First post, advice needed!

[rbrown]

Maria?
Would it still make sense for the Toradol if two cycles of Prednisone havent taken the spasms away completely?

[Maria]

I imagine it might help although I'm not sure what your pain generators are and maybe the bulging disc or spasms isn't creating your current problem? Really I cannot say. If it were me I'd approach your primary care doctor about getting a Toradol injection (or whoever prescribed the steroids). It can't hurt to ask and even if one doctor turns down the notion then approach another.

Steroids are very potent anti-inflammatory meds but I don't like to use unless in an epidural steroid injection. I try to avoid taking them orally and preferably at all.

[jsewell]

Randy i am glad you sent your materials to MARK , he is the best.
About the bulging discs, i have had some that were bulging and they did not show any signs of leaking when i had the discography. so it is hard to say. Prednisone is a very strong anti inflammatory , you just have to really be careful not to take too much as it can shut down your adrenal glands from making cortisol as they haven't needed to when on prednisone. That is a nightmare i have experienced. you don' t want to go there. i am surprised someone gave you 2 doses so close together.
you said the chiro had not had any luck helping much the last few times. I am sorry about that.
I really don't have any advice at this point. Just hope your week goes well.
judy

[rbrown]

I plan to follow up with some sort of second opinion with a Orthopedic specialist (spine). I'm asking for another MRI since my back got so much worse since the scan I had in April. Everything feels really weird and confusing. I'm not having terrible pain as of now but have to be super careful
or I will have a spasm. Cant lift or do much but can walk more and stretch some and excercise a little. My wife still has to help me dry off my feet and lower legs after the shower. I saw the Chiro again today. He tried again to get some adjustments out of my low back but it didnt move. It hurt and I was much worse after the visit for all of today and tonight.

I dont know how or if to follow up with pain management (Dr. Seltzer). He wanted to give me facet nerve block injections but I'm not having leg pain or even the intense painful spasms. Hopefully Mark will have some advice for my next logical step along with the other help you guys are giving (Maria, Judy) thanks!

[Maria]

I'd say if you need your wife's help to dry off your feet then you definitely should be seeing a spine specialist in terms of a consult.

I would think a doctor would order some muscle relaxers for you to take when you start to get really tight or painful and see whether that helps ease off the spasms. That's usually first line medicine along with Nsaids that a regular Primary Care doctor would prescribe or maybe an Ortho.

I've never been to a chiropractor in my whole history of back probs. I did go to Osteopathic doctors (D.O.) because they can do manipulations and are actual physicians so therefore can prescribe as well.

With regard to your PM doctor he should adjust whatever he's considering doing based on what you tell him your symptoms are now. If he persists in the same treatment for symptoms you no longer have then you might want to consider going to someone else. Injections are where the $ is at with PM however if you are seeing an HMO PM that's probably not the case.

I still think that when you are in spasms if you got a shot of Toradol which is so benign compared to many other things that can be suggested that would help a great deal to at least break up the cycle. It's ever so much more effective than the oral medication Toradol (non steroidal anitinflammatory medication).

Also I do recommend reading that website of Chirogeek's because that is incredibly informative and even looking at your old MRI report you can read about what you have on that and what Chirogeek has written and maybe you will see where some of your symptoms may be coming from and/or things might make a bit more sense to you. I will admit that the beginning of the spine journey can be very confusing because one wonders what on earth is going on and what it could possibly be or what do these symptoms mean and it's all very scary. Educating yourself as best you are able will help you to ask better questions when you do see the doctors and to get better answers out of them and possibly ones you will better understand. I always write my questions down before going in to see my Ortho, I write down what he replies and I ask for a copy of my MRI or xrays or any tests I have done. I like to get a copy of his notes as well but being that my case was WC (Worker's Comp) that doesn't usually happen. If I am referred to a specialist or 2nd opinion surgeon tho I do always ask for a copy of his notes/recommendation.

Good luck with your continuing spinal journey. Sounds like you have to do a lot of guarding or protecting your movements for fear of setting off painful spasms or that you are still pretty locked up.

[jsewell]

Randy i am sorry the chiro is having a hard time with your back. I saw DrCostigan yesterday and he said i have been his most difficult case and he is now presenting my case to the next meeting of the USC spine surgeons to get an opinion on which type of surgery will help me with my hunched over posture which is progressive. I thought i was all set in my decision to have a certain type of surgery at Cedars, but he put a wrench in that and now i have so much more i do not understand . I guess i am lucky that he really does care deeply as my insurance pays him almost nothing as he is out of network. He said not to worry about my bill , he is only doing this to help me . So if you do get to see him, please do tell him i sent you. He can be rushed and i think if you mention my name it will be a better appointment., I think when i first met him ,well the second time, i kind of felt rushed and asked him to have a seat as i was not done with my questions, (in a nice way of course) and now i always get more than enough time, he also at this point knows pretty much about my whole life!! So it is still confusing and i have been dealing with back pain for over 10 years.
Mayvbe i would go back to DrSeltzer and fill him in on how you feel and as Maria said take a list of questions, or just a list of your symptoms and things you need help with so he hopefully will let you have some time.
Judy

[rbrown]

Maria;
I have flexeril but it only makes me a little tired and as far as I can tell doesnt stop the spasms. I requested a referral for a second opinion from an Ortho spine specialist but hurry up and wait I guess. The way things have been going I have a bad attitude and assume the next spine Dr wont care either. Ive spent many hours now ready on Chirogeeks site. Very educational but again I'm totally confused about my current state. I am very guarded and stiff/locked up. Almost no pain at all unless the spasms grab. I figure its got to get a lot worse very soon.

Judy;
I'm still seeing the Chiropractor. I told him today I didnt want him to do any attempts at the stronger type manipulations. He agreed and used the activator thingy on me today. I also saw my physical therapist yesterday and he gave me some core exercises I can do without spasms. They are for coordination and stamina not strength which he said is more important for now. I'd bet if I make another appointment with Dr Seltzer maybe for the toradol inj Maria suggested for the spasms, I'd bet I wouldnt be having any spasms that day!

Man I am really sick of this.....I dont know if these spasms are muscle related or if its disk or nerve issue. Sure seems like I'd be having leg or butt pain or symptoms to some degree if it was disk or nerve related. If not then what?? Ive been exercising, stretching, walking as much as I can........what gives!