problem somewhere. And now you have no muscle strength in that leg.

How long have you been a diabetic? Are you using oral meRAB or insulin?

These days you have to be an informed patient and be your own advocate. Ask them for a diagnosis and don't let yourself by pushed from pillar to post. Maybe if you go to the pain clinic they will help you find the right specialist to go to and oif they don't help you find someoneo who will. Good luck. Jane, the invertebrate(there is a reason for this name!)
 
Thank you Invertabrate for your reply and I"m not sure I really WANT to know the reason for your name. I had a Doppler on both legs and that showed no blood clots and no blockages...being a runner I'd have been surprised if there was. I've been diabetic for a couple of years now....taking Metformin...my fasting blood sugars were never super high...more like 150 to 180 without the meRAB. Yes the entire six day hopital experreince was filled with arrogance, pomposity, ignorance, and a gross lack of respect for the customer...that woule be me...the patient. SInce coming home the pain has gotten worse on standing or walking....still seems to be most severe in my right thigh...the front,,,but it now radiates from my bacak and hip and goes down through my knee to my lower leg. It had never been present in my lowewr leg previously. Desscribing the pain??? well like it is so intense as to make me feel like I want to thrwo up....it is like a severe migraine headache in my leg. And it now hurts even lying down. THe orthpeidc surgeon who saw me for 122 seconRAB said he was turning me over to the pain clinic and Id need to see him only if the pain clinic decided I needed surgery.
 
Well, mind you, I'm no doctor, but it sounRAB like a classic case of sciatica. Do a search on this and if you have any questions, post us back....Janiee
 
Hello again, If your pain becomes that severe maybe you should go to the Emergency Room . At least you might get some relief if only temporary. And, maybe the ER doc might have you seen by the neuro person or another orthopedic person while you are there. That may also get you into the Pain Clinic sooner. If you do go ask them for a referral to either the pain clinic ior to someone who can help you. There is no reason that you have to suffer like you are. There are too many things out there to help you . Are you in a small city or town. I can't believe there is no one who can't give you some guidance. I truly hope you will get some help soon. Pain is not only debilitating physically but emotionally too. At times and I know this myself an added antidepressant along with pain med works much better than pain med itself. Hopefully you will find a caring doc to help you and soon. Please let us know how things arer going for you.
We do care here! Jane the invertebrate
 
Hello. I agree with those suggesting that u need to be your own advocate. I myself, need to do this too. I feel like I'm always "waiting" for an answer or directions for them to give me the "go ahead". By being on this message board, I'm finding that those who get the best, most thorough healthcare are pushing things ahead to the next step. That crossed my mind when you said after all this severe pain and seriousness that u "just may go to the PM clinic this week." Maybe step it up a notch and do something now would be best for you. Let us know how u are ok? Marla
 
thank you all. The resident at the pain clinic is indeed a concerned guy...maybe he just hasn't made enouogh connections with golf buddies and stockbrokers to be a jerk yet. He reccomended the Doppler because as he said, "pain is a serious matter, but a blood clot can kill you...so lets eliminate that." While doing teh Doppler the technician said,"You must be a runner, I cant even find a trace of plaque to show you what it looks like.". Yes it does seem verry much like Sciatica and I think after my pain clinic appt on Monday, I'm going to make an appointment with another orthpedic guy or a neurologist....whichever seems more appropriate. At least with the narcotics I can sleep. I have a very young wife and three little kiRAB 8, 4, and almost 3. ANd we have had several discsssions about the impact them seeing me in such pain may have. SO when it gets severe I try not to be around them much....my wife is very supportive and I guess the big thing is the sense of ....well, "exile from life"....I mean i used to run, play basketball, take the kiRAB sledding, and now I can't even go to home depot without leaning on teh cart for support. women think men don't listen.....DOCTORS dont listen. It's like they are pre programmed and they just don't wan tyour input. I'm a smart guy...a research scientist so I am not easily put off by appeasemtn answers and I thin kthis actually makes them angry that anyone would dare question them. I mean I told the admitting Dr. that he was wrong medically and that a kidney stone like I have neverf caues that much pain ...especially when it's tht high up...his response was to sm;ile and say...."well...first off you're not a doctor and stranger things have happened." I feel better knowing you people have been through similar stuff and that you care. thanks again.
Bill
 
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