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What Do My Lab Test Reports Indicate?

Posted on Mon, 28 Sep 2015

Question: I have had an MRI & X-rays of my spine. The MD said spinal stenosis at t-10; T-12; inflammatory spinal stenosis at annulus?? of L-5/S-1. I go from being in mild discomfort with the bottom of my toes & balls of my feet asleep and my SI joint "out"; feels like walking on glass; to not being able to walk, sit,,stand, lay, or even move once found a unhurtful position. The pain spikes to 10, from around my normal 4-5; starting the lighten bolt from L-5/S-1 down a little ways toward my knee & up to mid-brain . when it hits the other 2 spots T-10;12 the pain shots out into muscles of the ribs and the brain. What do I do?. On a burst of Prednisone, orally for 9 days. But that's a stop gap measure and not the best one at that really. What is the best treatment? How far will this degenerative spine plb?? XXXX

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Epidural steroid injections/Electrical nerve stimulation

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.

I have gone through your medical history and as you said that there is a long list of medicines you are on,I assume you must be on anti-nauralgic medicines for this pain to which you are not responding well and that's why you have been put up on oral steroids.

Further,Are you doing physiotherapy exercises regularly.Those should be learnt by a physiotherapist who is really good at the technique.Dedicated exercises may bring a significant difference in pain.

Also,if medicines and physiotherapy don't work,then you can go for -Epidural steroid injections.These injections work in significant number of patients who do not respond to oral medicines.
Still advanced option is Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS),which can be considered for treatment refractory pain.
Please visit a specialized pain centre which must be holding expertise in these specialized techniques.

Hope that I have answered your query.If you have further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (3 hours later)

First, Thank you. Yes I am on Pain meds but don't take them unless the exercises, &/or mediation, and other image therapies have not brought the pain level down to at least a 4. I find I can live , some what, if I keep the pain level at or between 4-5. I prefer 4 & below, but beggars can't be choosers. The exercises I use have been taught mostly by very well trained P.T.'s and a pain clinic. I learn most of the best ones from my paraplegic room mate when we were both around 11 years old. Odd, huh?? The MD'S are talking about the shots now. They will start in about a week. I pray that a couple will work and I can get on with my life. Thank you, again XXXX.

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
These shots should bring improvement.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.

Please go ahead for the injection therapy/shots as planned and continue regular exercises.I hope to see you improve soon.

In case you ever have a query,please get back to me as I would like to track down your clinical developments.

If you have no further questions for now,please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.If you have follow-up questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar