Hi all...

My recent move back to the Bay Area resulted in my having such a bad flare I
went to the ER 3x in a month (the only times ever since getting this
miserable disease). The pain was so all-over, it was hard to discern where it
was
worse, except that it became increasingly hard to even walk on my right leg at
all and my lower back, hip, and leg to foot was still in awful pain after the
body-wide flare had somewhat subsided with rest. My pain docs sent me out for
MRIs and after round one of MRIs, the place I had the MRIs done called me to
come back for additional pictures. My pain doc called me the next day with
the news that I had protruding/bulging discs S1-L4-5. My question is: the
radiologist told me that my pain doc would not be able to treat this, that I
would have to take the MRIs and reports to a surgeon. But my pain doc, who is
an
anesthesiologist, wants to do epidural selective nerve root injections first.
I can't figure out how that will help get the disc material back into the
vertebrae and off the nerve roots, first of all, and wonder if it won't just
make it worse. None of the blocks I have undergone lasted any longer than the
numbing agent injected along with the other meds. This acute pain, not related
to RSD, is only on my right side...from my hip down to the tips of my toes.
But since my RSD started in my right foot and spread upwards and all over my
body, it seems like twice the pain and is just all I can do to chase the pain
with my meds. Even a cough or sneeze makes it feel like something in my hip
is going to rupture. What a time to have this happen as I have boxes and tubs
of things everywhere to unpack...and have been having to live with this
total disaster area now since the beginning of August and no relenting of the
pain. The term for it is radiculopathy, which includes the sciatic nerve and
depending on which discs are blown, can stop at the knee or go to the foot. Has
anyone in our group had any experience with this procedure? If so, would you
recommend it? I have always been told that with RSD you should not have any
surgery except in the case of an emergency, and so I know that is why my pain
docs want to do this first, but I have my concerns about it. Since this
procedure is scheduled for Tuesday, any and all responses are needed soon!!

Love and soft hugs, Carolyn


When I took the leap,
I had faith I would find a net;
Instead I learned I could fly.
- John Calvi, 1994



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