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NONSTOP PAIN AFTER ACCIDENT - MRI LUMBAR
Anyone know why the two sides look different? Nice, smooth ring on one side and rough, broken on the other. I can't sit, walk or stand without pain - constant. Could this be the cause?
Thank you!
Thank you!
No need to upload anymore -- I do not practice medicine. My former patients were sheep and horses. But I've lived with chronic back disease for 30 years and understand chronic pain.
Chronic pain is a disease in an of itself. It once had a cause -- torn ligament, degenerative disc -- but due to the nature of our changing, learning nervous system, your body has "learned" to do pain.
Most medical doctors don't understand this disease state -- they weren't trained in it.
Only some neurologists and board certified pain doctors understand that chronic pain comes without external stimuli -- it is a disease of the nervous system.
Chronic pain breeds more pain. Treatment is not only humane, it is therapeutic.
Perhaps your age has something to do with your not being treated. Perhaps your doctor is prejudiced against "narcotic" medications and believes that "addiction" is the only result of using them.
There are a few classes of medication you might suggest that are not based in opioids -- GABA analogues and TCAs. The GABA analogues include gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica). In high enough doses they can relieve some neuropathic pain -- a class of pain that results from pressure on nerves. TCAs are old medicine -- tricylic antidepressants like amitriptyline and nortriptyline. These medications can reduce pain by boosting the neurotransmitter serotonin. Newer SSRI medications also perform this function, although there is data that demonstrates SSNI (like Cymbalta) work better for pain.
Have you tried any of these medications.
There are problems in withdrawing from these medications -- especially GABA analogues that make them a difficult choice for long term use in my perspective, although some docs would rather prescribe anything but pain medication (opioids) for pain. Why? They're more worried about criticism and loss of their medical license than any concern of their patient.
Try to find a real pain doctor, who is both skilled and compassionate. And persevere -- with 3500 pain doctors for 100 million people in pain, the odds are against you.
Chronic pain is a disease in an of itself. It once had a cause -- torn ligament, degenerative disc -- but due to the nature of our changing, learning nervous system, your body has "learned" to do pain.
Most medical doctors don't understand this disease state -- they weren't trained in it.
Only some neurologists and board certified pain doctors understand that chronic pain comes without external stimuli -- it is a disease of the nervous system.
Chronic pain breeds more pain. Treatment is not only humane, it is therapeutic.
Perhaps your age has something to do with your not being treated. Perhaps your doctor is prejudiced against "narcotic" medications and believes that "addiction" is the only result of using them.
There are a few classes of medication you might suggest that are not based in opioids -- GABA analogues and TCAs. The GABA analogues include gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica). In high enough doses they can relieve some neuropathic pain -- a class of pain that results from pressure on nerves. TCAs are old medicine -- tricylic antidepressants like amitriptyline and nortriptyline. These medications can reduce pain by boosting the neurotransmitter serotonin. Newer SSRI medications also perform this function, although there is data that demonstrates SSNI (like Cymbalta) work better for pain.
Have you tried any of these medications.
There are problems in withdrawing from these medications -- especially GABA analogues that make them a difficult choice for long term use in my perspective, although some docs would rather prescribe anything but pain medication (opioids) for pain. Why? They're more worried about criticism and loss of their medical license than any concern of their patient.
Try to find a real pain doctor, who is both skilled and compassionate. And persevere -- with 3500 pain doctors for 100 million people in pain, the odds are against you.
39 - Approximately three years ago, I moved a bucket of landscaping rocks (on wheels) with my leg pushing outward to the side. Immediately, I felt a "tear/electrical zap" in my bottom area (possibly sacrum area) (between the low back and bottom). I have been in constant pain ever since which was aggrevated when I got rear-ended a few months ago. My doc said it was muscle spasm so did PT, pain shots/injections, anti-inflammatory meds. Have TENS unit I use. I also have a gap in my SI joint, but do not know if that is related or not. I also wear an SI belt. I can barely walk, sit or stand and if I do, I get fatigued after about 10 minutes. Doc said I just need to "move" more. How can I move more if it takes me a week to recoup after doing anything. For example, I had PT and then a doctor appointment right after. So long day and lots of poking. It literally took me a week to be able to walk after that. My husband even had to carry me up our stairs. This area that hurts (mentioned above) feels like someone sliced me open and laid me out like a fish. Walking and sitting only causes more pain. Doc is starting me on PT again. Not sure if I can upload anymore, but will try. Thank you!
Don't know your age, but "arthritic changes" are part of the definition of facet syndrome.
Granted, there still is a lot of white signal showing in the joint, and in a T2 MRI this means fluid. What I don't like are those swirly areas -- any bone on bone, even if half the joint is fluid filled, will cause pain.
The MRI image was small, but it looked as if you injured your illiac crest, also. Without other images, it is difficult to measure the level of inflammation in that hip, but it looks as if you're still suffering a bit from trauma.
How long ago did this injury occur?
Whether the pain is from facetitis or a hip injury, you still have a right to adequate pain treatment.
Best wishes.
Granted, there still is a lot of white signal showing in the joint, and in a T2 MRI this means fluid. What I don't like are those swirly areas -- any bone on bone, even if half the joint is fluid filled, will cause pain.
The MRI image was small, but it looked as if you injured your illiac crest, also. Without other images, it is difficult to measure the level of inflammation in that hip, but it looks as if you're still suffering a bit from trauma.
How long ago did this injury occur?
Whether the pain is from facetitis or a hip injury, you still have a right to adequate pain treatment.
Best wishes.
I think something is going on there, but specialist said MRI was fine, just showed "minor arthritic changes". I disagree and think they missed it. Now, I have to start all over and find a doctor to read my MRI. Thank you for response. Will check it out.
I certainly not going to diagnose here, and the image is so small it's difficult to tell what I'm seeing, but it does look as if the left facet is not regular and bright like the right facet.
Perhaps a left L5-S1 RF ablation might reduce your pain. Are you seeing a board certified pain management physician? This is an advanced practice anesthesiologist who specializes in this kind of thing. The field is known as interventional pain medicine.
Best wishes.
Perhaps a left L5-S1 RF ablation might reduce your pain. Are you seeing a board certified pain management physician? This is an advanced practice anesthesiologist who specializes in this kind of thing. The field is known as interventional pain medicine.
Best wishes.
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