I fell down the stairs...and now I need help getting up

[StairsHurt]

I fell down a flight of stairs twenty-one months ago, struck my lower back and have been in pain ever since. It started as a hematoma which was drained of 750cc's of fluid and was 17cm by 17cm, after it was intially drained the pain continued and a tube was inserted to hopefully drain the fluid out of my back, the fluid eventually decreased and now after my last MRI there is no more fluid in my back, so I guess it is no longer considered a hematoma. However the problem is, I still feel like I have a half a volleyball strapped to my lower back, the pain continues to be there, and I have noticed it affecting my gait, hips, legs, and of course the rest of my back. I have been on hydrocodone, various NSAIRAB, muscle relaxers, etc, and they seem to have enough effect to be able to make the pain manageable, however I still have this mass on my back. The last doctor I saw diagnosed it as continuing nerve damage and said that it would continue to take time to heal. I need to get another opinion, but I have no idea where to go. My spine seems to be undamaged (based on MRIs), but I need to start finding a solution. Does anyone have any idea of where I should go from here? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[ibake&pray]

Go to another spine doctor-a neuro one. He should be able to tel you what the issue is, but your first diagnosis sounRAB like he knows what's going on. Because your nerves were damaged, it will take time for them to heal...perhaps 6 months. They don't like to be messed with and that hematoma messed with them. Have you asked for some pain meRAB that is form nerve pain? You might find that that med will really help you with the discomfort.

 

[mimgregg]

I was in a car accident and damaged l4-5 and after 7 months of intense pain I had surgery. It took an additional 14 months for my nerve pain and problems to get healed to the point I could handle it without medications for the inflammation and pain. It also took months of pt. My neuro surgeon told me that the longer and more intensely damaged the nerves, the longer it can take to completely heal and the nerves to "calm" down. I still have some permanent damage, but the improvement is so much that it is not much of a problem.