Newbie has ?'s for the back pros :)

[MKP]

I am somewhat of a lurker here at this site and have never really posted anything. I have a question that maybe some of you could help me with or give me some pointers on.

Here is the story: I am a 31 year old female with 2 small children (2 and 4) I am also a nurse who isn't working right now. About 1 1/2 months ago I was hit at a major discount store ( I cant name where because there are some legal things involved). Anyway, I was struck straight on in the back by approx.30+ shopping carts. I guess the employee who was moving them wasn't paying attention.
My initial xrays were ok. My MRI shows an annualar tear and a small disk bulge at L5-S1. I have been functioning with low back pain, some occasional siatica and leg numbness when seated. Until last tuesday when I was in the grocery store and was in excruciating pain with complete left leg numbness. I let this go on until Saturday when I finally went to the ER for Valium and a Demerol shot. I can no longer walk long distances and have seriously considered getting a mobile scooter. My current meds are Valium 10 mg 3 times a day, Neurontin 300mg at bedtime, Skelaxin 800mg 3 times a day, Indocin SR 75mg 2 times a day and Oxycontin 10mg 2 times a day. I had my 3rd ESI yesterday and have had minimal to no results from them.

Here are my questions:

1) I am scheduled to see a Neurosurgeon in 3 1/2 (11/25/03) weeks. What should I expect or demand of him?

2) Are there other treatment options available to me?
(Anesthesia who did my ESI said no chiropractor until I see the neurosurgeon.)

I appreciate any pointers you guys can give me beings that I am a newbie to this back nightmare.

Megan

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Megan

9-12-2003 freak shopping cart accident
9-12-03 ER Xrays negtive
2003 MRI L5-S1 bulge with annular tear
2 weeks of PT
9/03 1st ESI
10/03 2nd ESI
10/03 3rd ESI
Current meds: Oxycontin, Neurontin, Indocin, Skelaxin, Valium

[oakleygirl]

MKP-
First, there are no 'Pros' on this board - we're just backies like you!

Sounds like you could have herniated that disk in the grocery store to cause such a sudden, intense pain with leg numbness.

I would think the neuro will want an EMG and nerve conduction test to verify nerve involvement. You have done all the stuff you needed to do prior to visiting the neuro, so it's definitely a good thing you have that appointment. Sorry, I can't remember, have you had PT? A repeat MRI may be necessary, too, since your original symptoms have changed. In the meantime, don't push yourself with anything that could make it worse. Walking is usually best, but that doesn't appear feasible with your description.

Good Luck, keep us informed, and I'm glad you decided to post. I know I lurked for quite awhile before I became a regular!

O'Girl

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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.
Tentative date: Nov.18 - 2 level 360 degree fusion surgery

[mistyone]

i certainly hope you put in an accident report at the very least to the store who did this to you and taken to the er in an ambulance......

[successtory]

Hi Megan and welcome

O'Girl is right....it sounds like you've done what you can so far. Might I add that you should be using ICE throughout the day every day. It really does sound like a herniated disk. The fact that you can see the annular tear from the MRI tells me that it is a serious one. This is most prolly where the sciatic pain is being generated from. When the gel-like substance leaks out of the disk...it is caustic to our nerves there (who thought of that one?!?) so you get the sharp stabbing sensations...or the hot-onfire burning sensations. Both of them are excrutiatingly painful.

Another suggestion is to keep a pain diary for yourself. Rate your pain on a scale of 0-10 (a 10 means you can no longer walk because the pain makes you pass out--literally). What activities are you doing that cause your pain to raise? To lower? etc.

Start looking at non-invasive techniques. Since they have already done the injections....the non-invasive stuff if where they'll go next. Oh yeah...no chiropractors before you know exactly what is going on. My primary doctor for this injury was a chiropractor, but he is a fabulous one. He is the one who knew there was a problem and fought w/c to get stuff done "quickly" (as quick as he could within the system). He doesn't touch my "injury" area...not until I am post-2 years he said. However, he does still use the "hot ball" on me (sonic stuff) and may give me slight adjustments elsewhere on my spine. No matter how much I stick to my PT everyday...I still get sore here and there and the rest of the body still compensates for it...you know....bla bla bla. (hehe)

Gotta run. talk to you later.



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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.

[Elaine]

Megan,
I was hit in the back by a shopping cart six weeks after having L5 back fusion. Thank god for the TSLO but you should have heard the smack when the cart hit the hard plastic. Had I not been in a back brace, I am sure it would have broke my back.(Hurried shoppers at Xmas)Guy in front of me stopped, I stopped and got smucked from behind.
All my original problems were caused from a MVA.
If you have a lawsuit going, depending on how bad your injuries are, I would push for open medical if nothing else. My mistake was settling for a petty amount of money not realizing how bad I was hurt. Years later I am paying the price. Open medical is very important, money is useless, it just gets spent!
Don't settle for one opinion, get several. Above all, remember, a surgeons job is to cut, thats what they get paid for. Make sure your pain warrants surgery if that is what they decide. Sometimes it doesn't get better and you have to be willing to take that chance. Don't mean to sound like a downer but back surgery is no picnic. "Most" times you trade one pain for another.
Meanwhile, protect yourself with open medical if at all possible!!!
Elaine