I'm game.
As long as I don't bulk up like a hippopotamus or go bonkers it's worth a try.
MRI to see how things are going.
Huge possibility of surgery.
Last night was the pity party.
I was the only one invited.
Today though is good.
Mostly.
Oops.
The water's running.
Gotta go.
Happy Fuckin' Friday!
6 comments:
Well, read up on the stuff, but yes, I think you should try it. Are they just going to do the MRI after the course of meds, or are they doing a before and after?
Take care.
Love ya
MOM
Brook, mostly I hope you're feeling better (even if it's only "peace of mind" type better).
Prednisone is a good sign because it means (at least) that the disk isn't "destoyed".
Hopefully your swelling will go down and the pain will subside - and you'll be able to heal and move on.
If you do need surgery, don't worry. It's safe. I was relieved afterward (I mean immediately -recovery was kinda long but not anything like the debilataing pain you're now experiencing).
If you have any questions let me know. I have your "back", lady!
See if they will give you a milogram (spelling?) it's a live picture of your spine that gets to a diagnosis that much faster (though this was 20 years ago, maybe technology has caught up with itself - but I wanted to mention it anyway, just in case).
keep in touch..
V
PS: I've never had ANY back pain since (there's hope)..
Victoria, the xrays are relatively inconclusive and don't reveal any major compression, though some minor. I'm going to get an MRI which I believe is pretty much what you're talking about, to look at things a little more closely. Same result at least as what you are talking about.
Mom the doc is shopping around to see if anyone would be willing to give us a discount seeing as how we are without insurance and those suckers can run up to $2500 a go. So, the course of treatment is to see if it is merely swelling, the MRI to determine the extent of tissue damage and asses any spinal deterioration. I'm hoping for the best outcome-a pain free me.
There are people here at work that had to have the surgery, and wish they'd done it sooner. The recovery pain was much less than the pain before the surgery...and it eventually subsided, unlike what you're feeling now.
Okay, so here's a little run-down from your friend the PT, who is also a back surgery patient...
X-rays show bones, MRIs show soft stuff like discs. That's why your x-ray didn't show sqaut, b/c you didn't have a fracture. Duh. A myelogram is where they inject contrast dye into the space around your spinal cord and do a series of x-rays that show the bulge b/c the dye goes around it. The systemic steroids can work wonders. For some people, that's all that's needed. Since it's an anti-inflammatory, it works to decrease the inflammation around the supposed-bulge, and "dry up" the bulge, therefore reducing the pressure on the nerve that's sending the pain down your leg, and reducing the pain in your leg. Wa-la! Of course, if it doesn't work, the next step is (if the MRI reveals a bulge)a localized steroid injection (epidural), therapy, and then the consideration of surgery. The going estimate of surgery is at least 60% of patients feel 60% better. Those of us that do better are very fortunate because there is no guarantee that it will be successful. It is certainly not something that can be taken lightly. As for re-MRIs, there is really no need to do a 2nd one unless you get worse in the future. Diagnosis by symptoms is satisfactory if you're improving. If you're worsening, or have another episode, then getting another MRI will let them compare if your bulge has worsened compared to now.
Back pain is a tricky, tricky beast, and you should carefully follow the doctor's advice, as well as go to PT if you can. No surgery is safe just because it's done frequently, and surgery should be the last stand.
See you in a few weeks!
Hugs,
TK
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