Any ideas, this is why I am scheduled for the MRI next week, I know I have disc problems all thru my spine but as surgery is my next option, I am frightened to do anything! My last spinal scans show canal stenosis everywhere with DDD, collpased discs, ruptured discs, facet joint inflammation etc etc, as it is also in my lumbar pretty badly, my feet are going numb a lot and sciatic pain is almost unbearable too, previous scan shows previous laminectomy on L5/S1 and L3/4 L2/3 L1/2 are all shot, I really feel overwhelmed at present and just don't know what next? Sorry to whinge but PAIN is not my friend! Thanks, Janie.hi Janie,
so sorry you feel so bad. Don't have any ideas of what could help just wanted to say to hang in there. Can you call dr to see what else they could do to help?
Also, whine all you want. It's a good stress reliever and that's what we're here for.
take care
Hi Cindee, thanks, just went to Dr to see if he could help, he is a locum so doesn't know me. He suggested Lyrica as I have tried it before and it helped, I told him I stopped taking it as I can't afford to purchase it, but he gave me some sample boxes and said take for a few days only thru the acute phase, so I have and now I wait! Here's hoping!
(I told him about my heel, see other post) he said there is nothing he can suggest other than what I am already doing, so he said even the injection that my RD has planned don't have good track records and they are extrememly painful, heeeelllllppppppppp!!!!!Janiefx1,
Been there, done that! I found that the only things that helped me were the flouroscope guided epidurals and the e-stim at the chiropractors office.
I'm really sorry you are having problems. I hope you feel better soon.
Janie, I have titanium rods through L3,4,5. After an MRI I was told that the bottom 2 vertabrae in neck missing a fair amount of divider (suffering same sort of pain down arms etc etc). Next option more rods in neck. Didnt want to do that until I have to. Consultant recommended pilates (I know it sounds mad), to improve muscle tone and posture (strong muscles keep things in place). So, I've been doing Pilates for 6 years. Muscle tone and posutre are fab. Neck unbelievably better. Of course if I walking down a busy street and someone knocks my shoulder my neck hurts like the devil but at least it doesnt all cease up like it used to. My back operation has a shelf life of 7 years... more operation or wheelchair. I'm at year 7 and I'm sure due to the years of Pilates that I'm not headed for the chair for a long time yet. My pilates instructor is very good, she makes sure I have proper supports for my wrists/hands and knees to protect all my delicate bits.
I truly hope that you can find something/some way to ease your pain and fingers crossed (well almost), that your MRI doesnt show anything too bad.
Thankyou so much guys, lots of good advice and ideas, I have had one injection in my thoracic spine and it was great for about 3 weeks, the pain specialist said 3 weeks was not a good result so it wasn't worth doing it again, however I disagreed, 3 weeks was lovely! My RD is seeing me on 22nd June and doing a heel shot, he has referred me to a private pain clinic and I hope they will do the spinal injections as a first option, thankyou so mucg everyone for your replies, I am truly getting desperate, I haven't used the wheelchair yet, but yesterday when the locum Dr said there is nothing they can do for my heel, I cried as it is unbearable and leaves me unable to walk, how can they just flip you aside and send you home to figure it all out yourself? I am getting very low (depressed) and irritable and feeling pretty hopeless re RA, OA, DDD, obesity, etc etc - I have got to the point where I just don't know what to do. Hugs Janie.I am sorry you are in such pain, Janie. Much and many hugs to you.
I hope you can find some relief soon.
Janiefx1,
The doc that did my epidurals said it usually takes 3 shots to get good results. I had all 3 and it helped me a lot.
I hope you feel better soon.
I've had neck pain, disc damage, radiating down my left arm 20 years ago making it numb. Physical therapy was very helpful, no longer have that. Good luck.Janie, what a hard time you are having! The closest experience I've had to your neck pain is that for 13mo I had a severe "stiff neck" that was very painful and restricted movement. Xrays showed no bone problem so I was sent to PT and an Orthopedic Massage Therapist. Then a surprising thing happened. I had to have shoulder surgery. From the moment I awoke after anesthesia, my neck pain was gone and I could move it! I have no clue if your shoulder pain is causing or aggravating your neck pain, but it might be a possibility. Like I said though, you do have an awful lot going on, so it might not be so simple as getting your shoulder fixed, not that that is simple, mind you.
Good luck, keep warm and everything else you've been doing and please keep us posted.
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