MRI is in their hands, and I have a copy as well. Waiting on the appointment to be made now.
MRI is in their hands, and I have a copy as well. Waiting on the appointment to be made now.
Saw the neck/spine specialist today. I get to have a nerve conduction study through my neck all the way to the hands on both sides. If I survive the electrocution, I get to get 4-6 shots in my facets in my neck as he thinks that's where the pain is coming from. Plus an anti-inflammatory for the arthritis. And still haven't seen the neurologist about the three herniated discs...
My experience was that drugs and physical therapy did not fix the problem with the herniated disc. I am the last one to promote surgery if it is avoidable, but sometimes that is the best option. It was for me. The risk associated with not fixing the root issue is, in my opinion too high. As I stated earlier, after surgery, I was cleared to race in 8 weeks. I also survived a 100 mph crash with no issues 4 months later. Without the surgery I would most likely suffered significant damage to my spinal cord. Carefully explore all your options and follow you instincts as to what is best for you.
Ugh. Let us know how you make out. I've had a periodic bulging of C7 - wouldn't wish that on anyone.
Progress! I'm on a new (to me) muscle relaxer that is helping with day-to-day mobility without turning me into a pile of jello. I am also getting the facet injections on Monday (woot!) and the nerve conduction study the following week. OHSU has also finally accepted me as a patient and that initial consult should be scheduled up for next week as well.
With any luck, I'll be mended for autocross in March!
What is the muscle relaxer?
I bet it is skelaxin
From Medscape on Skelaxin:
Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
General CNS depression; no direct effect on skeletal muscle; may disrupt the spasm-pain-spasm cycle; does not have a direct effect on skeletal muscle
But, hey, if it makes them feel better and not feel dopey....
Huh, not only did you guys guess right (I didn't even know, I had to look at the bottle), but that also explains why it feels the way it does. They tried a traditional muscle relaxer, but it worked too well and I just went liquid. Couldn't move at all. This stuff I can feel the tenseness, but the shooting nerves, sharp pain, and spasms are all reduced without feeling like jello. The only pain killer is OTC aspirin. They tried the hard stuff when the injury first happened, and that stuff is no joke. I won't take any of that again.
Was Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) too strong for you, or did they blast you with Valium or something? Most people can tolerate flexeril without getting too groggy. Regardless, if the Skelaxin is working for ya, that's good. You don't really have a muscle tense issue here anyway, although traditional muscle relaxers (benzodiazepines such as Flexeril, Valium) are given for back/neck problems like that and they do provide relief. It may be just that when your stoned on a BZD you don't care anymore, but hey (again) if they feel better....
From your description (we haven't examined you or looked at your MRI), you have a set of blown disks and an instability, and somewhere in there something is interfering with a nerve. I suspect at this point, you're gonna need a whack.
In reply to Dr. Hess:
Flexeril just made me really tired. Not groggy, but tired. I just got out of the facet joint injections and holy cone be orange that HURT. The left C5/C6 one sent a sharp singing pain from my foot to my head to my fingertips turned up to 11. Damn that was unpleasant.
The EMG is next week and I see the neurosurgeon admit the whack on 2/24. One step at a time. I just want to be able to hold my kid again.
Of the 7 discs in my neck, 3 are bulging, and 3 are herniated...
I am fortunate that physical therapy and working on posture "fixed" me; I have very little issues now. However, when I was at my worst, I considered surgery.
The only advice I can give is that--if you decide to go down the surgery route--make sure you find a surgeon you are comfortable with. The guy I talked to was a putz who I wouldn't trust to assemble a LEGO set, let alone operate on my back.
No surgery, not happening. Had the best neuro in the NW look at me and my films and say no. All 3 herniations are in the front of the spine, in the very middle, pointed back. Not worth any surgical risk until they impact the actual spinal cord. I'm all nerve pain and arthritic facet joints apparently. I'm now on Lyrica and the other stuff plus a switch from aspirin to ibuprofen for inflammation. Been on that for almost a week, and starting to feel a little better. Going to PT, massage therapy, and OHSU pain clinic as part of treatment. Going to be a long spring with lots of copays.
OTOH, no reason why I can't autocross, so I'm prepping the car and myself. Treating this season like my last just in case.
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