[MelodyL]

Hi.

My husband has had neuropathy for almost 20 years. All this time they completely ruled out his back. He has a diagnosis of CIDP for which he gets monthly infusions of Gammaglobulin (but that's for his balance and auto-immune issues).

His neuropathy is only between certain toes and he gets the burning, stabbing, etc. etc.

Only his chiropractic/neurologist has said "I really believe your neuropathy is coming from your back". He's been saying this for over 4 years. And every time he does his adjustments, uses a G5 machine and massages my husband's glutes, ALL THIS PAIN GOES AWAY and he feels like a new man.

My husband has had an MRI done before but the orthopedists, and every other doctor said "no, it's not your back".

Well, something must have changed because his other neurologist just ordered a Lumbar MRI without contrast.

Alan forgot to ask the neurologist "When I get this MRI, will it show my glutes" I think he is hoping the MRI shows that his glutes are being pinched (or something is being pinched).

We are going to make the appointment for the Lower MRI without contrast, but he just wants to know the following:

Will this Lumbar MRI without contrast, well will it show the glutes area?

Thanks to anyone who knows.

Much appreciated.

Melody

[Kathi49]

Hi Melody,

I saw your posts on the PN forum and what Glenn had mentioned. I agree with him. But in any case, no a lumbar MRI won't show the glutes. It will show, however, anything going on; stenosis, facets, etc. I wanted to add too that I asked for a sacral MRI once and the imaging center had to do 2 different MRI's; they couldn't get all of it on one. Anyway, long story but my "left cheek" hurt like heck and it was sciatica LIKE pain. Has the Chiro or anyone else ever mentioned the Piriformis muscle? Sometimes and it is different in people, the nerve gets pinched within that muscle. I had to have mine released and once I did the leg pain in some areas stopped. However, I do have problems with L4, L5 and S1. In any case, if there is something going on in Alan's lumbar, the MRI should show it and the doc can take it from there. I also wanted to add...the outsides of my feet and ankles hurt all the time; sometimes burn. The left foot is worse. BUT...when I get an injection (have had facets and an ESI) the pain stops for awhile. So, it is quite possible that some of Alan's pain is coming from the lumbar. I hope I made SOME sense and I know it is difficult to get it all sorted out. Suffice to say my L4, L5 and S1 follow the typical dermatome path and clear down to my feet. I am glad they are taking another look at Alan's back as it will rule in or out whatever may or may not be pinched, arthritic, etc. It might help to look at a dermatome chart and then you can get an idea what path Alan's pain is taking. Chirogeek's website has a great chart and alot of good info. I wish him luck and keep us posted.

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by Kathi49

Hi Melody,

I saw your posts on the PN forum and what Glenn had mentioned. I agree with him. But in any case, no a lumbar MRI won't show the glutes. It will show, however, anything going on; stenosis, facets, etc. I wanted to add too that I asked for a sacral MRI once and the imaging center had to do 2 different MRI's; they couldn't get all of it on one. Anyway, long story but my "left cheek" hurt like heck and it was sciatica LIKE pain. Has the Chiro or anyone else ever mentioned the Piriformis muscle? Sometimes and it is different in people, the nerve gets pinched within that muscle. I had to have mine released and once I did the leg pain in some areas stopped. However, I do have problems with L4, L5 and S1. In any case, if there is something going on in Alan's lumbar, the MRI should show it and the doc can take it from there. I also wanted to add...the outsides of my feet and ankles hurt all the time; sometimes burn. The left foot is worse. BUT...when I get an injection (have had facets and an ESI) the pain stops for awhile. So, it is quite possible that some of Alan's pain is coming from the lumbar. I hope I made SOME sense and I know it is difficult to get it all sorted out. Suffice to say my L4, L5 and S1 follow the typical dermatome path and clear down to my feet. I am glad they are taking another look at Alan's back as it will rule in or out whatever may or may not be pinched, arthritic, etc. It might help to look at a dermatome chart and then you can get an idea what path Alan's pain is taking. Chirogeek's website has a great chart and alot of good info. I wish him luck and keep us posted.

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I think I forgot to mention that Alan never has back pain. Never. No sciatica, no nothing. When the doctor does his G5 thing and does his adjustments, he feels like a new man and the PAIN BETWEEN HIS TOES GOES AWAY, but he never went into the chiropractor with any kind of back pain. No back spasms, no nothing.

He thinks that something in his back (even though he never needed as much as a heating pad and he's 61), well even though the man never has back pain, we think the pain in his toes is directly linked to something going on his back (at least this is what his chiropractic neurologist thinks).

And when Alan lies down and I go up and down his back (kind of like rolfing), and I massage him, ALL THE PAIN IN HIS FEET GOES AWAY.

Also, when he changes positions, the pain goes away. When there is a hard hard rain outside, he goes "Aah, my feet feel great".

See how confusing all this is?

The guy never had back pain. He just has neuropathy and pain between certain toes.

Very baffling, no??

Melody

And thanks very much for replying. Much appreciated.

[Bhargava]

Hello everyone...
I have a problem.[a long story...I am just trying to explain my prob in detial]
lower back pain-left side....and I feel the pain when I stretch...the pain runs all the way down through the knee upto my left ankle .... I have had this prob for nearly 4 yrs; but never this severe...I have this "flat-foot" condition, whih probably leads to my back pain as I get this lower back pain when I stand for a prolonged time or playing sports for long...
For last 6 months, I have been having this prob with my back[really bad, as I was not able to bend even a bit] after playing volleyball;but I ignored the pain as it reduced when I gave some hot-bag to it and did some stretching....
2 months back, I pulled lower back muscle when playing tennis and the pain aggravated when I went on a road trip soon after....2 weeks later I went to nextcare[urgent care].. they said it was muscle spasm and gave me some relaxers and pain relievers...I also had X-rays done on the lower back on their advice and they said everything was fine...and adviced to rest so the muscle could rebuild and relax...now, its nealy 2 months since I started taking these medicines and its definitly better- Im able to move now..but stretching still causes acute pain and sometimes walking too is difficult...also been to a chiropractic and he said the pelvis was disoriented [my feet were not looking equal] and he twisted my legs and my back popped and it was very relieving...
The next care doctor sugested to have lumbar MRI without contrast if the pain persists...I want to know if I really need to have this MRI for my problem...please let me know what you think I should do...