Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 7 Location: GOM: Gulf of Mexico
Discogram: How Can I Have One Done When... Posted: 12-02-05 21:36pm
I can't lie on my stomach? Not even with
pillows propped...
Any advice appreciated!
I have 2 bulging discs (l4-5) but on my
third cortisone shot my pain neuro finally
realized I was not displaying the typical
symptoms, and the nurses kept telling me
to stop bending forward...
But bending forward is only relief I get
(indicative of stenosis) but I cannot sit
for long either w/o back and sciatica
pain.
I have severe sciatica down back of rt
leg, absent reflexes and losing muscle
strength just a bit.
I've had mri; showed two bulging discs,
but backbone perfectly straight.
I've had two cortisone shots for discs,
but neuro realized this was not cause of
pain (cannot bend back;excruciating
pain!)
i've had one cortisone series for joints
(it was several shots in one treatment) ad
this was the last of 3 sessions.
Still no relief...
I am going for discogram next week with ct
scan.
How can I do this if I cannot lay on my
stomach without pain meds? When I had the
shots, they had to get the go-juice
flowing first, and then I could relax
enough for the shots...But I was knocked
out.
I am also very low tolerance for pain
meds. How much pain do they need to prove
I am really in pain? :shock:
anymore insight into this dreaded
procedure is greatly appreciated!
-ak :)
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Tamadrummer
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 710 Location: Zephyrhills,Fl
Posted: 12-02-05 22:19pm
This test is going to put you in the worst
pain you have ever felt in your life, if
and only if, the disk's are what are
causing the pain.
Although this is the highest level of pain
I had ever experienced, (2 times), it is
the only way to positively identify the
pain and its placement.
More likly than not, the doctor is going
to have the anesthesia person put some
versed in your iv to help you forget just
how bad the pain is but since I have such
a high tolerance for medicine, I remember
most everything that happened. There are
some gray spots that I am not sure
happened but for the most part, I remember
screaming in pain and the crna telling the
doc that the pain must be a 10 because I
was biting the pillow and screaming at the
same time.
You need to stay horizontal for several
days proceeding the disc-o-gram.
Good luck,
-brian
p.S. Does your mother teach middle school
math in pasco county, florida?
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oilfieldpilot
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 7 Location: GOM: Gulf of Mexico
Posted: 12-03-05 10:19am
Thanks for the info
you were obviously on the extreme pain end
of the spectrum for your disco.
I know several who had moderate, and some
who had virtually no problems (including
my mom (3 x)).
I have not found anyone yet who has the
same/similar symptoms though. Some point
to spondyliosis/thesis (sp?) but mri says
not; another suggests stenosis, but other
symptoms contradict...
So nothing is cut and dry...
So, what was done to fix your problem?
What was your problem? Did you also have
myelogram done?
I am just glad I have top neuros in hou
who resort to surgery as last option. If
they had jumped in and fixed the discs,
that were not the problem, i'd surely be
worse off now than before.
I dread the tests, but I know they are
necessary.
"ps does your mom teach middle
school...?"
no. She's long retired nurse. I'm an oil
ind'y helicopter pilot in gulf mexico out
of la and tx (what's left after kat and
rita, that is!)
