I am happy to help. Be careful as Lyrica side effects including swelling of hands legs and feet are not uncommon but believe it or not but it beats the alternative. I live with the swelling since that relieves the burning. I know that sounds weird but it is absolutely true.

See you around:

Horatio - thanks for the info, & yes, I do understand your logic, but for now I have to stick with the Gabapentin due to cost. It also controls the nerve spasms to the point that they are tolerable.

Miss Ginnie - again thank you for your kind post. Hope your dental swelling resolves soon. Chipmunks are cute tho!
Can totally relate to impatience and crabbiness. Unless it's raining, I've had long walks every single day for 3 years regardless of temperature, and not doing those, not feeling like doing those makes me an impatient crabby witch. Plus the health benefits, lower b/p, etc. was an added incentive to the pure enjoyment. For the past few months, I've been taking a pain pill, waiting 30 minutes, gritting my teeth and doing it anyway. I will continue doing that every day that I possibly can. What really gets me down, is the realization that is sinking in, that my back will never ever be the same as it was a year ago.

Just finished reading candlegirl's thread, recovery from spinal fusion advice. Very sobering posts. Am in total agreement with surgery being an individual's choice and only that individual. Having 2 doctors tell me that surgery is the only option, I do not expect anything encouraging from the neurosurgeon's appt. this upcoming Friday. It's what, after 1am now, I took the prescribed gabapentin for spasms 2 hours ago and spasms are so busy and numerous in my legs and feet there's no chance of falling asleep.

Somebody help here please...what's the best way to describe these nerve spasms to someone who doesn't have a clue? The best way I can is......imagine a bundle of hot wires that are unbundled, of different lengths, with different electrical capacities, all firing differently, ALL THE TIME. Not the best description. Can someone think of a more apt description so I can help someone who's asked understand?

Surgery petrifies me, but this is no way to live either. Can't carry groceries, pick up a gallon of milk due to pressure in the spine, vacuuming I do otherwise it won't get done and then I pay for it later, don't even carry my everyday purse due to weight, can't pick up a 6 pack of cokes, driving causes such pain I don't even want to get in the car, can't bloody function without drugs. Symptoms just get worse by the week, and living day to day in a chemical haze is the pits. If all conservative measures have been tried (they have for me) with no improvement or promise (or even hope) of improvement, then hold the door to the operating room open...... Personally, I'd rather take a chance on improving the situation than live in the situation as is.

MRI reads:
Grade I degenerative subluxation at L4-5 with bulge, annular tear, prominent facet arthropathy. Mass effect on the right lateral recess nerve root w/crowding of the left. Stress injury of the pedicle & pars region of L5.

Can anyone please translate this MRI to laymen's? Thank you so much!

I had an L4-L5 lami nectomy and my back is fine now. I had all your problems. Cleaning out that area with surgery finally worked for me. Screw Pain Management.
Good Luck

Welcome to the forum! I too, am new here as of yesterday. I find your accessment likened to that of a trained, certified doctor....as we experience these issues we become knowledgeable in our anatomy. Congrats.
I have suffered over 25 years with spinal issues and as recent as the last three years have dealt with this leak, but didn't know of such a diagnosis until this past month. I had did as the doctors had taught me and refer it to just ailments from spinal conditions.
So, I guess in an essence I have become an expert as far as my own body is concerned. I've learned to research, reach out to others and become accustom to daily chronic pain.
You see I was taught you are to work hard and you will have something to show for it! Oh, yes..tis true but the only thing besides 'possessions' that I have to show for it is a torn asunder spine...carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel and other issues. My poor body is so wretched.
I am currently dealing with misdiagnosis after misdiagnoisis to the point now I want to scream out from the torture of constant pain. If it was not for my "FAITH" in GOD, my hope would have diminished long ago.
So, the neuro appt I received this week from a doctor who was booked up for three months in advance was a GODSEND! So, I am assembling documentation research and the arm's length worth of sympoms to overwhelm him with. But it is needed in order to get satisfaction and closure of my treatment/diagnosis.
So, I bid you strength in your pain, hope in your trials.

