Results from my MRI

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Brooks803

Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
5,632
Location
Aiken, South Carolina
Well...it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. That's the good news.

The MRI says I have degenerating discs at S1, L5, & L4 with disc protrusion. Basically that means a badly pinched nerve. My sciatic nerve. It's mainly in my right leg, but some in my left.

So I got lots of good perscriptions to help with the pain. One being the recently discussed siezure medication that helps block the nerve response to pain in the brain. We'll see how well it works for me. I just started them tonight....gotta let it settle in my system for a bit.

The next step is going to be injections to the spine. I get my first one in a week and another 2 weeks from then.

So hopefully I'll be able to get back to work/casting so I can pay all these medical bills that are gonna be coming in!

In other news......good news that is! We're only a few weeks from our due date! My little girl will be here very soon and I can't wait to hold her.
 
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Ummmm.... Congratulations, then? The baby coming along is great news. I feel for you on the back problems. Been dealing with that stuff for ages. Hope you can get the pain managed properly with no major side effects.
 
Congrats on the baby. Hopefully you will be able to pick him/her up.
I have had back problems since 1986 after jumping a wave on lake Michigan and landing wrong. Life was changed forever. One bad move and everything started over again until I guess the inflammation around the nerve went down I still dont know exactly what is wrong with mine but it likes to remind me that something is wrong.
 
Sorry about your pain, BUT you should have some pretty groovy color combos during your psychedelic trips......

Get well Jonathan because pretty little girls can be a pain in the neck when the little boys start coming around..
 
Hope the new meds work for you. My wife has the same problem and I understand what you are going through. Get at least well enough to pick up that new one when she gets here.
 
Jonathan, I recommend using an inversion table. I started with a light grade and over time I have increased my angle to almost upside down. I would check with your doc, but I know it has really helped me! That, ice, pain meds, etc. I was on full strength and more of Ibuprofen for about 5 full months, and now I am off that thankfully! I don't have to ice almost at all now, but I still invert almost daily. It really was a God send. This happened around May of 2011. I will pray for you that you get better!

David
 
Jon,

Had a major op on L1,2,3,4in the sixties after many years of real pain, learnt to live with it before and after and carried it well to this day.

We had our first girl 56 yrs ago then as time went by four more and a son trust you enjoy the blessings of family and your wife a safe delivery, be assured Dads play a special part in daughters lives and know how to wrap you up in so many ways.

Be mended and happy I pray if not have the strength to endure with medical help it is worth it as well. Try not to carry too much excess weight also is something to always consider. Little girls are not too heavy when you are seated.

Take care big guy our prayers are with you and yours.

Kind regards Peter and Wilma.
 
Wow my wife just went through that on her upper back. Lots of ibuprofen and pain pills. Hers came out of nowhere. Had the 1st series of shots done, first week did better second week not as good but now doing better but still comes and goes. At least no more pain pills. Went through 80 the first week.

Don vann
 
My sister was ready to schedule surgery to releive the siatic nerve pain when she meet a woman and she told her that she went to a accupunturist and had 4 treatments and been pain free for 3.5 years. My sister decided to try it and after her first treatment she was pain free but was told she needed 4 to make it last. She has had all her treatments and has been pain free for 6 months and I am looking for a good one in Nashville to go to myself.
 
Good luck Jonathan and hang in there. I've been there and felt your pain. Some say the injection are a coin toss. Worked great for me, along with some lengthy Theropy and mean neck massages. Congrats on the soon to be little one! They sure change your world and melt your heart.
Best wishes for you and the family!
 
Hey Jonathan, I would also suggest trying the inversion table. I had the same pain shooting down my leg and lower back. Couldn't sit, couldn't sleep, it was horrible. My wifes friend suggested it and before I knew it I was back to normal. I got mine at a sporting goods store out here for about $100. Just take it easy at first so you don't get dizzy. I hit my table in the morning before I went to work and then when I got home. Now I just have to remember that I'm not superman and get help on heavy things :tongue:.

Congrats on the soon to be new arrival!
 
