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Elevated CK Level With Spinal Stenosis

I am going to try and keep this short. In 10/06 I started experiencing tremendous right leg pain, high up in my hamstring.  A burning pain.  Saw a doctor, who ordered an MRI that revealed a disk herniations at L4-L5 and L5-S1.  A subsequent EMG test also showed nerve damage at S1.

After non-surgical treatments failed, I had discectomy on 12/07.  Leg never improved, continues to grow weaker by the day and also developed back stiffness and pain in my back since the surgery.  An emergency room visit (due to tremendous pain) in early March '08 revealed I had eleved CK (creatine kinase) levels.  Around 600 U/L.  My doctor was completely stumped.

Another MRI was ordered at the end of March that showed evidence of epidural scarring from the surgery and that the disk has not herniated again.  It also revealed that I have congenital spinal stenosis from L3 through S1.  After being referred to Johns Hopkins for a second opinion, which really didn't amount to much, I started becoming my own docotor.  Below is a summary sheet I am going to present to my doctors.  It states findings from my latest MRI report as well as internet research articles.  Please read and give me your opinon.  Thank you.:

I believe the congenital spinal stenosis between levels L3 and S1 is causing radiculopathy
which is causing muscle atropy and elevating CK levels.

Below are direct quotes from my MRI results as well as internet research articles.

Lumbar MRI done 3/24/08: 3 Months Post Operation

At L3-4, There is an element of mild spinal canal stenosis with AP diameter of the spinal canal
measuring 8 mm

At L4-5, There is spinal canal stenosis with narrowing of the AP diameter of the spinal canal to 7 mm

At L5-S1, The AP diameter of the spinal canal is 9 mm

Impressions:
“I suspect that there is an element of associated congenital spinal canal stenosis with spinal canal
stenosis noted at the L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 levels”

Research Articles:
Excerpt explaining normal lumbar spinal canal diameters:

“The diameter of the normal lumbar spinal canal varies from 15 to 27 mm. Lumbar stenosis results from
a spinal canal diameter of less than 12 mm in some patients; a diameter of 10 mm is definitely
stenotic.”

“absolute (AP canal diameter less than 10 mm) or relative (10-13 mm canal diameter) stenosis are risk
factors for myeopathy, radiculopathy, or both due to relatively minor spondylosis pathology or trauma”

The Definition of radiculopathy:
“Doctors use the term radiculopathy to specifically describe pain, and other symptoms like numbness,
tingling, and weakness in your arms or legs that are caused by a problem with your nerve roots.”

Possible treatments????

I appreciate any feedback and apologize for the long post.  I couldn't compress it anymore.  Thank you

JohnViz
3 Responses
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6887703 tn?1385789354
I understand what you are going through I  have 4 bulging disc. My 2013 MRI showed congenital small size of spinal canal with posterior epidural lipomatosis. Multilevel spondylosis results in L2-L3 & moderate L3-L4 & L4-L5 superimpose spinal stenosis. L3-L4 mild bilateral neural foraminal stenosis. I have numerous epidurals & 2 nerve blocks. All with no relief! Last week I was give 2 Rx's for compound creams & they have helped greatly. They are:
1) A-1-Ketamine 10%;Gabapentin 6%; Diclofenac 3%; Baclofen 2%; Lidocaine  2% (cream)
2) CP-Tramadol 10% (cream)
The compound pharmacy my Dr. used to call in my Rx's was:
My Pharmacy LLC 855-355-3155
Hope you find some relief but these compound Rx creams really helped me
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Did you have to get back surgery for this? Do you have numbness in your feet? I have spinal stenosis narrowing of the spine.
Avatar universal
Thank you so much for your comments.  They are very appreciated.

But there are two key factors here.  Let's put the pain aside for one second.

1. My right leg is getting weaker and weaker as each day goes along.  I cannot even firmly plant my right foot flat on the ground when I am walking anymore.

2. My elevated CK (creatine kinase) levels.  Conistantly elevated around 600 U/L.  The elevated CK has to be coming from muscle atropy in my right leg.

An MRI was done on the right hamstring area, and all it revealed was a strain.

JohnViz
Helpful - 0
454186 tn?1388974968
Hi,I'm sorry to know your suffering....
It's typical FBSS.
And,It is a common misconception that back pain ALWAYS stems from the pressure of a slipped disc,steosis or a trapped nerve.  This is misleading, the main cause of pain is soft tissue inflammation stimulating nerves, causing the pain signal.
So,after op,you still suffer from pain,one possibility is that inflammation which is around your back did NOT  been relived and will lead to continues pain and  to grow weaker by the day as you said .
The diameter of the lumbar spinal canal do not play main role in causes of back pain,clinically,a lot of stenosis patients ( only showed in MRI ) haven't any pain at all. so most important for you is that see reputable doctor to find reason of back pain.then treatment will easy be find.

Unsurgery is good solution? It's dependent on where the inflammation is. alternative med works well when the inflammation is outside of the spinal column.  it does not work when the inflammation is in the spinal column itself.
Good luck!


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