New to the Group

January 16, 2011

Hah..I went off a horse and hit and broke my coccyx at age oh..24 or

so...and had a double cervical fracture when rear-ended at age 40, and...no

problems with neck or butt...it's good ol' L4-L5 that gave out. Seems to be a

basic design flaw at L4-L5 and L5-S1.

In a message dated 1/16/2011 1:58:13 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

figure1789@... writes:

So much for all those

hard falls I took off a horse. Completely racked my body hitting the

ground

at some speed.

January 16, 2011

I'm a little confused because the message didn't come through clearly. I have

arach, but not from injections, do you have arach? What condition are you

wondering about treating with a TENS?

Plus, what can be bacterial and non-bacterial? Arach is not a bacterial

infection.

Barb

>

> Re: Arach janice freq warns about and dismisses in lastvthread--

>

> My understanding from literature and recently trained ortho surgical residents

u CAN get arachnoiditus from the puncture of dura by needle regardless of type

ofvsteroidvused.

>

> And that it can be bacterial or non bacterial- is this not correct?

>

> Also, to group--after failed discectomy 7 weeks ago, I am on my back in bed

from 10pm-2:30pm everyday. Sept /oct had severe sciatica and 30# oxy to last a

month so was having 6 days little to no sleep then used Rx day 7 for two months.

Finally got into pain doc who said given all thevapproaches I'd tried over

years, it was down to increased neurontin and pain killers and resulting side

effects, TENS, or surgery.

>

> He wants to see me again to talk about TENS b4 giving me a referral to a

surgeon for a second opinion after the failed surgery.

>

> ***********Does anyone have one and like it or know of anyone w success w -

TENS*********

>

> I really don't want to lose another 4-6mos of my life to a second surgery,

but being asleep 1/2 the day on Rx or getting a TENS also don't look to

attractive.

>

> Advice?

>

> Happy 2011,

>

January 16, 2011

I think they still have figured out that anything punctures the dura can cause

arachnoiditis whether or not they use the same steroids. If you get scar tissue

inside your dura, or foreign substance (including blood) and your nerves start

adhering scar tissue and each other from a puncture then it really doesn't

matter what they put in your back, it's the actual puncture from the dura. The

old preservative in steroid injections use to be a major factor, but now they

have figured out that any substance enters inside your dura into your CSF can

create the swelling (or scar tissue) and arachnoiditis starts.

http://www.spineuniverse.com/conditions/arachnoiditis

>

> From: Janice <faraway1@...>

> Subject: Re: New to the Group

> spinal problems

> Date: Saturday, January 15, 2011, 5:27 PM

>

> Â

>

> Hello I am Janice and if I can help you in any way please let me

know. I also started out at the L-5 S-1 so we already have something in common.

Really though the area that your dealing with is the same many of us have to

deal with it seems to be a very soft issue to deal with.The sciatic is also

pretty weak also.Please do not let anyone injct you in the spine. Epidural

steroid injections can cause you more trouble that you can imagine. It's called

Arachnoiditis you can llok it up on the puter and see how it can effect you.

This is why the doctors speak of scare tissue problems.

>

> It's good to have you in the group. I hope that you spen a lot of time here

learning. Please don't hesitate to ask.

>

> Janice

>

> New to the Group

>

> *Hi,

>

> My name is , and I'm new here. I've been dealing with back problems for

>

> 11 years now. This is a recap of what I have been up to:

>

> *

>

> - *1999 sciatica left leg*

>

> - *1999 herniated disc L5-S1*

>

> - *2000 ruptured disc; partial discectomy*

>

> - *2002 spinal fusion L5-S1*

>

> - *bursitis left hip*

>

> - *bursitis right hip*

>

> - *2009 EMG showed radidiculopathy L5-S1*

>

> - *2009- present pain doctor*

>

> - *2010 spinal cord stimulator trial; removed after one week. Hated it.

>

> Could not stand constant annoying sensation and feeling of being hooked up.

>

> *

>

> *That's pretty much where I stand right now, but am weaning off morphine

>

> with doctor help. Look fwd. to meeting people, and hopefully find new ways

>

> of treating my problems.

>

> Thanks for letting me join.

