WTH? My entire spine is inflamed

[biowham]

My whole spine, from cervical to lumbar (maybe even sacral) suddenly feels inflamed, with pain at my shoulders, my ribs and mid-back, and in the small of my back, where it really is at its worst. It's BOTH sides. I think I must have really really done a number on my back somehow. I have a bit of a herniation at L5 that  was not blocking any signaling last anyone checked, but I think it's inflamed right now, and I've got another bit of a herniation--no impingement on the cord--at the last cervical vertebrae, that protrudes left. Is there any way they all could have hauled off and ruptured at once or something? I'm taking IB by the truckload, but it's really only taking the edge off. I can barely walk.

Thanks.
Bio

[biowham]

Hi again all--

Wonko--no time! I just don't have the time. I can barely fit in what my children have to do in addition to my own work. I've had to change an MRI appointment THREE TIMES in the last week and a half because I just can't make the arrangements to cover everything.

Shell--it is so much like that...just right down my spine from top to bottom. I can tell it's not muscles because IB is pretty much worthless. Add to it that I woke up this morning with the WORST headache (?) only in one spot on top of my head over my left eye...just a horrible pain, so bad in fact that I was trying to deal with it in a dream right before I woke up.

I'm only 40, but sometimes I get really cranky about these manifestations of encroaching age or whatever the h*** they are.

Bio

[sllowe]

Yes, I felt that too. I had to position myself so my back did not move at all when I was sitting on the couch as it would get worse.  But, like you say, it's not muscle pain at all and very much different. Directly along the spine.  

My Dr. did not suggest going on a steroid though.  My skin burned across the mid to lower along with it too.  He prescribed lyrica,  but I did not fill it.  I did not want any side affects to deal with.  Like I say, it did take 3-4 months to get back off, I hope it leaves you and soon.  Yuck, yuck, yuck - I hate that you have this going on too - it's wretched.

ttys,
Shell

[wonko]

Hi bio, I just saw your reply.  I hope you are holding up well, not sure ?why? you need to wait to see the doctor, but trust you have good reason.

Take care.

[jensequitur]

I've used ice before on my back, and it worked pretty well.  Actually, those gel packs - I would put on my back, then fall asleep.  It helps to reduce inflammation and get the muscles healed up.

[doni54]

Hi Bio,

I can't give you any better advice than you've already received, but I can tell you that I'm sorry your back is giving you so much pain.  That has to be miserable.

Try to get to the dr when you can, so that you can get some relief.  You might need new tests to check out those disks.

Good luck and hope you are feeling better soon.

doni

[biowham]

Thanks, everyone. I do feel as though maybe I should ask about a steroid shot. Shelly, this is, in addition to pain, very much a pressure kind of feeling. I feel like if I make any sudden moves, something bad will happen. It doesn't really feel like any muscle issues except in the middle at the back of my ribs. Elaine, thanks for the ice suggestion--I've thought about it, but the idea of putting ice on my back just sounds awful. I may try it today. I can't get to a doctor for at least two more days. Kathy, as far as the MRIs have shown--most recent was last April--there are no ruptured discs, just bulging ones. I guess, however, that some rupture could have happened. Or several...

Bio

[sllowe]

Oh Bio,

My gosh. I just don't know.  I have had the spinal pressure that made it difficult to walk, sit, or stand. Walking and moving around I was ok, but not being still, or laying in bed even.

I insisted with my MRIs that they include the t-spine, and they did, but not the L.  It showed nothing.  The Dr said it was due to the damage in my c-spine.  I found it hard to believe because it felt like my spine was pressing out of my back - i t's horrible.

Is it affecting your bowels? Mine did.  Pushing made it so worse, to include blowing my nose, sneezing, etc.

Not sure if mine is similiar or not, but if it is, I'm so sorry.  It took over 3 months for it to back of to what it is now, which is just dull pressure and very much bearable to what it was.

-Citybutterfly!
Welcome! Will you start a new post if you have not already done so? Would love to welcome you properly! Thanks for coming along and hope we get to know you better.

-Shelly

[Wobbly]

oh that sounds so painful.... call your Dr tomorrow... I myself have been having lower right side pain for about a month...

Dr thinks it Sarcral area... I'm waiting for a whole spine MRI..not sure if it will show anything with that pain... so I have some idea of what you are going through...

I can't twist my body, or take a step backwards...it will pop my back out..and the pain is unbearable..I'm taking 500mg of Napraxen..not helping at all..so I'm calling my Dr to see him again..he said to put Ice on it too..

take care and let us know how things go...
wobbly
undx

[citybutterfly3]

Hi Ihave m.s. for the last three years, relasping-remitting they say but I hurt isome where all the time. I feel like demons are holding on to my legs, and stabbing the top pf my thigh in my groin area. I have the same kind of back diagnosis, if I lift too much I get the same pain. It does have to be heavy, it just happens. I get the cold face on one side, and the headaches. I have cold legs. And pain in my fingers. I have carpal tunnel in both wrists. Sometimes suddenly my heart races, and I have had diarrhea fro 6weeks. The body is weird. I learnt that IB can give you it's own headache, and stuff. You should check with your doctor for a round of steriods, that may break the pain circle
they hate to give them but what can you do? Pain medicine sometimes will not help. Butterfly#

[Fluffysmom]

Bio,

It sounds like nerve pain to me, too, and I find that ice does help some when my nerves are glowing, as I call it.  

My PCP sent me a note about my glowing right arm, saying that some tight muscles might be trapping some nerves and causing the nerve pain (my NCV was normal) and suggested physical therapy for it, with soft tissue work for the muscles.

I'm thinking that if you have any muscle relaxants around, they might help until you can call the doctor.  

One thing I learned about spinal stuff, is that if the discs are herniated, there is a possibility that the nucleous pulposus (the gel in the middle of the disc) can leak out and is a very irritating to the nerves that it comes into contact with.  I have a lot of annular tears in my lumbar discs, (had a discography), and I've learned not to twist or compress my lower back too much, or it hurts like he l l.  I know first hand about being barely able to walk.

I hope you find some relief in our advice, whatever works.  Take good care of you, and please call your doctor in the morning.  Don't want you hurting so bad!

Kathy

[monotreme]

Can you apply ice packs to the painful areas?  That may give some relief coupled with the  IB.  And call the doctor in the morning.  That sounds very painful.  I don't think many discs would all rupture so my guess is that it may be nerve pain.

Craig had a few episodes like this in 2006.  The doctors always thought it was a ruptured disc and the mri's were normal.  Looking back, it was probably nerve pain all along.  

Wrap the ice pack in a towel so you don't put ice directly on the skin.
Elaine

[wonko]

Bio, that sounds awful!  

I'm not wise enough to know what could cause this or what the most appropriate action would be.  I've had widespread inflammation for some time and can't tolerate too much IB, watch out it can really trash your stomach.

What about steroids?  Do you think your doctor would consider getting you on them?  It sounds like you need relief right away, even if they can't figure out why just yet...

Ugh, I hope your status improves soon!