The *Sign* I was waiting for..

[mmglobal]

rjay.... what levels are being addressed? If bowel problems are adequately explained (meds?), that's one thing... but if they are not adequately explained and you have the onset of new neurologic symptoms including bowel issues... I would think they'd want to evaluate them... prior to surgery.

Mark

[Maria]

Rjay,
I know my spine or think I do and just look at a dermatome chart in terms of symptoms however I'm an old time spiney with mostly same symptoms and not much below the low back at least not in terms of pain.

If I were you~ I would make sure to let your surgeon know what your new symptoms are to make sure you don't need to have additional evaluation to rule out another level. As Mark says, best to find out now, not later.

good luck and don't feel like you're pestering your spine surgeon~ I'm sure any practitioner/surgeon would want to be aware of any additional/new subjective (what you report) complaints so he or she may do any further objective (doctor's exam/eval) examination and/or additional testing possibly to further rule out any additional or differing problem before surgery is undertaken.

[Maria]

Rjay,
didn't know if you've read what I posted before so didn't edit.

Re bowels, meds slowing down this function? Pain? Stress.. all can do this or so it's been my experience. Take a laxative if necessary to help like Senakot S which is natural and has senna in it (natural laxative) and the stool softener as well so you won't have to bear down (valsava maneuver) and strain to have a bowel movement. Or have your Primary Care doctor prescribe something for you or recommend such as Miralax which is now sold over the counter (OTC).

Hope you're doing OK. I think freaking out is normal prior to surgery tho I'd want to be sure to get the last word in re any additional symptoms to at least feel I got it out even if they don't mean anything different in terms of plans.

[rjay920]

Originally Posted by Maria

Rjay,
didn't know if you've read what I posted before so didn't edit.

Re bowels, meds slowing down this function? Pain? Stress.. all can do this or so it's been my experience. Take a laxative if necessary to help like Senakot S which is natural and has senna in it (natural laxative) and the stool softener as well so you won't have to bear down (valsava maneuver) and strain to have a bowel movement. Or have your Primary Care doctor prescribe something for you or recommend such as Miralax which is now sold over the counter (OTC).

Hope you're doing OK. I think freaking out is normal prior to surgery tho I'd want to be sure to get the last word in re any additional symptoms to at least feel I got it out even if they don't mean anything different in terms of plans.

Hi Maria and thanks for that. I have planned to email my sugeon today to tell him of new symptoms and see what he says - It can't hurt really can it....I think we often try not to bother people or want to feel like a pest so just leave things but this is too important not to mention, so will drop him a line.

As for bowels - thanks for advice. Doctor has prescribed me some senakot and laxatives and enima! It's getting a balance...laxatives work a bit too well - even on a lesser dose than prescibed! It's so ironic - 12 years ago I was diagnosed with a form of colitis - I battled with docs to do something for a good 2 years before (they kept saying it was ibs) I could be stood in middle of shops or anywhere and suddenly that was it, I had to go - no matter where - I had no control. I lost my confidence as a result, couldn't get on a bus, got anxiety if there wasn't a toilet near! All because it took me 2 years to persuade docs that it wasn't ibs and to give appropriate treatment. It has taken me 10 years to get over some (not all) of my fears in relation to that and twist of fate........can't go now without enimas etc....life can be so cruel, good job we have a good sense of humour. For me, to ensure I don't lose my confidence again (ie have to dash in public) It's important to get the balance right of laxatives etc So I will have a play with them, see what i can do short term. Long term of course it will need to be looked at. Doc says she doesn't want to jeopordise back operation and will look at it after......something to look forward to then! Aggghhh to lead a normal life.

Thanks for your advice and support it really helps.

rjay

[dshobbies]

rjay,

Bowel problems and proper function are nothing to laugh at though the brunt of many jokes. I'm sorry you're still having problems and hope that your current regimen provides the relief you need. Is this definitely a medicinal problem and not related to your back?

Also, just a suggestion, you say you use heat on your back, among other things. You might want to try ice or a combo of heat and ice. Heat is good for muscles but you have some scar tissue and probably some swelling. Ice will help reduce it, albeit temporarily.

As per the jokes, please read on, though it's been awhile so I may get it wrong.

One day, various body parts were discussing which should be the boss of the body. The heart claimed to keep the body beating and pumped the life's blood and should be the boss. They eyes claimed they gave the body sight and led it where it was going and should be the boss. The brain boasted that it kept all the body functioning as one unit and that it should definitely be the boss.

When the asshold stated that it wanted to be the boss, all the other body parts started laughing and in unison said, 'don't be ridiculous, you can't be the boss'.

But the asshold decided to show them and closed up. Soon the heart was beating erratically. They eyes began watering and couldn't focus. The brain became blubbery and confused.

This goes to demonstrate - to be a boss you don't have to have a heart, foresight or even a smart brain... you just have to be an asshole!

[Maria]

edit as necessary

[mmglobal]

rjay... bowel problems and symptoms running down arm???? what does cervical MRI show?

[rjay920]

Yes, thanks for posting the joke....it's also a valid point!

