Nerve Damage S1/L5

jsewell · #1 (**permalink**) 01-07-2013, 04:33 AM

I have no idea how the hammertoes formed. They are on both feet well i had the 4 toes operated on in the left side. Yesterday i walked into a door and broke at least one of them, it is so bruised and not quite in the same position it should be.
As far as what started all the spine problems, I wish i really knew. One thing i have is hypopituitarism. So my pituatary which is the master gland is not performing well. The hormones are very powerful things and when replacing it is very difficult to get the adjustments that Mother Nature is so good at. One of the functions of growth hormone after you have finished growing is to maintain bone density or help a lot in the process. So far i have not been able to convince my insurance co that i need the replacement treatment because it is expennsive. So therefore i have got a lot of spine fractures . Also my neck broke in a very strange way. It was very technically difficult surgery to perform and not done very much at all. I only found one case in the UK from a while ago. One surgery throws everything else out of alignment and i did start off with scoliosis too. I will also need to go on some bone density meds when my most recent fusions have healed to a certain level.

I sure hope you can get some diagnostics going on . It must be so frustrating. When i lived in Georgia with an HMO my doc said no one would ever touch my back , it he could only see my incision down from my neck to my butt. They sure did nothiing in the east coast but push anit inflammatories which proceeded to ruin my stomach. I really am a mess!!
again good luck
judy

housemd89 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-09-2013, 05:02 AM

Just curious to any UK members, I have priced an MRI privately and they said I need a referral from ym doctor or I could see a consultant privately then see what he thinks. Any one know what's the best idea? Just get the scan?

housemd89 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-16-2013, 03:59 PM

Ok some help needed please. I'm just back from seeing a senior physio who said i have hyper mobility and altered neurodynamics and a very bad core. She said it will be a long road back to recovery but still thinks i don't need a scan as "you only need a scan if you are getting surgery". Again i replied with surely you scan to see if you need surgery not the other way about (it's all about money saving). So I told her i'm going private and getting a refferal from my GP on Friday. She then tried to persuade me not to and said "a scan could show i have a prolapsed disc when i have no symptoms". So not sure what that's about but this is almost 10 months i have been suffering and i've had enough.

Anyway sorry for the rant and back on topic has anyone had similar problems like hyper mobility and altered neuro dynamics?

mmglobal · #4 (**permalink**) 01-19-2013, 06:37 PM

Your physio deals with the failures and is trying to keep you from being one. Great outcomes spend little time with him. I appreciate the sentiment that spine surgeons may be too quick to act upon pathology observed in the imaging, but that does not mean that the imaging will not be useful. It is not the be-all, end-all decider. Not doing a scan because it may lead to surgery is absurd. It is only another one of many tools that will be used to help you make a more informed decision about your treatment.

Having said all that... spine surgery sucks and should be avoided if possible. My little rant above is very useful info... but if you find yourself with failed back surgery, it will seem like very bad advice.

Mark

housemd89 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-22-2013, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmglobal

Your physio deals with the failures and is trying to keep you from being one. Great outcomes spend little time with him. I appreciate the sentiment that spine surgeons may be too quick to act upon pathology observed in the imaging, but that does not mean that the imaging will not be useful. It is not the be-all, end-all decider. Not doing a scan because it may lead to surgery is absurd. It is only another one of many tools that will be used to help you make a more informed decision about your treatment.

Having said all that... spine surgery sucks and should be avoided if possible. My little rant above is very useful info... but if you find yourself with failed back surgery, it will seem like very bad advice.

Mark

Yeah I tried to explain to her surgery is the last thing I want, it's typical NHS wanting to save money. I think going to go private gave them the kick they needed and they phoned to tell me I am getting a scan, good news at last. They seem to think I may have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, the hypermobility type. I have read online this can cause scollosis and herniated discs.

housemd89 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-25-2013, 11:19 PM

Well got my MRI done today so hopefully I won't be waiting too long for results. Just curious, near the end of the scan i was in the machine for about 10 minutes with nothing happening (no sounds from machine) and it kinda got me worried that they had seen something, or is that normal?

jsewell · #7 (**permalink**) 02-28-2013, 11:24 PM

I have had many MRI's for different areas and i still can't figure our all the noises and the silence. But yesterday i had an EMG study of both legs. The findings were that Level 5 nerves are inflammed and not very happy. So that explains the numbness i had experienced in my right foot although i am not sure if that level is just some of the toes or the whole foot. Also explains other pains in my right hip area.
Now i see my surgeon on Tuesday to go over the results and what he will do with this information.
I hope you get your MRI results quickly and share them with us.
judy