More on Piriformis Syndrome

I have now had two steroid injections into the piriformis. The first one was great and I felt normal for a short time. The second time, the radiologist managed to hit the sciatic nerve and that was a bit disastrous. I completely lost any feeling in my right leg. I couldn’t believe that the hospital let me go. They just told me  to be careful. But the leg wouldn’t take any weight and it felt like my knee was going to bend backwards…my husband had to get me out of the car and to the bottom of the stairs and he hurt his shoulder. I had to climb up the stairs on my bum and for the rest of the day, I had to ask for help to move. It was unbelievable.

The next morning there was still parts of my foot that were “frozen”. And the sciatic nerve was really irritated. Totally different. It took about a week for the irritation to go away but the piriformis is still hinkey although it is better. On Sunday Oct 11 the muscle went into spasm and would not stop. Horrible. The next day, the leg was so fatigued I couldn’t walk around the block. It’s coming and going which I’m grateful for. Before it was spasming all the time.

I saw Dr. Devonshire on Friday and she agreed that it was time to do the Botox. At least there will be a more lasting effect. I asked her what would happen if the nerve got hit again and she said that it would stop the pain fibers which is all right by me.

I have had tremendous relief from the lift in my shoe. I also had the left shoe built up all along the bottom. It is unbelievable what a difference this has made. Physio said that my leg length discrepancy was only seen on standing. Anyway, the lift puts me back in a more neutral alignment. That translates into less pain. All of a sudden I am standing straight. It’s so strange. I have exercises to do to strengthen the surrounding muscles (first stretched the piriformis but now it’s good). And we’re trying to move the ribs separate from the hips. I have been locked for a long, long time so even being able to do the side bend and move the ribs separately is a huge big deal. I”m just watching the end ranges of movement. Also strengthening proximal hamstrings. Amazing how those little things are so hard to do. One day I expect to get back on that reformer. I’m also doing the elliptical everyday or walking.

Still Doing Well

I feel quite fortunate to be able to say that even though the piriformis is still inflammed, I’m able to manage things. It is taking a little bit to get used to the new drug regime – cymbalta and nortriptyline – but I am getting  used to it. I really felt out of it for the first 5 weeks. The doctor told me to play around with the timing and I think that I have found a balance. I take the cymbalta at 1:30PM instead of at bedtime. I had a terrible time with my gut and pain which is what prompted the desire to change. That has been resolved and I am also no longer sleeping so much. I awake on my own between 6 and 7 which is my normal time.

Update August 21, 2009

Well, I can hardly believe the difference between now and the last post. Let me start off by saying that the pain is well under control. In fact, most of the time during the past week I have not had any pain. That’s a show stopper.

Two weeks ago, I had to stop taking my Arthrotec (an antiinflammatory) because I was having the steroid injection into the piriformis muscle. I began taking Cymbalta several weeks prior to that. I’ve had to stop the NSAIDS before and couldn’t wait until the time I could start them again because of the increase in pain. Believe it or not, I didn’t even notice the difference. I was stunned. After a couple of days I thought the inflammation would come back and the pain would get worse. Nada. And now it’s been two weeks and I haven’t taken a single antiinflammatory.

Around and Around We Go

Well, there is no shortage of changes, no shortage of frustrations and sometimes no shortage of hope. The most recent news is difficult to get through. The physicians are getting risky with their suggested treatments and I’m really having to decide just how much I am willing to gamble. I feel, after the hyperthermia trial in Holland, that I am done with the experiments.

Now I am at steroid injections and am stopping that unless they are done radiographically. I was a neurologist’s office last week and she gave me 6 injections trying to hit the piriformis muscle. I feel terrible now and over the last week it’s been hell. I was supposed to go today for a shot into my neck and begged off. She’s made an appointment to do a repeat one radiographically but this being Canada I have to wait a couple of months…She wants to do botox injections into the muscles. I am totally uncomfortable with that and want a second opinion.

