ER visit
 

:mad: Today my back went into spasm......again. I feel like Forrest Gump!!!

This time the pain was beyond labor. :eek: So I went to the ER. I couldn't stand it any more.

went in around 930 and got out around 130 a.m. They gave me a shot of toradol and gave me a soma. An hour later most of the pain was gone--it was down to a manageable level. And all I wanted to do was go home. Cripes, I have to work in the morning.

So they gave me a script for percocet for pain and some more soma. Want me to follow up with a spine doc to see if anything else is going on. Gotta call my doc in the a.m. to let hm know I was at the ER tonight. He'll have to give me another script for soma (if this works better than the skelaxin).

I just want to NOT be in pain when I'm sleeping. And now, I'm off to bed. Couldn't get the med scripts filled because I wasn't driving all over creation, but will do that tomorrow.

For now, good night!

That's just terrible Gazelle. I hope your pain's eased now and I do hope that you're able to get a good night's sleep. Gentle hugs.......:hug:

Sorry to hear about those spasms, I hate them! I get them in my legs like that. I hope you get some releif and feel much better soon.....so I won't feel guilty picking on you :p

I'm sorry to hear about your pain. I can empathize tho, I have been having those kind of spasms after my Copaxone shots occasionally. You're not on Copaxone by any chance are you?

I'm sorry it got that bad! One thing I can tell you, anything is better than skelaxin. That is a beginner muscle relaxer. I've never had soma, but everyone I know raves about it.

I'm using methocabamol, which I really like because it works without making me sleepy. For night time I take zanaflex.

I liked flexeril, it works well, but it made me too tired to use during the day.

Hope between the percs and soma, you get some relief. And let us know what the doc has to say. I bet ya there is something going on.

Slept fairly well last night and just got up. Called off work this a.m. and will go in this afternoon. But it feels a bit better. I think the combination of toradol and the soma really helped relax me so the drug could work a bit better.

I'm going to see a chiropractor today and have a 2 hour massage scheduled for tomorrow. If that doesn't help out, I'll just scream and maybe THAT will do some good!

Anne, thanks. I just want this to stop.

Sassy, I'm not on Copaxone anymore. With all the going on about my dx I sort of went off it. But I can relate to the muscle spasms--I used to get them occasionally with the Copaxone. They're loads of fun. At least they went away after a while. This isn't. Blech!

NaeNae, you're VERY funny. Hey, why bother being nice to me when I'm feeling bad--haven't you heard it's better to "hit 'em when they're down"? :p

Brain, called my regular doc today and told them about the ER visit. They're sending a note to my doc to see what he says. At minimum, I should get a full script for the Soma (I hope).

Waiting until October to see the physiatrist and November to see the rheumatologist ain't gonna be fun if this continues. Neither neuro's office has called me back yet--not the one I saw at the beginning of August or the one I'm scheduled to see in December.

It's definitely something. What I don't know, but last night two docs asked if I had ever had an MRI of my lumbar spine. Geez, did I feel silly rattling off the info about the C and T spine MRIs and saying "um, no, no one's ever done that." They thought it wouldn't be such a bad idea but referred me to a spine doc. So I'll call THAT doc today. If I were sleeping with these guys, I'd have a reputation by now! ;) As it is, I feel pretty sleezy seeing all these docs!

I hear you, my hoofed friend, it's no picnic. This carp has been interfering with my sleep for years and I'm so sick up and fed with it all!

I sure hope this combo will cut it for you so you can at least enjoy your trip!

Ditto on what AMN said!

( she says it all! :p )

:hug::hug: Sorry it got so bad you had to go to the ER. Hope the docs can help you out.

I think I've lost track of your story . . . are they questioning your MS dx at this time?

Glad the drugs are helping cause spasms sure can be painful!! I had one in my bladder a few weeks ago that bolted me out of a dead sleep. Thank goodness it was just a short one!

Cherie

What Cherie said. I'm not familiar with your story and why you stopped Copaxone. I'd love to hear about it if you don't mind sharing that is :)

Owie! I'm glad you've got something to help - maybe the chiro can help you get a little looser. Definitely need something to get you through your trip!

graceful stotter...

