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My Symptoms...any thoughts.
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PolluxTroy03 posted:
I am getting a MRI within the next day or two. I was in a bad car accident it will be 4 years this OCT, I broke my neck, C4, C5, C6 are fused together C5 was a burst fracture so i needed a cadaver bone. I suffer and been on pain meds for 3 years now, last year my wife was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, she is battling the pain she has bad days and alright days. so i started my battle with depression, stress and anxiety, i was 185pbs i am now 155. I sufferer with a curvature of the spine, get spasms alot. Now more problems Lower back shooting pains down both legs, im thinking sciatica, my neck is cracking shooting pains down my shoulders cant gain weight, having bowel movements 1 a day if that, pins and needles toes and hands, affecting work, haven't been to work in 2 weeks, i just feel weak especially in the mornings and cant walk with the pain me and my wife are in our 30's with 2 beautiful daughters that keep us going...any thoughts and hopefully the MRI will give me answers....Thanks for any comments....Pollux
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susiemargaret responded:
hello, P --

what did you find out from the MRI?

-- susie margaret
what good is gold, or silver too, if your heart's not good and true -- hank williams, sr.
 
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PolluxTroy03 replied to susiemargaret's response:
Waiting for doctor as we speak, pain in legs,.. back of thighs and calfs, are killing me today, woke up this morning with severe spasms....medication not helping...i will let u know about MRI, When i find out....
 
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Byroney_WebMD_Staff replied to PolluxTroy03's response:
Hello PolluxTroy,

I just saw your update and wanted to say I am sorry you're having so much pain today. I hope the MRI helps the doctors find a way to make you more comfortable.

I'll be watching for your update, too,

Byroney
Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. ~Will Rogers
 
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PolluxTroy03 responded:
Well my MRI came back my L4,L5 Left side are Herniated bad, my spinal canal is thinning, nerve damage , my neck is getting worse,it's cracking shooting pain down shoulder, my Doctor said Pain Management getting Shots and Probably Surgery...I don't know what to do, i cant sit long my feet go numb , what do i do for my job, is this long term i didn't talk to anybody yet.....i just don't know.....i'm 39 yrs old....let down...
 
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Byroney_WebMD_Staff replied to PolluxTroy03's response:
Hello PollusTroy and thanks for the update. I am sorry that the scan showed so many issues. However, I think it's really important to work with your doctor to figure out the treatment plan that is right for you.

I had a back injury in my 30s. I had surgery, did a year of physical therapy (1-3 times a week), some complementary treatments, and was able to walk without a cane once the year was up. In my case, I did get better over the long run. Over a decade later, I now walk 2 miles a day and work full-time (although I had to change careers).

I would encourage you to communicate with your doctor and get a second opinion if you ever feel uncertain or don't feel your doctor is doing all he or she can for you. You may want to consult with a disability lawyer to be proactive about your future and protect your rights.

You may also want to check out our Pain Management and Back Pain Communities for more support as we have no health experts on this community.

Let us know how you're doing,

Byroney
Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. ~Will Rogers
 
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PolluxTroy03 replied to Byroney_WebMD_Staff's response:
I'm going to see a specialist, here is full report,

Broad-based medium sized left- sided disc herniation at L4-5 with moderate left neural foraminal narrowing and left anterior lateral recess narrowing. Focal protrusion at L3-4 with mild canal narrowing. Minimal bilateral neural foraminal narrowing. Minimal disc bulging at L2-3 and L5-S1. Straightening of the normal lumbar lordosis. Degenerative disc disease, greatest at L2-3
 
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susiemargaret replied to PolluxTroy03's response:
hello, P --

i will try to translate your MRI report into plainer language, but please remember that i am not a medical person. i welcome, solicit, and indeed beg for correction, amendment, or replacement of any inaccuracies in this post.

essentially it says that you have disks bulging at L2/L3, L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/S1, plus straightening of the curved part of your lower back. the spinal nerve roots for this area govern movement of the legs. the vertebrae affected range roughly from the bottom of the spinal cord to close to the bottom of the tailbone. all of the tunnels for nerves and nerve roots are narrower than they should be. your overall diagnosis is degenerative disk disease, worst at L2/L3.

write down all of your Qs before you go; this will help you be less nervous. in addition, bring someone with you if you can in order to take notes and ask additional Qs that you might forget.

you will want to know what can be done to improve your condition now, what is likely to happen in the future, and what can be done later.

i hope this helps. if someone more knowledgeable can correct my conclusions with respect to the MRI findings, please do!

-- susie margaret
what good is gold, or silver too, if your heart's not good and true -- hank williams, sr.
 
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PolluxTroy03 replied to susiemargaret's response:
Thanks Susie,
That helped alot i'm going to see Pain Management Specialist the earliest they can see me is Aug 16th, I'm in pain i can't work im on unpaid leave, i exhausted all my time even my advanced sick leave hopefully i can get some leave donations from other employees that have alot of time..I can't put up with the pain, i hope Aug 16th comes fast or someone cancels there appt so i can get in sooner, but i will take your advice, I wonder if this is a cause from my car accident, where i broke my neck C4,C5,C6 are fused together and bruised T1, but i will keep you informed....thanks again.....Mike
 
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susiemargaret replied to PolluxTroy03's response:
hello, mike --

when you go to the pain mgt people, or if you see a back specialist or neurologist, be absolutely certain that you tell them about your car accident.

my reason for stressing this is because my sister and i were talking about the mother of a friend of ours today who fell some time ago. it turned out -- but no one figured it out until very recently -- that when she fell, she compressed part of her spine and that was what accounted for the pain in her legs that no one could determine the cause of. she is now doing physical therapy, which helps.

i don't know enough about your injuries to guess if this same thing or a similar one might have happened to you, but just in case --

i hope you can find some relief soon.

-- susie margaret
what good is gold, or silver too, if your heart's not good and true -- hank williams, sr.


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