new med and interesting info about mri

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Wendy88

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hi
so i went to my doctor who is great...
im now going to try flexeril...how is everyone's experience with that? helpful? i took one already and didnt feel much for my spazms... but hoppfully soon.
he did offer me a cortizone injection but i sadi no.i was scared (im a HORRID patient) .. i said id keep taking the relefin for inflamation and we'd see in a week...
my next step if it gets bad again and the meRAB dont work is the cortizone.. and then a standing MRI. he showed my photos and this woman with a back issue similar to mine possibly had a not so great lower back in the typical laying down MRI, but in this standing MRI, you could see so much compression etc... the difference was amazing....my doctor thinks next time i need that since although my MRIs are not good, they dont show exactly why im in so much pain when i get flare ups. also - in bed im ok... but especially now, two weeeks into my last flare up, sitting at work is bad and as the day goes on it just gets worse...anyhow - THEN i can do an epidural (which scares me too!!) and then I guess a spine specialist instead of a neurologist.
it was good. he is a great dr... i never feel rushed and always feel like he listens and just want to figure it out and help.
anyhow if any of you have had success with flexeral let me know.
 
Glad you found a good doctor you have faith in. That is very very important to have. Flexeril did nothing for me personally. Many have great results from it. I use Skelaxin and have for years now. It works best for my body, and I can function on it very well. If it doesnt work for you after giving it a chance to get a good effects, then call your doctor and ask if something else can be tried.

I was petrified to have the injections myself. But once you have had one, your fears will be eliminated. It's a tough pinch or pinches.. then off you go! Seriously, I was never sedated for any of mine, but if necessary if you go for them, there are plenty that give their patients either sedatives for these or even twilight (anesthesia) to get them. For me, I had the injections and went right back to work for the remainder of the day, that's how easy they can be. I just took my ice packs with me, and also took my meRAB. Considering the amount of pain you have learned to endure with the back pain.. the injections are a piece of cake!

Take care and let us know how you are doing. Tammy:wave:
 
I tried flexeril for severe, widespread spasms; however, I'm not sure how much they helped me (if they did at all). Perhaps I had too much in spasm (from my legs all the way to my head & everywhere in between). But the same day I got flexeril, I also read to try moist heat for spasms. So I bought several moist heating paRAB and literally had them fastened on my lower back, my upper back (pushed down under my bra strap to hold it in place) and another across my shoulders and neck
I actually ended up burning myself
 
I've had epidurals with and without sedation. I prefer without. Once you get passed the first pinch it's alright. You need to keep in mind about the drugs that some of these can really mess up your stomach or lower.
 
I've had several trigger point injections in my legs, hip, and lower back without any sedation, just a topical freezing spray. Physiatrist warned me it might be a bit painful, but I didn't feel a thing. The trigger point injections were successful in relieving my muscle spasms, but they returned after a few days.

A month ago, I had an epidural, under guided fluoroscope, fortunately under sedation. It was ineffective, unfortunately.

Last Monday, I had a SIJ injection, under sedation and guided fluoroscope. Seems to have taken. Pain seems less than usual, but not certain how effective it was, since my pain vacillates from day to day. The SIJ is not curative, just palliative. However, I do believe it may have served the other more important purpose, that is, to give a diagnosis of where my pain is actually coming from.

Do you ever feel as if it's all one big guessing game?
 
totally - right nwo it IS a guessing game in some ways since my MRIs do show the DDD etc... but not exactly why i feel so much pain from time to time, which si why i have to do the standing MRI once more time passes so my insurance will cover it.
I am on the menRAB though... feel better... the flexeral is working i think, or im naturally getting better and that med just came at a good time. i did try skelaxin and that did work too for a while.
I do have to be careful of all the meRAB, especailly of the anti-inflamitories since I have GERD and have a sensitive tummy. But as long as i eat before I take my meRAB, im ok. the relefen is pretty ok on my stomach.
the cortizone shots id hate ot do, but id do it if the pain comes back.. the epidural I'll do, but lord help the doctors who will do it. not to be dramatic, but they will have to sedate me. Im really bad with procedures of all kinRAB. I get endoscoppies every 4 years and still manage to work myself up so they have to wait for me to calm down before they can knock me out.... sigh. BUT, of course, if my back goes again, i might just do that cause the pain is just so bad. Id justhate to go through it and have it not take effect.
Anyhow- thanks for all the info and support. it sure can be frustrating!!
:)
hope everyone is having a relatively pain free weekend!!!
 
I've used flexeril for years and they do help the spasms, I don't like taking them on a regular basis as they make me tired. The only other muscle relaxer I had alot of help with was methocarbonal I think it was called and it might even be the generic, its been along time.

I must be a real wus or my pm bad, but the coritsone injections hurt like hell on me. I mean after it was over I was fine, but during the injections it was bad.
Probably just like you can have the best dentist in the world, or worst, from everyone else's response i must have had the worst.
 
For my spasms (sciatica too) Flexiral and Skelaxin did nothing also. For my body chemistry (I am very thin and small) I am currently using Neurontin (for the nerve pain -100mg one or 2 a day), 5 mg. valium (I find it reduces spasms the most) and Motrin (anti-inflammatory). The only problem I have found with the valium is I think it depresses me more (than regular back pain or all tied in?? still don't know) but now I am also taking Cyrabalta (corabo pain and antidepressant). I have no more spasms and leg/nerve pain is gone - just the achy stabbing sore buttox and lower back and left hip which is much more tolerable than the nerve pain.

I go for a microdiscectomy 12/22 for MRI reading of "L5-S1 degenerative disc bulge with superimposed left paracentral extrusion with a large inferiorly pendunculated component compressing the left S1 nerve, and L4-5 there is a degenerative bulging disc with right paracentral tear and interval resorption of the small right paracentral protrusio since previous MRI 5/5 (this is my 2nd MRI since May when I initially had it and then healed totally until end of August when I stupidly lifted and moved furniture switching rooms with my son) The bulging disc slightly flattens the anterior margin of the thecal sac without canal stenosis.

L5-S1 conclusion: (left out whole other description) : there is a denenerative bulge with superimposed left paracentral extrusion (used to be protrusion) with a large inferiorly pedunculated component compressing the left S1 nerve. The extruded disc is better defined....no significant change in the degree of left s1 nerve compression.

Since I've been thru 4 epidurals and PT now doensn't work anymore since first bout, and 3 more months of pain my orthopedic surgeon says I have less than a 1% chance of this going away any time in the near future. I have opted for surgery personally because I need to get on with my life - I am a single mother of an 11 year old active boy and I can't wait it out. I also saw a neurologist and have no foot dropping or nurabness just loss of left foot reflexes so I am under the impression I don't want it to get worse (differing opinions here on this issue). I will also make an appointment with a pain management DR. prior to surgery as I am bleeding alot from either motrin or perimenopause...so I want to make sure the mix of scrips from different Dr.s(physiatrist, orthopedist) is absolutely OK . (I do know you need to be off the anti-inflammatories at least a week before surgery).

Try all the options like epidurals, PT, meRAB, etc. before surgery! Good luck to you,
Sam
 
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