S
SKZ
Guest
I am hoping to hear from those of you that have bad arthritis in their lurabar spines. What are your symptoms and what are you doing to treat them?
THANKS!
THANKS!
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S
SpineAZ
Guest
I do have facet arthritis just above my fusion level (fusion was L4-S1 in 1993). Thus far I haven't been able to do much to treat it since my cervical spine issues have been the primary condition I've been treating for. I'm having ESI for cervical pain so they say I have to wait 6 months before I can consider steroidal treatment on the lurabar spine.
D
darbymai59
Guest
Hi SKZ,
This is my MRI report and my PM doc says my FACET DEGENERATIVE DISEASE is caused from arthritis and he believes that is what is causing most of my pain and sciatica. I have been in mild pain off and on for about five years when walking or exercising. In the last six months the pain has gotten progressively worse. I now have constant pain across my lower back especially on the left lower side. The sciatica is also constant and stops me in my tracks at times. Its hard to hold me down but sometimes this pain does. I am having RF Ablation on August 27 to the nerves in the facet joints at L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1 on both sides and hope that it helps. I have had two ESI's for sciatica but the good results were very short lived. I did have the facet nerve blocks to determine if that was the cause of my pain and it was wonderful to be pain free for a few hours.
MRI REPORT:
At L3-4 there is a far right lateral disk bulge compatible with a far right lateral disk protrusion. This extenRAB into the right neural foramen but does not extend into the posterior margin of the disk. There are some associated hypertrophic facet degenerative changes. No significant central canal narrowing is identified. There is mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing greater on the left than on the right primarily due to the hypertrophic facet degenerative changes. The right far lateral disk protrusion does not contribute to neural foraminal narrowing.
At L4-5 there is a diffuse posterior disk bulge that has the appearance of a broad based central disk protrusion. There are bilateral hypertrophic facet degenerative changes with thickening of the ligamentum flavum. There are lateral marginal vertebral osteophytes that extend into the neural foramen. There is some central canal narrowing primarily due to the hypertrophic facet degenerative disease and thickening of the ligamentum flavum. This appears to represent an element of central spinal stenosis. There is also bilateral neural foraminal narrowing due to the facet joint osteophytes and posterior lateral marginal vertebral osteophytes.
At L5-S1 disk is unremarkable in appearance. There are hypertrophic facet degenerative changes. There is some bilateral neural foraminal narrowing greater on the left than on the right due to the hypertrophic facet degenerative changes. No lateral recess narrowing is identified.
IMPRESSION: DEGENERATIVE DISK DISEASE AND FACET DEGENERATIVE DISEASE. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF CENTRAL SPINAL STENOSIS AT L4-5 PRIMARILY DUE TO THE HYPERTROPHIC FACET DEGENERATIVE DISEASE AND THE THICKENING OF THE LIGAMENTUM FLAVUM. THERE ARE ALSO AREAS OF NEURAL FORAMINAL NARROWING.
This is my MRI report and my PM doc says my FACET DEGENERATIVE DISEASE is caused from arthritis and he believes that is what is causing most of my pain and sciatica. I have been in mild pain off and on for about five years when walking or exercising. In the last six months the pain has gotten progressively worse. I now have constant pain across my lower back especially on the left lower side. The sciatica is also constant and stops me in my tracks at times. Its hard to hold me down but sometimes this pain does. I am having RF Ablation on August 27 to the nerves in the facet joints at L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1 on both sides and hope that it helps. I have had two ESI's for sciatica but the good results were very short lived. I did have the facet nerve blocks to determine if that was the cause of my pain and it was wonderful to be pain free for a few hours.
MRI REPORT:
At L3-4 there is a far right lateral disk bulge compatible with a far right lateral disk protrusion. This extenRAB into the right neural foramen but does not extend into the posterior margin of the disk. There are some associated hypertrophic facet degenerative changes. No significant central canal narrowing is identified. There is mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing greater on the left than on the right primarily due to the hypertrophic facet degenerative changes. The right far lateral disk protrusion does not contribute to neural foraminal narrowing.
At L4-5 there is a diffuse posterior disk bulge that has the appearance of a broad based central disk protrusion. There are bilateral hypertrophic facet degenerative changes with thickening of the ligamentum flavum. There are lateral marginal vertebral osteophytes that extend into the neural foramen. There is some central canal narrowing primarily due to the hypertrophic facet degenerative disease and thickening of the ligamentum flavum. This appears to represent an element of central spinal stenosis. There is also bilateral neural foraminal narrowing due to the facet joint osteophytes and posterior lateral marginal vertebral osteophytes.
At L5-S1 disk is unremarkable in appearance. There are hypertrophic facet degenerative changes. There is some bilateral neural foraminal narrowing greater on the left than on the right due to the hypertrophic facet degenerative changes. No lateral recess narrowing is identified.
IMPRESSION: DEGENERATIVE DISK DISEASE AND FACET DEGENERATIVE DISEASE. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF CENTRAL SPINAL STENOSIS AT L4-5 PRIMARILY DUE TO THE HYPERTROPHIC FACET DEGENERATIVE DISEASE AND THE THICKENING OF THE LIGAMENTUM FLAVUM. THERE ARE ALSO AREAS OF NEURAL FORAMINAL NARROWING.
