Help needed - am I normal!!! - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

ladybumblebee · 01-22-2008, 02:35 PM

I've posted quite a few times now but have had a rotten day. I got up this morning and promptly fell over. My issue is mainly c-spine (discs removed/ repaired/bulging and lots of nerve damage in neck and shoulder) but my left leg and arm aren't working properly. I'm at an 8 from a pain point of view - went to doc and he didn't have a clue

I had to work from home which is fine for the odd day but I travel a lot with work - 500 + miles a week and am struggling badly limping. The doc brushed me off - any help or thoughts greatly received.

A very miserable and very sore LBB

chablis3 · 01-22-2008, 06:17 PM

Hi lady, sorry to hear your not going well. I haven't had any surgery yet (back and neck problems), but just wanted to respond to your post to wish you well. I think you need a new doctor if your present one is brushing you off. It is quite apparent that there is something wrong with the way you are in pain, and the arm and leg not working right. Could you possibly go and see the surgeon that did your operation? He might be a better person to talk to about your symptoms rather than your primary doc.

Just my thoughts, and I hope you come up with some answers asap. Take care,
Judy

sammyo1 · 01-23-2008, 06:04 AM

LBB, I am so sorry to hear about the doc. visit not going so well. Did you discuss more pain control? It does sound like something is going on & you need to find out ASAP. I am sorry I don't understand much about the health system in canada but can't you call & let them know what happened? Even here it can take months to get in to a specialist. Chab has a good point, what about the surgeon? I don't know how you are doing all that work, geez. I hope you can work this out, perhaps at least seeing if they will run some tests or give you something to control that pain. It would be worth a try. I hate to hear of you suffering & it sounds like its getting worse. Take care & Let us know what happens. Sammy

Ps I don't know what you use for pain, along with my meds. I will ice the area when I am home & have just recently started using the thermacare patches when I have to work or go out, They do seem to help at times & last around 8hrs. I was surprised they made a difference at all. If I am real inflammed I do not feel the heat as much but some days they make a difference.

ladybumblebee · 01-23-2008, 12:20 PM

Thanks ladies for your support. Never thought of calling my surgeon (how dippy am I???)

I'm really not sure how I do the work I do - it's a combination of need to(mortgage the size of a small country!) and want to (can't get my head around the fact that at 34 i may have to stop working).

Called my pain management consultant and am waiting for his office to call back so hopefully he'll call tomorrow. I read an article last night that said any lack of control from the waist down can be spinal cord compression which figures as I know how my discs are anyway - I just really hoped it would take longer to deteriorate. I'm in the UK and gp's are really there to deal with coughs/colds run of the mill normal stuff and as I'm way beyond that I think he just despairs when I go see him. Pain is better today - about a 7 but I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the warm wishes - you have no idea how much better I feel since finding this board. LBB x

chablis3 · 01-24-2008, 08:15 PM

hi lady, yes, that seems to keep a person going, paying a mortage, pain or no pain! That article you read sounds exactly right from what I have learned, any pain, numbness, pins, needles from the waist down can definitely be from a pinched nerve. Yes, I don't think your
gp will be able to help much with your current problem. But, he should be able to figure out from your symptoms it could be from something getting pinched, and steer you in the right direction. Hopefully your pain management doc can shed some light on your problem. I still think you should talk to your surgeon, though!

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Judy