Can anyone please help us?! About 2 years ago my husband started having back pain in the T7-T8. It started to make his left leg go numb and he fell a few times from it. Went to the ER... nothing. The pain has gotten progressivly worse. Now, we are 4 sets of x-rays later, 2 MRI's, 2 chiropractors, and a pain specialist later... and no one knows what is wrong with him!!! (One er doc even had the nerve to inform him that the pain was in his lower back, and it was"displaced") The pain is at a point now where he has chest pain, pain in his arms, and is really tired all the time. Any one have any suggestions?

Dear Kendrajim,

That sounds awful! My suggestion is that you see a physiatrist. They are physical and rehab docs that combine typical specialties in neuro, ortho and rehab into spinal expertise in lots of cases. They have great ones all over but Mayo or a teaching hospital may be a good place to go, too, given the obvious complexity of his situation. If it were my husband I would insist he get a discogram. They are difficult tests because the point is to see if they can provoke pain in the affected discs and try to isolate which discs are provoking the pain and why (i.e., annular tear in the outer fibrous coating of the disc, herniation of the disc by the inside nucleus of the disc squishing out and hitting nerve endings, etc). The discogram is really considered by most docs to be the definitive diagnostic test because they put dye into the discs and can then see on fluroscopy all the various deficiencies, if any, with the structural condition of the disc. It is much more definitive for degenerative discs than an MRI or x-ray. In my case I had two MRIs, both showing annular tears in the L4disc. Subsequent discogram showed the L4 tear and a HUGE tear in L5. The L5 disc was also collapsing on one end and was by far provoking more pain than L4, although both were positive for discogenic pain in the discogram. None of the defects in L5 were visible in the MRIs. I asked my doc why, and he said that depending on location some disc defects just can't be seen on the MRIs. Anyway, that is the best advice I can give you. A discogram would hopefully give you a clearer picture of what is going on so you could begin to explore your options, ie., PT, nucleoplasty, discectomy, IDET, fusion, etc. Frankly, none of the options for spinal and discal disorders are very great, but when your husband is having some radiculopathy that can lead to serious problems with nerve damage if not resolved, getting a correct diagnosis and selecting the best treatment option you can find should be pursued sooner rather than later, in my opinion. Good luck and God bless. sksapp

If he is having chest pain and radiating numbness in the arms, and the MRI's do not show anything, I would schedule an echocardiogram.

------------------
L5/S1 Discectomy/laminectomy 7/5/01 TBI
L5/S1 Prodisc ADR 5/29/03 TBI

He has already had the EKG, but thanks for the input. We were scared at that one... let me tell you! Thelists of tests goes on for a mile, including gall bladder, esophogitis (sp?), sciatica, heart, and on and on.

I do think your husband should see a Neurosurgeon. Your husband may end up getting a full MRI on his cervical/thoracic/lumbar/sacral regions.

If you are doing searches on the web, I would suggest the word "dermatome" be included to find maps of the body that show which nerves connect to what parts of the body. I know a great web site I could give you, but rules prevent me from posting it.

PS, if after all the analysis, your husband ends up needing some kind of surgery, we will all weigh in on our preferences, so I thought I would start of by saying 2 maxims I live by:

1. Fusion is forever and should be considered only as a last result.
2. IDET - I wouldn't wish this procedure on my worst enemy. I'd rather have my p*nis nailed to a stump, be given an axe, and told that if I was still there in an hour, people would come kill me. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

jdog

Kendrajim,Hi you are just down the road from me I know and I can't think of the name not University Hosp. but the other large Hosp.there is suppose to have a great PM dept I know of a lot of people here in town that have gone there.They are suppose to be able to do wonders w/backs ect.I myself have my faith in Cleveland Clinic as I know they don't give up so easy without answers I know it is a long drive I myself it takes around 2hrs and when your in pain it is a hard trip but I have come to understand that it is well worth it to get the right treatment.I had heart surgery there in 1998 and have been fighting WC & private Ins. to get my back worked on there now for almost 4 yrs.I'm not giving up yet.RIVERSIDE I think that is the name of the other Hosp. I have heard so much about as I said my faith is in Cl.Cl. but whatever don't stop searching to you have exhausted all areas and feel confident you have the correct anwers.Cl.Clinic has a site if you want to research I wish you much luck.
Linda

Kendrajim - Sorry to hear about your husband's pain - it does not sound pleasant. Has he had any nuerological test done, i.e. EMG or nerve conduction tests?

Renee

Kendrajim - Sorry to hear about your husband's pain - it does not sound pleasant. Has he had any nuerological test done, i.e. EMG or nerve conduction tests?

Renee