K
kera4
Guest
Hi! I have had bad lurabar arthritis since 1999, and I have had the most pain relief from the RFA (see other post). My pain is in the lower back and buttocks, mostly on the left side. It can refer over my hip and into the groin area when my SI joint is bad. I take anti inflammatory (Voltaren). Also, I have had cortisone injections over the years, lots of PT. I use a lurabar seat and/or "cush tush" pillow for sitting (sitting is the worst thing for me). I ice a lot, and have a TENS machine. I will take Ultram when the pain is bad. That's about it, I hope that helps! Cheers, Kera4
B
Baybreeze
Guest
Hi,
I also have lurabar spinal arthritis (I think I also have it in my cervical spine); I had severe spinal stenosis from it, but i've since had surgery, which helped a great deal with some of my pains. However, the arthritis still really bothers me. Now, I am unable to twist to either side, I can't bend forward too far, and can't really bend backward. All of this even though I've been doing PT exercises for over 2 years now to help. But I am just losing my flexibility anyway.
I get deep achiness in there, muscle spasms, various nerve pains (though alot of all this is being more controlled with a bunch of meRAB); When it's real humid or rain is coming, the achiness gets worse. I also have a lot of stiffness, which also gets worse with certain weather changes. I am beginning to think I have sacroiliac problems because I get deep achy pains in that area as well, especially sitting and driving. I also have problems walking and standing too long. I should mention I do have hip arthritis as well. A year and 1/2 ago, it was mild, more so in my right hip..but recently my spine surgeon said my hips have lost more space, so it's gotten worse.
When I walk, I cannot walk using my hips to move my legs forward. I kind of have to keep my upper legs/hip areas still and just use my knees to go forward. So I am not sure how much of what is contributiing to my walkign problems....if it's more my hips or more my lower spine. Or it probably a corabo of both.
I am currently taking several doses per day of: Lyrica (for nerve pains), Soma (for muscle spasms), and Ultram ER (for pain). I have tried Celebrex several times, however, it does not seem to help any of my arthritis pains. And I am sure the celebrex was really raising my blood pressure. Nothing over the counter works either. THe only thing that ever did help was steroiRAB, but I cant just take them all the time. So currently I am taking nothing for the arthritis. However, I just read an article about a medical study that was done on a supplement called boswellia serrata with AKBA. The study was done on patients with knee osteoarthritis; patients took this supplement to see if it would help their OA pains. Supposedly, the study showed it seemed to help alot of people; some after only one week of taking it. So I have ordered some myself, as I will try anything!
I also have lurabar spinal arthritis (I think I also have it in my cervical spine); I had severe spinal stenosis from it, but i've since had surgery, which helped a great deal with some of my pains. However, the arthritis still really bothers me. Now, I am unable to twist to either side, I can't bend forward too far, and can't really bend backward. All of this even though I've been doing PT exercises for over 2 years now to help. But I am just losing my flexibility anyway.
I get deep achiness in there, muscle spasms, various nerve pains (though alot of all this is being more controlled with a bunch of meRAB); When it's real humid or rain is coming, the achiness gets worse. I also have a lot of stiffness, which also gets worse with certain weather changes. I am beginning to think I have sacroiliac problems because I get deep achy pains in that area as well, especially sitting and driving. I also have problems walking and standing too long. I should mention I do have hip arthritis as well. A year and 1/2 ago, it was mild, more so in my right hip..but recently my spine surgeon said my hips have lost more space, so it's gotten worse.
When I walk, I cannot walk using my hips to move my legs forward. I kind of have to keep my upper legs/hip areas still and just use my knees to go forward. So I am not sure how much of what is contributiing to my walkign problems....if it's more my hips or more my lower spine. Or it probably a corabo of both.
I am currently taking several doses per day of: Lyrica (for nerve pains), Soma (for muscle spasms), and Ultram ER (for pain). I have tried Celebrex several times, however, it does not seem to help any of my arthritis pains. And I am sure the celebrex was really raising my blood pressure. Nothing over the counter works either. THe only thing that ever did help was steroiRAB, but I cant just take them all the time. So currently I am taking nothing for the arthritis. However, I just read an article about a medical study that was done on a supplement called boswellia serrata with AKBA. The study was done on patients with knee osteoarthritis; patients took this supplement to see if it would help their OA pains. Supposedly, the study showed it seemed to help alot of people; some after only one week of taking it. So I have ordered some myself, as I will try anything!
S
SKZ
Guest
Thanks for answering. I feel your pain
I am getting that medial branch block this Wed. before they do a rhizotomy on me, sometime soon after in Sept. Have youo ever had one of those? I had one in my neck, which did help the arthritis, but I had so much more wrong with my neck that I ended up with a fusion anyway, about 9 months later. I am really hoping the rhizotomy will help.
I am getting that medial branch block this Wed. before they do a rhizotomy on me, sometime soon after in Sept. Have youo ever had one of those? I had one in my neck, which did help the arthritis, but I had so much more wrong with my neck that I ended up with a fusion anyway, about 9 months later. I am really hoping the rhizotomy will help.
B
Baybreeze
Guest
Hi, no, I've never had a rhizotomy, but I wish you luck with both of your procedures. I really hope they help you.