Re: Visit w/Pain Doctor
- From: "David Ruff" <swordfish2@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 13:47:03 -0400
"Top" <Topretired@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:pan.2007.05.31.05.33.46.195000@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Wed, 30 May 2007 21:26:58 -0700, keif wrote:
I see where you have had a MRIi so the doc can see what's up with your
discs. You've also had some fusions in your lumbar back. I was under
the impression that the hardware used for fusions will screw up MRI,
since you've got metal or titanuim in your spine and MRI are sensitive
to those kinds of metals.
Because i've had a fusion at l-4-5 , my docs say I need to have a
myelograms, which is a far more invasive proceedure in which the stick
a needle in your back and inject die into the spine so they can see
your discs. I did have an MRI years ago, and i recalls looking at it
and it was very fuzzy where the fusion was -- so fuzzy you couldn't
even read it.
have your docs ever discussed this situation with you?
I sure don't want to have another myelogram is I can have an MRI
instead.
Good luck
Keif
My concern was that the MRI equipment would cause the rods and screws in
my back to move. After talking to a couple of different doctors I was
comfortable that it would be safe to have the MRI done. From looking at
the MRI it seemed to be clear and the lab was able to prepare a report on
it and my doctor was able to see what she needed to see. I have had a
myelogram before and it would be hard to convince me to have another one.
One thing that I'll have this time that I didn't have before is this
group. It is one thing to have people to talk to but it better to have
people to talk with that know what you are going through. I've been here a
short while but I feel at home.
Thanks Keif,
Top
Hey Top, I think I'd talk to your doctor about reducing some of the nerve
meds and switching to an opiate regiment. You could start out low with
Lortab and Soma for breakthrough and a stronger one for the daily pain.
People want to say reduce the meds and I agree when you can. But what you've
said about what's on your MRI it looks like you can not. I always like to
let the tests speak the loudest. In all my experiences with doctors they
always want to start off conservative (like they should) until they see my
MRI's and other records. There is a big difference in taking opiates for
pain and taking opiates for fun. One is called dependent and the other is
called addiction. Unfortunately the drug seekers or the addicted people have
caused some many problems for CP's that the doctors really have a hard time.
So if you've got a doctor that keeps up with all the new applications and is
not afraid to prescribe opiates then you're very lucky. My last doctor said
he wanted to get me down as low as possible with my pain levels and would
try what most will not do. Then I moved but I still have a doctor that wants
me out of pain which is impossible so we go for what is best for daily
living. It's all a try and try situation. If you have run into doctors that
the first thing they say is lets reduce your meds I would turn around and
walk out. I've seen this happen without the doctor even reading my chart.
A good friend of mine has gone through the same as we have for many years.
She got real tired of fighting with doctors and she found one that really
cared. She now is on a morphine pump and she swears by it. She has never had
this much pain relief before and she doesn't have to mess with all the
pills. I believe this is the last procedure that any doctor can do for
people like you and I with so much back problems.
TO THE GROUP;
I've know Top for some years now from another group that is not related to
this subject. It just turns out that we have been through almost the same
problems on our backs. We've both had 4 surgeries, we've both got problems
at different levels, we've both had fusion surgery, and we're both in pain
everyday, and the doctors want to do surgery AGAIN.
The MRI and myelogram statement does not make sense to me. A myelogram is
were they inject the dye around the disc to see the damage but if you've had
fusion there's no more disc to look at. An X-ray shows the fusion better
than anything else. I know after I had mine, on every office visit they
would shoot an x-ray to see how the bone was growing. I had to have my metal
screws removed because my body didn't like them. Right now I'm holding the
screws (yes, I made them give them to me) and they are not made of ferrous
mental (non-magnetic) so I don't think they would bother an MRI, but the
only people that can tell you are the people at the MRI place. And I do know
if you have an open MRI the pictures are not as clear as if you went into
the tube. You can call them and ask them if you can have an MRI with the
screws and if so what will it do. I know after you have surgery they have to
inject a contrast and take two sets with and without. But really they are
the only ones that can tell you.
I hope you can get into a good regiment and start having a better quality of
life. Let the group know what happens. Take care.
.
- References:
- Visit w/Pain Doctor
- From: Top
- Re: Visit w/Pain Doctor
- From: painfully aware
- Re: Visit w/Pain Doctor
- From: Top
- Re: Visit w/Pain Doctor
- From: keif
- Re: Visit w/Pain Doctor
- From: Top
- Visit w/Pain Doctor
- Prev by Date: Re: Surgery beats drugs and therapy for back-pain relief
- Next by Date: Re: WGOAT-We get all the hits ; (
- Previous by thread: Re: Visit w/Pain Doctor
- Next by thread: Surgery beats drugs and therapy for back-pain relief
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
