Chronic pain Support - Dr Visit - no Wonder i feel like crap!

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Dr Visit - no Wonder i feel like crap!

2004-11-16, 4:29 pm

What it basically is, from what i understood from the doctor and in seeing the
MRI's.

-Cervical disk protrusion between C5&6
-Degenerative foraminal stenosis
(together resulting in cervical radiculopathy)
-Bursitis in shoulder (probably separate condition)

A good picture i found of the first one is at:
http://www.obiakorobgyn.com/medical/art/herndisk.jpg

The stenosis is a narrowing of the vertabra(bone)opening, but at least it's in
the nerve opening (upper body) as opposed to the spinal cord opening so it
won't affect the lower body. Thank goodness for that, anyway.

Radiculopathy means pinched nerve.

Bursitis is a separate condition but may respond to the same meds.

Treat with anti-inflammatory and pain meds and rest.
Referred to pain management for epidural (nerve block). Usually takes about 3
months for the disk to heal. Surgery is worst-case scenario if it doesn't get
better.

Home from work at LEAST another 5 weeks. Oh joy. I do hope my
temporary disability claim gets approved.

I'm gonna be a cheap-*ss this Christmas. Bah humbug!
(ok, feeling grouchy)

OH, but seeing the MRI was cool. There were like 20-30 views, from all
directions. There were views of the spine, one "slice" at a time. Almost as
if they had sliced me with an apple slicer and photographed each separate
cross section. And my brain looked like a stem w/cauliflower. I felt strange
looking at that stuff.... But very interesting. Made the x-ray look so
primitive.

Kath

2004-11-16, 4:29 pm

Well, hopefully a clear diagnosis will help with the decisions about
treatment options...

Just with regards to the bursitis - I developed a case of it in my hips, had
injections for it, but they did no good. Felt like I was walking bone on
bone at times!

Interestingly, as soon as my dodgy disk was removed from L4-5 (lower back),
the bursitis basically disappeared, and I only get it occasionally if I'm
having a bad patch with my back.

So perhaps the same thing can happen higher up, with the neck and shoulders?
Not sure if that's a good thing or not - but it means if your neck improves,
the bursitis might too.

--
Katharine
Approximento: A musical entrance that is somewhere in the vicinity of the
correct pitch.

ml wrote:
> What it basically is, from what i understood from the doctor and in
> seeing the MRI's.
>
> -Cervical disk protrusion between C5&6
> -Degenerative foraminal stenosis
> (together resulting in cervical radiculopathy)
> -Bursitis in shoulder (probably separate condition)
>
> A good picture i found of the first one is at:
> http://www.obiakorobgyn.com/medical/art/herndisk.jpg
>
> The stenosis is a narrowing of the vertabra(bone)opening, but at
> least it's in the nerve opening (upper body) as opposed to the spinal
> cord opening so it won't affect the lower body. Thank goodness for
> that, anyway.
>
> Radiculopathy means pinched nerve.
>
> Bursitis is a separate condition but may respond to the same meds.
>
> Treat with anti-inflammatory and pain meds and rest.
> Referred to pain management for epidural (nerve block). Usually
> takes about 3 months for the disk to heal. Surgery is worst-case
> scenario if it doesn't get better.
>
> Home from work at LEAST another 5 weeks. Oh joy. I do hope my
> temporary disability claim gets approved.
>
> I'm gonna be a cheap-*ss this Christmas. Bah humbug!
> (ok, feeling grouchy)
>
> OH, but seeing the MRI was cool. There were like 20-30 views, from
> all directions. There were views of the spine, one "slice" at a
> time. Almost as if they had sliced me with an apple slicer and
> photographed each separate cross section. And my brain looked like a
> stem w/cauliflower. I felt strange looking at that stuff.... But
> very interesting. Made the x-ray look so primitive.

