Back Pain Support Group
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. In fact, about 3 in 4 adults will experience back pain during their lifetime! The term back pain includes pain affecting the neck, midback and low back. Acute back pain may begin suddenly with intense pain but typically lasts fewer than three months. Usually, chronic back pain is persistent, steady, and...
This may be a bit long so I apologise in advance.
I have been having neck & back pain for many years. Always was blamed on ms-dilation of myelin in spine & lesions on scalp.
Background.
I was in hospital nov-December last year for other issues relating to ms & pain tablets reacting, I went unconscious from toxic septicaemia. Spent 3 weeks in hospital & got pain drugs changed. Off Lyrica, Valium, Lyrica & put on Tapentadol with Tramadol 50 for breakthrough pain.
I have ms so usually have to fight to get things checked fully as the Dr's blame a lot on ms.
While I was in hospital they took me seriously as I couldn't move my head around & struggled to move/get out of bed etc.
The Dr's did 2 mri's of spine from neck right down. From that they found I have the protruding disks. On neck it is C4-6 & back is L4-S1 on lower back.
Next step
I went to the orthopaedic spine clinic last Monday to find out what he suggests. We have talked to him & discussed some ways to fix it as much as possible. He went through the mri's with us (hubby came) & explained what's happened.
He looked at the lower spine first & showed us where the disk Protruding & also how there is so much fluid in that too. I have also got a lot of arthritis in the spine. He suggested to try the injection first & see if it works & how long it lasts. If that is not successful then he said it would need surgery to get in, clean it up & fuse the spine. Would mean rehabilitation afterwards. Hospital for about 2 weeks then the rehab for about 6 & it would take about 6 months possibly more. In amongst this I have ms which means that whenever I have surgery I am risking a flare up or deteriorating. I didn't have trouble with foot surgery September 2012 so could go either way.
As for the neck he said it's not as severe as the back so would suggest back first. Also pushed around both of my shoulders & esp left one is very painful. He thinks my neck pain may be referred pain from shoulders, having ultrasound & then will work out what needs doing. He said he wouldn't suggest surgery as I use a walker/wheelchair that uses arms all the time & not allowed to use arms. I know that the injection didn't work the last 2 times as it didn't work for long at all.
Also I have had a lot of cortisone in the past years for ms 1000mg a day for ms & that doesn't help now at all.
I found this group today so hope some one will respond with what they suggest, any alternative too. Can't do discectomy as there is too much arthritis & damage in spine(ms).
I would love to hear from anyone who has been through to give me some idea realistically of outcomes & pain levels of surgery yo.
Thanks in advance,
Sue
I have been having neck & back pain for many years. Always was blamed on ms-dilation of myelin in spine & lesions on scalp.
Background.
I was in hospital nov-December last year for other issues relating to ms & pain tablets reacting, I went unconscious from toxic septicaemia. Spent 3 weeks in hospital & got pain drugs changed. Off Lyrica, Valium, Lyrica & put on Tapentadol with Tramadol 50 for breakthrough pain.
I have ms so usually have to fight to get things checked fully as the Dr's blame a lot on ms.
While I was in hospital they took me seriously as I couldn't move my head around & struggled to move/get out of bed etc.
The Dr's did 2 mri's of spine from neck right down. From that they found I have the protruding disks. On neck it is C4-6 & back is L4-S1 on lower back.
Next step
I went to the orthopaedic spine clinic last Monday to find out what he suggests. We have talked to him & discussed some ways to fix it as much as possible. He went through the mri's with us (hubby came) & explained what's happened.
He looked at the lower spine first & showed us where the disk Protruding & also how there is so much fluid in that too. I have also got a lot of arthritis in the spine. He suggested to try the injection first & see if it works & how long it lasts. If that is not successful then he said it would need surgery to get in, clean it up & fuse the spine. Would mean rehabilitation afterwards. Hospital for about 2 weeks then the rehab for about 6 & it would take about 6 months possibly more. In amongst this I have ms which means that whenever I have surgery I am risking a flare up or deteriorating. I didn't have trouble with foot surgery September 2012 so could go either way.
As for the neck he said it's not as severe as the back so would suggest back first. Also pushed around both of my shoulders & esp left one is very painful. He thinks my neck pain may be referred pain from shoulders, having ultrasound & then will work out what needs doing. He said he wouldn't suggest surgery as I use a walker/wheelchair that uses arms all the time & not allowed to use arms. I know that the injection didn't work the last 2 times as it didn't work for long at all.
Also I have had a lot of cortisone in the past years for ms 1000mg a day for ms & that doesn't help now at all.
I found this group today so hope some one will respond with what they suggest, any alternative too. Can't do discectomy as there is too much arthritis & damage in spine(ms).
I would love to hear from anyone who has been through to give me some idea realistically of outcomes & pain levels of surgery yo.
Thanks in advance,
Sue
I am mostly in bad pain, after a massage I cope better & can straighten - almost, the back. After about 3 days onwards I am in severe pain. I never go low 8/10 & on bad days I am a body of severe pain, spasms, walk inside at home bent right over. Left leg has gone numb &!heavy so doesn't lift from the ground when walking, left arm has got to the stage that I can use bottom of it but can't lift it above waist high. Lucky hubby has learnt massage so getting that 1-2 times a day.