I hope you get the full script, since it works for you.

and I hope the cracker an' 'ssage helps!

and dagnabbit, I hope they figure out what the problem is, with an eye to making it cease and desist.

mine's never gotten so bad I had to go to the ER, just went to the chiro to get dislocated things reinstalled.

:o

hope the chiro can pop yours back into place, and that's all it is, honey.

gentle :hug: time.

I'll give you the abbreviated version:

1. 2003: Dr. Flip Flop--I don't know if you have MS, you have an elevated IgG index and oligoclonal banding, you have a thoracic lesion, I don't know if you have MS

1a. 2003-2006: MRIs and all testing done at trauma hospital MRI center

2. 2003: Dr. MS Specialist, Thomas Jefferson, Philly: You have probable/possible MS but I won't give you dx because they'll only treat the dx and not other things

3. 2003-2005: Dr. Flip Flop: You might have MS, you have MS, I want you on meds, I don't want you on meds, I don't know if you have MS and never said you had MS, I want you on meds, I don't know if I'm comfortable with a dx or meds see my partner

4. 2005: Dr. Decisive: I see lesions on your 2005 MRI, you have a thoracic spine lesion, I'm dxing you with MS

5. 2005-2006: Dr. Decisive: two exacerbations, two IVSM rounds

6. 2007: Dr. Decisive, MS Specialist, gets recruited to Cleveland Clinic for MS education department

7. late 2007: I try to get new neurologist at Johns Hopkins

8. January 2008: Dr. Researcher: your 2005 and before MRIs and testing are crap, I see no lesions on those MRIs, your 2007 MRI is better--I see two lesions but they're probably artifactual and in your corpus callosum, you have transverse myelitis

8a. Dr. Researcher: repeat all tests except SSEPs

9. January 2008: Dr. Researcher turns out to be only consult and NOT treating neuro

10. try from January 2008 to end of July 2008 to get treating neuro at Hopkins--finally succeed

11. August 2008: Dr. Been Recruited by Facility in Texas: I see one lesion on your 2005 MRI (no mention of 2007 brain MRI), dx: probable/possible MS--clinically isolated syndrome and if see another lesion on brain MRI, dx w/MS. See doc to whom I'm referring you in 4 mos. for repeat MRI and visit.

12. August 2008: Dr. Neuro #6--I have appt with in December 2008. Who knows what HE will say about testing and or MRIs

So that's the story. As far as I'm concerned, I'm waiting to see what Dr. Neuro #6 says and I have MS. There have been so many back and forth dx, no dx or change dx things that I'll stick with the dx tentatively until I get the final(?) opinion from Dr. Neuro #6. He could come in and say, Yes, I agree with Dr. Decisive--there ARE two lesions and by the way, I see them on your 2007 and no, they're not artifact.

Cripes..... reasonable neuros can disagree, but that is ridiculous. And radiologists haven't seen anything on my MRIs.

Thanks, Cayo, me too. I just felt that when it got beyond "10 cm dilated and pushing time pain" that I needed to see someone!

Chiro said I was all out of whack (no derogatory comments please, I realize I'm not "normal" :D ). Tailbone was even out of place! He said from what I was describing to him (and some things he did), that it might be a bit of a disc problem. Wants me to lie down a lot this weekend, see him on Monday, and use ice/heat. Agreed massage was good idea.

Got an appt. with the spine doc right after my trip--first day back to work even. That's good. They'll be a good opinion to have. Will have to take MRIs to them.

And haven't heard anything from my regular doc. Will see what happens Monday.

Got through to Dr. Recruited by Facility in Texas's office and they were going to e-mail him and his nurse with problem. Said they'd get back to me. Nothing yet, so don't believe that I'll hear anything until Monday.

<sigh> And I only have MRIs from 2007 right now. Hopkins didn't return my 2003-2006 MRIs, just the one disc from 2007. Hopefully the MRI center at the trauma hospital can get me a disc in time for the spine doc visit.


