Back spasms
 

A week of ups and downs. After a couple weeks of PT in office and pool therapy the spasms lessened and I was able to move without stabbing pain. I felt so grateful for some relief. At PT Wed. They had me use the pilates machine. The stretch felt so good.
Come Wed night the spasms in my back had lessened But I started having stabbing pains in my left calf. I thought maybe it was due to the new stretches so I iced, used the spa and tried to let my leg relax and heal. Night is an attack of severe pain in my calf. Any movement causes pain. Nothing is helping. I am limping around and any pressure on my left leg is excruciating. Went to urgent care since my PM Dr is out of town. X- Rays show extensive arthritis and bone spurs. Dr put me on prednisone. I hope it helps.

The Scs continues to take care of my abdominal pain and this relief is a true blessing.
When I saw the Boston Scientific rep 2 weeks ago he set up a program for my lower back, I didn't' know I could have a program for my abdomen and back. I am thankful for the flexibility the SCS has.

Thanks for giving me space to vent. My husband has been so supportive the last 6 years I hate to complain to him. I know he wants to help but I know he gets tired of having a wife in pain. I don't want pain to become my identity but lately it seems to have taken over. Hopefully I can get away from this pity party that surrounds me.


Sandy

(((((((((((((( Sandy Kay )))))))))))))

I'm so sorry that you're having this new pain! I understand what you said about not wanting pain to become your identity. Sometimes I feel like people just get sick and tired of my excuses to not join in and participate in life because of the @#$#%^$ pain! Hopefully the combination of the prednisone, therapy, and new SCS settings will give you some real relief.

:hug: Jan

Feel for you. I too suffer from frequent back spasms when trying to walk further than a few steps. Am in the process of waiting on a self propelled wheelchair which I found incredible in hospital and have borrowed my mums little mobility scooter for now.

The only thing that helps me is diazepam and rest .. Aswell as my pain relief.

Hi Sandy,

You poor thing it truly is horrible when these spasms take hold. I have to tell you that i suffer terribly from these spasms anywhere, like you in my back, legs, upper body anywhere and I dont know what to do either a couple of weeks ago I ended up A&E or the ER as Americans call it and they had to give me morphine injections to make the spasms in my left leg go away. It worked but I remember nothing, thank god for my hubby and my sister to look after me.

I hope you get better soon and that medication the Dr gave you works.

Take care my friend,

Sinéad xxx :) :hug:





[QUOTE=Sandy Kay;885535]
Come Wed night the spasms in my back had lessened But I started having stabbing pains in my left calf. I thought maybe it was due to the new stretches so I iced, used the spa and tried to let my leg relax and heal. Night is an attack of severe pain in my calf. Any movement causes pain. Nothing is helping. I am limping around and any pressure on my left leg is excruciating. Went to urgent care since my PM Dr is out of town. X- Rays show extensive arthritis and bone spurs. Dr put me on prednisone. I hope it helps.

Sunday for Sandy
 

Hello Dear SandyKay! May you be blessed on this day, and may pain be recognized for what it is.... a symptom of things gone wrong, and Not be or become your identity. You are not Pain, for you are Sandy, she who comes along in life to bring Joy to others. You are God's beloved and the beloved of your faithful husband as well..... two utterly important blessings which center You.

Throughout the seven years of so much pain following the wreck, there were times when I lapsed into feelings of helplessness, and those times were so dark. Spending day after day in our bedroom, gazing out of the window, it was not easy thinking other than that the happenstance of NOT stopping to get coffee on the way to the airport one morning so as to avoid hurry had placed me precisely in the wrong spot at definitely the wrong time so as to be consigned to the prison of our bedroom due to the pain which followed. Helpless. I felt that for sure.

Then the contrast of being here on a roadtrip this weekend, visiting our parents, singing Ave Maria in a wedding yesterday then at church today demonstrates for me the great reality of God watching over us so life might change for the better. Allowing us the nurturing of hope for more tomorrows where pain is not a jailer and placed into perspective.

Today, sister-in-law Terri, whose horribly dramatic RSD matter left her without legs in a motorized wheelchair managing pain only with meds until her day for glory comes, came to the tiny church of this little mountain community on her motorized wheelchair so she could hear me sing. She cried tears of joy, for it has been over seven years since I could come here to sing. We walked alongside her on the short trip home on the street since sidewalks here are a rare and rag tag commodity. Thinking of her, I know I am blessed, for we were able to come once again to visit.

It has been a good Sunday, laying back on chairs in the shade of the trees visiting. Hummingbirds flitting to and fro while butterflies in great numbers alight here and there on flowers. The grace of peace falling all around us. This particular paragraph is the essence I sought to capture for you today Sandy. Peace as an image of shade, cool grass, hummingbirds, and butterflies all rolled up into a Sunday prayer for you that God embrace you as His beloved, sharing comfort and a lessening of pain.