>

> OH

>

> *

>

January 16, 2011

I love oral steroids but my neuro will not let me take them. You should do some

research sometime and see what steroids do to one's body. It is not a long term

solution and even causes issues in the short term, but for me it eases my pain

more than anything can. I just wish they weren't so dangerous to stay on long

term or I would be eating them every day.It would probably make me gain 100

pounds, which would be even worse on someone's back, but the thought of no pain

sometimes makes me want to take them!

>

> *Janice,

> Do you take oral steroids? I asked about them but was told they would not

> be effective.

>

> OH

> *

>

January 16, 2011

That's so strange that y'all say oral steroids don't help back pain, but it made

me virtually pain free when I had to take them. Probably because I have other

issues other than herniated disks, etc., but it made my pain reduce greatly, but

as soon as they wore off the pain was back. I guess it reduced my

inflammation where I have my pseudo and it felt wonderful. BUT like I said my

neuro disagree's with using them for back pain because of all the side effects.

Of course Janice you have to take them for your other issues and that is totally

understandable. I think it would probably be like anything else, after using it

awhile it doesn't help anymore.

>

> From: R. <figure1789@...>

> Subject: Re: New to the Group

> spinal problems

> Date: Saturday, January 15, 2011, 8:44 PM

>

> *Janice,

>

> Do you take oral steroids? I asked about them but was told they would not

>

> be effective.

>

> OH

>

> *

>

January 16, 2011

To me, that indicates that at least one of the sources of your pain was

due to inflammation since steroids control inflammation.

and the gang -- jacdobe@...

Birds: Sadie (GW) Cookie (MMxBuffons) Nissa (LJ) Sylvie (RB2) ie (CAG)

Cats: Sully(DSH) Shadow(DMH) Sanouk, Gabi, Cami & Hocus(Siamese) Dogs:

Skye (Dobe/Husky) Reece (Dobe)

Bridge kids: Jaderbug, Flirt, Tia, Munchkin, Jasmine, Chuckles, Angel,

Indi, Kayla, Sabien and our heart, Bubba.

Pics of the gang: http://community.webshots.com/user/jacdobe

Allparrots: http://pets./group/allparrots

The Coalition of PA Aviculturists: TCOPA

On 1/16/2011 12:24 PM, Me wrote:

> ut it made my pain reduce greatly, but as soon as they wore off the pain was

back.

January 16, 2011

Thanks for sharing that Janice! That makes complete sense to me.

Â I myself had decided early on to never have those kind of injections, long

before I knew of any of the potential side effects, but it just didn't FEEL like

it was a good thing to do. It's interesting to see how my intuition was correct!

I was 18 at the time of that decision...funny.

--- Babbitt

From: Me <ellijaygal@...>

Subject: Re: New to the Group

spinal problems

Date: Sunday, January 16, 2011, 12:17 PM

Â

I think they still have figured out that anything punctures the dura can

cause arachnoiditis whether or not they use the same steroids. If you get scar

tissue inside your dura, or foreign substance (including blood) and your nerves

start adhering scar tissue and each other from a puncture then it really doesn't

matter what they put in your back, it's the actual puncture from the dura. The

old preservative in steroid injections use to be a major factor, but now they

have figured out that any substance enters inside your dura into your CSF can

create the swelling (or scar tissue) and arachnoiditis starts.

http://www.spineuniverse.com/conditions/arachnoiditis

>

> From: Janice <faraway1@...>

> Subject: Re: New to the Group

> spinal problems

> Date: Saturday, January 15, 2011, 5:27 PM

>

> Ã‚Â

>

> Hello I am Janice and if I can help you in any way please let me

know. I also started out at the L-5 S-1 so we already have something in common.

Really though the area that your dealing with is the same many of us have to

deal with it seems to be a very soft issue to deal with.The sciatic is also

pretty weak also.Please do not let anyone injct you in the spine. Epidural

steroid injections can cause you more trouble that you can imagine. It's called

Arachnoiditis you can llok it up on the puter and see how it can effect you.

This is why the doctors speak of scare tissue problems.

>

> It's good to have you in the group. I hope that you spen a lot of time here

learning. Please don't hesitate to ask.

