Spinal Stenosis help

[yankeerose1970]

Not sure if I am posting this in the right area but here goes anyway.  I just had an EMG test today and was diagnosed with spinal stenosis (lumbar).  The doc said that it's unusual for someone as young as me (I'm 38) to be diagnosed with this.  I still don't know the cause of this because a month ago I had an MRI with and without contrast and it showed no abnormalities.  But was wondering, how do they treat spinal stenosis?  If you get steroid shots in your spinal cord area, how long did you find relief for? I've had steroid injections in my SI joint (for sacroiliitis) but they normally only last about 2 months.  Any insight you can give me would be highly appreciated!

[txsilver]

Hi.  I am not much older than you and have stenosis too but in my neck.  I also have AS so I can completely relate to SI joint pain.  
A few treatments for spinal stenosis include:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Aspirin
Naproxen (Naprosyn)
Ibuprofen (Motrin, Nuprin, Advil)
Indomethacin (Indocin)
Analgesics
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Corticosteroid injections
Rest
Physical therapy
Exercises

[yankeerose1970]

Thanks for the response.  So the spinal stenosis, is that something that will go away with proper treatment or is it chronic?  Also, do you know if it can related to any auto immune conditions?  I already have Ulcerative Colitis which is thought to be an auto immune disease and I've heard that having one AI that it opens the "door" for others. I also have Raynauds which is not fun either :(  I'm still in the early stages of trying to find out what is wrong with me so I'm glad that I have one diagnosis anyway in regards to the horrible lower back pain.  

Do you happen to know if there is another alternative to Tylonel that is not narcotic?  I am unable to take Nsaids because of my UC (causes intestinal bleeding),I have weird reactions to narcotic pain relievers and Tylonel barely touches the pain.  I plan on asking my pain doc all this when I see him in 2 weeks but I just want to know what my options are.

[txsilver]

As far as I know, stenosis does not go away.  My grandfather had it and it was a continual degenerative problem for him, BUT he had it a long time and it did not become problematic until he was approx 85.

Stenosis, Raynauds and ulcerative colitis & shots in your SI joints - has anyone said anything to you about ankylosing spondylitis?  It is autoimmune.  I have it and it does affect young people with an onset usually from teens to thirty, although it can be diagnosed later.  The onset can be very slow and lead you to believe that the pain in your back and hips (most common onset complaints) are just part of aging.  The best info on it is at http://www.spondylitis.org/.  

[yankeerose1970]

My primary has mentioned that AS could be a possibility but so far all the tests for this has come back negative.  Meaning the MRI and Xrays.  I just recently had some bloodwork done at a rheumy's office but I won't know the results of that until next week.  But yes, that has entered my mind on occasion and to tell the truth, it sort of scares me!  I am also in the testing stage to rule out Lupus too (cross your fingers for me that this is not the case!).  But whatever it is that I have, I believe I am in the early stages.  So I won't truly know what is causing this probably until further down the road.  I'm just glad to finally have a name to my back pain!  So I guess it's just a waiting game right now - one that I am NO good at!

[txsilver]

Blood work is good, MRIs and xrays too.  Did they due a nuclear MRI - bone and joint scan?  I am in the early stages, too and that was the only way mine showed up.  The key indicator in my blood work, HLAB27, came back negative.
I will keep you in my prayers because I would not wish this on anyone.  But if it comes back positive, I will be happy to refer you to several forums where you get socialize and find out that you are normal, that life goes on and that there is a real community for those of us who in mid-life use walkers, canes, chairs and still thoroughly enjoy life.  The upside of my illness this week is my handicap parking permit!  Now everyone wants to take me everywhere.  I've never been so popular :)

[yankeerose1970]

LOL Yes, gotta love that handicap permit eh?? I don't have one but my grandmother, who lives with us, does and it comes in handy for sure!

Not sure if they did a bone and joint scan.  I know they did the MRI with contrast and without contrast.  I believe it said nuclear on the prescription but I can't remember.  So of the HLAB27 comes back negative then it could be AS?