2004-11-16, 4:29 pm

In article <4194162c$0$27449$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>, "Kath" <kathnews2@optusnet.ieatspam.com.au.dud> wrote:
>Well, hopefully a clear diagnosis will help with the decisions about
>treatment options...
>
>Just with regards to the bursitis - I developed a case of it in my hips, had
>injections for it, but they did no good. Felt like I was walking bone on
>bone at times!
>
>Interestingly, as soon as my dodgy disk was removed from L4-5 (lower back),
>the bursitis basically disappeared, and I only get it occasionally if I'm
>having a bad patch with my back.
>
>So perhaps the same thing can happen higher up, with the neck and shoulders?
>Not sure if that's a good thing or not - but it means if your neck improves,
>the bursitis might too.

Does sound similar. Hopefully it will!

Do you still have a lot of back trouble?
I got a memory foam pillow that's contoured for the neck, i really like the
way it feels. Was thinking it would be nice to have a full-body one.

Michael S.

2004-11-16, 4:29 pm

In article <mUTkd.93095$bk1.17119@fed1read05>, m@m.commm (ml) wrote:

> What it basically is, from what i understood from the doctor and in seeing
> the
> MRI's.
>
> -Cervical disk protrusion between C5&6
> -Degenerative foraminal stenosis
> (together resulting in cervical radiculopathy)
> -Bursitis in shoulder (probably separate condition)
>
> A good picture i found of the first one is at:
> http://www.obiakorobgyn.com/medical/art/herndisk.jpg
>
> The stenosis is a narrowing of the vertabra(bone)opening, but at least it's
> in
> the nerve opening (upper body) as opposed to the spinal cord opening so it
> won't affect the lower body. Thank goodness for that, anyway.
>
> Radiculopathy means pinched nerve.
>
> Bursitis is a separate condition but may respond to the same meds.
>
> Treat with anti-inflammatory and pain meds and rest.
> Referred to pain management for epidural (nerve block). Usually takes about
> 3
> months for the disk to heal. Surgery is worst-case scenario if it doesn't
> get
> better.
>
> Home from work at LEAST another 5 weeks. Oh joy. I do hope my
> temporary disability claim gets approved.
>
> I'm gonna be a cheap-*ss this Christmas. Bah humbug!
> (ok, feeling grouchy)
>
> OH, but seeing the MRI was cool. There were like 20-30 views, from all
> directions. There were views of the spine, one "slice" at a time. Almost as
> if they had sliced me with an apple slicer and photographed each separate
> cross section. And my brain looked like a stem w/cauliflower. I felt
> strange
> looking at that stuff.... But very interesting. Made the x-ray look so
> primitive.
>

Well, you've made it through the first part. That's GOOD! At least you
have a diagnosis, and a fair idea of what's going on in your body. Now
you just have to get all set up with the appropriate meds, and find the
best lifestyle for getting the rest that will allow this to heal. I have
no experience with the epidural, but I hope it does the job with no
side-effects. I'm glad to hear things went so well. And here's hoping
along with you that your temporary disability claim goes through!!!

Best,
Michael

Kath

2004-11-16, 4:29 pm

ml wrote:
> In article <4194162c$0$27449$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>, "Kath"
> <kathnews2@optusnet.ieatspam.com.au.dud> wrote:
>
> Does sound similar. Hopefully it will!
>
> Do you still have a lot of back trouble?
> I got a memory foam pillow that's contoured for the neck, i really
> like the
> way it feels. Was thinking it would be nice to have a full-body one.

Yeah, still have trouble, but not as bad as before the fusion.

I've been gradually building up my work this year (graphic design/dtp), and
at the moment am finding it hard to balance the work/health stuff, eg this
week I've been very busy with work, and have often neglected my exercises.
Gotta stop doing that! But it's hard when it's not regular work, so
sometimes there's just a lot that has to be done asap, other times there's
not much on.

--
Katharine
Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around. - Henry David Thoreau

Gigglz

2004-11-16, 4:29 pm

We are now officially TWINS :-) I have a few more herniations
though...you can catch up whenever you feel like it :-P

I FEEL your pain, sweetie! The epidural should really help you. It
helped me a lot. I'm sorry for the prognosis, but I'm glad you at
least know why you have been suffering so much. I'm thankful the
physical therapist didn't destroy your neck!!!

