Need Myelogram now

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lynn1961

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hi mewcamaro....

I had ALIF on L4-5 and L5-S1. I have relief from back pain already < had surgery in dec> About 2 weeks after my surgery I started having SEVERE pain in my right leg. The pain medication I was on from surgery, wasNOT touching the pain I was having in my right leg. I ended up in the ER on 3 different occasions. On the 3rd visit to the ER, they admitted me back into the hospital. The pain was unbearable. I had several test done. And it has been determined I am suffering from S1 radiculopathy. This effects the sciatic nerve. Very, very painful. Apparently what happened to me was.....during surgery, the screw that the doc put in, irritated the nerve or nerve root. So now, I am on very heavy pain medication until the nerve heals. I feel for you as I know how painful it can be. When did you have your ALIF surgery? Is your bak still hurting? I really feel much better as far as my back is concerned. I am actually waking up and having no pain in my back. Well, I hope you get relief soon.....

LYNN
 
It wasn't any more painful than any other injection you've ever gotten in your back. IIRC, they injected some lidocaine then did the dye. As an old-hat at back surgery, I'm sure you'll be fine with the tiny amount of discomfort you'll experience from this test.
 
hi....

I have never had a myelogram....so not sure. Seems they would since it involves the nerve. In my case is was an acute attack. Thank GOD,,, sheesh. the pain was unbearing. Or...it was for me. Are you on any kind of medication? I was put on several medications and it did help the pain. I had a MRI in the hospital and I am guessing they saw it on the MRI. My neurosurgeon and pain mgt. doc diagnosed me and thats what they told me it was. I will tell you, it was the worst pain ive ever had aside from child birth ha....gosh, I am so sorry anybody else would suffer with this. If you havent been to your doc.....go back. Dont suffer. Or go to the ER. That is what I did. This happened 1-2 weeks after my fusion. How long ago did you have your surgery? Hope you get relief soon....

LYNN
 
Well went to my MIE appt today with my neurosurgeon. He says my last MRI looks fine but I am still in pain. He now wants to have a myelogram. Anyone ever had this test, I was told it takes about 1 hour and they localize the back where the needle goes in, no sedation. Then you can expect to stay at the hospital for about 8 hours. I have had a discogram before...is this anything like that?

Can anyone tell me what to expect?

Marie
 
Marie,

I had the CT myelogram to see if they could figure out the source of the nerve pain in my lower right leg. I had 3 level fusion in March and have only to get rid of the nerve pain and I'll be completely pain free. After this test I had a Lysis of adhesions and that has worked pretty well.

Take care....
 
**REMOVED** My injury is a WC case so I have to to their doctors and all tests have to be approved first. I am on Opana for pain, also a muscle relaxer and valium. Even with taking all that pain med I still have pain, I think I am getting imune to it so its not working as well. I hope you get to feeling better soon....Marie
 
Hi Marie, I had a myelogram about a week before I had surgery on Dec 2nd. I had a two level fusion L4-S1 and a laminectomy L4-L5. I had the same experience as others have said including the myelogram headache but I didn't have to wait at all. I was in the hospital the next day for the blood patch. That was the worst headache I've ever had and I was also so sick to my stomach. My poor 20 yr old son took such great care of his mom....holding the barf bucket :) Anyway, one thing I experienced that I didn't see anyone else did, was when they injected the dye and tilted me up the pain began. OMG, it was like every symptom I was having in my buttocks and legs just went into extreme overdrive. Once they got me down I was in the fetal position just trying to get the pressure off my nerves. They called the doctor back in and gave me a pain injection. All of this didn't last too long. I guess it just showed how bad things were down there. But if you get that headache, get back in there for that blood patch. It was almost instant relief, which was great. I hope the test shows what they need to know to relieve your pain. Vicki
 
Lynn I had my ALIF surgery June 07 and yes my back still hurts. The pain goes down my leg..after reading you posting it sounRAB like I may have radiculopathy...can they determine that from a myelogram?

Marie
 
Yes, I had a Myelogram. They inject dye and then they take a CT of it to see where it does and does not go. It's on the same level as the discogram. The reason it takes so long is that they won't release you for several hours until they are sure there are no side effects from the dye. I suffer from migraines and apparently it can trigger one. Bring a book, ipod, knitting whatever so you are not too bored. :cool:
 
Hey...

Is there any way you can call your doc and talk to the doc? They can give you nerve pain med. I take lyrica and it is working for me. If you do indeed have this....you will need nerve pain med. Or if a nerve is causing the pain, you will need this type of med. It does take a couple weeks to start working....thats why i was put on oxycontin and roxicodone. I think this strong oxycontin makes me nurab to the pain ha....i am feeling better now, thanks and I hope you feel better and find relief!

LYNN
 
Thanks Delaware Girl, I never even thought to bring something with me so I wouldn't be bored...good idea. What were your results after your myelogram, did you need surgery?

Marie
 
Lynn the doctor did put me on Lyrica but I had a bad reaction to it so he told me to stop taking it immediately so I didn't take it that long to know if it worked. I don't know....its just getting to be so old now I just want to be normal again...Marie
 
I would do a search of this board using the keyword myelogram -- you'll find lots of good info.

I had a myelogram -- here's what they do:

You lay flat on your belly on an x-ray table. The interventional radiologist and the neurosurgeon together do the procedure. They inject dye into the area around your discs, then take a picture. They then tilt the table slightly, and take another picture. The tilt some more, another picture, etc... until you are practically upright, standing on a platform on the edge of the end of the table (they won't let you fall off!). They are looking to see if the dye is able to respond to gravity and move freely in that space, or if the disc is bulging so much that it can't move around.

AfterwarRAB, I was kept overnight. I was not allowed to get up except to use the bathroom. I ended up with a spinal headache anyway, which had to be fixed using a blood patch. I got immediate relief from the blood patch, but it was 4 days of utter agony while I tried to convince my neuro that I did indeed have a spinal headache.

The spinal fluid leaked out of the hole in the dura in my spinal column caused by the injection of the dye. It did not seal up properly, so when I stood up there wasn't enough fluid to keep my brain from resting on the nerve endings in my head, instead of on the cushion of fluid, thus causing the headache. A blood patch is when they take abotu 30cc of blood from your arm and inject it about 2 inches above the prior injection in your spinal column. You sit up on a gurney while they do this. The blood then runs down the dura matter and helps provide a framework for the hole to seal up and stop the leaking. The best part was the diet sheet i was given as I left the hospital: salty snacks and caffeinated beverages! LOL

The spinal headache doesn't happen to everyone, but is a known side effect. Next time I'd probably just ask for a bedpan and forget about getting up to use the bathroom as I think that's why I got the headache (from getting up, not from using the bathroom... lol).

Good luck to you. This is a relatively easy test compared to others I've had done.

Oh, and I did have a two-level partial discectomy and laminectomy. L4/L5 and L5/S1.
 
Hi Xinerevelle - thank you for sharing your experience with me, it all sounRAB a little scary but I will take your advice and search myelogram. Was the test painful?

I have had 2 lami/disc at L5 L4 S1, and also an ALIF removing L4 L5 and replacing with titanium discs and fusion. The problem is I am in worse pain now than before surgery, I can not sit or stand for more than 15 minutes, I have severe pain in the butt area and it goes down my left leg. Since my MRI shows I am OK I guess thats why they want to do the myelogram.

Again thanks for letting me know what to expect, and I think instead of getting up to go to the bathroom I will definitely ask for a bedpan.

Marie
 
Hi everyone, I am new to this site but I did have a myelogram last week and here is what happened. I was told that caffeine is very good for you when you have a myelogram since it speeRAB up the replacement of the spinal fluid.

3 hours before the test I had breakfast with 2 cups of coffee. Went to the rad's office for the test. Told to be prepared to stay 3-4 hours. After going over history with nurse, I was on the table face down. The Nurse put an IV of fluid in my vain to keep me hydrated, then the DR. came and set me up so that the xray machine and I were positioned correctly. He inserted the needle in a few spots on my back to nurab the areas. There was a little pain. When the dye is injected it tenRAB to irritate the nerves and cause some pain. IF you have any blockage, then you have more pain. The nurses were in the room also and they had to rub down my hip and my shins. They also placed ice packs on me. This lasted a few minutes. Everytime that I moved for the pictures, more pain. After this, I was rolled on a gurney for a CT scan. AfterwarRAB, went to the inner waiting room. Then had to walk for standing xrays. AfterwarRAB, back to waiting room watched TV and they started to give me fluiRAB, first coffee then water. Went home after 1 hour of sitting and nurses taking vitals.
Important-the first 6 hours do not lay down, sit up, walk a little in the house,and drink, can be water, juices, tea, coffee, gatorade is good too, (drank at least 80oz.) At night sleep with 2 pillows. Next day drink a lot and you may lay down. You do not want to lay down flat the 1 st day because the dye can go to the brain. 3rd day just take it easy. During the 1-3 days do not bend.
Sorry this is soo long, but I followed the Dr. advice and I was fearful of getting a spinal headache. Nothing is fulproof.
 
Hi Marie.....

There is other nerve medications. All people react differently to medications. I was on gabepenton and then when i was re-admitted to the hospital, they changed it to lyrica, I know there is several meRAB for it....neurontin, gabepenton and lyrica and I am sure there must be more. I think you must have to take these meRAB a couple of weeks before you see results. Its hard to do because we want results right NOW when in pain. I was told no narcotics help a nerve flare up pain. They use strong narcotics even though it doesnt touch pain, it just sorta "nurabs" if ya will, to the pain. I truely feel for you as I know it can be severe pain. Actually, that pain was worst than any of my back pain....hopefully you will find SOMETHING soon to help.....


LYNN
 
Thanks Lynn I hope that the myelogram will show what is wrong, I can't go on much longer like this.

Hi Quigley - welcome to the boarRAB, thank you for sharing your experience with me. Getting the spinal headache is what I am most scared about, after reading the postings many people get the headache..I don't normally get headaches so I can't imagine having one that bad...I will take your advice..thanks...Marie
 
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