Mri-c5-6 - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

WICHRIS · 05-16-2004, 07:39 AM

Hi everyone-I was hoping someone could help me understand the results of
my MRI. I started having terrible pain at the base of my neck that radiates
out to my shoulder blades and then down my spine- the fingers on my left
hand are sometimes numb and recently sometimes I drop things with my left
hand.My PCP ordered an MRI last week and called me 3 hours later and said
the disk at C5-6 was pushing on my spinal cord ( the radiology tech said I
wouldnt have the results for 2 to 4 days ! ) My PCP then called and had me
make an appt. ASAP with the Physiatrist for an EMG test and pain management and in his words to see what she suggests as further treatment.
I am currently on Neurontin,Flexeril and Vicodin 5/500 ( 2 x day ).The last couple of days though the pain has been so bad I was going to call tomorrow
to see if I could take the Vicodin 3 x day. I guess I am just really scared about this and dont know what to expect.Now I have to wait 2 weeks because the Physiatrist is on vacation until then ! What type of treatment
do they use for this condition ?-Surgery?? This started about 2 months ago and seems to get
worse everyday-has anyone had to use pain meds like Vicodin for this problem? I truly appreciate any help,replies or suggestions as I am really
nervous about this whole thing...

Thanks-Chris

Hurdy · 05-16-2004, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WICHRIS

Hi everyone-I was hoping someone could help me understand the results of
my MRI. I started having terrible pain at the base of my neck that radiates
out to my shoulder blades and then down my spine- the fingers on my left
hand are sometimes numb and recently sometimes I drop things with my left
hand.My PCP ordered an MRI last week and called me 3 hours later and said
the disk at C5-6 was pushing on my spinal cord ( the radiology tech said I
wouldnt have the results for 2 to 4 days ! ) My PCP then called and had me
make an appt. ASAP with the Physiatrist for an EMG test and pain management and in his words to see what she suggests as further treatment.
I am currently on Neurontin,Flexeril and Vicodin 5/500 ( 2 x day ).The last couple of days though the pain has been so bad I was going to call tomorrow
to see if I could take the Vicodin 3 x day. I guess I am just really scared about this and dont know what to expect.Now I have to wait 2 weeks because the Physiatrist is on vacation until then ! What type of treatment
do they use for this condition ?-Surgery?? This started about 2 months ago and seems to get
worse everyday-has anyone had to use pain meds like Vicodin for this problem? I truly appreciate any help,replies or suggestions as I am really
nervous about this whole thing...

Thanks-Chris

Hi There, As far as your vicodin question, with the pain you are having i am surprised at the low dose the doc has you on. With the strength of vicodin you are on it is safe and commonly prescribed to take 2 vicodins every 4 to 6 hours. If you should be put on that dose with the pain you are having you could probably manage your pain much better should you take the med on time every 4 or 6 hours and not wait until the pain is unbearable. If you dont wish to take that many vicodins there is a higher dose vic that your doc could prescribe for you to take 1 three times a day or even 1 tab every 4 to 6 hours. There is alot of pain medication options, you should sit down and have a good conversation with your doc about your pain level and what type of pain management would suit you best, but please remember, until you get this whole thing straightened out, you dont have to suffer everyday with severe pain! I know where you are coming from and i really feel bad for you. If i can answer more questions i would be more than happy too! I just had ACDF of C4-5 and 5-6 with double titanium cages put in. I had the same pain you are describing, unfortunately my pain has not went away after surgery. My best friend also was just diagnosed with herniation of C6-7 with the spinal cord involved just like you, so she is just getting started with this whole mess and treatment. I am just glad i guess for her that i have already been through it so i can tell her what to expect and explain to her what she is feeling. Sorry this post is so long, guess i just got carried away!!!! lol I wish you the best of luck, Hurdy

WICHRIS · 05-16-2004, 09:40 AM

Hurdy I am sorry your pain is still bad even after your surgery...I hope you
start feel better.Thank you so much for your help and suggestions.My PCP did rx the Vicodin 1 every 4 to 6 hrs but I have tried to get by with 2 a day.I guess this pain management thing is really hard for me-I am a health care
professional myself currently having to work 50 + hrs. a week and I am really having trouble with coming to terms that I might have to take some time off
work to get this pain under control.However,your reply has me feel better about calling my PCP tomorrow and asking for an refill on the Vicodin to take 3 to 4 times and enough to last 2 weeks until I see the Physiatrist.The last
rx he gave me was for 30 tabs and I made that last 2 weeks. I truly am scared about this since I had the MRI as it just doesnt seem good that this disk is currently pushing on my spinal cord-and my heart sank when he called
3 hrs after the MRI when they told me he wouldnt even have the results for 2 to 4 days.Thanks again for all help and encouragement....

Chris

Hurdy · 05-16-2004, 05:53 PM

Hi Chris, I am a Health Care Professional as well so i really do know where you are coming from. I have been on pain medication on and off for about 3 years now because of this whole mess. So of course my body has built up a tolerance for it. I have only taken vicodin (lortab) and percocet but the only strength that really helps the pain is like vicodin 10/500 or the percocet 10/500. I havent been in the Health care world since i had my surgery on April 5th, 2004. Even though i may have the medication if i am going to drive or be in the health care i dont take the medication so i have suffered with pain alot on and off. Enough about me, your injury with the spinal cord being involved can be very serious! After my friend had her mri she went to see her pcp and he told her that ( i also read the mri report, i have the report if you would like to view it just to see how similar it is to yours ) she had a herniation at c 6-7 that was pushing on her spinal cord and that the report said that there is thinning of the spinal cord. So the pcp told her she was to do absolutely nothing but rest and he also told her that if she didnt have surgery she could be paralyzed and if she did have surgery it was a 50/50 chance it could go either way, she may come out of surgery just fine or she could be paralyzed. She then had an appt for in july to see the ns well 1 day later after her pcp faxed her papers down they were calling and wanting her to come in the next day. Well she went and she didnt even see the ns, she saw a practicioner. The practitioner told her no lifting but just told her to do PT for a month and see if that helps with the pain. Well i say WHATEVER!!!!! So i called my ns and she will be seeing him for a second opinon in 2 weeks.I really hope all works out good for the two of you. Hurdy

WICHRIS · 05-18-2004, 10:59 AM

Hey Hurdy nice to talk to another health care person such as myself.I hope things are going better for you with your pain management..sorry to hear about your friend-I am glad you are there to advocate for the proper medical treatment she needs ! Sometimes I just marvel at how truly messed up our current health care delivery system is at times..As for myself thanks for all your help and advice it amazes me at how on top of the game I can be at helping other people and my staff but when it comes to my own health care I turn into an bumbling idiot! I guess probably most of it is due to the fact I was never really sick until the last year or so when I first got diagnosed with fibro by a Rheumatologist and then this C 5,6 disk last week.I have come to the realization that I will probably have to take some time off work as my PCP
suggested to get this disk under control whatever that may entail..Yesterday
I worked and I dropped a few things with my left hand and now my left leg feels weaker sometimes and I currently am at the start of a 7 day stretch at work..Well just wanted to touch base and I will be sending good thoughts your friends way as she awaits her treatment plan..

Chris