Congrat.s on the arrival of the little girl, just get ready for a major Dadd's girl change in your life.
As for your back, you start the pain med.s and your liver start telling you stories since the liver is not designed to handle all that narcotics, and those shots will mask the pain for a while, but you'd go back to them more. If you can try to find a surgean who can do Microscopic laminectomy or non invasive micro surgery which intails going in from the side of your back no where close to the spine and taking care of the bulge you would be happpier in along run. I have had it done and I have been happy with it. Depending on your insurance and your copays you would come ahead other wise you'd be dealing with this for a long time and since you are having the little one on the way soon that means that you have to pick her up and if you are drugged up for pain it won't be any fun. Good luck, as for what ever way you chose to go and hope you can get it under control.
 
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At least you know and got the meds to help. Good luck with it. Plus you can look at this back thing as practice for no sleep when the baby arrives.

By the way when our first was on the way it was "we" this and "we" that. The "we" disappeared when the contractions hit. We got to the hospital and I was informed that "we" were not having the baby, because "we" were not having contractions, SHE was having them and She was about to push a bowling ball out. :biggrin: Yep us guys get off pretty easy. The second pregnancy was all one sided. I had learned my lesson. She was having the baby and my roll was taking care of her every need, including fulfilling a very strange obsession with pork chops. We had to dive an hour twice a week to get pork chops at her favorite place. Mine were not good enough.

Well...it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. That's the good news.

The MRI says I have degenerating discs at S1, L5, & L4 with disc protrusion. Basically that means a badly pinched nerve. My sciatic nerve. It's mainly in my right leg, but some in my left.

So I got lots of good perscriptions to help with the pain. One being the recently discussed siezure medication that helps block the nerve response to pain in the brain. We'll see how well it works for me. I just started them tonight....gotta let it settle in my system for a bit.

The next step is going to be injections to the spine. I get my first one in a week and another 2 weeks from then.

So hopefully I'll be able to get back to work/casting so I can pay all these medical bills that are gonna be coming in!

In other news......good news that is! We're only a few weeks from our due date! My little girl will be here very soon and I can't wait to hold her.
 
Good to know the issues, and to have proof of not being a med seeker. I feel for you on the L4 and L5, I have that one protruding as well. Strengthen that core and that will help a ton! Of course that comes once the pain is under control.
 
Thanks everyone for the support! You're right Eric, once I can get the pain under control I'll be able to move again and work off all the extra weight I put on not being able to stay active.
 
Sorry to hear that the back is still an issue. The wife has been going to therapy for the past couple of months for the same thing and it's a long road to recovery so I wish you all the best my friend. Holding your daughter will definitely take your mind off your back pains!!! Our little one is coming up on 7 months now and it goes fast. Get well and hold her up for the world to see Jonathon!
 
My back is shot from 21 years of heavy lifting in the Air Force. I also recently was placed on Neurontin and want to stress something to you in case your doctor didn't. If you ever decide to stop taking it, don't quit cold turkey. It WILL cause all your nerves to become hyper-sensitive and the pain will be something you will never forget. I forgot to take it for just one day and it left me in some nasty pain.
 
Listen to destinturnings. I forgot my second pill yesterday and am still suffering. Feel a little better but holy cow, I am NOT forgetting again.
 
LOL...that pic was taken the first time I introduced Shea to my parents! We were taking Brazilian Jiu Jitsu together and we decided to spar on the living room floor to show my parents what it was all about. Shea started earlier than I did so she was better at that time. I got in my licks when I could. Thanks for showing that Terry! That was a fun night.

I know the feeling! I have been struggling with the sciatic nerve for quite some time now - abuse in my youth so to speak!

but............I think I have discovered the reason for your problems Jonathan and you really don't have to take the abuse my friend. There are support groups that can help you.....

http://www.penturners.org/forum/att...-do-you-look-like-1-27-06-update-100_2076.jpg




:P

Thanks for the warning about the pills. So far I've been taking them like clockwork. I got a pill holder kit from my friend Hans and I'll be turning it for myself over the next couple days. With all that's going on I don't want to be out and not have my meds with me.
 
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