>

> Janice

>

> New to the Group

>

> *Hi,

>

> My name is , and I'm new here. I've been dealing with back problems for

>

> 11 years now. This is a recap of what I have been up to:

>

> *

>

> - *1999 sciatica left leg*

>

> - *1999 herniated disc L5-S1*

>

> - *2000 ruptured disc; partial discectomy*

>

> - *2002 spinal fusion L5-S1*

>

> - *bursitis left hip*

>

> - *bursitis right hip*

>

> - *2009 EMG showed radidiculopathy L5-S1*

>

> - *2009- present pain doctor*

>

> - *2010 spinal cord stimulator trial; removed after one week. Hated it.

>

> Could not stand constant annoying sensation and feeling of being hooked up.

>

> *

>

> *That's pretty much where I stand right now, but am weaning off morphine

>

> with doctor help. Look fwd. to meeting people, and hopefully find new ways

>

> of treating my problems.

>

> Thanks for letting me join.

>

> OH

>

> *

>

January 16, 2011

Wise advice Janice. Especially about doing your research. That practice will

never do you wrong! As far as I know, only injections INTO your dural space can

cause arachnoiditis, yes? Injections of anything into your back itself do not

bring this risk. Am I correct?

I have had a discogram, when I was 18, I know now that puts me at risk, but I

think after 15 years, I'm clear from that worry. Maybe not!

--- Babbitt

From: R. <figure1789@...>

Subject: Re: New to the Group

spinal problems

Date: Saturday, January 15, 2011, 8:44 PM

*Janice,

Do you take oral steroids? I asked about them but was told they would not

be effective.

OH

*

January 16, 2011

,

An epidural injection is any fluid substance that is injected into the dural

space. The dura is a tough membrane that surrounds your brain and spinal cord in

one continuous 'sheet' or 'sac'. Anything that gets injected past the dura

bathes the brain,cranial nerves, spinal cord and nerves that come off the spinal

cord called the spinal nerves.

An injection in your back that is not epidural, is a substance that is injected

into a joint space or in the area where potentially offensive nerves reside.

These can be facet injection, medial branch blocks, trigger point injection.

These all inject a local anesthetic and a corticosteroid into a very specific

space in attempt to kill the inflammation. The best use of this injection, in my

humble opinion, is to get the nerves to calm just enough to allow one to more

comfortably engage in physical therapy or exercize in effort to reduce pain

through stability. The steroid injection is temporary in nature, and will become

less effective with every injection. Not to mention the weakening of connective

tissue that holds your joints and bones together!

--- Babbitt

> >

> > From: R. <figure1789@...

> <figure1789%40woh.rr.com>>

> >

> > Subject: Re: New to the

> Group

> > To:

spinal problems <spinal problems%40gro\

ups.com>

> > Date: Saturday, January 15, 2011, 8:44 PM

> >

> > *Janice,

> >

> > Do you take oral steroids? I asked about them but was

> told they would not

> >

> > be effective.

> >

> > OH

> >

> > *

> >

January 16, 2011

*Yah, had those, too. Good explanation, . Thanks. One time I asked

if there was any way to remove the sciactic nerve. I was told, " No. " I

have nerve damage and I will for the rest of my life. So much for all those

hard falls I took off a horse. Completely racked my body hitting the ground

at some speed.

OH

*

January 16, 2011

You have great insight . The injections even for child birth can and does

cause Arachnoiditis in some cases not all but some. I got it from to many

surgeries (5) to many injections and the chemicals they used in the injections.

I do know people who gotten this darn disease from a child birth injection. In

my opinion this injection should be out lawed. PERIOD

Janice

New to the Group

>

> *Hi,

>

> My name is , and I'm new here. I've been dealing with back problems for

>

> 11 years now. This is a recap of what I have been up to:

>

> *

>

> - *1999 sciatica left leg*

>

> - *1999 herniated disc L5-S1*

>

> - *2000 ruptured disc; partial discectomy*

>

> - *2002 spinal fusion L5-S1*

>

> - *bursitis left hip*

>

> - *bursitis right hip*

>

> - *2009 EMG showed radidiculopathy L5-S1*

>

> - *2009- present pain doctor*

>

> - *2010 spinal cord stimulator trial; removed after one week. Hated it.

