I'm SORRY..but here I go again anyway

[MichelleandCraig 1]

I'm thinking that someone here, and possibly many, may have had this at some point. I had my last epidural yesterday and an IV with it this time as they used a catheter and actually went up to try to get the medication closer to the nerves. He is putting me on physical therapy twice a week for a month to see if that helps at all, and if it doesn't he wants to do a discogram. The doctor freaked me out because HE said it's a painful procedure and carries a few more risks than other tests so we don't want to do that now, unless it becomes necessary. He's going to decide in a month. I looked it up and it doesn't sound very nice..they inject the needles right into your disks to try to recreate the pain and see where it's coming from. Has anyone ever had this before...what is it REALLY like??? Thanks all...I do apologize for always posting this stuff, but it makes me nervous.... Michelle[/size=4]

and if anyone wants to let me in on how to do the color and size now...sigh. I thought I had it down before, but now it's changed and I dunnooooooooooo. sheesh...and been here how long?? Oh, I see I've gotten my 4th heart...I should know this by now!!

Edited February 3, 2006 by MichelleandCraig

[slim 1,525]

My dad just had one a couple of months ago. (He has L-5/S-1 fusion and spondylolisthesis, among other things) He said that although it was very uncomfortable, it wasn't quite as bad as the pain itself caused by the injury.

I'm interested in knowing more about your condition. It would be nice to have someone to talk to about his situation. Maybe you can relate. Why are you going through this? (PM if you want, or post the links from prior posts if you want.)

Good luck..... and like I tell him "a little bit of pain now could relieve a lot more later. You've gotta let them get in there and figure out what's wrong so they can figure out how to fix it."

[gimygirl 0]

a discogram is where you pay some cute guy, dressed like john travolta, to come in to your house and hang a disco ball from the ceiling while he grooves to 'stayin' alive' by the beegees!! you get so hot and bothered, you forget all about your back troubles!!!

oops!!! forgot to answer the actual question!! started thinking about johnny t!!!

a discogram is where they will inject some dye into the disc space of your spinal column. this looks at the intergrity of your disc. (layman's explanation)

(source)

[Sister Fracas 5]

a discogram is where you pay some cute guy, dressed like john travolta, to come in to your house and hang a disco ball from the ceiling while he grooves to 'stayin' alive' by the beegees!! you get so hot and bothered, you forget all about your back troubles!!!

, but as Bro Dean would say.....just wrong....

Anywhoooo...don't know anything about a discogram Michelle, but I DO know that physical therapy can do wonders; it helped me a lot. I've been off therapy for about a month now and anytime I have a twinge of the old sciatica related nerve pain, I just get back (pardon the pun) into the exercises again. I REALLY do hope it helps....one idea tho...the stress you are in of school/Craig's difficult adjustment/tension between the two of you can't be helping at all. Easier said than done, but try work on ways of alleviating the stress.

*huggles from someone who knows back pain all too well*

Edited February 3, 2006 by Frances

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Thanks everyone...will respond Slim when I'm feeling more up to it..going to lay down at the moment; pretty sore today. I read uo on discogram last night but what scared me was the actual Doc saying it would be painful..they didn't say that about the epidurals..and although they weren't nice, they weren't bad either. Thanks Gimy & Frances too...I hope the physical therapy does help. On a related note, my doc is currently helping me find a therapist who will accept my Badgercare(WI state insurance..I always had insurance thru my work until I lost that job when they moved oversees last June) Going to try to get some of the emotional stuff sorted out while I'm at it, I guess. Everyone here encouraged that, and that's what my family Doc said I should do as well...really pushing me too actually, and I have no aversion to trying it..whatever helps!