I did tell the spine doc's office and chiro that I did not want to go to the UK and see the country through its ERs! NOT the way to visit. LOL

The woman on the phone at the spine doc's office laughed too because her mom has MS and she got sick with pneumonia on a trip to Hawaii. Spent the whole trip in the hospital. She told the woman that her dad had more fun than she did. I said, hey she needs to look on the bright side: she got to meet more people than he did and I'll bet he didn't get breakfast in bed and she did! ;)

Awe yes . . . I remember now. Gonna have to bookmark this one, so I don't have to ask again. :o

You had that 'strange' supposed TM attack too, didn't you? Not "all-on", but nagging for many months if I remember correctly ...?

I guess it would normally be good news that our drug is working and we have no new lesions . . . but confusing when you are still sorta' kinda' in the dx process.

They say that we have the most opportunity for benefit from the drugs when we are still at the CIS stage, so why not continue on Copaxone anyway? :confused:

Have you been thoroughly work-up for Syringomyelia? That's what my sister (who they thought had MS as first) was finally dx with . . .

The other thing that comes to mind is Arachnoiditis: Chronic inflammation of the arachnoid surrounding the spinal cord and roots, often seen following spinal surgery or use of intrathecal contrast or medications.

Cherie

Yep, Dr. Researcher said that attack was TM. But Dr. Recruited by a Facility in Texas agreed with me and said not a typical TM presentation, something else going on there.

See, no lesions on 2003 xray--all docs agree with that. Then miraculously in 2005, I have repeat MRI and there are two lesions Dr. Decisive sees. That combined with 2003 episode and thoracic spine lesion led him to dx.

So I still have problems with other docs saying "hmm... MS or not?" Why? Well, no brain lesions 2003 but thoracic spine lesion, elevated IgG index and oligoclonal banding.
Two lesions brain MRI 2005, exacerbations 2005 and 2006. What's all this about time and space? Ya think that's met if you have first clinical episode in 2003 and one spine lesion then 2 years later 2 brain lesions and more clinical attacks?

That's why I'm sticking with the MS dx until Dr. Neuro #6 visit. :)


Dr. Researcher says that might be benefit, might not for Copaxone. My call. He doesn't see it necessary yet. Dr. Recruited by a Facility in Texas says sort of similar thing but it's still my choice. I say, hey, I'm comfortable with no drugs right now. Let's see what happens. If I have another lesion, then I'll go back on.

So I'm waiting.

Meantime, the stupid back thing is going on.

Brain has Syring. But I don't know much about it or if I've ever been worked up for that. Truly. There have been so many things that they've ruled out that I haven't a clue what's all been ruled out! Don't know anything about the Arach. No one's ever suggested spiders before. LOL

Syring is not something they normally test for, and there are not many doctors out there that know much about it. It is considered very rare, and most often dx with Chiari malformation. (My sis doesn't have that though ...)

I just thought of those two because of the "other" damage you have in your spine. My sister had spinal surgery, and several people I know with Arach got that because of invasive procedures or trauma to their spine.

Cherie

The only portion of my spine that's not been MRI'd to my knowledge is the lumbar spine. So far, no cyst's shown up on MRI in the T or C spine area. I don't always have pain--this is new.

The spine docs should have a better understanding of what could be going on if it relates to the spine. Two things, however, that I could maybe ask about. So thanks for bringing them up. ;)

Jeez ya Hoofed Creature! Just reading the list of docs and opinions got me riled up heah! No wonder they call it practicing medicine!

Whatever the outcome of all this is, I hope for your peace of mind and body, that it calms down for the trip!

