New to Spine Patient Society, not new to many members

**daveinaustin** · 06-27-2009, 03:36 PM

Thanks for the suggestion!

Yes, Harrison was kind enough to find a TBI doctor to look at the MRI films and CD. I am very grateful.

Unfortunately, the doctor did not observe anything out of the norm, neither did my Austin doctors. The TBI doctor is willing to see me for a couple days for additional tests, if I make the drive.

Unfortunately, that drive is not possible with my current condition. Yesterday, I had to be on 3.5 Norcos at work just to make it through the morning. Typically, when I'm on that much pain, I just log into work from bed. However, we were both finishing a product release cycle and started planning for the next. I had to be in the office.

I feel bad for the rest of the managers and tech leads during the 2-hour meeting (and I am actually quite a bit embarrased). It's not easy trying to talk intelligibly and with patience on that much medication!!! Also, I lied on the floor for half of it. I'm lucky I haven't been fired...yet!

My wife has been too bogged down and stressed with the kiddos. Therefore, I'm going to see if the SCS helps out. Although it is a mask over the root cause, so are all the Norcos I currently take. I know this sounds like too many excuses not to go to TBI, and I agree. I will still think about it, but even through my research, I'm really not sure what tests should be tried.

Although we live in a very technical age, it is still very difficult to detect single nerve issues. The fusions themselves looked perfect, and could not be 1 mm better aligned. There are so many nerves down there, it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

The exact pain I am experiencing is like pinching your palm with your fingernails to a level 6-8 pain, then holding it for 10 seconds. As I stand, I feel like that pinch. Once I lie down, the throbbing pain is similar to the sensation after you stop pinching yourself. Then I wake up fine, and the cycle continues.

BTW, please don't pinch yourself!

On a positive note, I did walk for three miles today (separated into two sessions). I'm icing down now, and this was the best I've been able to do for some time!

-Dave

**Phylly** · 06-27-2009, 03:52 PM

Hello Dave,
I have also had a fusion L4-S1 after removing my prodiscs at those same levels. It was a huge surgery and now at 4 months post-op my back pain is 70% batter but the leg pain remains. Like you, I awake with no pain and upon standing the leg begins to hurt. Any activity besides walking irritates this pain and as the day wears on it increases. I will wait out the year and then depending on how I feel will consider the SCS. I would be be very interested in your outcome with it. I also agree that masking the problems is not what I want but being out of pain is. Getting off drugs and muscle relaxants is also a goal but this has been difficult for me.

I have just found an incredible PT and I will see how a gradual exercise program will be. Right now anything increases the nerve pain in the piriformis area. I just tried a botox shot into the piriformis but this has not helped yet. I also have no MRI's that can see a problem in the area but the pain if definitely in that area and flares when using those muscles. I was told that those muscles also connect to the lower back and cause pain into that low back area. Are you only having low back pain and not buttock pain too?

Good luck with your continued investigation. It seems like MRI's are interpreted and read so differently by different Docs. It is a concern not to be able to continue to have MRI's with the SCS. When will you be doing this? I hear that many people have good outcomes with SCS's and can return to active lives and even get off meds.
Phylly

**daveinaustin** · 06-27-2009, 04:16 PM

Thanks Phylly.

I'm having the SCS trial on Monday. The trial involves the pain management doctor implanting the leads, but the unit itself is strapped to my back.

They'll know within a few days if it actually helps.

After the L2-S1 RF ablation, I only have occasional sacral pain. I never had pain in the buttocks (even though my wife thinks I am an overall pain in the behind!)

However, the majority of the pain is directly in the core of L4-L5.

Oddities:
1. The anethesia from the facet joint injections lowered my pain to level 2 for one hour.
2. The anethesia from the L4-L5 bilaterial transforaminal inject lowered my pain to level 2 for an hour.
3. One or both of the L2-S1 RF nerve root block ablations lowered my pain level to 2 for an hour.

All of these are related to the anethesia in the general nerve area. However, with the nerve root ablated, my only hypothesis is there is a trapped sinuvertebral nerve bypassing the nerve root to the gray ramus communicans. The Austin doctors don't know how to detect this or how to treat it.

Refer to figure #4 at http://www.chirogeek.com/003_IDD-Tutorial.htm.

Thanks once again for your reply, and I wish you much success during your recovery.

-Dave

**New-disc** · 06-27-2009, 06:14 PM

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**Dave** · 06-27-2009, 07:46 PM

Dave,

Welcome

Glad to "see" you here and I'm sorry about your latest issue.

I hope you can get this taken care of soon.

**KBear** · 06-27-2009, 07:53 PM

Dave- I'm so sorry for all you are going through. I think all of our spine patients biggest fear is having surgery and still being in pain, at least that's mine. With all the research we do, testing, getting multiple opinions and the technology involved; there is still no guarantee it will work... maybe one day there will be.

I'm sure your wife is stressed with all the work of caring for 2 kids, without the extra help. I know I have days, where I feel like I just can't do it anymore, likeI just can't give my kids what they need and deserve. It is so hard raising kids with two well parents, but much harder when one is in chronic pain. I know my husband has had to pick up alot of the extra load, that I can't do, and he definitely gets frustrated and stressed with the situation.

I hope the SCS works for you and can get you relief and that you find the answer to what is still causing the pain.

**daveinaustin** · 06-28-2009, 02:38 AM

I couldn't agree more with your words.

You definitely know what it's like! We continue to do our best, and hope our pain will subside, to allow us to be the parents we want to be.

Hopefully, the SCS trial works and helps provide relief!

-Dave