- RE: Fibromyalgia vs Buldging Discs

[Guest guest]

,

Quite interesting how they diagnosed you with four bulging cervical

discs and also fibromyalgia. When were you diagnosed with

fibromyalgia?

What caused your cervical disc herniations?

For those wondering; Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition

characterized

by fatigue, widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons,

and

multiple tender points. Even after numerous tests, your doctor can't

seem to find anything specifically wrong with you, you may have

fibromyalgia.

The EMG test is a nerve conduction study that assesses the health of

the muscles and the nerves controlling the muscles. I have had many

of

EMGS over the years. A nerve conduction velocity test is usually

performed along with an EMG. Then generally the neuro will order an

MRI

of the brain and cervical area of the spine. If the mRI of the brain

come back " normal " they then concentrate on the cervical issues.

However, you said they will be looking into giving you cortisone

shots

which is an epidural. Which is just a temporary fix in my opinion, no

different then taking medications.

An epidural is an injection that delivers steroids directly into the

epidural space in the spine. Sometimes a flushing solution (either

lidocaine or normal saline) is also used to help " flush out "

inflammatory proteins from around the area that may be the source of

pain. Steroids (corticosteroids) have been shown to reduce

inflammation

by inhibiting the production of substances that cause inflammation,

the

epidural steroid injection can be highly effective because it

delivers

the medication directly to the site of inflammation. An epidural

steroid injection is generally successful in relieving pain for

approximately 50% of patients. But nevertheless, they do have their

risk factors as well, infection, bleeding, nerve damage, spinal

headaches, much like anything else I suppose.

Regards,

07/29/1994 ~ Laminotomy & Discectomy at L4-5

01/25/1999 ~ Benign Essential Tremors & Dysequilibrium

02/01/2000 ~ 360 Degree Interbody Anterior & Posterior L4-L5, & L5-S1

Spinal Fusion using iliac crest bone graft and Danek/TSRH stainless

Steel Instrumentation

10/08/2001 ~ Anterior C5-C6 Cervical Fusion using iliac crest bone

graft

and Danek/TSRH titanium plate instrumentation

05/05/2005 ~ Again noted L2-L3 - L5-S1 lumbar spinal stenosis, L3-L4

Spondylolysis,

Degenerative Disc Disease with osteophyte formation