Get that spine doc to give you some meds to get you through even if you aren't on the schedule 'til after the trip! Drugs are GOOD, especially when traveling, even better when you actually have a prescription for them...:D

Holy shite, Gazelle!! What the heck is wrong with these docs??? They make me question my own sanity at times :p. I don't even have a pcp right now because I am just so tired of all of this type of stuff. It took me about 17 years to get a defintive MS dx!! Partly due to my refusal to see any more doctors until I was left with no other choice. I've seen spinal docs, other orthos, rheumatologists, psych doc (because at that point I figured I must have lost my somewhere along the way :D), and finally my current neuro who is an MS specialist. I swear if anything happens to him and I have to see another one I'm gonna...I'm gonna... I don't know WHAT. I really hope you get some help soon, noone should have go through this. I know it's hard to dx MS, but come on, this is just excruciating. :Sigh: :hug:

Yeah..What Joelle said..:mad:

I pray for you to be okie dokie for your trip... Yes, meds and beer oughtta doit..:D

move to a new country ? :cool:

give up getting any sort of treatment, doctor appointments, medications, MRIs, joining clinical trials, running the county MS Walk, and MS support groups, and everything? :D

lol, that's how upset I was... after waiting so long to get my dx, seeing a patronizing and dismissive neuro... who told me to get some counseling.

so, I finally get a very GOOD doctor, hallelujah!

then, alas, Dr. Wonderful retired... and it was just too freakin' *much* to make the effort all over again to find a doctor who listened, understood, paid attention, explained things carefully, was respectful, patient, and kind.

:hug: to Joelle.

and :grouphug: to Stotty, with major hopes your back is feeling better today.

PS: don't bear down, Gaz !! ;)

River, I believe in Social Medicine. That means as long as someone in the group has a prescription it's ok! ;)

:D

I've been trying to figure that out myself! Makes you nuts. That's why I'm sticking with a dx until I truly know what's going on. Sick of being told one thing then being told another and then being told something else entirely.

And that's how I feel about good docs too. Sheesh.... you find one good one and then, well, they go away for some reason. YOu're left in the lurch and it sucks.



Thanks! I'm gonna go off the muscle relaxants so I can do beer. See, Soma or was it percocet says that you shouldn't drink because it can cause unconsciousness. I thought that was the whole point! But seriously. I can't go to W-ALE-Z without imbibing beer of the country. So I'll only do that once or twice so I can be on drugs most of the time. Boy does that sound WRONG!

Shades of Rosemary's Baby is what you're afraid of, huh? :eek: If anything happens like that, I'll send it to you as a guardian of Chez Le Cayo.

Had a 2 hour massage today and that helped. But drove through major rain to pick up FG at the airport--both ways. So that was fun, but we're back at my place now and that's IT for tonight (at least for me). I need to lie down and keep pressure off the back as I can feel some pressure and pain right now. Didn't lift a single bag for FG! and felt bad for it too.... but don't tell her that!

I won't breathe a word.

:winky:

and if there's kid sent my way?

I'll let Leeloo raise it.

:p

Oh my dear... can I relate. May I ask WHERE in your back is your pain? Is it spasms? Or what...

I take Methocarbamol with 3 ibroprofins to sleep..sometimes neurotin. But going to consider SOMA to.

My worse and most consistent symptom remaining is terrible, take-your-breath-away spasms around my rib cage and mid back!!! AFter 10 years of chiro it didnt even hold for the rest of the day. No one knows why either.

I meet my new PCP later this week. LEt us know how that combo works for you k?

Warmly... Jan

Wow. I haven't been around these parts for a few days and boy, there's a lot to catch up on in just this thread alone!

Gazelle, I hope you're feeling better today. :hug:

Jan, the Soma and percocet seem to help. But I don't know yet what's causing the problem--if it's disc or muscle, probably muscle but ya never know.

Main problem areas right now are lower back (lumbar spine) and thoracic--right between shoulderblades and just below them. After I see the spine doc when I get back from the trip I should have a better idea. It hurt to breathe for quite some time--intercostal muscles seemed to be in spasm too. Yikes! I feel for you with what you're describing.


Thanks, Beary! I'm holding. But the plane ride actually is making me nervous--I won't really be able to walk around too much or lie down to sleep, so I'll have constant pressure on my back. Maybe it'll miraculously clear up tomorrow. :rolleyes:

Hey Gazzy! Geez, I go camping for a few days and you start acting up! Man, your'e ordeal sounds awful. Feel better my friend and if you need a stand in for your trip, tell FG I'll be on the roof waiting. Swing by and get me!!!

Seriously, take care Gazz and just keep thinking V A C A T I O N!!!!