>

> Could not stand constant annoying sensation and feeling of being hooked up.

>

> *

>

> *That's pretty much where I stand right now, but am weaning off morphine

>

> with doctor help. Look fwd. to meeting people, and hopefully find new ways

>

> of treating my problems.

>

> Thanks for letting me join.

>

> OH

>

> *

>

January 16, 2011

there are several things that can cause Arachnoiditis not just an

injection. You can get it from trauma to the spine like impact injurites like a

car wreck or falling off a ladder and so on.Back surgeries can and do cause it

too. I believe that mine came from to many injuries and to many surgeries. But

since I was having the injections regularlly too so I couldn't name one thing.

Most people don't even know they have it until they continure to have pain after

surgery or an injury to their spine then the doctor should ask for an MRI if it

is found there are many things you can do for yourself,

Janice

Re: New to the Group

spinal problems

Date: Saturday, January 15, 2011, 8:44 PM

*Janice,

Do you take oral steroids? I asked about them but was told they would not

be effective.

OH

*

January 16, 2011

*Ok, is there a definitive test for this Arachnoiditis?

*

January 16, 2011

I dont come on here much but I do watch the board being a member. Sometimes you

all scare the hell out of me. This Arachnoiditis has me worried. I dont have any

L5 problems or surgeries or anything like that but I have been given intercostal

nerve blocks for years. I started with severe pain after a very long drive down

to Florida from Canada. When I arrived I could barely walk. This happened a few

times. Then it progressed to the point it became constant. I have been off work

now for 3 years. I then had the joys of a very close near fatal esophagus tear.

After this I had a lot of pain in my stomach. So they found it was nerve related

because of cuttingme open like a cow all the way down my left side of my back.

So they then decide to do those intercostal nerve blocks to stop the pain in my

stomach. I would go once a week and get up to 8 needles down my spine. I admit

it really helped. They did this for several years till they decided to stop.

Then back to the lower pain in my back which they found out was an extra bone

about an inch by an inch square off of my L6. So picture it now after 48 years

now settling onto my hip. That is the cause of my pain now and has been for 4 to

5 years. They decided to do the depo medril intercostal nerve blocks for that

also. Again back to 8 needles every Monday morning for about 2 years. I will

admit again it really helped out with the pain. I got up to 31 hours pain free.

So they decided to stop them because I couldnt get any higher than 31 hours

pain free. So after telling you all this you can just imagine how many of these

needles I recvd that you are all talking about. Now that I am very concerned

about this Arachnoiditis;;;;;; can you please tell me just what signs I

am to look for in having this. I have experienced some new pain in the center of

my back which has me comcerned. Please give me any signs of this disease. Thanks

" " " ROB " " "

New to the Group

>

> *Hi,

>

> My name is , and I'm new here. I've been dealing with back problems for

>

> 11 years now. This is a recap of what I have been up to:

>

> *

>

> - *1999 sciatica left leg*

>

> - *1999 herniated disc L5-S1*

>

> - *2000 ruptured disc; partial discectomy*

>

> - *2002 spinal fusion L5-S1*

>

> - *bursitis left hip*

>

> - *bursitis right hip*

>

> - *2009 EMG showed radidiculopathy L5-S1*

>

> - *2009- present pain doctor*

>

> - *2010 spinal cord stimulator trial; removed after one week. Hated it..

>

> Could not stand constant annoying sensation and feeling of being hooked up.

>

> *

>

> *That's pretty much where I stand right now, but am weaning off morphine

>

> with doctor help. Look fwd. to meeting people, and hopefully find new ways

>

> of treating my problems.

>

> Thanks for letting me join.

>

> OH

>

> *

>

January 16, 2011

Rob,

You CANNOT get arachnoiditis from an intercostal nerve block. Don't worry about

that part anyway. I myself have had just as many steroid injections as

you...there's nothing you can do about what's done, and most of us whoÂ have

had ANY relief from the injections are comfortable with the odds as far as

steroid risks are concerned. It's the LONG TERM steroids you have to really

watch out for.