update frustrated and clueless

[seaturtle71]

I have been back to my Dr. twice since my MRI, she took me off of the lortab and soma ( it not like they were helping) and she put me on celebrex and flexril, and thats not helping, and then celebrex is awful, I have cottonmouth and indegestion it is horrible, i feel like i have a frog in my throat. some good news is that the Dr. office was finally able to get in touch with I/C- w/c to get my referal to Ortho approved, but in that conversation, the case worker the nurse spoke to (was supposed to be handling my case) told the nurse that she (c/w) was not handling my case any more,and has been in charge of my case for about 1 1/2 weeks now, that it was somebody else and she was on vacation til next week, and by the way still have not received any comp for time off from work.
I am kinda not surprised, especialy since they ( i/c-w/c) got a letter from my atty. about the same time, giving the i/c a limited time to contact my atty. and his paralegal had instructions that is they didn't here from i/c with in the time frame, she was to draw up a lawsuit.

I go to the Ortho. on Oct.9th @ 7 am .
so i guess we will see what is next,
In the research I have done, and the info i have found for treatment opitions. Since my first dr. visit
I have done the, steriods(oral) anti-inflammatorys, pain meds, exercises( yoga) basic stretches, heat/coldpacks. and all of this had not fixed the problem ,and lots of rest, it only masked the pain.
I am just not sure I like the idea of the injections.
I am very uncomfortable with the idea of a needle being put into my spine. I am uncomfortable with neddles period!!!!!!!!
and I am in enough pain already, dont want any more!!!!
I have had 2 kids, and never had any thing other than a dose of Demarol.

seaturtle71 in AL
FINDINGS:
L5-S1 broad based bulge w/ central & right foraminal component, narrowing of right foramen secondarily, there is disc desiccation, and abnormal high signal seen within annulus consistentw/ annular tear.

L4-L5 broad based bulge w/ annular tear, no spinal stenosis or neural foraminal.

IMPRESSION: Disc disease at L4-L5 and L5- S1 w/ right side neural foraminal narrowing at L5-S1 w/ annular tears at both levels.

[mel1980]

ok i wish i could offer some advice but i really cant what exactley was your injury and what state are you in?? I am kinda new to the forum but im sure somoeme like AQA or 1171 or spring red someone will come on and help and give you some advice...As far as the meds go i am on nothing right now as my dr feels just deal with the pain that is a big issue i have been having i know flexeril is weaker then soma not sure what lortab is....celebrex is an antidepressent i thought im not to sure....well let me know how are

[rholmes]

seaturtle71 Wrote:I have been back to my Dr. twice since my MRI, she took me off of the lortab and soma ( it not like they were helping) and she put me on celebrex and flexril, and thats not helping, and then celebrex is awful, I have cottonmouth and indegestion it is horrible, i feel like i have a frog in my throat. some good news is that the Dr. office was finally able to get in touch with I/C- w/c to get my referal to Ortho approved, but in that conversation, the case worker the nurse spoke to (was supposed to be handling my case) told the nurse that she (c/w) was not handling my case any more,and has been in charge of my case for about 1 1/2 weeks now, that it was somebody else and she was on vacation til next week, and by the way still have not received any comp for time off from work.
I am kinda not surprised, especialy since they ( i/c-w/c) got a letter from my atty. about the same time, giving the i/c a limited time to contact my atty. and his paralegal had instructions that is they didn't here from i/c with in the time frame, she was to draw up a lawsuit.

I go to the Ortho. on Oct.9th @ 7 am .
so i guess we will see what is next,
In the research I have done, and the info i have found for treatment opitions. Since my first dr. visit
I have done the, steriods(oral) anti-inflammatorys, pain meds, exercises( yoga) basic stretches, heat/coldpacks. and all of this had not fixed the problem ,and lots of rest, it only masked the pain.
I am just not sure I like the idea of the injections.
I am very uncomfortable with the idea of a needle being put into my spine. I am uncomfortable with neddles period!!!!!!!!
and I am in enough pain already, dont want any more!!!!
I have had 2 kids, and never had any thing other than a dose of Demarol.

seaturtle71 in AL
FINDINGS:
L5-S1 broad based bulge w/ central & right foraminal component, narrowing of right foramen secondarily, there is disc desiccation, and abnormal high signal seen within annulus consistentw/ annular tear.

L4-L5 broad based bulge w/ annular tear, no spinal stenosis or neural foraminal.

IMPRESSION: Disc disease at L4-L5 and L5- S1 w/ right side neural foraminal narrowing at L5-S1 w/ annular tears at both levels.

have you ever read up on the side affects of celebrex? I think I heard somewhere that it was being discontinured. I threw mines away.

[rholmes]

The injection is not as bad as I thought it would be and it did give me some temp. relief.

[vickinat]

I was on Celebrex and Flexeril for months with only very minimal help. Celebrex is not an anti-depressant, it is an NSAID,(Non-steroid anti-inflammatory). I too had the cotton mouth. I now take Tolmetin Sodium 600 for the NSAID. Have they done an EMG/NCS yet to see of you have Radiculpothy of the nerve roots. I have that in the L5-S1 nerve roots as well as 3 bulging discs. I went thru the Transforaminal Epidural Injections under Fluoroscope ( a series of 3), and didn't get much relief, and hope to not have to go thru them again. I still go to physical therapy 3x's/week, mechanical traction 3x's/week. Aqua therapy 2x's/week and use a Tens unit daily. I start with a new doctor on Oct.11 which is an Orthopaedic Spine Specialist, and hopefully will get better help.

I hope you feel better soon.
Vickie

[Still in Limbo]

Hi Turtle, and I Hope You are Well today!! The MRI findings show annular tears, but it also shows mainly DDD. Has w/c Approved Your Claim Yet? I am only asking, because that MRI is Perfect Ammo. for w/c to say Your Problems are Degenerative, and not Work Related! Be very Careful of all of the Paperwork You receive from the BWC, and be sure to read it Well! Just a note of Caution, and I Hope they don't cause You any Problems!!