going to the doctor

[mkh9]

Hi group,
I am just posting to say wish me luck today. I'm going to get in the car (first time in 5 months) and go see my doctor. I hope I don't have too much pain or get hurt by the trip. I am updating him and getting some things checked out. Besides the back pain I have had a swollen lymph node under my chin for about 2 months and a rash or eczema (not sure what it is) on both legs for a while now too. Time for a check up. The doctor will probably have me do new MRI's. He saw my husband this last Monday and said he thought I may have facet joint degen. with a pinched nerve. His didn't show up until the second MRI. We'll see. Wish me luck.
mkh9

[mkh9]

My family practise doc just did hip Xrays (instead of a hip MRI) and an upper back Xray (since I have a new symptom there). I had a MRI of lower back before (which was normal). He knows I am going to a physiatrist in two weeks so he is passing the buck to her . He waffles between facet joint degen. (a pinched nerve) and myofascial. I am curious about the Xrays of the hip since the leg doesn't move the same. I don't have hip point just pain in the one spot near the SI. He doesn't think it is SI joint. But, he is leaving the diagnosis up to the physiatrist at this point. I am too. We both figure she will get another recent MRI if she wants one. He did offer me valium which I turned down. I think I want to get some kind of diagnosis before taking a random J drug. He is very big on handing out pills. The neurontin didn't really take the pain down but I seemed to get less what I call tweeks or pain episodes. But I am walking almost 40 minutes now and stretching. It has helped with the endurance and pain some. I cycle up and down pretty much every other day until I started exercising more then I seem to start to lower the pain. I feel I had a great sucess in that I got into the car (after not doing it for 5 months) and I didn't drive but it didn't hurt like it used to .  The thing that did hurt was the twists getting into the Xray positions so I took Celebrex and Tylenol for two days. Today is good so far (low pain). So I will try to get into the car more often. The doctor did find I have an ear infection and that my tooth is bad and causing the swollen lymph node. I hadn't seen the dentist for a year. I wore away part of a filling. I think going through the recovery process will be painful so I will need something. Maybe a combo of Lyrica or some other drug plus the Tylenol and Celebrex on bad days. I hope to be able to get out this. I am optimistic because I got out of this once before with exercise. I am in worse physical shape due to all the injuries from the PT's and so it will be harder but I feel I will accomplish this one way or another. If not I will be in for a big fall. So I have to stay positive. Before the PT did traction on my hip joint capsule I didn't have this problem by the way. Sooo, I don't know. It could be scar tissue and fear of opening my leg since I injured myself badly doing that. So, wish me lots O' luck getting a diagnosis and moving forward. I just am worried this new doctor will hurt me or set me back in trying to get a diagnosis. All those twists and stuff. I hope if I tell her that twisting is bad and bending that she won't push me to hard. Any advice?
mkh9

[Tuckamore]

Hi Mkh9,

I am glad to hear that you consulted your physician. Did he have anything to add besides x-rays? In my opinion they are not a very good diagnostic tool. However they are a good place to begin the diagnostic process.

There are a multitude of medications that may be effective on your chronic pain. I think knowing the source of your pain will give your physician a better clue as to what might be effective.

As Jaded stated it is often a cocktail of medications that best treats pain. Some ppl require muscle relaxers, a NSAID and an opiate. Other ppl do better with another combination of meds. It's a trail and error process and again determining the source of your pain will assist your physician with these decisions.

I will look forward to your updates. Best of luck.

Peace,
~Tuck

[mkh9]

Well, my car battery was dead a couple of months ago so my husband charged it and then has been switching cars every couple of days. I had some Xrays done of my hip and upper back yesterday. It hurt to get into those positions. I couldn't open my leg on the bad side half as much as theh right. Maybe it is the hip or couldn't the muscle be that locked up. I need some type of pain control but don't want to get addicted to something. I tried Neurontin and it didn't help much. Any suggestions?
thanks,
mkh9

[JadedSweetheart]

Good luck with everything!  My first thought about getting in the car for the first time in 5 months was that I hope your battery isn't dead!  It happens to me if I don't drive my car for a while.
I hope they're able to give you a diagnoses and help get your pain under better control around the clock.