Been a while .. just checking in.

MRI a couple of weeks ago revealed great news! No further damage to my spine .. despite getting worsening pain .. HOWEVER, that's due to muscles going into spasm.

New Doctor did an ultra sound and it showed the lower back muscles are grossly enlarged .. the MRI showed no further deterioration - which is great, but puzzled me as to why I was getting further sciatic pain and pain in my right thigh.

Muscles .. apparently.

He put me on Baclofen.

I took 10mg and within 4 hours my eyes were twitching in my head, I had Tinnutus, nausea, dizziness, sweating, visual disturbance - seeing things out of the corner of my eyes .. was very clumsy, sleepy .. and ended up spending the weekend in bed. Am only just feeling back to normal.

I phoned my normal Doctor who said .. "Oh no, the only side effect you get with that is drowsiness" .. Apparently he thinks I had a virus. However, I'm really not happy to try taking these again because the weekend was horrible and I don't want a repeat.

A bit frustrated .. not knowing really what is what.

My Pain Doctor says I should be able to improve mobility by gradually doing a little more each day.

One good thing is, he says I don't HAVE to use two crutches .. that I am ok with one. Whereas my physio said to never use just one because of the risk of further damage.

Sorta puzzled, but ok.

The PLUS side is, there is no structural damage to my spine, so no need for any operations .. not that I could have one anyway.

I still can't walk more than 10 steps without my back going into spasm and having to stop until the muscles release so ..

He's offered me a steroid/local anasthetic injection into the lumbar muscles but I don't see what the point of that is.

Confused.

My guess is that the injection would keep the muscle from a spasm...then perhaps you could walk further....11 steps then maybe 12...of course they wear off although it might help getting stronger...

Now about one crutch...in my auto accident I had two major injuries...my l Knee and lumbar nerves....surgery first for the knee; 2 weeks in a wheelchair,,,,2 weeks on 2 crutches,,,,the REHAB physical therapist told me I could go on to one crutch....the twist and drag just wrenched my back and added to the lumbar injury...I did not feel the pain because all there was...was pain and meds. It just adds such an odd stress and crook to the body...my opinion.

Enlarged muscles....hmmm....how to relax them...massage...heat...I am sure you have tried the gamut...

Great news overall ---do keep trying to get about...keep us posted
hope you get more answers
Johanna

hmmm...seems you can't correct a subject line....oh bother!!