Abscess in spine

[Poonams]

Hi!

I had lower back pain and an MRI showed following findings:

- Sacralisation of L5 vertebra
- An altered marrow signals involving L5 and S1 vertebrae including left ala with an associated soft tissue representing granulation tissue / abscess in paracentral region (left > right) as well as an intra spinal anterior epidural soft tissue component compressing thecal sac and nerve roots of lumbo-sacral plexus s/o- An infective -inflammatory pathology like Koch's.

In April 2010 I was diagnosed with TB of the spine and put on R-Cinex, Pyzina 750, Ethambutol, Pregabalin and Benadon. Last week after having complained to the doc about 'my nerves becoming brittle', another medicine 'Ciploric 300' was added to the list. Now I have joint pain and think twice before getting up, coz it's such a pain in the ... bum! I feel thirsty all the time (dry mouth in 10 min) and have started forgetting things more often than earlier...like ...have I already taken the medicine prescribed for this time?!! If I sit for long, I get lower back pain, which is not unusual given my condition, but the doctor had told me that I'll be feeling 'fit' by this time... My shoulders, wrists and knees feel heavier by the day and it seems as if they are 'turning to stone'!

Allopathy cures one, creates 4 more illnesses! Or am I hyperventilating?

Any advice?

[foram1012]

Sir
There was a lump in my right side of lower back..it was growing on day by day..after going on for diagnosis , i came to know that i am suffering from cold abscess..i was being operated & about 750 ml of pus was drained away from my lower back side..i am under complete medications but before i came to know about this lump i was also suffereing from sever allergy...after proper test i came to know about the reason of this allergy,,the main problem for the increasing allergy was MILK & MILK PRODUCT..but after surgery (1month before) 4-5 time i was suffered from sever allergy but daily early morning after taking R-CINEX tablet i use to suffer from allergy for that i am taking allegra tablet..Is it Safe ? is it causing me to another disease ?
Another problem is, since 7-8 days my knees & heels are paining a lot, its very difficult to sit down..is it another disease ?
Do my both disease (allergy & knee pain) is caused due to cold abscessd (TB) ? Please reply

[Poonams]

You haven't understood my question.

Anyway, I have started doing breathing exercises (Pranayam) and Ciploric has started showing its effect, so am managing, shall start to walk for a little while everyday. Please don't reply to this, since all this info that you send me is available on the net. Thanks for your time!

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

I have an answer for your question but no alternative effective (cidal and static) drug for tuberculosis.

Isonioazid and rifampicin get metabolized in your liver and have other side effects. There are some other antibiotics which are not hepatotoxic but unfortunately most of the anti tubercular medications are hepatotoxic.  So, during treatment you have to monitor liver function tests, eat healthy and pass off this phase.

For tuberculosis the best thing is prevention and the Revised National Tuberculosis control programme is trying to reach everyone across India by increasing public awareness.

Take care!

[Poonams]

Am already aware of all this info and more courtesy my doc and internet. I'm on medication since April and am already undergoing whatever allopathic treatment is available. My question was regarding the side effects, to which no one has an answer, coz allopathy doesn't work without side effects!

Thanks anyway!

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

You cannot avoid, I would suggest you to start pyridoxine along with Liv 52.

These drugs are the only documented and time tested ones for your tuberculosis infection.

Do not stop and do not change your course till you are free of tuberculosis. Your treating physician should declare you free of tuberculosis after 6-9 months
.
There are many cases of tuberculosis failure which I come across in practice.

Take care!

[Poonams]

Thanks for your advice. Am already undergoing the exact treatment that you've talked about. It's been 2 months now. Am also taking Liv 52 and getting regular tests done for liver function analysis. My concern is about the side effects of these medicines that can't be avoided!

[Poonams]

Consulted the doc again, seems I have no option but to complete the 2-3 months of these medications... shall let you know if the medicines killed the disease or me! ;)  Acc to the doc Ciploric should start work in a few days and I'll feel better.

Am actually also on medication for endometriosis. Both the diseases decided to strike me this year. Till October/November last year I was a bundle of energy. Got operated (laporoscopic surgery) for endometriosis in March 2010 and discovered a month later that I had TB of spine.

I'll try to consult a neurosurgeon, though it's such a pain going downstairs (I live on the 2nd floor) and then coming back up that I dread going out!

Thanks for your good wishes!

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

Ciploric 300 is to lower uric acid; it is allopurinol and is also used for gout.

I would suggest you to take isoniazid, rifamipicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide according to your weight regularly and rest and complement with food rich in proteins and calcium. Take these medications for 2-3 months and then you would only need isoniazid and rifampicin for maintenance for next 6 months.

All your symptoms are due to the tuberculosis of the spine, the spinal nerves from lumbar region supply nerve supply to your legs.

All these medications have side effects and you have to monitor your liver function tests regularly.

Take care!

[Cherie762]

My only advise to you is get atlest two other opinions...yes medications effect different peoples body chemistry differently..I had to stop one anti depressant cause it made me gain a ton of weight ..

I had a anterior cervical surgery because my arms where going numb I was with in a month of being a parapalegic.point\  once nerves are dead you dont get them back please get on this immediatley ,,,,it truely took me three years to get help every where I went they just handed me vicodin and sended me out door...

until I decided to see a neuro surgeon...which would be a good idea for you see a neurologist or a neuro surgeon

best wishes...Im really sorry your suffering so  trust your instincts.

Cherie762