Scoliosis, DDD, the Works!

[WPKat]

My Mom, at my persistent prompting, finally had an MRI done. She has known for years that she has scoliosis in at least two places of her spine and has osteoporosis as well. Lately, however, she has experienced a marked increase in the pain and intense aching in her lower back and right leg all the way down to her foot. She has been going to physical therapy for a while with no relief.

She came over Friday so that I could go over the results and look at her MRI disc. Because of my experience (not my medical knowledge), I understand what many of the big fat words mean on the MRI report. In addition to her scoliosis, she has multiple bulging discs ... two with significant loss of disc height and severe right foraminal stenosis on both levels (just as I thought), facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and osteoarthritis. The report noted problems on her lower T-level discs. She has pain in her cervical and thoracic spine as well, but the MRI focused on the lumbar spine.

I showed her how to look at the images and at the different series on the disc. As I was looking at the images on her MRI disc with her, I cringed (and hoped she wasn't looking), because the two discs at L4/L5 and L5/S1 look remarkably bad and it sure doesn't take a surgeon or radiologist to see it.

I am trying to get her hooked up with my pain specialist (who is super nice), but she is no longer taking new patients. I hope she will make an exception for my Mom, but if not, I will ask for a referral to someone just like her. The pain is causing her to wake up multiple times in the night and preventing her from falling back to sleep. We all know the drill.

Because of scoliosis and other health issues, I believe her options are far more limited than mine. I am not sure she can have any of the injections available because of certain medications she is on, but hopefully she can benefit from Gabapentin, pain medications and muscle relaxers at the very least. She has tried my TENS unit and wants one of her own ASAP!

I helped her with the online application for the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. She was born and raised there; and feels comfortable going there for treatment. Since she would be on a long waiting list, there is plenty of time to try whatever conservative treatments she can besides the physical therapy she has already tried.

I am really very sorry to see my Mom going though this at 69 ... the only silver lining is that she will benefit from my experience.

I had a very serious conversation with her about taking it easy as well as learning how to put her foot down and just say NO. She has been carrying heavy objects, caring for my elderly step-father, driving too many miles at once (400 one way) and taking on most of the work around the house and yard. She has to change her ways or end up like me - that was meant to scare her straight

Any input on what options she may have because of her scoliosis would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

K

[Justin]

Kathleen,

I am sorry that your Mother has so much going on with her spine. She is lucky to have such a caring daughter that can share her firsthand experience. Due to your Mother's age and scoliosis, I believe conservative therapy will be suggested, especially with such widespread problems (cervical, thoracic and lumbar) and age-related degeneration.

Please keep us posted on what the Mayo Clinic has to say and I wish both of you the very best.

[Cindylou]

This is really just a question: can a fusion not be done at her two worst levels? Does scoliosis prevent that? I have some scoliosis, but perhaps mine is not as significant as hers. I would think fusion would be most appropriate, given her age, etc., after conservative tx of course, and if the scoliosis doesn't contraindicate it.

[WPKat]

Kathleen,

I am sorry that your Mother has so much going on with her spine. She is lucky to have such a caring daughter that can share her firsthand experience. Due to your Mother's age and scoliosis, I believe conservative therapy will be suggested, especially with such widespread problems (cervical, thoracic and lumbar) and age-related degeneration.

Please keep us posted on what the Mayo Clinic has to say and I wish both of you the very best.

I wish I were in better condition myself though, because then I could go with her to make sure she gets the best care possible. I've been to some pretty insensitive doctors and I would like to spare her that experience. My step father has been bad off health wise for well over a decade. He cannot take care of himself and would be of no help to her. This is a big obsticle for her to overcome because she just cannot continue to take care of everything herself and conserve her back at the same time.

I told her, at best, I thought all they might be able to do is minimally invasive surgery to free up her spinal nerves. But first she needed to see a pain specialist to get on the medicine that would help her now. Maybe it will be enough, but if conservative surgery is needed I told her that she is welcomed to stay in our guest room down stairs so she wouldn't be alone with my step father while she is trying to heal. I can't be of physical help to either one of them, but I can be emotionally supportive. I could call for help if it's needed too because my fingers aren't broken

Because of her other health issues (arterial heart fibulations, in particular) I am not sure she would be able to have the epidural shots much less a fusion or minimally invasive surgery. She is on blood thinners to prevent her from developing blood clots. I signed her up at the Mayo Clinic to give her hope, which I know from experience that we all need. I am not sure at all if they can help, but I am not a doctor and you never know what is possible these days, it's a good ideal to at least check out all your options no matter how grim the circumstances may be.

I am really just a daughter who wants her Mom to get the best care possible, to not be in a boat load of pain and to have a little hope to hold on to for a while.

I appreciate all your kind thoughts.

Thanks,

K