Dr. Fernando Barinagarrementeria Aldatz in Queretaro, Mexico

Dr. Fernando Barinagarrementeria Aldatz is located in the Hospital Angeles de Queretaro.

I got in to see him in about one week. The visit was 800 pesos. He never once made me feel like I should leave. He chatted and asked me all kinds of questions.

Once you make the appointment send some info to him by email. Then phone to see if they got it.

I sent him reports and the hospital had a bit of a computer issue on that day but no one knew where it was.

The receptionists are nice. If you call they may tell you it is his personal email (which it is), so they can’t tell you whether the doctor has received or not.

Tell them to ask him or you’ll waste some time. You might have to phone back but it’s a much better way to get the most from your visit.

For sure, if you have had MRI’s done, bring the CDs.

And just so you know what he looks like I’ve attached a little picture. He is an absolute doll. And his English as good as mine.

Let me know if you need help or info.

Cuidate mucho (take care)

Darlene

Dr. Fernando Barinagarrementeria Aldatz

fbarinaga@infosel.net.mx – Personal

01 442 192 3041 – Cell

442.192-3006 – Work

442.215-9977 – Móvil

Blvd B Quintana No. 141, Loma Dorada
Hospital Angeles de Queretaro
Queretaro, 76060 GTO
Mexico

Otra – Mapa

Nicest and Best Neurologist in Queretaro, Mexico

Forteo?

The latest update from the endocrinologist -the specialist here in the Lower Mainland that handles all patients on Forteo has agreed to handle me…I still have to think about it.

My last bone scan at St Paul’s hospital showed a T score around -1.5. Lion’s Gate Hospital got their own machine finally and so the results cannot be compared. However the first scan from LGH showed a bone density of +3. Come on- no one can take that seriously. The lumbar spine had pretty collapsed on itself so it showed up as a nice piece of bone. They put me on Fosamax after the scan (2006) and I had a repeat done this Feb 09. It shows a 10% loss of bone mass in the lumbar spine. That’s the reason they want to put me on Forteo. However, the L spine is not even osteopenic. The hip and forearm are normal for my age…so how about the 3 back surgeries that took bone out of the lumbar area- wouldn’t you think that would show a bone loss. I had bilateral laminectomies at two levels. Microdiscectomies at three. 

It just seems logical that there would be less bone…Less is more in this case.

Update on Bone Scan

Hi Everyone

I know it’s been ages since I’ve posted. I’ve had a lot of trouble with pain management and everything seems to go okay for a time, then it’s definitely not okay…

I had a repeat bone scan and found out that have lost 10% bone mass. That is in spite of having been on Fosamax. Geez. So the Fosamax is not working.

Doing some blood work to check out what’s going on. There are rarely any answers. My hip and wrist are okay but my back is definitely not.

And the last MRI found anterior wedging at T5/6. That’s bad but thank heaven it was minor. However it means no more head off the mat and start to take some serious precautions. Wedging can lead to vertebral fractures…don’t want that.

So life is kind of like that. One of my best friends has lung cancer metastisized in the bone. That sucks. Besides that, it means I’m still doing okay. You gotta keep it relative.

Take care.
Darlene

Walking, Reformer and Yoga Going Well

Click on the link to see the video: http://www.viddler.com/darmorrow/videos/40/

Things are going well. Did a 15 minute walk, 45 minutes of the Yoga for Scoliosis DVD and also worked on the Reformer. All on different days.

Going on the elliptical now for 30 minutes. Feeling pretty good.

Starting a New Video Group at Viddler

I’ve started a video group on Viddler. If you have webcam and microphone, please come on over and share your experiences. Viddler is free, it actually works and it’s a great way to share info and to put a face with a name.

Please come join us at darmorrow | http://www.viddler.com/groups/backsurgery

Randomised controlled trial of Alexander technique lessons, exercise, and massage (ATEAM) for chronic and recurrent back pain

The complete article is free. It’s well worth visiting the link because there is also a 12 minute video explaining what the Alexander Technique is. I’ve posted the abstract below.

 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/337/aug19_2/a884

Published 19 August 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.a884
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a884