Trigger point injections.

[Boutit412]

I fell at work in july of 07. I had a mri and small to moderate posterior disc causing minumal norrowing of the spinal canal without spinal stenosis and contacting but not significantly displacing or compressing the s1 nerves, mild right neural foraminal norrowing.at the l5 s1 and a disc dehydration and a mild broad-base posterior disc bulge indenting the ventral surface of the thecal sac on the l4 l5. I had 3 trigger point injection over a year ago. The first 2 were put on at the l5 level and the 3 one went up the s1. I just had back pain with some leg pain that would come and go on the left side at the time.So i went to the spine team of spokane, They specialists in pain management and in low backs. They started of by laying out a whole bunch of options but wanted to start with trigger point injections first. If that did not work then move on from there. After the first 2 i had no change in back or leg pain. When i had the 3 shot it felt much different then the first 2 before he even put the medicine in. I almost shot of the table and started yelling in pain and scream at him. He just said oh i must have it the spot. I started having a burning stabing pain that went down my butt and into the left side of my calf before i even got of the table. That was on a friday, I called his office on monday and complained about the pain and they said it would be alright and just take it easy, I followed up with him after 2 weeks and he said  that there was nothing more that he could do and left the room and will not make a appointment with him from that day on. I just redid my mri and they found that nothing has changed. But i still leg pain like it was the same day of the trigger point injection. What would be causing this leg pain since nothing showed up in the new mri. They are about ready to close my workmans comp claim and i still dont have any answers. Please help.

[Boutit412]

Thank you for that web site. I was pulled off of work for 2 weeks and was put on a lite duty(could not stand for more then 10 mins, 5 ld lifting, no bending ) Since i was a manager at a restaurant they would not follow the lite duty so i was pulled off work. I then went tho a pain clinic a year later. That was a big joke. All the cared about was that i was there for 8 hours a day. Then they lied to my dr and told him that i would get a Ergonomic stool. So my dr relased me back to work. well the Ergonomic stool was the cheapest stool they could buy. It was about 6 inches hire then the cash reg and it had to be set to the left side of it, So i was bent over on the left side all day. That last 1 week when my back went out again and i have not work since, In the mean time i have also been to the crazy dr and have been told that i have psychosis nos, panic disorder with agoraphobia, pain disorder, adjustment disorder, personality disorder, So now i hear voices, afraid to leave the house and be around any group of people and i would love just to hurt somebody and have thoughts about killing myself.
I can no longer do my old job since i can not stand or walk for more then 10 mins at a time. I also can not sit long in any type of chair. So now i am faced with a Career change since i have done nothing but by a restaurant manager any more. I am 32 and my dream of owning a restaurant is now gone. thanks again and i hope you get some relief too.

[chadry]

There is a really good website for injured workers. It goes by states. It has forums to talk to people from your state as to what you can do next.
www.workerscompensationinsurance.com
I just got done my case after a few years. I am no better today than I was before. In fact i am worse but they say that was all they could do for me.
I also had an injection but i am not sure if it is the same kind as you. I felt new pain sittiing in the recovery room waiting to go home. they said that was normal. I went from having my right side in pain to having worse pain in my left butt and leg. It took a while for the pain to ease up but i have never fully recovered from it. This was an excellent doctor also. In fact my lawyer was pleased that I was being sent to him to have it done. He said he would have picked him for me if he had a say in it. Anyway this doctor was professional about it but said that he was not going to give me any more injections. He said everyone reacts differently and that i did not take well to the procedure. I would not have had another done which would not have been good with the WC people because i would have been refusing treatment. They still brought that up near the end of my case about the fact that i only tried one injection but they had to accept the fact that the docotr did not want to give me another and that was their doctor.
So basically you only get so much treatmant and then they tell you to live with it. I have been to so many docotors in the past and they never helped with any of my problems. Did you work through this or did they put you out of work? They always sent me back to work and it was torture. I finally lost my job when i just could not work the way i was supposed to.
I have some good days now after a few years but usually when i am feeling better and start to have a little hpe it comesright back again.
I have injuries to my low back and to my neck also.I get so many different pains now. The judge sent me to a doctor to see how i was doing now. It was not one that I had seen for my IME appoinments. I went to a few of them. This one was selected from the judge. he told me that my only option would be multiple fusions that he is not recommending becuase the surgery would be extensive and it would only give me a tiny bit of relief for a short period. So if they tell you surgery please do your homework on it and get a second opinion from a doctor of your choice. You will have to pay for that yourself but it could well worth it. WC will not agree with it but it is your back and you are the one living in pain. Always check with your with lawyer though before you do anything. After I was declared MMI i went to see a doctor on my own and he could not believe that i was always sent back to work and never given any time off to heal. He ordered me out of work for 4 weeks and that was when i lost my job. So if you have to take off any time make sure you look intot he FML act before hand.
Good luck and i hope you find some kind of relief and help.
Chadry

[Boutit412]

I already had the best neurosurgeon in town look at it and he does not want to do anything. The QME are called Ime or independent Medical Exam in this state and they always goes for the workmans comp.I have had one of those and my lawyer had to get them thrown out since the 3 dr i saw lied about most of the exam. They saw me each for less them 10 mins and just focus on my meds. They said that i used to much pain killers even tho i asked to be pulled off my meds. I only see a family dr and he his not sure what to do now. Not sure what to do now.    

[kittyluv1]

I am sorry to hear of your continued problems.  I'm not sure the prolonged pain can be directly related to the trigger point injection. Your MRI does show some disc dessication and compression of the spinal cord (thecal sac).  When the spinal cord and other nerves are compromised, it could very well result in the symptoms you are currently experiencing.  It is unfortunate that this is a workman's comp claim, but if you are in the USA, you do have the option of getting a QME exam to determine the true extent of your injury.  Your treating doctor submits his report and whether you have reached maximum medical improvement.  If you disagree with his findings, you request a Qualified Medical Exam.  They will give you a list of three specialists and you can choose one to verify the situation.  I would recommend that the specialist be a neuro or spine surgeon (not an orthopedist).  The neurosurgeon has more expertise in treating these types of injuries.
Regards ---