Spinal column disc problem? Maybe somthing else

[MG (Admin)]

Experts please see viewtopic.php?f=30&t=61

[clinicalguru3]

Thanks for your question.

I will need some more information but for now I can say the following:-

1) You need to get a good neurological examination if this has not yet been done. The discs between the vertebrae can move around and this and other processes caused by "wear and tear" can cause a lot of pain but without actually causing any neurological loss. A good examination is the only way to know this. So if you have been examined it would be good to know what what found (power, reflexes, sensation, walking problems etc)

2) There are many many new pain medications that can be used for chronic pain caused by physical processes affecting nerves. Good examples include lyrica or cymbalta and much more information and research can be found about these drugs at

http://www.asktheneurologist.com/treat- ... -pain.html

Of course these are prescription only meds and something to be discussed with your physician.

3) How is your general motor and sensory function (except for the pain)?

4) Do you have any disturbance of sphincter function (urine / stool).

Looking forward to hearing back from you

CG3

[arenet61]

thanks for your response. my last visit to a neurologist a couple of weeks ago, consisted of him reading the mri report, asked me to step up on a stool, then he ordered lumbar xrays and an emg, the xray report impression read "degenerative disc disease from L2 thru S1 with mild levoscoliosis", emg appointment not for a couple of weeks.
i seem to have some loss of mobility when walking, normally theres not too much pain if i'm slow and careful how i move, i do have some numbness in my buttocks and thighs.
as for the medication, i've been on 60 mg cymbalta for about 1 1/2 years, the 150 mg lyrica x 2 for about 2 months. i'm also taking hydrocodone 7.5/500 4-6 timea a day, wellbutrin 150 x 3, seroquel 100, amitriptilyne 25. i was on the duragesic patch for a while that seemed to help more than anything but i can't get any of my current doctors to write a rx.
i just thought there might be some kind of condition or disease that might be affecting my body as a whole thats responsible for all of my symptoms and pain, that none of my doctors have come up with. i really do appreciate all of your help, and if you have any other input.

[clinicalguru3]

I understand.

Well, the MRI report you mentioned is hard to interpret without seeing it but it does imply their may be compression of a number of nerve roots as they leave the spinal cord before they enter your pelvic area and legs.

This is not stated explicitly but may be worth asking about (i.e. whether there is evidence of nerve root compression).

If there is pressure on the nerve roots then this could explain the symptoms you describe.
Nevertheless, the examining neurologist should be asking himself whether the signs he finds on examining you can be explained on the basis of the back problem alone. Perhaps this is why you have been sent for an EMG as this can help exclude other causes of your symptoms.

You are on a lot of meds. I assume you have a doctor in the pain clinic you see regularly. It may be worth asking about alternative to oral meds (such as epidurals etc) which can give relief in these situations.

Have any other pain management options been tried?

[arenet61]

hello again. after several rounds of steroid injections in my lower back and hips, the dr. also did an epidural steroid injection in the base of my spine, he also did a nerve block, both with very little short term releif ( a few days at best). this same dr. also did an epiduroscopy that was really painful during and afterwards. this same dr. told me that he did not find anything that he didn't already know was there. i haven't seen this dr. who was my pain management dr. since the epiduroscopy at the end of november. he left the hospital after the procedure without leaving any kind of information on what he had found. i had to insist that the nurse page him, to find out what he had found, he also didn't leave my rx for the duragesic and hydrocodone, that we had discussed beforehand. for the epiduroscopy, i had to take a rural transportation bus 80 miles, go another 6 miles across town in 5:00 traffic to his office for a rx, and another 80 miles home in the floor of the transporation bus because i was in too much pain to sit up. needless to say i was not a happy camper. i do however take a printout of all medication i'm currently taking whenever i have any kind of medical appointment so everyone knows everything i'm currently taking. (the reason for all the anti depression medication is another story ( i assume anyway)).
also, another problem i have is i've had to get and electrical medical bed to lift me up in the mornings, because of extremely excrutiating pain across my hip/lap/pelvic area. i also have some problems with urination but its hard to describe, sometimes i can barely make it to the bathroom, and sometimes i know i need to pea but i have to strain.
if it will help, i could fax you my mri and xrays, if you might have time to take a look, please let me know. sorry this was so long. thanks again.

[clinicalguru3]

Sorry to hear you've has such a hard time of it!

Have you told your neurologist about the urinary complaints?
If so, how did he explain them?

[arenet61]

Thank you. my new neurologist that i have seen for the first time a couple of weeks ago, ordered the xray of my lumbar and the emg. My appointment for the emg isn't for almost 3 weeks, maybe that will give him a little more info. Thanks for your concern, sometimes I feel like I'm turning into a hyphochondriac when I explain to someone new all of the symptoms I'm having

[clinicalguru3]

No need for the ..that's what we're her for !
Be well and let us know how things go.

All the best