PS..Slim I didn't have an injury that I know of...this pain just started slowly and got increasingly bad. The MRI found some things but nothing terrible..I have arthritis in my back(which I doubt is causing anything of my lower back pain) I have tears in the outsides of two of my disks which could be causing some considerable pain per the docs, and one of my disks is slightly herniated/bulging whatever. I used to lift 40/50 lbs on a very regular basis at my job of 8 years and that could have brought some on...don't know and won't be trying to workmans comp it or anything. I don't know the reason, actually, I just want RELIEF and soon!! I never get emotional there usually..ever..but I did yesterday when he said the discogram is the next step and then said it was painful(didn't help my anxiety any which I've been having every night even on meds) and then he said it could take several months to about 2 years to heal on it's own without anything else being done. I too Frances, hope that the physical therapy will help. Start next week. M.

[daisy16 0]

It sounds absolutely yucky Michelle I much prefer gimy's version.

Congrats for the 4th heart. just in time for valentines

[Marilyn. 340]

When you want to make something bold just highlight the part you want bold and then click on the letter B above the post box... brackets will appear around the section you want made bold .. the brackets should have the letter B inbtween them..... the bold will appear after you send your post..... the same goes for the other stuff like font and colour etc...

if you want to do more then one thing to the same word or words you have to highlight it again...

Don't know anything about discograms bit I will send out good wishes your way

[Jaylen Brit 0]

Have they checked you for osteoporosis? Involves a bone scan for density - that sometimes shows up as slow onset backpain - if its that they can help with calcium tablets and weight bearing excercise.

(My mom has this altho hers was caused by many years of steroid use as she has had chronic arthritis since her middle 20's - but it first manifested as back problems including disc pain and slipped discs)

[Peggy 1]

Sorry your back is sore Michelle.

I can relate. I just had the MRI done on my back. The doctor told me a have one bad disc in my lower back. He gave me muscle spasm pills, which worked really good for me. He also told me to loose weight. I told him, I know I have to loose weight. But it is true. I had problems with my back the last time I put on alot of weight. I have gained 25 pounds since I got here in May But its my own fault. So we all just joined the gym here to get ourselfs back in shape and get healthy. Hope your back gets feeling better for you.

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Thanks everyone again for your comments. Jay, I'm not sure it would be osteoporosis, only because I drink lots of milk and always have since I was little..love the stuff. I know some don't but I do..I dont know if that is only caused by a lack of calcium or not tho, so if it's not only caused by that, it's possible. I haven't ever had that test done. I eat plenty of cheese(I know not good for you!!) and other dairy products as well. I need to lose weight myself, and that will go a long way too in likely reducing my back pain. Problem is, right now if I do ANYTHING for too long, my back is really! painful. Like, one day before Christmas my mom and I went shopping for about 4 hours and then I stood in their kitchen baking cookies for another 4. I used to stand at work for 8+ hrs every day(I ran 3 machines and it was a standup job) and with relatively no problems ..not bad like this anyway. Feet would get sore, the usual, ya know? But there's no WAY I could do that now. AFter that day with mom I could hardly walk around for 2 weeks. Now, at school, when I sit too long it's really painful. It starts hurting after a few minutes and by the time an hour goes by I have! to get up and walk round a little bit. It's lucky most of my classes are 2 hrs and the instructors give us 5/10 min. in between the hours to stretch, smoke(which I don't at at school) or whatever. That helps. It's nice to have the experiences and good thoughts of everyone here tho..thanks again, as always! and I hope you guys don't get too annoyed when I post whatever new is going on with this stuff(my anxiety, back) it really helps to hear(just like the visa stuff) from some people who have been through it and understand...xxxMichelle

[Jaylen Brit 0]

You might ask if you could have it done all the same, the bone density scan, rule it out - smoking is a contributor (I'm guilty there too, lol) as is age and hormones..my mom was unlucky with hers but I hope you get it all sorted out - i know how depressing back pain can be - my SO has a back inury from army days that he might have to end up having some of his vertebrae fused in a few years time to avoid further problems.

[MichelleandCraig 1]

yeah, that stinks for len...my mom has had a fusion and another apmt with her doc this coming feb. 8th. shes looking at another fusion..not a nice surgery, and quite a bit of recovery time, but hopefully this will solve all of the probs for her..been going on a few years now and I know she's tired of it.It's only been less than a year for me (maybe about 6/8months) and I know I"m tired of it already!!! Good idea tho and thanks for the thought..M.