Hi Guy's :wave: ,
As everyone knows I have had a small infection in the S1/L5 where the Fusion was done. Doc said he wanted to do a wait & see as sometimes they come & go, and then go away on thier own. When I posted my MRI report, you all were right about the fluid meaning an infection. I went on Antibiotics after awhile (I get sick from antibiotic's) so I delayed it, but finally took them after 1 week. Now last weeks MRI shows the infection has doubled, even with the Antibiotics. So he wants to do a CT-Guided Needle Aspiration.
Can anyone tell me how this is done? And will I have to go in the Hospital for IV antibiotics afterwards? If so, for how long, Days, weeks? I have never had one before and the internet isn't much help for the Lumbar region.
Thanks to All,
StarDust

I don't know the answer to your questions; however, I want to urge you to do whatever needs to be done to get this infection cleared up as quickly as possible before it gets out of hand.

Hopefully, someone will know the answers.

Carol

Hi Carol,
Yes, I will do whatever he says to clear it up. The Aspiration he wants to do will probably be in about 2 weeks. He wants another blood test first to see the extent of it.
But everytime I have a few minutes to run & do another blood test, my back is fine. Other days it is swollen and itching so bad I can't stand it. THAT'S when I want the blood test done, when it is at it's peak. My luck it won't do it again till after the time to get the bloodwork :rolleyes: . But I am going to try to wait a bit and have it done when it's at it's worse. Maybe it will tell him something else, he doesn't know.
Thank's, StarDust

PS. Just curious, Is there something I can do to bring out the worst of it, like it is at home? Like heat or something?

If you have infection, it will show up in your blood no matter how your back is looking or feeling. Don't wait for an "episode", just have the bloodwork. If it is negative and you want to do it again during a flair that's fine, butyou shouldnt wait. And no, I don't know of any way to make it flair up.

Carol

Hi Carol,
Yes, the Infection shows up ALL THE TIME, in all the bloodwork they do. In all MRI's etc.
I have a copy of all MRI's and they all have the Fluid (infection) surrounded by Inflammation.
But the day he told me he was going to do an emergency Surgery from the MRI, he then checked the blood count on a different day and said to wait. So I do believe something is happening when it flares-up like it does to make him want to do surgery so quickly and then a wait & see.
But since the May 4th revision surgery he has not yet looked at my back once, and I have asked him too when it has flared up and told him it was swollen and purple and itches terribly, yet he has still never checked it out.
I was just thinking that maybe during one of these "Flare-ups" the infection is either worse or spreading and he needs to know about it.
I will still have the Blood Test again. But guess I am going to have to make him listen to me about the rest of it
Thank's, StarDust

Got the BloodWork done Today.

But I am still wondering if anyone knows how a Needle Aspiration is done, especially in the Lumbar area :confused: .
Thanks,
Stardust

Something isn't right here. You tell your doctor that your back is swollen and bruised, oozing....and he doesn't even look at it?????? I'm telling you I would be running to find another doctor. How he can ignore something like that? It could be life-threatening and you should not allow him to treat you that way. Please, find someone who will care.

Carol

It's not oozing. He knows of the infection, However I have told him of this for 6 months and at times when I had an appt it was swollen & purple and Itching severely, and he wouldn't look at it.
He mentioned something about it coming & going until it heals, But then when he got the MRI reports he was shocked and wanted to do Emergency Surgery. Then it went down again, even though the Bloodwook still shows an infection and the MRI proves it.
He had a family Emergency and is gone for awhile, and his PA is "stupid :rolleyes: ". But I did the Bloodwork and he should return soon to check things out. He still won't look at it, he looks at the reports & files instead.
His PA said he will probably want to do the Needle Aspiration and go with antibiotics, However he doesn't know I was on a weeks antibiotics and the infection doubled.
So I guess I will find out soon, either he comes back soon or I am going to the ER. The pain is back and my back is hot. But he told me to watch for 3-5 days of severe pain and if that happens then go to the Hospital and he will have to do Emergency Surgery.
No matter what happens I have a feeling I will end up back in surgery to clean it out and on IV Anitbiotics.
But I would still like to know how they do the 'Lumbar Needle Aspiration'.
Thank's,
Stardust