Praying,
Mark56:hug:zzzzz [Maybe Rae has some butterflies or hummingbirds in her left pocket]:)

Saffy,
 

I use the generic diazepam (vallium) as well. I take it, along with meds for the spine and PN pain; but as an added benefit, the Spasms I have had on the left side of neck and shoulder have lessened quite a bit. For years, had not been able lay in bed on left side because of neck and shoulder pain/spasms. Now, I can at least lay on both left and right sides. The diazepam is for anxiety and muscle spasms. I had taken muscle relaxants in the past, and nothing helped as much as the diazepam. Glad to hear it has helped you as well.

Gerry

All I can add is that you will remain on my prayer list and the list in my apt. building. I live in a senior/handicapped building and many of us aren't terribly functional and have become prayer warriors............perhaps the most important thing we have ever done. ASAP.

God Hears Our Prayers
 

He hears our prayers but has three answers, Yes, No and Not Now.
Thank you for all your prayers. The spasms have lessened. The steroids have helped. I am scheduled for a CT scan tomorrow am. We'll see what happens.

Took my husband Joe for an MRI today. Three years ago he had a complete rupture of his quad tendon due to slipping on the golf course. After surgery and months of therapy he's back on the course. But, he feels the knee is acting up again and keeps giving out. I hope a brace and time is all he needs.

We need to get our bodies moving as we are planing to go to Wimbledon in July. I hope we are able to get get around and see London. I am so excited. This is my first time visiting Britain. What an exciting time to be there with the Queen's Jubilee, Wimbledon and the Olympics all going on. Does anyone have any tourist suggestions?

Sandy

The National History Museum .. Fascinating ... Of course, a trip on a boat down the Thames past all the historical buildings. don't try and do too much each day or you will just get fed up and it will be far too much to take in. Try and book for the big wheel thing .. Especially if it's a fine day, the view you will get will be stunning.

http://www.londontown.com/ is a good site .. Informative without being too stuffy.

Don't rush .. Again, take your time ... There is so much to see that you can't possibly take all of it in.

Ooh and an open topped bus is a must for the big attractions.

Enjoy!!!

Xxxx

We have been to London a lot and my son lives there. One thing I will say is use the public transport. Especially the underground. Absolutely amazing. You can get around London for miles in minutes using the tube.

For shopping, obviously Oxford Street which has all the shopping you will need. We found a great shopping centre in Shepherds Bush which is West London. It's called Westfields. It's got all the usual high street stores but also Prada, Gucci, Armani,and the rest ;) if you want to see how the other half live lol. It has the tube which is just underneath and a great bus service outside. Has lots of restaurants etc too. Worth a look at definitely.

Then you have Buckingham Palace , Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, Harrods, the West End, the Big Eye.....as Saffy said do try and get up on a good day. We went when it was wet and miserable and didnt get to see too far but worth a trip up.

I hope you can enjoy it all and not be in too much pain. And that you get good weather because at the moment here in Ireland and the UK the weather is abysmal at the minute more like the middle of Winter and not Summer :(


Enjoy

Jackie :)

And Maybe, just Maybe.....
 

Even Maybe, Sandy, as you explore that wonderful land a bit, you and your husband MIGHT be able to orchestrate a meet with Saffy and her husband who are in country there.

One of the greatest blessings of our lives as a family was actually sharing dinner TWICE with Rae and her husband as we travelled to and from North Carolina when our first grandchild, Lily was stillborn last year. We hugged so tightly, making the connection, becoming so close in the spirit as we KNEW we had shared so much on this forum. Those encounters are not easy to put together, and may not even happen, but the thought of it is exciting......

Blessings on you and we will pray you along on your fantastic trip, hoping you have lessened pain, and your husband has a quad which is fully healed and a knee which will take the trials of travel.

Blessings and prayers on you,
Mark56:hug:zzzzzzzzzz

Dearest Sandy!
 

I am right with you on these spasms! :eek: They've been so bad for the past several days, that's part of the reason I haven't been able to get on here :(. My only working computer at the moment is at my office and I can't even sit in the chair at the desk without the spasms kicking in.

I'll be seeing my pain doc in a couple weeks. The Baclofen I've been using suddenly has stopped working. :confused:

You are going to London!! WOW! I'd LOVE to be able to do that. I'd come lookin for our buzzing buddies who live there! ...... surely the town can't be that big, now can it? :D

I'm glad you started this thread Sandy, although I'm sorry that you are dealing with these horrid spasms. You're getting great input here and I'm following along like a hawk!

Rae
:hug:

Yes, Mark, that certainly WAS some good times! We so enjoyed seeing you and your wife and daughter as you passed thru our town. You had been on the road for such a loooong time. Our hearts really went out to you!

