Re: Need Research Assistance

Dear T,

A lot of times docs pile it on to cover all their bases on tests they may
order, procedures like nerve blocks (a pain specialists speciality) and meds
you may be prescribed. Especially if you're just seeing them for the first
time, many just list a whole bunch of possibles and go through the
elimination route to get a more exact diagnosis. They all have different
insurance definitions and "tracking numbers."

spondylosis is spinal deteratiion which is actually a form of arthritis. A
doctor described it me the other day as the vertabrae "clicking together"
and moving around, which is bad news when there are some serious nerves
running through them.

Post laminectomy syndrome just means you had a laminectomy (widening of the
holes the nerves run through) that didn't take. I've had it used on me and
only got a shrug when I said how dumb that seemed. Why would you have a
laminectomy if something else didn't cause a problem first?

myofacial pain syndrome is a great catch-all. Way overused and usually the
first thing they diagnose you with. Ever buy the regular non boneless, non
skinless, chicken? When you go to take the skin off there's this clear layer
of slimy stuff just under the skin. That's the facia. It can be torn,
strained, etc, and since it can move as your skin does, so can the pain.
Time usually takes care of it, but it always helps to bill for PT as well.

Sciatica and carpal tunnel are pretty easy to find info on, as you said, if
only fixing them was as easy. Real common, real pains in the ***, the
sciatic being literal, and carpal tunnel figurative. A couple of suggestions
for the sciatica- get your wallet out of your hip pocket, if you carry it
there. It will screw your hip alignment up. Sitting on a tennis ball "in
that spot" in a not too soft chair for about 10 minutes can help the pain a
bit. If your feet start going to sleep give it a break.

It's odd, to me anyhow, that the diagnosis of post fusion wasn't used. They
got to have a definition for it, it happens often enough. But that means a
doctor screwed up, and we can't have that. I guess I shouldn't be so hard on
the surgeon. They always go in with the best intentions and none of them has
a crystal ball to tell you whether the pain is going to be better or worse
post surgery. Doctors not magicians. But they blamed the laminectomy,
so...???
I found another website you may want to look at:
www.spineuniverse.com
there's a gazillion like them. Most are trying to promote their practice,
but they can have some good info for the price of a cookie.

Take care and feel better--og



"twheeler" <tdwheels@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1140874587.784586.83410@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi,
After having three major reconstructive cervical fusions, C3 to C7 in
the front, and C5 to C7 in the back, and all the hardware installed to
stabilize it (6 inche metal plate with 10 screws in the front and rods
and pins in the back), I have just been diagnosed by a pain specialist
with several different 'chronic pain syndromes'. Problem is, I can't
seem to locate information relating specifically to some of these
'syndromes' on the internet. Since I am new to this diagnosis, I am
not familiar with the best websites for this type of information. I
know that "knowledge is power", I just don't have a lot of "knowledge"
at this point. Any help would be appreciated.

The diagnosis' are:
Cervical Sponylosis w/o Myelopathy
Postlaminectomy Sydrome of the Cervial Region
Myofacial Pain Sydrome - Right Paraspinous Muscles
Sciatica (found great information about this at www.spine-health.com)
Bi-Lateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Thanks for the help.

twheeler



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