Degenerative Disk Disease

[Lee1]

I have been diagnosed with degenerative disk disease.  What is the success rate of pain management techniques such as acupuncture, and how do I go about finding a reputable specialist in the field?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Lee:

Alot depends on the degree of degeneration and the etiology of the degeneration.  The use of solo modalities of pain management have not a good record compared to comphrensive rehab management.  When combined, rehab with PT, neurologist, physiotherapist, and pain management have the best success record.  However, it is very individual.  A great deal has to do with patient willingness to persevere through the pain process and keep to the rehab program.  Find the best one in your area.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Sylvia Erisman]

have spinal stenosis, spurs, separated dics, a bulging disc, and a thick varicose twisted vein,sciatia pain in my right side. as i try t walk everyday my legs get harder and harder and I must come bac home again. what can they do fo this?
thank you

[Msg to Sylvia]

Hi Sylvia, your message was tacked on to someone elses and so will not be seen by one of the docs likely.  You have to create your own (new) message; which we all know is a case of just getting on here quickly and being the early bird each morning.  In any event, I wanted to say that with symptoms such as you have, you really should see a Neurosurgeon or Ortho Spine Surgeon and have an MRI done if this has not been done yet.  With a Dx of "separated" discs (not really sure what you mean); but it does sound like you've had at least some type of films done.  I know that with my cervical spine herniations; I eventually developed Myleothopy which actually affects my leg unbelievably.  But I've found a great Neurosurgeon and am hoping that the year 2000 brings me some RELIEF to these annoying problems.  Take care Sylvia,  from Tess

[margaret]

what is the safeist way to have surgery through the tummy or the back for a fusionon  on the L5 disk

[TRACY FISCHER]

I HAVE BEEN BAD WITH BACK PROBLEMS SINCE MARCH 95 WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY 3RD CHILD, BUT IT HAS GRADUALLY DETERIORATED OVER THE YEARS, IN THE BEGINING OF 97 IT BECAME CONSTANT, LIKE SHARP ELECTRIC SHOCK TYPE PAINS IN MY BACK, I HAD PHYSIO IN OCT 97 BUT TO NO AVAIL, I HAVE SEEN 2 ORTHOPEADIC SURGEONS 1 OF WHICH ADMITTED ME FOR INTENSIVE PHYSIO AND HYDROTHERAPY AGAIN TO NO AVAIL, THE OTHER ARRANGED FOR A MRI SCAN IN JAN 98, WHICH I WAS INFORMED JUST SHOWED A DEGENERATIVE DISK AT L5/S1 AND ALSO SOME LOSS OF SENSATION ON L4/S1 AND IN BOTH LOWER LIMBS,AFTER THIS I DETERIORATED FURTHER WITH LOSS OF FEELING IN MY LEGS SEVERE PAIN IN MY LEGS AND GROIN AND HAVE ALSO NOW AM INCONTINENT, LOSS OF REFLEXES ON MY S1 ON MY RIGHT SIDE, SEVERE HEADACHES, NECK PAIN, NUMBNESS AROUND PERINEUM AND THIS EXTENDS POSTERIORLY ON MY BACK UPTO THE INTERCRISTAL LINE, VERY TENDER OVER THE LOWER LUMBER SACRAL SPINE,I CAN ONLY WALK SHORT DISTANCES, STRAIGHT LEG RAISE IS LIMITED TO 30 DEGREES AND I HAVE NOW FOUND OUT SOME 2 YEARS LATER THAT THE MRI IN 98 ALSO SHOWED AN ANNULAR TEAR WHICH IS NOW LEAKING AND I HAVE LOSS OF NORMAL SIGNAL BOTH OF WHICH IS ON MY L5/S1, WHICH MY ORTHOPEADIC SURGEON FAILED TO TELL ME,  I AM ONLY 25 YEARS OLD AND I AM LUCKY IF I GET 4 HOURS SLEEP AT NIGHT, SO FAR SINCE CHRISTMAS DAY I HAVE HAD 10 HOURS SLEEP IN TOTAL AND I AM SLOWLY COMING TO THE END OF WHAT I CAN WITHSTAND, I HAVE CONTINPLATED SUICIDE MANY TIMES BEFORE BUT CANNOT GO THROUGH WITH IT BECAUSE OF MY KIDS AND I HAVE STARTED TO PUT ON ALOT OF WEIGHT, 3 1/2 LBS IN TOTAL, AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE SEX PROPERLY IN FACT THEIR HAS ONLY BEEN 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND IT IS TAKING IT'S TOLL ON MY PARTNER AND I, AND HE BLAMES ME.