A couple days ago was the WORSE day so far for the pain.  It was the day after the EMG so I don't know if those needles aggravated things or what.  But before I only had random pains down my legs.  A couple days ago, that's all I had!  Pain down my legs, cramps in my legs, lower back pain - sharp and dull - boy I miserable.  I almost broke down and took a Darvocet but lordy do I hate those things!  

Thanks for all your help txsilver - you have been a godsend :)

[txsilver]

I am glad that I have been helpful to you!  There is so much misery in pain and it helps to be understood.  Darvocet is something I hate to take, too, but there are days I watch the clock praying the next dose will give me the relief I need.  Have you tried Zanaflex or flexeril?  Sometimes they give me enough relief that I don't need the darvocet.  
If you come back positive for HLAB27 it means you have a predisposition for any of the spondy ailments.  But you can be negative and still get them.  I am negative for it and have it.
The MRI done for the bone and joint scan goes like this, you go in, take a pill, go away for 45 min or so and come back.  Then they take MRIs of different areas of your body.  The areas that glow show inflammation.  All my xrays and MRIs looked ok until they did this scan and the found I lit up like a christmas tree!  They also ran a bone density test and found that I have osteoporosis and opsteopenia.  This is a frequent buddy of AS.  
Through all the tests the list of diagnosis got extremely long.  But that helped explain why I was hard to diagnose and why my symptoms are not classic.
I bet you are anxious for your results!  How long are you going to have to wait to get them?  It felt like forever to me when I was waiting to hear something back.  Even though my dx's were not good, I was ecstatic to get them because then my foe had a name and I got a treatment plan.  Even bad news is better than ambiguity.
Hang in there!

[yankeerose1970]

Oh wow! The wait indeed can drive anyone nuts!  I had my blood drawn almost 2 weeks ago and the rheumy doc said to call back in 2 weeks so I am going to call him tomorrow to see if the results came in.  I'm not classical in any of my presentations either and I had my docs stumped for a while.  In fact, the last time I went into see my pain doc, he comes in the room and asks "So, how's my most interesting patient today??" lol

Ok, no I didn't have the nuclear then in the MRI - I think?  I had contrast where they shot something in my arm. That was my first MRI and after the first few terrifying claustrophobic moments, it wasn't too bad! :)

Yes, I've taken Flexeril on occasion.  I don't really like the stuff because it makes me feel like a zombie.  I was given the 10mgs dose and couldn't handle it because it made me so groggy so then my doc broke the dosage to 5mgs twice a day.  Even though that was better, I still felt like ****.  So then she prescribed me Skelaxin and that is the best one I found so far.  It doesn't make me sleepy at all and it does a great job of relaxing my muscles.  But, I don't have anymore of them.  I have also used Neurontin on occasion.

[yankeerose1970]

hhmmm the **** wasn't a bad word but the word censor here must be strong on this site! lol

[Diamonds07407]

I had a slip and fall.  I was an active 59 yo women who climbed ladders, cut grass, etc. until this.  Through x-rays, MRIs, etc. showing there was a spondylosis and arthritis aggrivated by the fall.  After 7 SI & Facets Joint injections, I had a Right & Left Rhizotomy.  After the 2nd one I developed left leg muscle pain. Four weeks later, my daughter said to try her chiropractor for 'cold laser therapy'.  After 1 week straight of cold laser therapy, the pain in the tibia muscle was 99.999% gone!  He started to use it on the SI Joint and spine.  I  had to make a choice between PT and Chiropractic care.  They say you can be born with it or it can develop in  your teens without your knowledge and will only be diagnosed with an x-ray, usually relating to another incident requiring the x-ray or MRI.  The Rhizotomy is where they go into your back with 3 small incisions clean out the facets area around your spine and burn the nerves which causes the pain you're feeling.   The injections can last, maybe for those not seriously injured.  The PT person has me doing baby, slight, back bends from the waist. She said that will help to open the spinal area.  Only started can't give you a final outcome yet.  I've been in pain for 2 years before the Rhizotomy.  I think/know there is one more area they need to address before all the pain is gone.  

[Diamonds07407]

I am also allergic to NSIDS which may releive some pain.  I cannot take any Advil, Aspirin, Aleeve, etc.  Does anyone know if there is a pain reliever outthere other than Tylenol that doesn't seem to do anything?