For the first time in 7 or 8 years my back has gone out again. It's done this off and on since I was 15. Usually I'm back to snuff within a week, but this is Day 10 and I am still needing muscle relaxers and lortab to make it through the day. Last summer I had several tests done on back (mri's, ct, emg, ncv) because I was having terrible foot pain. Degenerative Disc Disease showed up, but nothing was remarkable enough to explain the foot pain. Had a series of 3 transforaminal epidurals in L4, L5, S1 (the last one was in Nov.). They did not take away the foot pain so pursued other avenues on that. But now my lumbar is screaming. Oddly enough, my foot pain is at a much more tolerable level although it still speaks to me at times.

I went to the dr last Tues. since I was having to pull myself around by the walls of the house in order to move from point a to point b. He put me off work for 2 days, gave the meds mentioned above and we discussed what I had already been doing to keep my back healthy. His opinion was that I was on track but that I am developing foot drop which probably contributed to my back going out this time. He ordered another mri and ct that day. I did the ct but asked for appt. for mri at different facility since theirs is a closed one and they are very uncomfortable for me...would rather do the open mri. I am scheduled to go back to him this Fri. for a recheck. He also wants me to see a neurosurgeon 2 hrs away.

Hopefully I have given enough background info. My question is would it be worthwhile to have another mri done at this time? I hate to go and have the expense and time issues to do this if it's not necessary. Should I just wait this thing out and see how it rides since it's only been 10 days, or if this was you, would you go ahead and see the specialist? The neurosurgeon that I saw last year couldn't get me out of his office fast enough when he saw that I was not a surgical candidate. It was almost humiliating and I would like to not experience that agian!

Sounds like you're in a bad situation. I may be wrong but a foot drop isn't a good thing by anymeans. That sounds to me like nerve damage is developing?? That is something you don't want to be permanent.

If I were you, I'd get a MRI done ASAP and see what is going on. I am the same way as you. I can't STAND closed MRIs, but there are ways around them. I know it because I've had to do it.

Back in '03' I had the same problems you were having. My back was constantly going out, etc. I later found I had three herniated disks that caused my back to have a major blowout. I ended up on an operating table at 3:30am getting an emergency lamenectomy done because my bladder had quit functioning and I could no longer walk on my legs due to EXCESSIVE pain and weakness. The reason I said all of that is because when I came out of surgery, my left foot had a bad foot drop and had to use a brace to control it until I regained enough strength on my own to use it.

Don't mess around with this and see if you can find a neurological doctor that specializes in things like this. The doctor I was seeing at the time is one of the main reasons I was put on that table.

-Seann

You have the MRI's - could you get a second opinion? If I were you I would not get another one done right off the bat.

Remember when we are in pain - we literally change the way we stand and move....I have terrible pain in my feet as well....I notice it more when I am standing still. I know that the pain originates from my back and is linked to how I am standing - I have changed the way I stand with my cane, placing weight on different parts of my feet.

What has helped with this pain....are simple shoe inserts...the people that pointed this out to me were my physical therapists. They recommended the inserts.

What you are going through - I have every once in awhile, during the flares I use the principals of PRICE (Prevention (lay down.....relaxing my back, Rest (self explanatory, Ice (I have many different kinds...) Compression (I have a back belt, this helps me to remember not to move in certain ways....that may reinjure my back, Elevation - (use plenty of pillows - I have 9 all around me

Sounds like you need a cane for some support - could you get one?

All the best

Kim

I have similar problems only in both my lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine. If I were you this is exactly what I would do: First I would get the MRI second I would not only get a second opinion but I would seek a different doctor who only believes in surgery as a last resort. Next I would stop doing anything that is aggravating my condition including working then I would start seeing a good osteopath who does low velocity adjustments and has a massage therapist on hand. I would pay the money and receive adjustments 3-6 times per week for as long as it takes and couple that with one to one and a half hour shiatsu or tui na treatments prior to the adjustments and follow the adjustment with an acupuncture treatment with electric stimulation on the needles. During this treatment you should never have to get up off the table. When I got home after the doctor I would boil up the herbs they gave me for the pain and for the spinal discs then I would use heat on my back then do a yoga routine (I highly recommend Back Care Yoga by Rodney Yee) then traction on my inversion table (one that hangs you from your waist rather than your feet (the inver-trac model is great). Then I would ice for at least 10 minutes. I would then eat properly avoiding dairy products take all my supplements and sleep properly on my new mattress and cervical pillow. Then get up and do it again and again and again until I am not only cured but better then I ever was before. There are resort places you can go to where you can get treatments like that if you do not live in a holistic type area.
I am only posting this because I care about you as a fellow human being who should not have to live in pain. I had very bad back problems from my service in the army I would have had steel roods put in my back if I listened to western doctors but not only did I not have an operation but I now have only minor pain and it gets better every day. YOU CAN DO IT TOO.
,Mike