Ohhh, and I almost forgot!.....

http://dl9.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...a0p735u60y.gif....http://dl5.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...zek2gsq3l8.gif

Rrae... Sandy
 

Rrae,
Sorry to hear you are having so much pain with these spasms. Have you tried the Lidoderm patch?

I mentioned these to Saffy, who will be leaving for a week in Greece early July, and hoping for something to help her along. She is going to ask her doctor for a script before she leaves.

Sandy,
Had the opportunity to go to London twice. Not too far from Buckingham Palace is a museum, I believed it is called Winston Churchill's War Room. Very interesting and the way it is laid out; not a lot of wasted walking.

Shopping on Oxford Street, was quite crowded and wayyyyyy too much walking and crowds. This was before my spine surgery and PN issues and got pooped out so that could be questionable.


Gerry

Thanks for the suggestion, Ger! I tried them 3 yrs ago for the burning pain before I had my SCS. I wasn't battling back spasms back then. Do they really help for spasms? I'll sure try them again if there's a chance!
These @#%&* things are driving me CRAZY!!!

Rrae,
 

I would say it's worth a try. That's usually when I think of it; when my lower spine really seems to be tightening. Same thing near my side as well. After a while, forget I even have them on.

Hope they work for your spasms as well.

Gerry

I'm definitely going to give them a try, especially for the flight, even though it's only three and a half hours or so.

Monday I am having an epidural to help with the pain that has now spread down my left leg. I had a CT scan last week that showed a bulging disc at L4/L5. He also said the scan showed a fracture of my spine from a long time ago. The only thing I can think of that might have caused the fracture was a slip on some stairs where my shoe slipped off a cement stair case and I fell down 4 or 5 steps. But that was over 20 years ago! What has helped me the most is doing exercises in the pool and putting heat on my back.
Rae I hope by the time you read this your spasms have subsided and you can enjoy Father's Day with your family.

Sandy Kay:hug:

Praying
 

THAT GOD REMOVE THE SPASMS!! Yes, I believe spasms can be relieved. I have experimented with stim signal variations when spasm has occurred, and found the variation over short periods of time, brought spasm to control.

Praying, for you Dear Rae,
Mark56:hug:zzzzzz

Sandy
 

Praying your epidural planned for Monday bring things under control for YOU!!
Mark56:hug:zzzz

Epidural Question??
 

I had an epidural today for a bulging disc at L4/L5. I've never had one before and wonder if there is some relief right away or does it take awhile? I'm not noting much relief from the pain that radiates down my left leg. My Dr. has already scheduled a second epidural in a month. I've heard they are done in a series of three. I know this is probably a silly question but I've never dealt with any real back pain before.

My spasms have lessened with physical therapy but the pain radiating down my leg has been going on for a couple weeks now.

I hope that everyone is able to have a restful night with a relief from pain.

Sandy Kay: confused:

Hi Sandy Kay
 

I suffer with Failed Back Syndrome.......and before I had my SCS installed in August 2010 I too had some epidural injections (well a lot actually!!) for something similiar to what you describe. I had a fusion at L4/L5 then L5/S1but to no avail. This was for pain in my lower back and pain in my left leg, like you describe radiating down to my toes...plus some of my right leg to my knee......So after all that surgery I was advised to have some more injections. The initial ones did absolutely nothing for me. Like you I was expecting them to kick in straight away. Or at least thats what I had been told. However, I never did experience that happening. I continued to have epidurals on a monthly basis, again to no avail......and it was then decided to consider the SCS. This I will say has been the most successful of all the treatments and interventions Ive had done on my back over the past 7 years. I have heard of patients feelings the 'effects' immediately after the injections have been given and can actually 'feel' it going down their legs. As I say, I didnt and never did even after a few days. We continued 'just in case' sometime I might but it wasnt successful for me, unfortunately.

I will say though Sandy Kay that the SCS is good for me....

I do hope that you will get some relief from these injections.....

Take care

Jackie :)

Hi Sandy Kay :)

I've had several epidural injections over the years, and my experience has been that I didn't feel immediate relief. Most of the time, unfortunately, I didn't feel much relief at all, but a couple of times it did ease my pain. For me, the first few days after the injections I always feel sore and kind of achy, like a mild flu. Then gradually I feel better as the week goes on, with the pain subsiding over a couple of weeks (if it's going to work at all). The first time I had a series of 3 injections over 3 months and they worked like a charm! I was able to continue working, and only had minor back pain for several years afterward. Hope this is the case for you!
Jan

My aunt said her neurologist said the injections should be given while you are awake for best results. My Dr. sedated me. Has anyone heard of this? Stall waiting for some results and am scheduled for #2 in a month. I'm going to ask my Dr. what he thinks.

Sandy

Yes Sandy I was awake for all my injections.....was never even given an option to be sedated. Some I had done as a day case and was in hospital for most of the day, others I had done in an Out Patients room, and just got up after about half an hour and then sent home :)

Jackie:hug: