L2-3 and L4-5-knee and back pain

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footny

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I have a bad foot, thanks to a podiatrist and 2 failed foot surgeries.

Eventually my lower back and my hip hurt. Than about 7 months ago, I could not bend my knee for more than 20 minutes. The low back pain and knee pain, I think my entire apartment complex would hear my screams. I seriously had NO idea that it was my back, I insisted it was my knee.

The MRI report stated that I have degenerative disk disease at L4-L5. Since I have to "doctor Shop" every doctor, even the emergency room doctor said there is NO way this is causing the pain down to your knee.

So I took the actual MRI films to a Neurologist AND a Spine Specialist, because they can READ the films. Well, "I have at L2-3 a left lateral disk fragment just strategically in the forearm" it was NOT on the report.

The spine specialist said I need to get epidurals, I may need 2 or 3 to see if it helps, if not I may need a diskectomy. Lovely! I cried on the way home.

So off to the Pain Management doctor, said all my knee problems are from my back, he will do 2 epidurals, in one visit in the 2 different nerve areas. the calf pains are from the foot. He wants me to try a TINS sock for my foot and calf.

So I got 2 epidurals in one visit for the two disc problems. No relief. My frienRAB say you usually need 2 or 3, which means 4-6 for me, since I have two problems, to see if it works and that is what the Spine Specialist and neurologist said also.

Well, the PM says try this TINS sock for your foot, since all these problems started with your foot. OK, so put this sock that has to be wet on my foot, my toe is all lose as it is. It hurt like hell.

So why is this PM not scheduling another epidural like the Spine Specialist said?
What do I do about the radiologist who read my MRI report missed the main problem?
How do podiatrist get away with these foot surgeries and than we end up suffering, not being able to walk? Why do doctors not want to help?

I do not want to go back to this Pain Management doctor, I am so annoyed that he is not doing what the Spine Specialist said to do. Does anyone agree. Has anyone had the same problems? The pain running down your knee, the PM not doing what the doctor said?

Any suggestions would be great. And no, I don't take pain pills, they make me hyper or when they wear off the pain is much worse. I am so sad and depressed over all this.
 
>>>>It is important for you to know that the steroiRAB used in those injections can be detrimental to your bones and can cause other problems as well when you body recieves too much of it. The general rule is that a patient should have no more than 3 or 4 in a year! More than that leaves you open to things like osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and other problems. That is probably why your PM isn't scheduling you for most injections at this time, but he should have explained that to you. It might be best for you to try another pm specialist who might be more forthcoming.

As for the radiologist who "missed" seeing the disc fragment, there isn't much you can do about it other than request that further testing be done at a different hospital who uses a different radiologist. But remeraber, doctors are humans and make mistakes too. As for the podiatrist, my guess is that you had to adjust how you walk due to the foot surgeries and that aggravated your back. It's possible that you already had some problem you were unaware of and the diffeent gait caused your present troubles. Not really anyones fault.......I, too, had foot surgery that caused me to have to use a walker, throwing most of my weight on my left side. Yep, I ended up having spinal surgery as a result! And yes, I was mad as could be but, again, just had to accept that it was unavoidable unless I had stayed in bed for 2 months! You can bet that if I ever again need work on my feet, I will consult with my ortho specialist about how to NOT cause more problems in my spine.

Anyway, stay in touch and let us know how it goes....oh, and if the depression is bad, please talk to your family dr. about going on an anti-depresant. Sometimes, they can acually help with the pain!

Good luck.

Carol
 
My foot is a total disaster. The podiatrist said I will eventually have to get my toe replaced!

As for my back, I went to a different pain management doctor, he said that since the podiatrist told me I may have a bacteria infection in my toes from my foot surgeries, he can not and will not do another epidural as it can cause a blood infection.

I got whiplash from every doctor telling me something different. I understand none of them want to get sued, but ahhh.
 
be thankful that the PM Doc was honest with you. If he had given you another shot...think of the ramifications that could have caused you.

My suggestion to you would be to work with this new PM Doc and find a med that you can take that doesn't cause so many issues. That's his job, to be able to work on meRAB with you. There are meRAB for nerve pain-which I think alot of your may be, and there are anti-depressants that also work on pain. Give it a go and see if he can help...don't give up!
 
Sorry I have not updated this. It was the PM nurse who said that I am skinny and can't have too much cortisone. Than called again and tried to schedule me for a 2nd epidural. I said No thanks.

I went to another PM and he said you need to get help for your foot, every time you step it is affecting your back etc.

I have tried the nerve pills and they make me feel awful, awful, awful. I will be going for another epidural soon. The first one did nothing.
 
Just updating everyone. My new PM gave me an epidural 2 weeks ago, i go for the 2nd one tomorrow. The PM did the epidural to cover the entire area. I don't really know what that means. I am still in horrible pain. I feel like I have a 20 lb weight on my back at times and the pain goes down the leg so bad. I really hope that tomorrow the epidural helps. If not, I really do not know what to do. The Spine Specialist told me if the epidurals do not work I would have to get a discetomy. Has anyone had a discetomy? I am so nervous.
 
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