Mark - I've never had a cervical MRI - they've done four on me in the last 18month for my lower back (yes 4!) but wasn't allowed to have top half done at same time - partially to do with private medical insurance - they will cover lower back but won't cover top. It's nonsense. Could there be some connection to bowel problems and cervical problems?

As for magnesium.....not heard of that. Am currently trying one and a half sennakot as two was apparently too much!

Thanks for the advice.....I did email my surgeon who is on holiday at the moment and will let you know what he says when he gets back to me. My knees keep giving way - have no idea why.

[wendy]

hi rjay

we spoke before (wendy) i can relate to the pins and needles in arms and hands and numbness which when i asked my consultant said it is all normal with deg disc l4/l5 l5/s1. and as for the funny feeling in your feet my sister is in to reflexology and i have really worn and sore bit in the middle of the underneath of my feet and she says the middle represents the spine and mine is sore on the bit representing the lower but also the upper spine caused by tension! so yes this can make your feet feel funny as i have only had problem since my back!!!

hope your op goes ok and keep in touch as mine has now been put back to july am so pissed off at mo as i am banking on this being a cure think if it doesn't will be suicidal X X

good luck x

wendy

[dshobbies]

About 'pestering' a doctor. First, we all have to look after ourselves and decisions made without all the facts may be the wrong one, regardless of the genre in which this decision must be made. For instance, a lender's decision to make a home loan would be greatly affected if the job you listed was only temporary or the company was about to relocate to another city. They would then know the payments would become difficult and you might ultimately lose the house. Why are we so afraid to share important information with our doctors when a healthy outcome may be jeopardized? If your doctor is too aloof or self righteous to listen then maybe it's time to find a new doctor.

The second reason to voice your concerns is, whether we like it or not, health care is a comodity that we pay for. If my money is good enough to send a steak back to a restaurant kitchen, then it's sure good enough to expect and demand excellent health care (or at least as good as can be expected considering the state of health care). We all work too hard for our money and if you're paying... you should get the best!

Sometimes fear prevents us from voicing our concerns. I know of 2 people who died from cancer because of fear of being diagnosed. They put off going to their doctor until it was too late. I once had a spot on my chest that I was sure was cancer but it wasn't until I mentioned it to a friend that she literally made my appointment and accompanied me to the doctor so I couldn't back out. It was nothing but fear prevented me from finding out. We all have stories like this or know of others who put off doing what's needed until whatever condition has worsened. In too many circumstances, the condition has escalated and must be treated on another level.

We all must blow our own horns!

[Maria]

Was a bad choice of words tho I meant not to feel like that as I'm sure Dale was getting to. I feel the same way about health care~ it's a commodity.
And I don't like rudeness or abruptness. There is no reason for it as far as I'm concerned. If there's an emergency, sure, go to it.. otherwise there's no fire that one has to run to. Ok, so back on track.. call your doctor if there are new symptoms and you're concerned...do not wait until the day of surgery to tell the doctor.. timing would be a bit off then, ya know!

Yesterday I was in Urgent Care for simple allergic conjunctivitis/allergies. I needed prescription eye drops.. I knew this. Ok, so when I finally get my prescription and go to the pharmacy~ the insurance wouldn't cover the 10 drops and they were going to cost $118!!!!!

I asked the clerk processing this script if there was a generic. She said no. I told her to ask the pharmacist if there was a similar medicine covered by the insurance and he immediately replied "yes" with he had to call the doc for the script. The doctor was out of the Urgent Care on lunch break until 3p.m.

Mind you I had waited from 10a.m. till now nearly 2p.m. in terms of a simple urgent care prescription so I was really getting ticked off.. I expressed myself without swearing ~ a miracle at this point as I was really disgusted and the pharmacist took care of the script/call within 15 minutes/reaching the doctor.

Instead of paying $118, I paid a $15 copay. So it pays to speak up! Do not fear your own voice/questions~ fear not expressing yourself/concerns and regretting it later!!!!

[rjay920]

Originally Posted by mmglobal

rjay.... what levels are being addressed? If bowel problems are adequately explained (meds?), that's one thing... but if they are not adequately explained and you have the onset of new neurologic symptoms including bowel issues... I would think they'd want to evaluate them... prior to surgery.

Mark

Hi Mark

Hope Diane is doing well - she looks great on the pics you posted.

Just L4/5 to be done with dynesys - like I said, my MRI showed no probs in Nov 07 with adjacent levels. I do have scar tissue from the microdiscectomy - I have instability (I think from the microdiscectomy?) which radiates symptoms in both back and legs (only had left leg probs before the microdiscectomy). I only do ibuprofen, heat pads, rest and acupuncture to controll pain so I know it's not meds that are 'slowing me down'!

Do you know of any discs lower that could cause knee pain and the odd sensations in the soles of my feet? The part of my back which if I press it hurts is at least 1-2 inch below my L4/5 discectomy scar.

I do suffer with neck/shoulder problems too which have never had an mri (cos insurance couldn't cover them with lower back as they've been going on too many years) and these are also worse at this time than ever (pins and needles in left palm, pain running down arm)- can't see how they could be related to my bowel problem but thought I'd better mention it in case!


thanks, Rjay