Had this all wrote out and must have hit something wrong. Had just read a post about forgetfulness. I have had that for about a year. In the post they mentioned Neurotin, but I have not taken that for some time now. I think it is the meds us back folk take, the pain killers, muscle relaxers, etc. I have Elavil that I take occasionally for full body jerks when I go to bed. The next day I am very slow and groggy. A bad episode with my back does the same thing. Of all the things I have had wrong with me over the years, this back thing and the pain that accompanies it has done the most damage to me trying to remember things and stay alert.
What do you think?

Yup......Taking lots of Meds. affected my thinking(slowed it down),affected my speech(slurred), affected my balance.
The Docs had me taking Pain drugs-Muscle relaxers-Anti-inflamitories....Don't remember some days.....but it made life more bareable.....
Drug free almost 2-yrs. since sucessfull Fusion!! I can tell you what I did everyday for the last couple of weeks without thinking.......Use to be Doh!

MaryAnne

Did you ask a question? hehe, just kidding. That is no joke about all these meds, though. I'm taking, let's see if I can remember: Celexa, neurontin, Lortab 10/500, Zanaflex, Ambien, Vicoden 5/500. But, it helps make life bearable until my surgery!

O'Girl

------------------
20 years intermittent back pain - no treatment sought
Nov 2001 - herniated disk - Right leg radiculopathy
Jan 2002 - Chiropractic care
Mar 2002 - MRI, X-Rays, Oral steroids
Apr 2002 - L4/L5 Microdiskectomy
Sept 2002 - PT, Oral steroids
Oct 2002 - MRI, Xrays - Failed Back Syndrome
Apr 2003 - TFESI, EMG, MRI
Diagnosis - DDD - foraminal narrowing, disk bulges, osteophytes, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, active marrow edema, levoscoliosis, retrolisthesis, scar tissue encompassing L5 nerve root, disk height diminished, abnormal EMG results for left leg
Sept 2003 - Discogram with Xrays, CT Scan.
Oct 2003 - 2 level 360 degree fusion to be scheduled

Hello http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif Maryanne,

I do take plenty of medications and One of them includes Neurontin and the dosage has just been increased. I had also taken Elavil for a couple of months at bedtime. My neuro recently said to stop taking the Elavil and put me on Zanaflex. I also take ES Vicodin. I have other medical conditions and take a bunch of other meds. I believe that the combination of meds can cause forgetfulness. I also have the symptoms that Acme described. Oh and I have so much trouble concentrating. I can know longer do two things at the same time.

I just want to get better and me rid of these meds.

Take Care.

------------------
Cervical MRI 10/02
Loss of cervical lordosis with reversal of the curvature.
C4-5 and C6-7 disc bulges resulting in flattening of the ventral margin of the cord.
C5-6 there is a left foraminal herniation which results in moderate foraminal stenosis In addition, there is flattening of the ventral margin of the cord due to bulging disc.
Cervical Epidural 5/19/03

Lumbar MRI 10/02
Lumbar Lordosis
L5-S1 disc herniation with moderate thecal sac deformity.
L4-5 disc desiccation with bulge which results in mild thecal sac deformity and mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.
L2-3 disc desiccation with Schmorl’s nodule of L3.
Lumbar Epidural 1/30/03
Lumbar Epidural 2/12/03
Lumbar Epidural 2/26/03
Lumbar Discogram 5/23/03
Lumbar CatScan 5/23/03
Posterior Fusion & Infuse on L4,L5,S1 6/30/03
Lumbar X-Ray 7/24/03
Lumbar X-Ray 8/27/03
Still no pain relief....

I too want to get off the meds and feel better and get back to my life as it was. I don't want to be 20 again but at least get up every morning not wondering if I will be able to make it thru the day without taking anything. The doctor told me it is imperitative to take ibuprofen three times a day, even if I have no pain. Like I have had a day with no pain in years.....
But the second day I walked out of the bathroom and left the water running, made me wonder what was going on. It is the look your family gives you when you do these stupid things that kills me. They are being so careful around me like I am losing my mind or something. LOL. The Elavil doesn't make me groggy, but have a hard time in the mornings clearing my head, so am thinking that is a major med that is making me this way. I have tried to slow down in all that I do, which with back problems, you are slowing down anyway, but I mean with my thinking as well. It is hard to do when you are trying to cram 16 hours of stuff to do into 8 or 10, ya know? And then when I do feel somewhat better I go a hundred miles an hour to try to "catch" up, and it just doesn't work.
Ok I have got my whining out of the way for the day, TeeHee