[40ish]

Hi all, I'm new to the board. This seems like a wonderfully supportive place so I thought I might find some answers. If anyone has a suggestion or comment I would love to hear it. Thank you for reading!

The short version of the problem: After I sit down for any length of time I am temporarily unable to walk. The pain is extreme when I am taking those first steps. I feel completely unstable. The pain is sharp and centered in my lower back. My back feels out of alignment and I look like it is by the way I'm forced to move for about 5-10 minutes(Looooooong minutes!). After walking for a while the pain goes away and I feel normal until the next time I have to rise from sitting. I have no pain lying down. I feel better in the morning when I'm rested ....until I sit down. I also get a sharp jab of pain if I suddenly lean back a little far...ex. while swimming. I have no pain at all while I am sitting.

As you can probably imagine this is ruining my life. I go to less and less places because of the pain I have getting out of the car. I would be unable to get up from a meeting at a table for business or fun. Basically, it's turning me into a hermit. I can't park my car and walk across the street. I can't go to the movies or out to eat.

The problem started last summer and has been getting progressively worse. I did months of physical therapy with no lasting effect. The longest amount of relief was for a few hours following an adjustment with myofacial release.

History:
A year ago I had a blood clot in my leg and multiple pulmonary emboli. As a result I was laid up for a couple of months and walked oddly for a while. I was put on Warfarin and just stopped that this week. Because of this I was not able to take most anti-inflamitory meds. I tried muscle relaxants for a couple of months but they did nothing.

I've had X-rays and an MRI. They were all taken with me lying on my back. No segmental instability is shown. The conclusions from the MRI are: Degenerative Disk Disease. Severe billateral foraminal narrowing.

I have seen a neurologist who said that I had "discogenic pain and that the feeling of instability sounded like SI dysfunction" he said "no one really knows
what to do with that...why don't you go to a chiropractor"

I went to a chiropractor. I would feel good walking out of his office and then bad again when I got out of my car.

I am extremely frustrated that I have this disabling pain and I can't find a solution. In talking about it with a doctor recently I cried. She told me that the pain could be from depression and offered to put me on a drug for that! She hadn't even physically examined me herself before making that diagnosis.
I don't have pain because of depression ....I AM depressed that I have this major pain situation going on and can't find a solution. By the way I did read Dr. Sarno's book on the mind body connection... because I am open to anything that might help...it didn't

Sadly, I'm limited in the doctors and therapies I can seek by my HMO.

If any of you have experienced anything similar or no of any suggestions I would GREATLY appreciate it !

Thanks again - mae

[azoyizes]

Hi, and welcome to NeuroTalk! This is a great place to hang out with many forums and lots of nice and helpful people.

I'm sorry for your pain. I've posted a link to the Spinal Disorders and Back Pain forum.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html

[40ish]

I will check out the link. I like the Jimmy Buffet quote! - Mae

[Darlene]

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Great to see you have come to be with us. You will find a great number of caring, supporting members here willing to help each other as they can.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

[FranksAngel]

welcome to neurotalk ... there are lots of friendly and supportive people here so jump right in and start posting ... should you need help, don't hesitate to ask someone ... we are here to help ... again

[40ish]

Thanks for the welcome. I like your angels.

[(Broken Wings)]

Originally Posted by 40ish

Hi all, I'm new to the board. This seems like a wonderfully supportive place so I thought I might find some answers. If anyone has a suggestion or comment I would love to hear it. Thank you for reading!

The short version of the problem: After I sit down for any length of time I am temporarily unable to walk. The pain is extreme when I am taking those first steps. I feel completely unstable. The pain is sharp and centered in my lower back. My back feels out of alignment and I look like it is by the way I'm forced to move for about 5-10 minutes(Looooooong minutes!). After walking for a while the pain goes away and I feel normal until the next time I have to rise from sitting. I have no pain lying down. I feel better in the morning when I'm rested ....until I sit down. I also get a sharp jab of pain if I suddenly lean back a little far...ex. while swimming. I have no pain at all while I am sitting.

As you can probably imagine this is ruining my life. I go to less and less places because of the pain I have getting out of the car. I would be unable to get up from a meeting at a table for business or fun. Basically, it's turning me into a hermit. I can't park my car and walk across the street. I can't go to the movies or out to eat.

The problem started last summer and has been getting progressively worse. I did months of physical therapy with no lasting effect. The longest amount of relief was for a few hours following an adjustment with myofacial release.

History:
A year ago I had a blood clot in my leg and multiple pulmonary emboli. As a result I was laid up for a couple of months and walked oddly for a while. I was put on Warfarin and just stopped that this week. Because of this I was not able to take most anti-inflamitory meds. I tried muscle relaxants for a couple of months but they did nothing.

I've had X-rays and an MRI. They were all taken with me lying on my back. No segmental instability is shown. The conclusions from the MRI are: Degenerative Disk Disease. Severe billateral foraminal narrowing.

I have seen a neurologist who said that I had "discogenic pain and that the feeling of instability sounded like SI dysfunction" he said "no one really knows
what to do with that...why don't you go to a chiropractor"

I went to a chiropractor. I would feel good walking out of his office and then bad again when I got out of my car.

I am extremely frustrated that I have this disabling pain and I can't find a solution. In talking about it with a doctor recently I cried. She told me that the pain could be from depression and offered to put me on a drug for that! She hadn't even physically examined me herself before making that diagnosis.
I don't have pain because of depression ....I AM depressed that I have this major pain situation going on and can't find a solution. By the way I did read Dr. Sarno's book on the mind body connection... because I am open to anything that might help...it didn't

Sadly, I'm limited in the doctors and therapies I can seek by my HMO.

