Finally found a place that may have answers my doctors staff can't seem to find!!

[pooh]

Long story short......beginning of March dropped me to my knees with a bout of Sciatica. MRI positive for 3 herniated discs and a new one this time at L5-S1 pushing on the nerve. For anyone who has never felt the excruciating pain going from your back to your hip, in back of your thigh, and down your calf: imagine stretching a rubber band until it is about to break and this is what your leg feels like. At least mine.
I went to an Orthopedic and she sent me for an epidural injection at the S1 in the sac. 2 weeks later, I was in the same condition prior to the shot. She sent me to see the surgeon. He said 'there is something funky at L3, the disc is ridged and not smooth'. He asked to keep my MRI films so his radiologist could read them because the place I had the MRI done did not report everything as my doctor saw a few things that concerned him. He sent me for another injection at the L3 level and told me to call in a week and they will have my film reading update. A week later, the shot did nothing and I got the results from his radiologist. This was reported by his nurse and an intern:there are no lateral herniations and you should do fine with pain management. I asked her to repeat it twice because I am now wondering why I still can't stand or walk for more than 5 minutes and I have 2 holes in my back telling me something is wrong and a concerned surgeon. I am confident his staff is horrible and has no clue what they are reading.
Anyone have similar happen to them? I have to see the ortho tomorrow and hopefully she will have answers for me.

[Gilbert P]

HI Pooh

Yea I know that feeling and so do most people here,
It sounds like you need to get more opinions and to do plenty of research.
We are here to help

Al The Best
Gil

[Justin]

Hi Pooh,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

I'm sorry that you are dealing with spine issues. However, we are here to help support you through this trying time. If I were in your shoes, I would definitely get multiple opinions regarding your situation. I see that you are set up to see another surgeon tomorrow.

Spine problems can be "tricky" to diagnose, especially if multiple levels are implicated and if you have had long-standing spine issues. It's best to cover your bases and see if another medical opinion can help pinpoint what's going on and help formulate a plan to get you feeling well again.

Keep us posted.

[ajj1001]

Hiya and welcome, hope you get some explanation tomorrow. It can take a while to find what is going on, you aren't alone in this.

alison x

[pooh]

Saw the doctor and she prescribed me Neurontin. After carefully researching this med, the possible side effects seem a bit scarey to someone who is very sensitive to meds.Any suggestions? I am also going for a third injection in my L5 and then an EMG 2 weeks later. The surgeon that I saw on the 15th, the one with the incompetent staff, did not acknowledge the L5-SI herniatin and my ortho is positive that is the culprate of my pain. She was a bit angry and said she will hunt him down in the office and consult with him.She said I could go for a second opinion and that she would send me to a neurologist and they may say operate, or follow through with the pain management. I am beyond frustrated and it takes me a long time to get to this point. I have severe limitations: can't stand more than 5 minutes, can only walk about a half a city block, can only drive for about 15 minutes, unable to work since March 9th, lifting a gallon of milk feels like a cinder block, sleeping is a challenge........you all know the deal. What is more frustraing is that I am going to one of the top rated ortho surgeons in the country........and I feel like I am being overlooked and as my doc said yesterday," the surgeon may have been under-whelmed by the significance of the L5 laying on the nerve." I trust she will have a word or two with him.

[ajj1001]

Can't say if it will agree with you but i've been on neurotonin for a couple of years and it deadens down the nerve pain so I can function a bit. I suppose the only way you'll know is to try. You gradually up the dose when you start (but I'm sure you've been given the instructions) so if it didn't agree with you then you could go back to the docs and let them know and they could give you something else.