How do I distinguish PN pain from back/gut?
 

Hi guys,
Have a few questions... as some of you know - I just went through a 3 month disability reveiw that was extremely stressful (and still no definate yea or nay) - but we're holding... but the physical toll it took resulted in an extreme PN flare in my legs up to mid thigh and arms... (I know that part is PN)... my last lumbar MRI a year ago showed discs pressing on nerves at L4-L5-S1 - and continues to progressively get worse painwise - and I have gastroparesis which only fix is to live on liquids and take lots of motillity/nausea meds... about a month ago I had an endsocopy and had a permanennt partial (teeth) broken during the procedure - I'm going to see a speicalist next week to see if he can reatach it becase the pain from not having teeth and constantly I guess trying to grind my teeth that arent there are throwing my whole head out of wack and causing more nausea and constant headache...

Anyway, I expected the PN flare from the stress.... and its starting to let up a bit.. but my back pain is getting so severe, and wrapping around to the front of my lower abdomen, and the lower gut pain now so constant (the back and gut pain I can finally describe - it feels like the whole area is on fire).... that I dont know which way to turn...

My GP is out of town - and as has own practice - just telling people to go to ER, which I'm sure they'll offer pain pills which I cant take (just tylenol - others make me sick) and tell to see regular doc... the next three weeks are packed with important doc appts - including couple hours at the dentist next week to try to temporarily fix the broken tooth and reattach the partial so that area may hurt less).... but on the back - I see a new neuro Monday - is it reasonable to ask for another lumbar MRI since its been a year? And the gut - always have gut problems since had PN - but not the severe burning I'm having now..... does this sound PN related? Anyone have front abd pain from their back pain? I know its nerves that area getting pressed on in the back????

I'm literally to the point of not moving at all - and its not helping!

So, help?

Any suggestions appreciated.....:confused:

Hey Kmeb, I hope you hang in there. I don't really have advice to offer but I can offer you my support and prayers. I as well, have a disk herniation at l4,l5,s1, but I haven't gotten an MRI in over 2 years, but am getting one tomorrow to see if the discs is the cause of my burning feet. I think if you are having more pain in your lower extremities than you did a year ago, an MRI is definitely reasonable. I tried searching the forums but I couldn't find your story... maybe you didn't post... or maybe I punched in the wrong keywords... But it seems like you and I have the same symptoms somewhat.. Mine not being as severe as yours... As I said before I have a herniated disk and I also have diarrhea. I'm still trying to find an answer to my symptoms and see if it's connected or not. I hope, through all the troubles you are going to, that you find an answer and relief.

It IS at times
 

hard to sort out sources of pain...seems they are often connected - or totally unrelated - except for that constant pain.

I searched up what seems to be a potentially useful 'nerve map'?

http://www.innerbody.com/image/nervov.html

Maybe looking at this can 'help' find the source/cause?

Good luck with docs and dents? - j

From my own experience
 

Kmeb,
From my experience with my sacral stress fracture, I don't think it is unreasonable to ask for another MRI at all. The status of the bones/nerves can change in the period of only one week. I suspect you are at risk of stress fractures too due to your inactivity and your lack of diet. Also a small growth on a bone that might be pressing on a nerve could grow considerably in the period of a year.

Billye

Absolutely agree with Silverlady.
 

Many of us with chronic spinal issues have MRI's taken every six months, as per doctor's orders, to see what may have shifted, what bony protuberances may have grown larger and pressed more on nerves, and so on. It's perfectly reasonable for you to ask for a lumbar MRI and also a thoracic MRI, given that dermatomically, many of the nerves for sensation in the abdomen and gut come from the lower part of the thoracic spine as well as the upper lumbar:

http://www.apparelyzed.com/dermatome.html

The newly intensified pain--is it coming from peripheral or spine issues?--may be really hard, with your history, to pin down. Given your recent stress, I highly suspect your inflammatory markers are probably up, exacerbated any compressive neurological issues you may have (inflammation causes swelling, and swelled nerves are more likely to be hit/pressed by other structures). But, this may be produced on the level of the smaller autonomic/sensory nerves, too.

Wish I could be more help--but do get those MRI's.

I have had pain....
 

in the back and front like you describe (I have a congenital defect-- so it is with me for life).

But when it is GI there will eventually be gas, frequency, diarrhea. It might be a couple of hours later, but it will become that.

With no change in bowel function, I would suspect the back.

But I will also throw out there the ovary... so you might want a gyne exam.

Yesterday I went to the doctor for more tests.
I had x-rays for my neck/collarbone, and other things.
She found silent urinary tract infection --I have no symptoms. So I am waiting for a culture now.

But while pressing on my abdomen, she found a hard lump about the size of quarter. I couldn't feel it really, but she was all into it. It is on the side where
my redundant colon is looped, and near my C-section scar. Just another thingy to worry about! I think it is an adhesion in the fascia. She is going to keep an eye on it...and heavens--I hate to think what will happen if it changes! She agreed with me it didn't feel deep, more like in the muscle or tendons. Of course, I didn't know it was there...who goes around pushing on their stomach? esp mine with its weird things beneath? LOL

Thanks
 

everyone, glad you could even read my terrible typing! yikes!

Aloneutthere - I have predominately sensory PN (absent sensory nerve conduction) w/ minor motor invovlement in arms and legs - almost complete losss of large mylinated fibers, less loss of small (know this from sural nerve biopsy) - both demylinating and degenerative..... my diagonsis have run at the beginning from "post viral PN" to HSANII (Heriditary Sensory Autonomic PN) to now CIDP.... we believe there may have been a toxic component after onset because a year into slight PN got infection where I had to take on and off Flagyl for six months (which is a neuro-toxin anti-biotic) - and the sensory nerve conduction compeletely dissapeared after that... also, my stomach (I had C-Difficile Toxin) hasnt worked since....

Dahlek - nerve map is interesting - I see paths definately that could be traced to the same pain...

Silverlady, Glenntaj - I will ask for MRI next week - I've been crawling around on the floor doing stuff - and its greatly increasing the pain - and I think anything giving this much pain is worth another look... (last time a spinal surgeon said he'd love to operate - but what surgeon doesnt? He also said recovery would be miniumum 6 weeks of severe pain - so will do anything to avoid - unless he'll let me move in with him during that time and he can take of me!)

and Mrs. D - there might be something in the mix there too... I've had endomitriosis my whole life, have had 3 abdominal surgeries for it (so there could be lots of scar tissue in there plus current growths of endo) plus I have fibroids - thats one of my upcoming appts - to see if the fibroids are letting up at all (at least those you can see on ultrasound where the endo you cant unless you operate - i do not want yet another abdominal surgery)

Thanks to all:)

Glad to help?
 

I actually found a GOOD nerve map by sheer luck right off!

Just wish I could do more..

Scar tissue, then more scarring on top of that...scary and or not good.

Hoping good things - j