Just came back from picking up Alan's latest MRI which he took this past monday.

Here's the IMPRESSION:

1. There is moderate stenosis of the canal at the L3-L4 and L4-L5 levels as a result of productive changes of the facet joints.
2. Mild central disc ridge complex L5-S1 without stenosis.
3. No disc herniations seen.
4. Hemangionma L4 vertebral body.
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Now I brought over the report to Alan's doctor, Dr. Fred (whom we both adore). He referred us to a neurosurgeon and Alan made the appointment. He and I are going on November 3.

Now I asked Dr. Fred if he had anything for Alan to sleep at night because his neuopathy is driving him crazy and he won't be receiving his prescription of xanax until probably Monday (costco screwed up and it is presently on it's way to us).

So alan needed something for 4 or 5 days. The doctor said "would he try Lyrica?" I said "I don't think so because a long time ago he tried Neurontin and he got deathly sick. I told him Alan did it twice just to make sure and he got sick both times, so Neurontin is out. Then he went into his office and came out with samples of Requip. I said "oh, I know this stuff, it's for parkinson and it can make you a compulsive gambler". Dr. Fred bust out laughing and said "how do you know so much?" and I said "you can thank my friends on the neuropathy message boards.

He laughed his head off. He said "this won't interfere with Alan's other meds and it will have a sedative effect if he takes it twenty minutes before he goes to bed. He then said "when the xanax arrives, he can stop this, but see how he does on it".'It will help with the pins and needles".

So tonight Alan will take 0.5 of the Requip.

So any comments are very welcome. Do you think the Requip will do the trick for a few days. I asked him "does this take time to get into your blood stream, or will it work tonight?" he said "it will take effect tonight".

So cmon, jump on board and if you see anything in Alan's mri that you think he has a shot at an endoscopic dischectomy, give me your comments okay?

the neurosurgeon that alan is going to does this procedure, but of course we know he has to examine Alan and look at his films before he can say "oh, I can help Alan".

Alan also asked me, "whats the difference between a neurosurgeon and an orthopedic surgeon and why does he need a neurosurgeon instead of an orthopedic surgeon when orthos operate on the back.

Since I know neuro has to do with nerves and ortho has to do with other stuff, I figure somebody can clear this us for him.

thanks guys.
melody

Hi Melody, I used to take Requip and it should help Alan. I don't take it anymore because when I started on Lyrica I did not seem to have the restless legs that I had before. I took Neurontin when I was first diagnosed with PN and after a couple years and large doses, it stopped working. Was on Tegretrol for awhile - maybe a year and a half - and then on Lyrica since spring. I really to like Lyrica.

As far as the MRI goes, way above my head - sorry. Hope Alan gets a good sleep tonight.

Diana Shaffer

Hi Melody, it might pay to also post it in the Spinal disorders forum as well.
Brian

I am glad that Alan saw Dr Fred and that he's got an appointment w/a neuro that I'm assuming Dr F trusts...ergo Alan will..

Tho I know many folks who have had spinal issues...surgery and all..mostly successful. I'm betting that this route of possible treatments would be a heck less risky than doing the 'medical tourist' route!

Good thoughts - j

As soon as I read your replies, I immediately went and posted in the Spinal Forums. no reply yet. Last time I posted it took one week before someone answered but then all the replies came in. They are very nice over there.

So hope all of you are feeling good today.

Now, let me tell you about Alan's experience with Requip.

Alan has been taking 0.5 and a half of an 0.5 of xanax before retiring. That adds up to 0.75 if my math is correct. Sometimes the xanax works and sometimes it doesn't. usually it takes a long time to kick in but when it does, Alan finally drifts off (afer a massage from me that leaves my hands killing me), or the magnassager. But there always has to be some kind of massage along with the xanax (and putting tiger balm on him).

Well, last night he took the 0.5 of the Requip. No massage, no tiger balm, no nothing. We are laying in bed and talking softly and in tweny minutes or so, he just rolled on his side and went to sleep. Except for getting up to pee once or twice in the middle of the night (don't worry, his prostate is fine and numbers are normal, he probably drank something before bedtime), he had the best sleep of his night.

He woke up and i asked him about the tingling and went "absolutely no tingling", I was amazed. We should have done this 5 years ago (was requip around 5 years ago??).

He said "i"m taking this until I see my neurosurgeon". If he can help me and I have a procedure, I don't want to be on any more drugs for my neuropathy. It's enough that I'm on plavix and altace, metoprolol:"

I understand where he's coming from because my goal is go get off lantus and I'm slowly achieving it.

So let's hope that when Alan goes and sees the neuro guy, the guy says he can help Alan by doing a procedure, and Alan will not be in neuropathy pain any more. he's had it for 15 years and he goes "That's enough".

One can only hope and pray.

So now I am going to teleport myself out of here.

Happy flying......

melody

Melody - so glad Alan had a good night's sleep. I was hoping the Requip would work for him.

Diana

Thank you Diana. Hopefully he will continue to get a good night's sleep from now on. That is unless he decides to get frisky. Then I bop him upside his head. lol

Melody

Gees you make me laugh at times, you should have been a comedian.
I think David Letterman should be a bit worried about keeping his job

then for a little while, you forget your PN.

Would you like to know how Alan eats his spaghetti???

With unsalted tomato sauce and 3 packets of splenda.

Why??????

Because when he was on the fentanyl patch, he wound up with a little thought of side effect called taste perversion.

So everything he eats now has to have 3 to 5 splendas.

makes me want to throw up.

now laugh.........

mel

Me too Mel, triple yuck to that, i feel sick just thinking of it.
I fully agree with your attitude with laughter, to put a smile on somone that is suffering is worth more than a million bucks, you are a real asset to this forum,
take care
Brian