While you're on medical leave, come on over, OK?

Hang in there, my friend! Email me any time. I've had this condition
for years now and would be happy to answer any questions.

Hugs,

Nada

p.s. Thanks for telling me about "radiculopathy". I have it, I just
didn't know what it was called!

On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 00:57:03 GMT, m@m.commm (ml) wrote:

>What it basically is, from what i understood from the doctor and in seeing the
>MRI's.
>
>-Cervical disk protrusion between C5&6
>-Degenerative foraminal stenosis
> (together resulting in cervical radiculopathy)
>-Bursitis in shoulder (probably separate condition)
>
>A good picture i found of the first one is at:
>http://www.obiakorobgyn.com/medical/art/herndisk.jpg
>
>The stenosis is a narrowing of the vertabra(bone)opening, but at least it's in
>the nerve opening (upper body) as opposed to the spinal cord opening so it
>won't affect the lower body. Thank goodness for that, anyway.
>
>Radiculopathy means pinched nerve.
>
>Bursitis is a separate condition but may respond to the same meds.
>
>Treat with anti-inflammatory and pain meds and rest.
>Referred to pain management for epidural (nerve block). Usually takes about 3
>months for the disk to heal. Surgery is worst-case scenario if it doesn't get
>better.
>
>Home from work at LEAST another 5 weeks. Oh joy. I do hope my
>temporary disability claim gets approved.
>
>I'm gonna be a cheap-*ss this Christmas. Bah humbug!
>(ok, feeling grouchy)
>
>OH, but seeing the MRI was cool. There were like 20-30 views, from all
>directions. There were views of the spine, one "slice" at a time. Almost as
>if they had sliced me with an apple slicer and photographed each separate
>cross section. And my brain looked like a stem w/cauliflower. I felt strange
>looking at that stuff.... But very interesting. Made the x-ray look so
>primitive.
>
>
>
>
>

2004-11-16, 4:29 pm

In article <psocp09rc4ejl8fuqciuoa6j9midra3bf1@4ax.com>, Frekklz@hotmail.com wrote:
>We are now officially TWINS :-) I have a few more herniations
>though...you can catch up whenever you feel like it :-P
>
>I FEEL your pain, sweetie! The epidural should really help you. It
>helped me a lot. I'm sorry for the prognosis, but I'm glad you at
>least know why you have been suffering so much. I'm thankful the
>physical therapist didn't destroy your neck!!!
>
>While you're on medical leave, come on over, OK?
>
>Hang in there, my friend! Email me any time. I've had this condition
>for years now and would be happy to answer any questions.
>
>Hugs,

Thank you.
(and i'll be right over, but i'm bringing tea instead of wine cuz of the meds)

Gigglz

2004-11-16, 4:29 pm

On Sat, 13 Nov 2004 19:54:38 GMT, m@m.commm (ml) wrote:

>In article <psocp09rc4ejl8fuqciuoa6j9midra3bf1@4ax.com>, Frekklz@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>Thank you.
>(and i'll be right over, but i'm bringing tea instead of wine cuz of the meds)

Tea is good. I love tea. I can't take pain meds...so maybe I'll have
some wine in my tea :-)

<wink>

Hugs,

Nada

gottahavehope

2005-01-31, 11:20 am

I just wandered if you have found relief from the pain yet? I am an artist
too -- working on a computer all day... with the same problem as you appear
to have.
I wandered how you are doing.... did you ever try traction. my dr has
had me doing traction for over 2 months now to help relieve the pressure
on the nerve. it hasn't helped a bit.. and recently, i had a cervical
epidural. I am still waiting to see if it will work....
It is a certainly a challenge we face...
I hope you are doing better -- and on the mend.

gottahavehope

2005-01-31, 11:20 am