I FORGOT TO INFORM YOU OF MY MEDICATION:-

TRAMADOL 50MG 2X 4ADAY,  MOTIFENE 75MG 1X 2 ADAY, AMITRIPTYLINE 25MG 4 TABLETS ADAY AND TOLTERDINE 2 MG 1X 2 ADAY AND ALSO NEUROFEN ON OCCASSIONS.

NOW MY QUESTIONS TO YOU ARE:-

1) IS THIS GOING TO GET ANY WORSE THAN IS HAS ALREADY?

2) CAN YOU RECOMMENDED A SPECIALIST/THERAPISTS FEILD OR SOMEONE WHO MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH FURTHER INFORMATION AND POSSIBLY ADVISE ME ON HOW I CAN TRY AND LEAD A NORMAL LIFE?
BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT i CAN DO NOTHING AT ALL, I CAN BARLEY LIFT A KETTLE.

3) IS THERE ANYTHING SURGERICALLY THAT CAN BE DONE FOR ME?

4) WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF IT HEALING AND ME MAKING A FULL RECOVERY?

5)AND WHERE CAN I FURTHER INDEPTH INFORMATION ON ANNULAR TEARS AND THEIR COMPLICATIONS?

THANKING YOU WITH ALL MY HEART

TRACY

DATED 04/01/2000

[JJ EMT]

DUE TO SEVERAL BACK INJURIES WHILE WORKING ON THE AMBULANCE LIFTING ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE AND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF VERY TIGHT TWISTING SPACES TO ADMINISTER HELP,I HAVE BEEN REWARDED WITH MULTIPULE LUMBAR DISC HERNIATIONS, FOOT DROP ON THE LEFT S 1 NERVE ROOT. HAD SEVERAL BACK OPERATIONS, LAMINECTOMY,DISECTOMY,AND SPINAL STIMULATOR. I AM ON A GREAT DEAL OF HEAVEY DUTY NARCOTICS AND WITH LITTLE RELEIF, THIS CODITION HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 7 YEARS. I CANT EVEN COUNT THE TIMES THAT I HAVE BEEN HSPITALIZED FOR PAIN. I SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE JUST GOING TO SLEEP FOREVER, THEN HERE WILL BE NO MORE PAIN. I AM A PRISIONER IN MY OWN HOME. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE MY DR. WANTS TO PUT IN A MORPHINE PUMP I FEEL THAT WILL REALLY BE THE END

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear JJ EMT:

I am not sure what to tell you.  Maybe a second opinion at another pain clinic?  It may be that your a candidate for a rhizomoty.

CCF Neuro MD

[Anne]

My mother has been diagnosed with nerve pressure in the L5 (causing pain in the left leg). Physiotherapie has not worked so far. She can only sit for 10 minutes or walk for half an hour without pain. Laying and pain killer releaves it. What can we try?

[Anne]

My mother has been diagnosed with nerve pressure in the L5 (causing pain in the left leg). Physiotherapie has not worked so far. She can only sit for 10 minutes or walk for half an hour without pain. Laying and pain killer releaves it. What can we try? She also is still in treatment for cancer so any therapy without using invasive operations would be best. Thank you.

[TRACY FISCHER]

I asked a question to yourselves on 4/01/2000, my question is in the archives, but no-one has given me a answera yet, can someone please answer my questions.

