Just came back from picking up Alan's latest MRI which he took this past monday.

Here's the IMPRESSION:

1. There is moderate stenosis of the canal at the L3-L4 and L4-L5 levels as a result of productive changes of the facet joints.
2. Mild central disc ridge complex L5-S1 without stenosis.
3. No disc herniations seen.
4. Hemangionma L4 vertebral body.
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Now I brought over the report to Alan's doctor, Dr. Fred (whom we both adore). He referred us to a neurosurgeon and Alan made the appointment. He and I are going on November 3.

Now I asked Dr. Fred if he had anything for Alan to sleep at night because his neuopathy is driving him crazy and he won't be receiving his prescription of xanax until probably Monday (costco screwed up and it is presently on it's way to us).

So alan needed something for 4 or 5 days. The doctor said "would he try Lyrica?" I said "I don't think so because a long time ago he tried Neurontin and he got deathly sick. I told him Alan did it twice just to make sure and he got sick both times, so Neurontin is out. Then he went into his office and came out with samples of Requip. I said "oh, I know this stuff, it's for parkinson and it can make you a compulsive gambler". Dr. Fred bust out laughing and said "how do you know so much?" and I said "you can thank my friends on the neuropathy message boards.

He laughed his head off. He said "this won't interfere with Alan's other meds and it will have a sedative effect if he takes it twenty minutes before he goes to bed. He then said "when the xanax arrives, he can stop this, but see how he does on it".'It will help with the pins and needles".

So tonight Alan will take 0.5 of the Requip.

So any comments are very welcome. Do you think the Requip will do the trick for a few days. I asked him "does this take time to get into your blood stream, or will it work tonight?" he said "it will take effect tonight".

So cmon, jump on board and if you see anything in Alan's mri that you think he has a shot at an endoscopic dischectomy, give me your comments okay?

the neurosurgeon that alan is going to does this procedure, but of course we know he has to examine Alan and look at his films before he can say "oh, I can help Alan".

Alan also asked me, "whats the difference between a neurosurgeon and an orthopedic surgeon and why does he need a neurosurgeon instead of an orthopedic surgeon when orthos operate on the back.

Since I know neuro has to do with nerves and ortho has to do with other stuff, I figure somebody can clear this us for him.

thanks guys.
melody

Hey Melody,

The neurosurgeon can probably better address the neuropathy your hubs is experiencing if its from the canal stenosis that was seen on the MRI, which in the simplest terms means that there is a narrowing of the spinal canal, which could in turn be causing nerve issues, such as the neuropathy.

Now, for a more longer term option with regards to the sleeping issues...I have to wholeheartedly recommend Rozerem. It came out in Sept. of 2005, and I've been on it ever since, sporadically taking a break when my sleep cycles seem to have normalized. It works much differently than traditional sleep aids, has no abuse/addiction potential, and really doesn't interfere with too many meds. It does not cause the sedation-like effects of other sleep medications, and I personally feel its a much more "natural" sleep. I had no luck with the traditional sleepers..either I felt super hung-over and sleep deprived, even though I had slept for 8 hrs, or I had nightmares so bad that I couldn't sleep at all and spent the night in a hypnotic state. Rozerem works on your melatonin binding centers in the brain and resets your internal clock. Check it out and discuss if it might be an option.

If it's his facet joints that are the culprits for his pain, look into some of the new devices out there, such as the "X-stop" device, which has proven very successful so far at helping patients with facet issues, and is a minimally invasive procedure (same day surgery). I don't know that it will definitely apply to his situation, but always better to be well-informed when you see the doctor, rather than not.

I really hope you get some definitive answers from the neurosurgeon. Its misery to be in a limbo state like this. Have a good weekend.

Theresa

hey there.
Guess what Alan's doctor gave him free samples of yesterday. REQUIP.
He said he is to take one 0.5 pill before bedtime.

I had heard about Requip for Parkinson and Restless leg Syndrome but some of the people on the Neuropathy boards use it too.

Well, I must say, I was impressed. Alan nodded off to sleep without any problem last night.

I never sleep. I have an autistic son (diagnosed at age 20) he's now 25 and from what i've gone through for the past 5 years, well, if I didn't take an 0.5 of Xanax at bedtime, I'd be up till 5 in the morning.

I've tried Lunesta. did absolutely nothing for me.

And there are times at night when I take a xanax and it does nothing also.

my mind goes into overdrive.

On my next visit to my doctor, I'll ask him about Rozerem. I've seen the comercials. Depends on what my co-pay for that item is.

copays can kill you.

I would love to be able to be like my husband usually was (before the PN), He could knock his head on a pillow and go out like a light.

that could never happen to me in a million years.

be well.
will update.
melody

Melody: Good he's seeing a neurosurgeon. As you might imagine, this winter I consulted a lot of the best spine surgeons around here, and have a short list. If you are itnerested in anything or anyone in NY, I might be able to offer some thoughts. PM me if you want to talk spine surgeons, okay?

also, it's interseting the Requip worked when he doesn't have restless legs. I don't kow how sedating it is. Don't know much about it. But I have an opinion on Xanax and Lorazepam (Ativan) for sleep, and it's negative. There are safer options. Ambien is good; if you want a benzo to relax the nerves literally, Klonopin is god; Elavil is good to deepen sleep, and Trazodone works wonders for many people. So there are a lot of choices, and he does deserve to sleep, as you do. But I think you're both better off taking something which isn't as habit-forming and hard to stop as xanax or ativan. Even the old-fashioned Restoril is better. But if Ambien doesn't work, and Klonopin (which is really helpful for nerve pain---it's what I take) doesn't work, Trazodone is still very likely to. Again, safer.