Vickinat

[Bummer Knees]

You and I have much of the same medical issues.

On one of the threads you wrote about the pins & needles and foot being numb.

Just curious, have you been told the cause of this?

On the thread, "Need help from IW with back injuries" I posted some of what is going on with me with my back.

How's your grandbabies doing?

Bummer Knees

[capricorn]

Bummer...I know this is for Vickie but wanted to let you know that my pins and needles and numbness IS from my back and I do have nerve damage. It's been documented. I am a diabetic and diabetic neuropathy has been ruled out twice already. My job is to keep all muscles loose and not bend, twist, turn wrong. If the muscles get hard or tighten up I'm in real trouble. It takes trigger point injections and lots of hard work be relligious about stretching, sitting, walking etc. properly and takes months to settle it down. I am wishin you all the best.

Cap

[vickinat]

Bummer,
I was told several things cause my pins & needles symptoms with the foot falling asleep. The original was L5-S1 radiculopothy of the nerve roots, this was confirmed with an EMG/NCS. I was also told since I had the various herniated discs in my lumbar spine, that they were pressing on nerves. I believe the main things which were my first indication of the problem was the radiculopothy, Sciatica and the SI joint Dysfunction. I also have Periformis Syndrome, which is the muscle in the butt cheek that would get so tight and hard my physical therapist used to say it felt like I had marbles in there.

I had the diskectomy, laminectomy & foraminal widening on the herniated L4 disc in May 08, the MRI had shown that this was compressing the L4 exiting nerve. An MRI with and without contrast was then done in Oct 08 and found that scar tissues has surrounded the L4 nerve since the surgery. My PM Dr. had already told me that with all of the disc problems, nerve damage and the cervical fusion that I will only be able to manage the pain with medications and will probably get worse as I get older. The MRIs also showed a lot of DDD as well.

I know that thru all of the therapy and such that I have done, they teach you the proper stretching techniques & excercises for the Periformis and the Lumbar spine, and in my case also for my Cervical spine. This does help, but for me the combo of meds that I have been on have helped a lot, along with the Tens unit.

I know everyone is differant, but maybe this experience of mine will help you also. You and I have had similar injuries from the beginning and then similar ones after we each had the car accidents, we have to quit this girl, lol.

The grandbabies are doing great, a lot to handle at times, but they listen to MeeMaw and are good for me. The baby is smiling now and growing like a weed. Thank you for asking, take care.
Love
Vickie

Bummer Knees Wrote:You and I have much of the same medical issues.

On one of the threads you wrote about the pins & needles and foot being numb.

Just curious, have you been told the cause of this?

On the thread, "Need help from IW with back injuries" I posted some of what is going on with me with my back.

How's your grandbabies doing?

Bummer Knees

[Bummer Knees]

Thank you for posting.

I do learn from everyone on this forum and especially from you due to our injuries being very similar.

Your first paragraph describes my injuries almost word for word.

August 07 I did have physical therapy although it made things worse and the spine surgeon said I was not a surgical candidate and there was nothing more he could do for me.

September 07 I started epidural injections the 9/07 which did help for a short time and I was able to get some much needed sleep.

I have not had any treatment for my back since.

My primary doctor did a strength & reflexes test of the right leg the last time I was in the office. On a scale of 1-9 my strength is a 1 on the right side.

After reading you post it sounds as if the nerve conduction test is the right direction to go.

I still have problems from my neck injury and need to look at having a MRI. I hired my wc attorney for the auto accident and he has been contacted by the insurance company as the auto accident wants to settle.

Take care.
Bummer Knees

[Bummer Knees]

Cap

Thank you for the pm.
We also share many of the same injuries and I too have learned much from you.

I would like to read more about the injections you have posted that have helped you.

Would you know where I can go to read about them?

How is your hubby doing?

Bummer Knees

[capricorn]

Bummer.... A trigger point goes into certain soft areas. PM and Orthos do them. They usually contain a numbing agent and steroid compound. For more info try searching trigger point injections also a good Fibromyalgia site might have some info. I stink at posting websites. or I would look for you. When an injection is needed I have never found a pill or stretch that does the job. There are times that I let it go in hopes it will vanish for 2 weeks and then I crawl in the Dr.s office. I'm trying to learn not to set it off. I think maybe since you've had this for so long that it might take more than one injection. Try ice and heat alternated on the SI joint area. Sometimes the ice will pull the swelling down for a little relief. Do you have the tooth ache pain in your butt cheek? If so put the ice right on it, and I believe the trigger points would help you. PCP don't do it. Some will give you a shot of the numbing agent in the area and if it numbs the pain they're sure that's where it's coming from. My PCP has done my trap muscle. It's last's about 3-4 hours.

Hubby is great! and how are you? Recovering smoothly? Any pain?

Hugs,
Cap

[Bummer Knees]

Hi Cap
Yes, I have it there along with the burning down the back of the leg.

The more I am on my feet the worse the burning gets and more recently the heavy weighted feeling with intense pain.

My primary doctor has scheduled me with a local neurologist, although I am thinking about changing to one in near by Wichita.

I have trouble communicating with the local neurologist and with me being hearing impaired and him being a foreign doctor with a heavy accent.
Sometimes our conversations are quite amusing.

[capricorn]

I can only imagine, Bummer. I hope you can stay away from surgery on your back and maybe find someone who can do the trigger points to at least try them before aything else. In the meantime try icing your butt if that's where the pain begins. I have an attack coming on. It's on my left this time which is odd. The pain starts in my butt cheek and I can feel it gradually going further and further down the back of my thigh. Can't sit on that side now or my foots turns to pins and needles immediately. Oh my, just trying to keep all under control is a daily job.

Cap