'IN THE DARK'!!!

[jgail]

Briefly, my history is this: 2 car accidents, 2 work related injuries. All involved my neck, back, low back...this has been a period of 9 years, the most recent this month where I fell + hit my left side forehead on a jutted out cement wall! I fell directly on my left knee, all my weight on it. CT scan + xrays showed no problems. For years I have had chiropractic adjustments which helped until this last episode. I have pain radiating from left buttock region, down outside of leg, around pelvic area. I have ringing in my ears; head compression feeling all the time. TIRED!!! After 2nd car accident MRI showed a coincidental finding: chiari malformation, cyst on pituatary gland: neurologist said no big deal with either. I plain don't feel well, only 51 years old, feel 80!!! What would you do in this case, anyone out there? Should I insist another MRI? Dealing with worker comp is terrifically depressing, for they feel I am "faking" it!!!! I need referrals for everything I choose to do. Anyway, sorry for the long story, but I am desperate for answers!!! THANK YOU ALL!!

[Scuba girl]

Crusader:
You advocate staying away from epidural and nerve block cortisone injections.  I may not have seen your complete story, but did you have a bad reaction?

After 2 spinal surgeries, the selective nerve root block I had in Nov 02 and yesterday are wonderful pain relief for me and allow me to have a fairly normal life. I'm sure that any medication we take or food we eat has the potential for a fatal reaction but each person must do a risk assessment.

[The Crusader]

Whatever you do, make sure that you have your doctors confirm their diagnosis through MRI's.  Insist on getting a second opinion when evasive procedures are recommended for treatment.

There are other things that can cause pains in the buttocks and down the back of the leg.  I believe you didn't say if the pain went below your buttocks, but the condition is called, PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME.  That's a condition caused when the piriformis muscle/ligament, in the buttocks, swells-up and impacts the sciatic nerve.  (From a fall, or other impact)  Many ortho's will NEVER tell you about this.  They rather inject you with steroids at $1500.00 a pop!  Go to see a licensed deep tissue massage therapist.  Otherwise, most pain specialists will recommend epidural steroid injections with Depo-Medrol.  BEWARE, this stuff is junk and is NOT approved by the FDA, and strongly NOT RECOMMENDED by the drug maker, Pharmacia & Upjohn because of SEVERE MEDICAL EVENTS!

WARNING: DO NOT GET ANY STEROID EPIDURAL, NERVE BLOCK, ETC. INJECTIONS!!! GO TO FOR MORE INFO: http://groups.msn.com/DepoMedrolDidItHarmYou/depomedroldiditharmyou.msnw

Good Luck
The Crusader

[darlin]

jgail,

I have had similar problems with my neck and back.  I've found some really informitive links located at www.mindyourpsandqs.com under the get informed link.  Best of luck, Darlin

[dizz]

Pain in the butt(ocks) is what I'd say sciatica is.  You can find more information about it by searching google.com for "sciatica". There are even charts to identify the lumbar region causing the pain. Below is one definition of Sciatica (usually involving the Lumbar L-1 thru L4 area).

Sciatica:
A syndrome characterised by pain radiating from the back into the buttock and into the lower extremity along its posterior or lateral aspect and most commonly caused by prolapse of the intervertebral disk, the term is also used to refer to pain anywhere along the course of the sciatic nerve.
Pain radiating (travelling) into the buttock, back of the thigh, and often into the calf and foot. This is usually caused by irritation of a nerve root of the sciatic nerve, often from compression by a disc or degenerative disease.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Not a straightforward case as you've unfortunately had multiple injuries resulting in different symtpoms.  The head compression feeling and ringing in the ears (which I'm sure is pretty uncomfortable) is probably due to the recent head trauma. It sounds like a post-concussive type syndrome (if you lost consciousness with the head injury) or something to that effect like a posttraumatic headache. FOr many patients it does go away over time.  Glad your MRI of the brain was ok. Please keep in mind that I haven't seen your MRI myself. But as neurologists we often do see incidental findings of chiari malformation and minor pituitary abnormalities and tell the patients not to worry about if they do not appear to be correlating with any clinical symptoms.  One medication that may help with the pain is elavil.

As for the pain radiating down from your buttock, consider getting an MRI of the lower spine and possibly an EMG to further evaluate the possibility of a slipped disc as a result of the injuries.

Finally, in the meantime, consider going to a pain management clinic to help you deal with what I'm sure has been a chronic problem that could use some relief.  Good luck.