Syringohydromyelias pain, treatment?

One of your nice forum members read my post over in the syringohydromyelia forum and suggested that someone here might be able to help. As far as I know I do not have Chiari Malformation, at least no physician has ever mentioned it. My symptoms are severe chronic pain in my mid-back thoracic region.

After dealing with worsening pain in my mid-back shoulder blade area since 2004, I went first to a physiologist then a neurosurgeon. Two MRIs showed a syringohydromyelia at T6-T7. I was "ASSURED" by both physicians that syringohydromyelias do not cause pain and there were no surgical options. Neither physician could find any other cause for my pain and as such, discharged me. I tried occupational then physical therapy, both of which only increased my pain level. My current stop is with a pain management group and a very nice anesthesiologist/pain management doctor who, without any better candidate, I have an irritated nerve in the T6-T7 region. Two months ago I had a TESI (thoracic epidural steroid injection) which did not provide pain relief or increased mobility. Following my Dr.'s advice I had a second TESI last Thursday and this time instead of providing pain relief it has increased my normal pain to a barely tolerable 8 on the pain scale.

Meds:
20/0.8 Embeda Morphine Sulfate
50mg Tramadol as needed (does not do much that I can tell)
2mg Tizanidine as needed (not much for pain relief, puts me to sleep)

Tried in the past:
Hydrocodone 7.5mg/325 up to 3x day (best med so far but Dr. didn't want me taking that much)
Skelaxin 800mg (upset stomach, no noticeable pain relief)  

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

I am glad to see u joined us here...and I am sure those with this condition will pop on and comment.

We do have Health Pages with info as well......http://www.medhelp.org/forums/search/257?query=syringohydromyelia and this link is to some threads on this topic.

Glad to have u here, sorry for the reason that brought u.

"selma"

[zapped712]

I'm a 54 yrs old man ...
I can relate, I was diagnosed in 2008 after a car accident ..the pain is debilitating ,mine is in T8/T9 region ,,the doctor came right out & told me that it "wouldn NOT get better " I drove truck for 30 yrs (at that time I was an instructor )" then tried to return to driving )the doctor said I 'd last maybe 3 mos if that ! ,,,just cant do it ! way too much pain ,,  

I'm in process of appliying for disability or SSI ,,and am seeking to have a decomp procedure of the cyst ,,I'm willing to try anything ,,,do take tramadol ( doesnt do much ) and cant drive truck on that meds any way ,,,

so keep in touch if ya want ,,,,