Yours Desperatley

Tracy

dated 12/01/2000

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Tracey:

I would go see a neurologist.  You really need someone who can do a physical neurological exam, evaluate the films and then suggest proper treatment.  This really needs to be done by someone who can actually see the films and note the physical exam.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Laura J]

I am a 40 year-old female, about 5'6" and 150 lbs.  I had a laminectomy 7 years ago for a "very large herniated disc" (from radiology report) at L4-5.  At the time I was experiencing left leg pain, numbness, difficulty walking.  The surgery provided instant and complete relief.  HOwever, about 18 months ago I began experiencing pain in my lower left abdomen.  An ovarian cyst was found and thought to be the source of the pain.  HOwever, once the cyst was resolved (3 transvag. ultrasounds confirmed) the pain persists.  I also have intermittent pain in my left hip, groin, and fleeting loss of sensation on the bottom of my left foot.  I had a sigmoidoscopy to rule out colon problems.   Last week I had an MRI which shows another herniation at L4-5 abuting on the L4 nerve root in addition to scar tissue and osteophytes in this area.  But I am left with the question as to whether this could be the source of my abdominal pain.  My GYN, Gastro, and FP think so, but cannot say for sure.  Should I consider laproscopic exam of my pelvis or a consult with my neurosurgeon?

Thank you.

Laura J.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Laura J:

If your spinal column is irriating L4 area then likely this is not the cause of your abdominal pain.  This nerve root supplies the sciatic nerve which would give you the symptoms in your leg as you describe and not abdominal pain.  You would need to look higher in the spinal column to see levels that affect the abdominal area, i.e. thoracic level or upper lumbar area.  The scaral roots would also go to the pelvis region.  If the cyst removal was open, I would think that adhesion might be the cause of your pain.  Whatever the cause, it is likely not L4/L5 area.  I would pursue other avenues as the etiology.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[[e-mail]]

Dear doctor,
my mother has been ahving this problem with her knee from nov,whiach according to the doctor is a pinched nerve/degenerative root compression.All thes terms are greek to me ,but i can explain the symptoms:She has burning itching feeling on her foot,and along the sides of her foot.Also the toes feeling numb according to her.She can walk, but with difficulty.She cannot sleep at night,doctor said she should have surgery to her knee to correct it.MRI /ct scans etc all came up ok,Do you thinkshe should do the surgery?Also can you explain what is the problem?

Thanks
Jude

[[e-mail]]

Dear doctor,
my mother has been ahving this problem with her knee from nov,whiach according to the doctor is a pinched nerve/degenerative root compression.All thes terms are greek to me ,but i can explain the symptoms:She has burning itching feeling on her foot,and along the sides of her foot.Also the toes feeling numb according to her.She can walk, but with difficulty.She cannot sleep at night,doctor said she should have surgery to her knee to correct it.MRI /ct scans etc all came up ok,Do you thinkshe should do the surgery?Also can you explain what is the problem?

Thanks
Jude

[GARRY WHITSON]

AFTER A FALL ON STAIRS 2 YEARS AGO, I APPARENTLY SEVERELY DAMAGED THE NERVES IN MY LOWER BACK AND THE FALL CAUSED A DISC BULGE. AFTER CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT, THE NEUROSUGEON DECIDED TO OPERATE DUE TO THE CONSTANT PAIN AND NUMBNESS IN MY RIGHT LEG.
IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS I HAVE HAD 3 LAMINECTOMIES, 1 FUSION (L4-S1) AND IN APRIL 2000 THE REMOVAL OF THE HARD WARE. I AM IN CONSTANT EXCRUTIATING PAIN AND HAVE TAKEN ALL THE STRENGTHS OF ANELGESICS AND HAD MANY INJECTIONS (MORPHINE OR PETHADINE). THE PAIN REMAINS, I SOMETIMES SCREAM AS IT IS SO SEVERE. MY YOUNG FAMILY HAS GONE THROUGH HELL. I HAVE HAD OPINIONS FROM A ORTHOPOD. WHO SUGGESTS A NEURO STIMILATOR AND A SPECILIALIST PHYSICIAN WHO COMFIRMS THAT I HAVE NERVE DAMAGE (I COULD NOT FEEL THE PINS THAT HE WAS PUSHING INTO MY RIGHT LEG). I CANNOT GO IN A CAR AS THE MOVEMENT WORSENS THE PAIN. THE NEURO SURGEON ADVIISES THAT IT CAN TAKE TIME AND SUGGESTS A MORPHINE PUMP TO CONTROL THE PAIN.

PLEASE ADVISE WHAT MY NEXT STEP SHOULD BE AS I AM DESPARATE AND SO IS MY FAMILY. THANKS. (MY E-MAIL IS ***@****)