Where to start?

[Cindylou]

Hi everyone,

This could be kind of long, so I am going to apologize right now, up front. Not sure where to start so I will just dive in.

First my cervical: I have had ongoing cervical issues for years but have managed to keep them at bay with injections and cauterization of my facet nerves about once a year. While I was doing the x 2 right sided lumbar facet blocks, (per my insurance requirements preceding rhizotomy) I was also doing the cervical facet blocks on right side, x 2, on the off lumbar weeks. This morning was my second one. I got about 100% relief for a few hours, just like 2 weeks ago, but right this minute is another story. Pain is bad. I started looking over a cervical Cat Scan I had done from 3 years ago (I'm pretty sure I had one done a year ago, but cannot find it to save my soul). Here is a summary of my neck from 07: There is multi-level, moderate cervical and upper thoracic disc degeneration with moderate disc space narrowing @ C 4-5, C 6-7, moderate Schmorl's node type of deformities anteriorly @ T 1-2 and C 7-T1, with straightening of the cervical lordosis. At C 6-7 there is mild central canal stenosis with diffuse posterior bulging and retrolisthesis. There is severe foraminal stenosis seen on right at C 6-7 with broad based right lateral intraforaminal disc bulge, right sided uncinate spurring and right sided C 7 nerve root impingement. C 4-5 reads pretty much the same. There is an incidental note of a small intraosseous hemangioma within right C 5 lateral mass. And this is from 3 years ago. Yuck. I am just praying that insurance covers the cervical right sided rhizotomy and I get similar, long lasting, relief results because I just cannot cope with surgery on my neck. A year ago I met with a surgeon when the pain got real bad again and he recommended surgery, but.....I just am trying not to go there since I also still have significant, unresolved lumbar pain. I guess my question at this point is.....is there anything in the above summary that indicates I shouldn't keep putting it off? I realize we are all lay people (Justin almost the exception!) but still wanted to pick your brains.

On to my lumbar: I am so fatigued and tired of all the pain. And just so discouraged. I recently discovered that I had a sacral stress fracture that was not evident before my right SI Joint Fusion. Not sure what caused it, (the surgery? Dunno.) but it was never brought to my attention either. I also discovered on a Cat Scan record from this past Febuary that all the bone cement has not been removed in the S 1-2 area, where my surgeon did my ALIF and lami 2 years ago, and had to go back in, remember? And yet I clearly remember him telling me when he went back in that he removed it all. ?? WTF? In a nutshell, the lumbar Cat Scan from 02/10 of this year says I have moderate hypertrophic changes noted on margins of L 6-S 1, facet joints and contributes to moderate subarticular recess stenosis and S 1 nerve root impingement. There is also moderate, bilateral facet degeneration at each level of my 3 Prodiscs. There is a transitional L 6 vertebra with partial sacralization and ankylosis of a moderate sized left L 6- S 1 accessory articulation. I have a complex L 6-S1 facet joint that appears to be related to extensive calcification or ossification of the ligamenta flava and facet joint capsules bilaterally, and to hypoplastic or dysplastic facet morphology. There is also an incidental finding (or is it?) of moderate cysts bilaterally at S2 and a moderate sized perineural cyst on the right at S1. And this is a Cat Scan from Feb of this year. I am so discouraged. I just don't know what to do. I'm waiting and hoping insurance approves the right sided lumbar facet rhizotomy, but something tells me that may not touch all my pain generators. My low back pain has gotten so severe but pain management doesn't think an MRI is warranted since this lumbar Cat Scan was in Feb of this year. I can see their point. Should I just look at the....can't recall the medical name, a pain stimulator being installed in my body....I know that's not the right name, but the thing that is a last resort other than a pain pump. My heart is so heavy. Thanks for listening. Cindylou

[ajj1001]

aww Hun, sorry that you are going through this, thinking of you. x

[dalhousie]

Hope you find a way through this CL. Have you thought about finding another back doc (as you mentioned on another thread)?

Thinking of you too. xx

[Gilbert P]

Hi CL

I am sadden to hear about your spine issues,
You did mention about seeing other Doctors?
I will pray for you and hope you find some answers for relief.

Gil

[Metalneck07]

CL - Goodness I'm at a loss for words here. I can't believe so much could all be going on with only one spine.
I guess I'll I can say is if all the alternative methods are no longer cutting it. It may be time to research your options.And look to possibly a doctor or two who specializes in complex cases. Because without a doubt your's sounds complex and must be handle very carefully. Hang in there I know it's easy for me too say.But I know the answers are out there. It may just take turning over a few stones and knocking on a few doors.(this is what my Mom told me every time I got down in the 2yrs. it took to find a doctor who could help me after my 1st surgeon messed me up and closed shop) but it will happen keep the faith. Take good care and you are in my prayers and thoughts.
Caitlin aka Metalneck07

[Carmen]

Hi Cindylou,
i thought you had all this behind you, around the time when I was talking about doing something with my problems. I can't believe you are still having all this pain. I am surprised no doctor that has seen your films did not say anything to you. I feel so bad for you. I was thinking your bad days were over. I still am in recovery and by the looks of things I may be here forever. I hire people to do work and they do not want to do the work I want them to do so guess who ends up doing some of it anyway. I called up my godchild in tears.

Well anyway you have enought people on here to acquire their doctor's names The good thing and we have to realize that something good has got to be going on such as their are a lot of new discoveries out there. I was almost sorry I had mine done so soon when all that I read sounds pretty dam good. You will have a great time searching for the new discoveries that I have already read on this site. YOu are the queen of research. You will find the right doctor and the right surgery for you. I know you will. Keep up the faith and you will be writing to everyone about the discoveries you have made. I will be thinking of you, Hang in there, Carmen

[Cindylou]

Thank you all for the kind thoughts, prayers and suggestions. I do believe, yes, I need to research other spine doctors/clinics, and I already have a lead on one that has a stellar reputation here in the twin cities. And, thank God, I have my pain management clinic, who I am most grateful for. I will plod on and call for an appointment on Tuesday, when the holiday is over. Hopefully, the wait isn't horrific. I hope he still takes new patients.

[KBear]

Sorry CL, I hate that you are going through this. You have been through so much already. I'm praying that you find the right doctor, who comes up with a solution to help you out of this. You are in my thoughts and prayers!

[Cindylou]

Thank-you Kathy. I am hanging in there. The cervical block has indeed aggravated an already unhappy neck. The pain is going into my scapula, down my right arm, and I am also experiencing weakness and pain in both hands. I have, in the past, attributed pain in my hands to maybe the beginning of arthritis in my hands, which I have never had. I am pretty convinced now the pain in my hands, my right more than my left, is coming from cervical nerve compression. My low back has me hobbled but thank God for pain meds. I will make some calls on Tuesday to pursue a new spine doctor. I also have my monthly pain management appt. on Tuesday so I will run alot of this by them as well. I covet and thank you for the prayers. CL

[Hooch]

Sorry to hear you are suffering so Cindylou.

I have never researched the spinal cord stimulator, so I can't comment on the risks, but I have come across some positive responses around the place.

If you are suffering severe intractable pain I wouldn't rule out any of the late stage options, stim, morphine pump etc.

I hope you can find a bloody good doctor who'll take your case on and do what they can.

Best wishes,
Chris.