discitis

[Guest guest]

Chrismas eve saw me in the local E.R. with severe back pain that had

been hurting for 1 week prior. After appx 5 hrs in the ER, they

admitted me into the hospital to stay overnight/longer. The next day

they performed an MRI and I was diagnosed with DISCITIS.

I had not had any back surgury, or injury, the only medical " thing "

done prior was my yrly. checkup 11 days prior, checked my prostrate,

and gave me the yearly FLU Vaccination.

Other than that, the only other " life change " is that my wife and I

had a 14 day membership at the local gym which we used almost daily,

including the treadmill, weight room and using the sauna and shower

in the mens locker room.

During the hospital visit, the doctor gave me I.V. antibiotics for 5

days, then released me with the oral antibiotic, CIPRO HCL, 750 mg 2x

per day for 10 days, along with Tylenol #4 to help with the pain.

My back is in 80-90% of the pain I was in the day I went into the ER.

Ibuprophen works better for the pain than do the Tylenol #4 (2

tablets of that up to every 6 hrs as needed!!- does not touch the

pain, just makes me go to sleep). Ibuprophen makes the pain much

more tolerable.

Three Questions:

1. Am I being treated corectly, as I have read that discitis should

be treated with 6 weeks I.V.antibiotics followed by addl 10 weeks

oral antibiotics.

2. Does this sound like discitis?

3. Could the FLU vaccine have give my the possible staph infection

that may have caused this?? How about the weight-room/sauna?? How

about my PCP giving me my yearly prostrate exam? I dont want to ever

have this problem again.

Any advise/help will be very useful. I am a 41 years old male, stout

built, 215 lbs, fairly healthy and work as a service advisor in a

local car dealership.

Thank you.