What do I do now?

  • Thread starter Thread starter elle45
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elle45

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Hi all! I posted this thread on the spine board but only got one reply, so I thought I would have better luck here.
In April I had a cervical laminectomy. Recovery was going well but about 2mo. later I started having similar symptoms. Pain in front of my shoulder and down my arm but only to the elbow this time. I also started having low back pain which is my main problem right now.
I went for an MRI but it didn't show any major problems. L3-4Mild facet arthropathy. L4-5 Mild bulging of the annulus and disc desiccation. Well all this "minor" stuff sure is killing me. Also C4-6 small central disc protrusion with annular tear which indents the anterior thecal sac.(?) What does this all mean?
My nerosurgeon said there is nothing he can do from a surgeons perspective.
I go to a chiropractor (2x yesterday)3x a week. I also take anti-inflamatories and pain killers 3x a day(lyrica) which doesn't help at all.
I have a very strenuous job (cleaning). I know I should give this up but in todays economy with all these med bills I can't afford to.
If anyone has the same diagnosis PLEASE give me some advice on how to manage the pain and why is the pain so bad if the problems are "minor".
 
Your previous post on the Spinal board has been deleted. Please review the Posting Rules, you may not ask your question in more than one forum.
Lower back problems do belong in the Back forum.

Thank you for understanding.
 
" I also started having low back pain which is my main problem right now...this "minor" stuff sure is killing me...My nerosurgeon said there is nothing he can do from a surgeons perspective. I go to a chiropractor (2x yesterday)3x a week. I also take anti-inflamatories and pain killers 3x a day(lyrica) which doesn't help at all. I have a very strenuous job (cleaning). I know I should give this up but in todays economy with all these med bills I can't afford to. If anyone has the same diagnosis PLEASE give me some advice on how to manage the pain and why is the pain so bad if the problems are "minor"

I completely understand needing the income and insurance from your job, but is there any way to make the same income and have comparable insurance with some other type of work or working the administrative aspect for the cleaning company instead of the physical labor? I can't imagine how hard it must be for you --I'm no longer able to do all the household chores I use to (or I do them 'differently') and that's just my own home, not a 9to5 job 5dys/wk. I do know that you can make 'adjustments' in how you clean, but it can be sooo easy to not be mindful of the careful posture and proper bending, all of it, when you are working so much, so often (and so hard). Sometimes, btw, the pain can be a lot worse than the MRI shows the damage to be. That, I do know. It can also be the reverse with very bad damage and not as much pain as you'd think would accompany that. I'm so sorry it's so hard on you and that you've developed back as well as neck problems now. I would make sure, btw, that your NS knows you see a chiro. Chiro's can be a GoRABend, but there is a level of damage that isn't safe for them to work with. I'd definitely make sure there is communication between the NS and chiro.
I wish you only the best.
Meghan
 
I no longer do the cleaning in my own home either. It's just too painful. I would definitely try to consider your options. I can't even imagine how you feel at the end of the day. I hope you find a treatment that helps.
 
Hi,

I am sorry that you are having pain again after your surgery. I know how very frustrating it is, especially after having pain relief for some months. Something similar happened to me - I had lurabar spine surgery (multi-level laminectomies for spinal stenosis) and did pretty well for 5 or 6 months. Then all of a sudden I was hit by horrific sciatica. It did not go away and I finally had a nerve block about 2 or 3 months later.

Well, before I had the nerve block, I went back to my surgeon, who sent me for an MRI. I had the MRI's done both without and with contrast. Did you also have your MRI with and without contrast?

I asked because that would be extremely important to do after one had surgery. The contrast can differentiate, for example, if you have scar tissue causing any problems. It so happened that I have alot of scar tissue build up and a piece of either scar or disk material was stuck in a left lateral recess and jammed in against my L5 nerve. I also had more herniations and bulges, but after having the L5 nerve block done, it seemed to help my pain.

From what I have read, 2 months post-surgery can be prime time for issues related to scar tissue to show up. Or like me, a little piece could be jammed in somewhere on or near a nerve. Even just having a disk bulge where the disk has scar around it...the bulge can push the scar tissue into a surrounding nerve.
 
Thank you all for replying. Let me explain that I did cut way back on my job. Only cleaning 3days a week, 5 hours a day. Than I spend most of the time in bed. I do work for myself, so I can call in sick if I have to. Although I would love to give it up all together I'm not sure a "real boss" would be so understanding.
My ns and chiropractor are working together on my recovery (they do a lot of work together). I have also started taking prednisone but have taken it before only to have the pain return when the meRAB wore off.
I did not have my MRI done with contrast. Dr. said it wasn't necessary. Now I wonder. Could it really make that much of a difference on my results?
I'm also starting to have a lot more tingling in my neck, arm, shoulder,low back, and hips. I'm just a mess!
 
I have a bad disc between L5/S1, and have tried all steps prior to surgery. Here is the progression of treatment I tried:

1) Advil 2) Pain MeRAB 3) Chiropractic 4) Physical Therapy 5) Epidural Steroid Injections 6) Facet Rhizotomy 7) Nerve Root blocks

Of all the things I have tried, the injections worked the best. Unfortunately since I have been getting these for the last 3 years they are now starting to lose their effectiveness. I highly recommend trying this route with a good Pain Mgt Doc. Hopefully a good MRI will help identify where to inject.

Unfortunately my last option now is Fusion, so I am trying to decide if I should go with the surgeon who wants to go in from the front, or the one who wants to go in from the front and back.

Good Luck!:)
 
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