Facet Joints - Injected, Updated Update, Page 5

Hey Kelly, and anyone else that's had an MRI done, get them!  I just called to see if I could pick up my MRI's from 2001 and they've been destroyed!  Gone. Poof.  Never to be seen again.  [sm=eek.gif][sm=asking03.gif]  I'm so ticked.... man that burns me up.  I have ONE copy of one of the many films that I purchased!  Had I known they would just destroy them...... WTF?!!

So go get them.  Keep them because in 8 years if you're still having pain issues, you'll want them and you'll have them!!!

grrr.....

Hmm, you'd think they would put them on microfilm or something.

I was allowed one free copy, but probably would not have known that if the chiropractor had not asked to see them.

You'd think but nope!  At least the ones I had done last week are on CD.  I'm picking those up tomorrow and they will NOT get them back.

WOW. Like marty said, you would think they'd back them up, or something - or, at least call you...
 
Leslie, do you at least have the report from the old MRI?
 
I have both this year's and last year's on CD. In the fire-proof box. I'm not paranoid, honest! LOL.

I do have the report, thankfully.  I have an apointment with the anesthiologist to consult about the possibility of injections at the end of August.    The physical therapist worked on my stomach muscles today and my stride felt longer and looser walking out of there... so maybe the PT and the naproxen will do the trick in a month's time....

I did get the worst news of my life today though.  My PCP told me that I should not do high impact activities.  Like jogging or stairs.  So I would imagine that would rule out agility, roller coaster rides and any other fun activity I would like to do.  []  I cried after that phone call....  good thing I'm the only one in the office today....

Glad to hear that PT is helping, and that you have the old report.
 
That really stinks about the high-impact stuff. That's what I'm terrified of. Hubby says that I can train the kids, and stay involved that way, but it's just not the same as riding...

Yeah, giving up agility, though it would save me lots of money, would really break me I think.

And my herniated disc is at L5-S1 as well.  I also have a mild one at T10-T11 AND at L1-L2.  With mild to moderate facet hypertrophy all through my lumbar spine facet joints.  I'm a mess that is degenrating every year...  []

Hmm, you'd think they would put them on microfilm or something.

 
Most hospitals have gone over to a completely computerized system and imaging is stored by law for 10 years at least.  You can get CD's of your MRI's too which is nice if you go to doctors at different places that may not have access to the same imaging system.

Ron, being stubborn seems to only buy you trouble in the long run, or so hubby says

 
I've also put with a calcium deposit on my left kneecap from working, which could be fixed with athroscopic surgery and a torn intermedial cartilege in that same knee that surgery could have fixed. And now, the right knee sometimes acts funny. Problem is, any of those surgeries requires some down time that I cannot afford. It is my destiny to wear myself out and into an early grave.
 
"I don't know but I've been told
Alaskan winter's mighty cold."
 
"Left ... Left.... Left, Right, Left"
 
"The only easy day was yesterday."
 
These are things I tell myself to get going. It takes 30 minutes or more in the morning for my back to loosen up. And I'm sure it will get worse.
 
So, I remember Monty Python's Flying Circus.
 
"Always look on the bright side of life.
Just before you draw your terminal breath."
 
[]

So, I remember Monty Python's Flying Circus.

"Always look on the bright side of life.
Just before you draw your terminal breath."

Heh, Spam-A-Lot was the first Monty Python performance that I enjoyed.

BOT, Ottoluv, they said they only keep them for 5 years.  But the one I had last week was given to me on CD today.  And I didn't even have to pay for it!  I had to pay $17 to get ONE copy of ONE of the films, not all of them.  I don't know what the heck I'm looking at anyway but would have been nice to look at them all side by side.

Leslie, how are you doing? Any updates?
 
I went to the pain management doctor last Monday for a 3 week follow up. I threw my back up the Saturday before my last injection, and the 3rd set of injections didn't really seem to do much. I saw the nurse instead of the doctor; she explained everything much better than he did.
 
I told her that my back is getting worse instead of better. Since I hurt my back the last time, I've been having a serious urgency problem, and I'm usually part camel when it comes to pee. She sent me for a repeat MRI and a UA. The MRI said that the herniation is the same size at L5-S1, but that there is "S1 nerve pinging" now.
 
What the heck is that? The UA was negative. She told me to go to my family doctor, who would probably send me to a Urologist. I'm waiting until tonight to talk to my chiro - he told me on the phone that he would not do another set of injections at this time, which is what the pain management doctor wants to do.
 
I'm just really annoyed, frustrated and upset over it all. [:@]

"S1 nerve pinging"

 
Is that what it actually says on the report?  I'm guessing that it might be a typo and should be S1 nerve impingement. Isn't that how they describe when the herniated disc is pinching or putting pressure on the nerve?  That's just a guess but I'm really sorry that things haven't improved for you. I know it must be super frustrating to be getting different information from the Dr. and the chiropractor and I can't even imagine how you're supposed to decide what to do. Sorry if I've already asked this, but have you seen a surgeon yet?  Is the idea of surgery on the back burner until ? or has it really been discussed?  I know that it's a scary proposition, but having seen what my friend went thru for 8-9 months prior to surgery and how she's doing now, I think I'd at least want to discuss it. 

Not to scare you or anything, but loss of control is considered a serious condition resulting from the nerve impingement.  I'd be talking to an ortho or neuro rather than a chiro.  

Cathy, I haven't seen the actual report yet. That's what the nurse said; my chiro will let me see the report tonight. I saw a neurosurgeon last month who said I'm not a surgical candidate because of my age, and that my symptoms weren't bad enough to override that. I would prefer to go under the knife, if they said it would get rid of the pain. Although, I would like to wait until October, after our show season is done, LOL. I scheduled an appointment with another neurosurgeon yesterday, but they won't get me in until October.
 
Marty, that's what I was afraid of. I know that whenever I went to the doctor they always asked if I was eliminating normally. That's part of the reason I was peeved that the nurse told me to go through my family doc and a Urologist, rather than sending for more tests or consults. I have the chiro today regardless, and he's the one who is the most helpful, so I will speak to him. He'll even probably call the neuro I scheduled with and try to get the appointment earlier.

Hey Kelly,
 
yeah, the reading I've done says that elimination problems are not a good sign.  Let me know how that comes out.  No pun intended...  heh...
 
I'm doing ok.  Pretty good, really.  The anti-inflammatories seem to be helping and I'm on a drug to help me stay awake, which is nice.  It's nice to not be tired all day long, every day.  I was even able to remain awake at the conference this weekend and drove most of the way here (NY) from IN!!  So that drug at least, is working.
 
However, my neck is getting worse it seems and after sitting in lectures for many hours 3 days in a row, then a 3 hour drive back to NY from CT, I'm SORE!  bleh...  and I have another 13 hour drive home tomorrow.  yay...
 
That and worrying about my dogs... sheesh... seems like it never ends sometimes....