To have or not to have mylegram - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

purplerain212 · 03-28-2005, 10:04 AM

I was rear-ended and have whiplash as a result. My MRI shows mild cervical stenosis plus various bulges and protrusions in my cervical and thorasic areas. I've seen a neurosurgeon and a DR. at a spine center. Both told me the stenosis and bulges/protrusions, plus everything shown on my MRI may have just been aggravated by the accident and could have been there before. I'm 32 and have never had any neck or back problems before. Except when I was pregnant

! Anyway I get send off with skelaxin and mobic and told to continue taking my ultram for pain, in which I stated that it doesn't work. Anyway, mention was also made toward arthritis in my back. Where the spine center Dr. got that, I don't know, but apparently from my MRI. My question is, not that I want surgery by any means, but it's been 3 months and I'm still in pain. On these boards I see people who had surgery with the same things I have. I feel like the Dr's I've seen are undermining my pain I guess. I also have feelable muscle spasms from my neck down, and each Dr. feels that is what's causing my pain. I have no idea if it's the MRI showings or spasms causing the pain, and again, I just want it gone! Anyone have any thoughts? I'm just getting more frustrated each day as my pain is still there. I'm not a baby and have quite a high tolerance for pain. Throughout the day I manage by taking it easy and my pain level is between a 2-3. If I stand or walk to long I can hit a 7-8, and that's when I break down, cry, feel sorry for myself and take my pain pill which brings my pain level down a few notches but nothing to write home about. The neurosurgeon also made alot of reference to it being a motor vehicle case, and made me feel as though I may be a "lawsuit case". I guess I just had to vent, as I'm so aggravated over this and don't know where to turn for help. Please give me any thoughts you may have! Thanks, Stephanie--Oh, my original point was the mylegram

The neurosurgeon reccommended it, and my question is why bother? If there is nothing they are going to do to treat me why go through that?

Sam43 · 03-28-2005, 11:09 AM

Hi,
Just a thought; you may or may not end up being a candidate for surgery, but I would discuss with your docs a strategy for your pain meds. When I had surgery for a neck problem, they stressed "staying ahead of the pain." Which means taking the meds sooner rather than later as the pain gets worse. It's understandible if you don't want to rely too much on meds, but it may allow you to get some sustained relief and perhaps improve the healing process (we all tend to tighten up when in pain.)
Also, I was told once that "arthritis" is a very general term and could cover a lot of things, including the results of your MRI. I would defintely bug your docs about the pain issue, as you'll see from other posts here, it is sometimes necessary to be persistant.
How long ago was your accident?

purplerain212 · 03-28-2005, 12:34 PM

Hi Sam, I know your right about staying ahead of the pain, and taking the pain pill sooner. I guess I'm learning as I go. My accident was 3 months ago. Until that point, I've had a fairly pain free life

. I've also never been on pills regulary and have always just relied on as needed meds. Now I'm on 2 pills all the time(until I stop, as I don't seem to be getting any great relief from them either!) and get nervous taking the pain pill. Just now I finished vacuuming and am in alot of pain! Just sick,sick,sick of it! I kinda thought one of these Dr.'s would say I know what the problem is and we'll fix it. Guess not! Thanks for your advise! Take care, Stephanie

Sam43 · 03-30-2005, 02:58 PM

Hi Stephanie,
If the pain is staying the same or getting worse, I would say (keeping in mind I'm not an expert) that you should try something to make progress toward recovery. The mylegram might be one thing to try, if only to give you more information to work with. Have you discussed physical therapy with any of your docs? I've had some neck issues and the physical therapy did seem to help with the pain somewhat, although I ended up having surgery. If the accident was more recent, I would advise you to wait and see if the pain gets better, but three months does seem a long time to be in that much pain.