Lumbar pain

Hi.... I'm a 46 year old female. My issue started in 2005. I started having back pain in the lumbar region. The first step was an x-ray which showed mild disc space narrowing at L-5 and S-1, consistent with degenerative disc disease. A week later, I received an MRI which showed mild degenerative disc disease at T12-L1, L4-L5 and L5-S1. I was told it was "nothing to worry about" and the pain gradually increased over the years. In 2007 I was send for another MRI and was told there was a hemangioma at L2. L4-5 and L5-S1 had very broad based posterior disc bulges. At this time the pain is almost unbearable. My Dr. put me on pain meds, Vicodin 7.5/750 and Lidoderm patches. I would take 2-3 vicodin a day depending on the pain level. I was also refered to a Neurosurgeon. I was told once again, it was "nothing to worry about". Still in pain in 2008, I got another MRI. This time it showed a small hemangioma within the L1 and L2 vertebral bodies. It also showed a small Tarlov cyst at S2-3 level. I am also suffering from bouts of severe sciatica. About two weeks ago my pain was so severe I returned to my Dr.'s office. She is out on maternity leave for the next two months. Needless to say the Dr. filling in for her refused to refill my pain medication. I am in so much pain, it makes it hard to function and even harder to go to work. Reading this board has made me see that I am not crazy and there are others dealing with like situations. I am so frustrated and feel Im becoming depressed over this endless cycle of pain. Any suggestions would be appreciated. If anyone in NJ reads this and knows of a good listening Dr, please let me know. Thanks!

By mbooth
Posted November 6, 2009 at 9:16 am
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Go to the TarlovCystFoundation.org website and you will find a world of information!!

I'm praying for you!!

Love, Hugs and Prayers,
Mary B

By Doodles
Posted November 6, 2009 at 9:48 am
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Not in NJ, but I have a really bad back(along with a very rare tumor-Pheochromocytoma---neither related to each other), so my heart goes out to you.
I have 5 things going on with my lumbar...1 is a missing firing of the nerves in the remaining 40% of my L3 disc....my pain doc said that is NOT "PHANTOM" pain.....it is very real. 2nd I have 3 buldging disc with Siatic. 3rd Stenosis in my spine. 4. Degen Disc Dis. And the last but surely not the least problem I have is that the root nerve has scared tissue on it from surgery and everytime I move my back to turn or bend...a "lightening bolt" shots from my back, to my hip, to the front in my groin, down my leg past my knee .. biggest pain I have ever felt. This happens hundreds of times a day.
Sorry I am so windy.........
Right now I am on 1800mg of Gabapentin ( Neurotin) it take aprrox 75-80% of my pain away...IF I don't do anything! As soon as I mvoe around, walk, turn, bend...it sets off the nerve and we are off the the races!
I also tried Tramadol..no relief for me. Also My doc has said we could try Lyrica. But this seems to be doing more than what the doc had hoped for.
I will keep you in my prayers and hopefully you can find some relief.

By dianes123
Posted November 6, 2009 at 5:11 pm
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I have heard alot of people get good results with neuroten and Lycira and for some with the combination of vicodin to lower the amout of it, unfortunately I myself with all the operations I have had since 07 do not react well to alot of meds out there these days. But I have heard people sweare by them. Hope this helps.

Diane

By jhewels2
Posted November 10, 2009 at 6:44 pm
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I have arthritis in my spine in facet joints, bone spurs, sciatica, herniated disc, tarlov cysts, bulging discs and now compression fractures I recently bought a new matress my husband and I couldn't really afford it but it made a world of difference on my back. keep fighting for relief

By FrustratedInNJ
Posted November 11, 2009 at 11:10 am
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Update..... It's now November 11th. My pain has become more severe than ever. When I try to bend at the waist, it feels as if a slege hammer has been used on my lumbar area. I also have a pain shoot down the front on my left leg below the knee. I have been having problem doing my job as it involves driving.

I went to another Dr and he send me for another MRI, should have the results tomorrow. He at least saw the pain I was in and gave me Tylenol 3, which takes the edge off the pain if nothing else. So, here I sit.... just hoping I can function enough to go to work tomorrow and still have a job.

By Maggie2300
Posted November 12, 2009 at 9:59 pm
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Dear FrustratedInNJ

I think it could be coming from from your TC's but you have a very complicated history and many issues, may I suggest you see a physio, as sometimes it is better to start with something that will not do more not as radical as a NS will offer and may settle the problems. I have severe back problems, but still at times get great relief from my physio, and you may have to find one that suits you, maybe someone could recommend one in your area
Cheers

Maggie (Australia)

By Tammera
Posted November 13, 2009 at 9:39 am
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If it is you Tarlov Cyst making you hurt.I took Lyrica for my Tarlov and it worked to get some edge off.Vicodin and Soma did not touch the pain one bit but,Lyrica was a great drug.I had also surgery with Dr.Feigenbaum for my Tarlov Cyst.My surgery was good.I was at 20% of my life and now I have 80% of my life back.You have to understand that I was also diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the same time I was diagnosed with he Tarlov cyst.There are options if it is the Tarlov causing your pain.Please check out the Tarlov Cyst Foundation website.It is very informative.

By gana
Posted November 13, 2009 at 3:17 pm
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I have degenerative disc disease - in 2003 my neurosugeon took bone from my hip to replace the discs in my neck & fused vertebrae C3 - C7. That''s 5 & you only have 7 in your neck.
In 2005, I started having problems with my legs & lower back. The pain was terrible & I had to use a cane to get around. I have four discs involved but I'm not a candidate for back surgery so after trying many medications that only helped some - I had a 2 weeek spinal cord stimulator trial. It reduced my pain by 50% on an average day & sometimes more. I have had my permanent spinal cord stimulator since September of 2005 & would have to hurt anyone who tried to make me have it removed. I now also have Stiff Person Syndrome, Osteoarthritis & Hypothyroidism but thanks to the stimulator i don't have to deal with as much of the lumbar pain as before. Sorry this is so long but I really am a strong supporter of the spinal cord stimultor (not the TENS unit).

By dianes123
Posted November 13, 2009 at 11:19 pm
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It sounds like you are getting nothing but bad doctorsk afraid to do anything operatable about it. I am an old Jersey girl myself an know there are tons of very good doctors. After an ortho-surgeon messed up my back I went to the largest hospital and looked up on there web page for the neurosurgeons and whom was head of there team and made an appointment with him at his out of hospital site. He is the one that told me what happened during surgery and what I diease I had developed and all the others. Bad part is that I am not a conidate for any operation due to the excessive scarring not even for a stimulator. I see a pain management doctor now and when and if I get insurance I will be getting some warm water therapy and hopefully I can start to build up my leg and arm muscles so at least I can start walking better and not falling all the time and braking bones.

Try this out if your new doctor dosent work out.

Diane

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