Help-pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Josie115]

I've had a bad back for years and have learned to live with it for the most part. I have sciatic pain in the left leg and ddd in L5-S1 really bad and some in L3-4 as well as a bone spur in the T area (can't remember where) and a bit of spondy. With pain meds and being somewhat careful, it's been doable.

On Thursday, I started with some major pain in my left hip. The set off spasms and then the burning pain started down to my knee. Now, after trying to be somewhat active during the weekend (up moving around) I can't even walk without excruciating pain. It's in the hip joint/groin area. I can't bend it, can hardly walk with out screaming pain and am not sure what to do. I have a history of uterine cancer but the surgery took care of it..(I hope). Have a 6 mo. checkup with gyn/onc on Wednesday...but it's been almost 2 yrs. with no reoccurance. I can't stand this pain. My usual vicodans aren't touching it. I'm taking valium for muscle spasms and I live alone. The thought of going to the ER is sounding like my only option at this point. I have no idea how I could possibly go to work today. Been up all night in pain. Like #10 pain. any ideas?? Please..

[Kaylbe]

Josie,

I'm sorry to hear about this sudden spike in your pain. You sound about as desperate as I was a little over a year ago when I blew out a disk at L5-S1. I'm not sure exactly how it happened though there had been an annular tear there already. I was shopping and started noticing a worsening of my usual lumbar ache. So I got the last few items I needed, got in the car and headed home. I was about half way home when my back started feeling like it was on fire and someone was stabbing me in the butt with a knife. By the time I got home I couldn't even stand. I crawled into the house on my hands and knees... I still wonder if anyone saw me?!

Yes, the pain is excruciating. I was already using Duragesic patches with oxycodone for breakthrough pain (for other conditions.) Still the pain was overwhelming. I would have gone to the ER if it weren't for my fear that they probably wouldn't be able to do any better of a job handling my pain than what I could do at home. Looking back on it now, I think I should have gone to the ER. They would have kept me, I'm sure. I couldn't stand or walk. I had to crawl back and forth to the toilet. I found tiny bits of relief in a hot tub, laying on my side (we have a large, garden tub.) And I caught a few minutes of sleep here and there by laying on the floor on my back with my legs up on a chair (bent knees, like in a sitting position.)

You have every right to seek out treatment at the ER. This type of pain is a very legitimate reason to go in. While this does sound like a lumbar back problem, I'm sure that you must still have cancer worries in the back of your mind. That fear isn't helping matters either.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

--Kaylbe

[carol632]

I agree that you should probably get to the OR for some immediate pain relief.

Then, you need to make an appt. with a spine specialist. What you are describing could be coming from the SI joints...It is also possible you have a bad case of bursitis. It might be from the L5-S1. That is why you need a specialist in the field; there are way too many possibilites!

I wish you very good luck in your search for relief and hope you will let us know.

Carol

[Josie115]

I broke down and went to the ER. After too many nights of only 45 min. of sleep at a time and too many pills, it was clear something needed to be done.

Once in the ER the doc finally came in and asked the usual questions. I had given the nurse the usual answers to the usual questions. The doc took my right leg and moved it forwar and back..then rotated. OUCH. He agreed that the rotation pain could indicate more than sciatica pain..(had that as well). Ordered x-rays.. shot of dilaudid (didn't touch it) but the phenegren made me sleepy. Did the x-rays.. after a couple of hours, Doc came in and said arthritis of the hip! Ok..figured that one out. No brainer. Told him I had the ddd (S1-L5 etc.) He did seem to have an attitude about my vicodan prescription and wanted to know who my doc was.. (Just because he hadn't heard of her...seemed a bit weird) notes on the chart indicated and "out of network doc)...she is in network but what does he know. I think I'll have to follow up on it. She's an internist and good. She handles the diabetes etc.

In the end, another shot of dilaudid...scripts for percosets..anti inflamatory, (lodine?) 500mg. and steriod (prednisone) only 8, 2x per day for 4 days..since prednisone raises blood sugar. She's prescribed more in the past for flareup frm bone spur in thoracic area. So, that's that. Other than feeling VERY unfunctional yesterday, slept for almost 3 hrs. at a time, and...today, the hip is feeling much improved. Still staying careful with it and not moving around a whole lot.

When my last MRI came in about a yr. ago she said she'd refer me to a neuro surgeon. I told her I wasn't yet ready to go that route. It's possible she just felt uncomfortable about keeping me on vicodans. We tried long acting morphine but I just kept throwing it up. Should I see a spinal surgeon/doc or neuro surgeon? or just keep doing what I'm doing. Usually I take a weekly yoga class and it usually helps.. have had to miss it lately. Thank you for all your help and suggestions. It means alot to have someone else who has been therre and know what I'm talking about.

[lilmissprissy72]

Its sounds Like Si joint to me as well...I have si dysfunction and It sounds exactly like the pain I remember Having the first time It happened..I was scared to death..Your best thing to do is let the drs do there job...If nothing else go get a pain shot to help with your pain until you can get in to see a spine dr ,or a ortho dr.It will help relieve your pain and you can help your body to relax alittle.Don't try to tough it out,Oour bodys are great about letting us know when something is wrong,We just need to listen.Hope everything is ok,keep us posted