It just keeps getting better (insert sarcasm here). Appt. today was for 1:45, saw the dr. at 3:30. With traffic, we made it home at 6:30. Am in no shape to write about the news given today. Will return when I can collect myself.

Thank ya'll for the good wishes and kind posts.

I am worried about you, of course I am. When you can, and have thought things over, please let me know what the doctor said. I truely care about you and so hope that your issues can have a good outcome. I am here for you anytime to talk to. I will keep you in my prayers tonight. I really do pray. I hope you have a good support team at home with you too. Be at peace as much as you can. ginnie

Miss Ginnie, I do so appreciate your prayers and posts immensely.

Here's how it went:
He said that he could "fix" the nerve pain in my legs with an 80% chance of a good outcome.
He "could" fuse my back now with a 50 percent chance of a good outcome or no change or the pain could be worse afterward, but right not now he could see nothing in the MRI reading that would definitively cause the level of back pain that I have, and the back pain outweighed my leg pain (although when asked to rate leg to back pain on their questionnaire, I said 50 / 50). Maybe he made his assertation from the fact I never sat down while he was talking to me - I was either leaning over a table or squatting in the floor). He wants to do a CAT as he suspects there is a hidden fracture which may or may not have healed - incorrectly healed by itself on the anterior (the side of the spine facing your front) and that is what is causing the level of back pain - mostly....
He also said that he does not prescribe drugs unless he does surgery on a patient BUT he could send me to his physiatrist (I had to look this word up - not sure I'm spelling it correctly here either) i.e., another doctor, another bill. That in itself leaves me up the creek, as I have been taking Percocet and Gabapetin for 3 months now in order to halfway function, and both require weaning off of. He said "then we have a problem". ???????

As far as his bedside manner, he could have checked his ego at the door. Young guy, granted he does practice at a major highly rated facility and obviously Highly educated (he made a point of stating he treats cancer patients - very honorable of him - but what does that have to do with anything right this minute?), only been practicing for 5 years. He talked about money and cost more than either of the other 2 doctors I've seen. One of those was a pain specialist anesthesiologist who did the epidural and told me I needed surgery. This dr. totally disregarded any opinion that guy had. I guess the anesthesiologist's MD is not as important as HIS MD. He said I expect alot, but I have no insurance yet here I am in his clinic. My thought was "I just paid a $1000 UPFRONT to be here in YOUR overly decorated CLINIC" but of course I kept my mouth shut.

The fact I do not have insurance is as messed up as my back. I rightfully take the fault for no insurance.

I did not schedule the CAT - which would be done in HIS CLINIC. Need to mull over all this some.

The numbers are good as far as outcome, but I didn't like the majority of what he said to you at all. You are correct, the fact that he does cancer people has nothing to do with you. Dear woman, if it were me, I may have had to get another opinion again. The fact that he refused medication unless he himself did surgery, is trying to push you into surgery. Rather he should have laid your options out in front of you, and say, "these are the best solutions that I can come up with" or something like that. You can always go to a pain specialist until the time you decide that the surgery is right for you. If you did not feel comfortable with him now, he won't do anything to reduce your anxiety over your surgery. I have become a bit cynical I guess, I am sorry I feel that way. It's just if someone is going to do surgery on me, especially a part like my spine, I best like the guy. Did you like him at all? My first neuro dismissed me, I said no to him. Well thats Ok by me. I found another, who happened also to be a humble man of faith. He did not threaten me, or intimidate me eithor. I am picky on doctors as it is my life they are messing with. I really want to know if you liked him. What did you feel? I hope you get back to me soon, I really care about you. I have a great deal of empathy for those who suffer with back and neck problems as I have been in the same shoes. Am I being to hard with my opinion? I am sorry if I in anyway offended by what I said. ginnie