Hi
I took my fiancee' to the ER on Wed. nite- the dr said he had a herniated disk-s ?- he was given naproxen 500mg 2 x a day and hydroco/apap5 acetaminophen w/ hydrocodo 500 mg every 4-6 hrs, I don't belive any of these have helped ( has only made him constipated ) - now the pain in his leg is unbearable !!!! I seen and felt the muscle spams he's having- how awful !!! He can't hardly walk - he isn't trying to put any pressure on that side of his leg, he walks hunched over - I'm taking him back to ER this morning- any one have any advise ?
thank you & take care- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hi, Countrygal

I'm sorry you guys are going through this - I know what it's like watching someone you love go through so much pain.

It would be a good idea to find him a good neuro surgeon and get him in as soon as possible. Does he have a general practioner he goes to that could refer you?

The ER will probably only treat his pain and leave the rest to a specialized dr. So........ nothing gets fixed.

Let us know how it goes. Luckily, I understand MN to be one of the leading states for spinal drs.


------------------
gbr

JDD
2 Discograms
4 Level failed IDET
4 Confirmed torn lumbar discs, 2 full thickness
Issues now with c-spine & thoracic
Fusion of L5/S1 scheduled 3/5/03
Fusion successful - feeling better all the time

thanks for your reply http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
I ended up taking my fiancee' back to the ER on Sat- the dr gave him muscle relaxer pills - still no relief, so today he called a chriopractor- he told him he also had a pinched nerve- he did wonders for him, he goes back tommorow and see's him again- he told him he still needs some time off work, but at least he's feeling better http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
thanks again & take care

Hi CountryGal and welcome http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

You need to get your boyfriend in to get an MRI pronto. The leg pain he is experiencing sounds like sciatica. This means the L4/L5 and/or the L5/S1 is causing nerve impingement. Tell me what he does that makes the pain less (sit, stand, walk, laydown, etc.). What makes the pain most intense? These clues can help to pinpoint where his problem "could be" coming from. But the MRI is most important here. NOTHING will be done to help him until he has at least that diagnostic tool in his hands. The chiropractor may be very good, but he is not a medical doctor and your beau may have problems getting medications (unless his general practioner will back up your chiro for whatever drugs he feels you should have (or something like that).

FIRST THING TO TELL YOUR BEAU....STOP WHATEVER HE IS DOING THAT IS CAUSING HIS DEBILITATING PAIN. JUST STOP IT. If this means he must just lay in bed for 2 or 3 weeks...then so be it. The more he is up and hurting, the more he is damaging his back. Until it is either fixed or strengthened (through PT)...he MUST change his way of life--for it is that (his way of life) that has caused his problem. And by the way... tell him to stop being so darn strong. The doctors MUST see his pain. So don't let him have "all" of his meds before he sees the doctor. We ALL try so hard to hide our pain....it is our biggest enemy and our biggest salvation. Our pride keeps us from getting the help we really need (because we may be too proud to cry in front of strangers) and our pride will take us past this nightmare, giving us the strength to endure and succeed.

Good luck to you and I hope all turns out well.



------------------
successtory
Oct 2000: Repetitive Stress Injury-Inverted Hernia
Feb 2001: MRI. Shows only slight bulge at L4-L5
Dec 2001: Discogram/CT scan shows Inverted Hernia at L5-S1. L4-L5 & L5-S1 ruptured in all 4 quadrants. Unable to walk.
Feb 2002: IDET, Nucleoplasty, Intra-Discal Injections
Sept 2002: Rated in the top 10% for successful patients. Retraining for new career.

I know EXACTLY how he feels hun, and I go for my surgery to relieve it June 30th. I am with the last poster, he needs an MRI asap... don't rely just on a chiropracter.


Lisa

Hi Countrygal http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif
Sorry to hear about your guy. Ditto what Successtory said. Need to find SOURCE of pain- then look at options. Problem w/disc injuries is if not appropriately corrected they might lead to permanent nerve damage. Can't take chances with that. MRI's are usually best diagnostic tool to start with.
Much luck to you both!

Hi Lisa7767 http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif
What type surgery are you having done? A microdiscectomy? Which disc(s)? Appears you're just down the road from a couple of us- Daubie (Holy,MI) & myself (Troy,MI). (From the L5-S1 Hemilaminectomy-Microdiscectomy thread) Much luck to you & visit us if you have a chance on the other thread.

Take care all!
Laura http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Thank you for your relpies and advise, successtory
you had "many" wise words- your so right about being so strong, one of the many reasons I fell in love with him- he shows his pride, you can't miss it-right now his pain is unbearable - he's at the chriopactor again this morning , I am sent him a link to this board, hope he answers the questions you asked, it's hard for me to know what he is doing and the pain he feels, I can just see it on him - it's not good
He hurt his back about 1 1/2 yrs ago at work- how would one know if this is recurring injury to that ?
I agree, he needs a MRI done- asap !! He can't go on this way much longer- the dr's he saw here said rest- and then move around so you don't get stiff- and go to therapy- no mention of any tests - just gave him pills ( which is NO relief to mask the pains anyways )
thank you Lisa for your words too- I wish you the "Best" outcome of your surgery
thank you too TexMich, any advise is so grately apprecicated !!
I wish you all the best & many-many thanks again !

I hope the next reply you see will be posted from my fiancee' and he can explain more in details how he's feeling -- and any other information anyone can provide before he see the next dr

Hi Lisa7767
What type surgery are you having done? A microdiscectomy? Which disc(s)? Appears you're just down the road from a couple of us- Daubie (Holy,MI) & myself (Troy,MI). (From the L5-S1 Hemilaminectomy-Microdiscectomy thread) Much luck to you & visit us if you have a chance on the other thread.

Take care all!
Laura

Hi Laura http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif ,

Small world huh?
I am having the Microdiscectomy( and not sure what else yet, said depending on how many are actually ruptured,he may have to do a fusion??)
My EMG shows perm. nerve damage cause they waited so long.. The injury occured on Jan 16th, and by valentines day I Couldn't walk. Went to Beaumont's E.R
and they immediately doped me up, when I had told them how this occured, and they did an x-ray and he said it looked like I had 3 ruptures. Had the M.R.I done and it was confirmed. My L 3-4 4-5 and L-5 S-1
the 3-4 they aren't sure yet, as it just shows a big black spot.. I had three opinions so far .. one was the PT Dr. and another was an extremely recommneded surgeon at Beaumont, and another (alledgedly tops in his field) from St. Johns.

Im starting to get really scared now.. so many things going through my head now that the day is almost here. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif


[This message has been edited by Lisa7767 (edited 06-23-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Lisa7767 (edited 06-23-2003).]