If any of you have experienced anything similar or no of any suggestions I would GREATLY appreciate it !

Thanks again - mae

Sorry you're having these problems. It is frustrating. you sound like you really know what's going on with you and yes you just haven't come across the right path to healing, and asking is the right thing to do. It always helped me when I figured something out. Understanding is major positive. You can do something about it then.

It could take a mirad of things, or a cocktail nowadays. ... without alcohol just a mixture of positive things that help you.

Just because your MRI don't shake the doctor's chart doesn't mean it can't be debilitating to you. Sounds like a lot of instability, which would have an underlying cause. "Narrowing" can cause it too. So don't sell you findings short of being a pain producer.

I had instability of my spine after MVA in 2000 until I had my cervical epidurals X 3 for me, in Feb and March 2006. Loooooonnnnngg wobblie struggle. my entire spine.... especially after traveling, driving or riding. I would set in my driveway and I swear my muscle spasms would vibrate and radiate like a... don't know how to describe that rippling effect of radiating muscle spasms after a trip. After my third epidural I got relief... and I slept and slept and slept... the month of April away.

Dr. Atasoy, in June 06, figured out it was the Zanaflex making me drowsy after the epidurals had gave me relief. I could not get comfortable enough since 2000 to get a good 2 hour's sleep until I had the epidurals. know what I mean, Vern?

So since Dec of 2001 I had been prescribed Zanaflex... well actually the 1st pain management doc demanded I get it filled, in Nov 2001... Zanaflex 4mg X3a day. Couldn't do the third. Made rubber bands out of my knees. Dangerous trying to walk

I did make it up to Yoga and that helped... I hurt and struggled at first, but I took pain pills and patches anyway, and I was doing it for the rest of my body. Still in PT, still trying anything that came my way.

I will say now it was worth it and I look forward to and will have to endure more to get stronger. so look around and see if you can pick up on things that are within your reach to start with. Maybe together we all can put Humpty Dumpty back together again

so, the point being was, after the much needed epidurals X3 gave some relief -- even in my lower back too -- (have lower back bulges X4) -- I was in a bad shape physically from all that hard suffering and not very much sleep for years. I wasn't cured. Just relief. A major leap for me.

Dr. Atasoy prescribed Bacloflen for daytime and... oh something else...forgot-it was generic all the time - for night time 1 and 1/2. It was functional but not strong enough. Lidoderm X 90 a month. I used two on my back on some days, or back and hip. Darvon 65, which helped. Dr. Atasoy would not prescribe me Neurontin. He said it was "Rotten Neurontin" My neurologist won't prescribe it either. Pain management gave me Neurontin and offered me everything.

Stayed with PT, the good and bad that I had to have, apparently. Tried many things.... but you have to find a good provider to work with you, to guide and adjust that path for you. May take more than one provider.

Hope you find relief. See you around the forum

[40ish]

Wow!

"I had instability of my spine after MVA in 2000" -sorry for asking a lame question but what is "MVA"?

"Dr. Atasoy, in June 06, figured out it was the Zanaflex making me drowsy after the epidurals had gave me relief. I could not get comfortable enough since 2000 to get a good 2 hour's sleep until I had the epidurals. know what I mean, Vern?" I'm glad you are finally getting sleep!

"so, the point being was, after the much needed epidurals X3 gave some relief -- even in my lower back too -- (have lower back bulges X4) -- I was in a bad shape physically from all that hard suffering and not very much sleep for years. I wasn't cured. Just relief. A major leap for me."
Glad to hear it!

"Stayed with PT, the good and bad that I had to have, apparently. Tried many things.... but you have to find a good provider to work with you, to guide and adjust that path for you. May take more than one provider."

It's definitely looking like more than one provider at this point. I am in the middle of finding a new primary care physician(loooooong story)

Thanks so much for writing and sharing your story. I really appreciate it. This has been such an isolating thing that it's good to some people to connect with ...even if it's virtual

I hope you have a good night- Mae

[(Broken Wings)]

Originally Posted by 40ish

Wow!

"I had instability of my spine after MVA in 2000" -sorry for asking a lame question but what is "MVA"?

"Dr. Atasoy, in June 06, figured out it was the Zanaflex making me drowsy after the epidurals had gave me relief. I could not get comfortable enough since 2000 to get a good 2 hour's sleep until I had the epidurals. know what I mean, Vern?" I'm glad you are finally getting sleep!

"so, the point being was, after the much needed epidurals X3 gave some relief -- even in my lower back too -- (have lower back bulges X4) -- I was in a bad shape physically from all that hard suffering and not very much sleep for years. I wasn't cured. Just relief. A major leap for me."
Glad to hear it!

"Stayed with PT, the good and bad that I had to have, apparently. Tried many things.... but you have to find a good provider to work with you, to guide and adjust that path for you. May take more than one provider."

It's definitely looking like more than one provider at this point. I am in the middle of finding a new primary care physician(loooooong story)

Thanks so much for writing and sharing your story. I really appreciate it. This has been such an isolating thing that it's good to some people to connect with ...even if it's virtual

I hope you have a good night- Mae

MVA = motor vehicle accident --

[40ish]

Thanks for the clarification on MVA. Sorry to hear about that. I'm glad that you lived through it and are finding some relief.

Have a good day- Mae