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  • jayd10033
    Participant
    Post count: 73

    Hello doctor – Through some of my other posts you have the background. I am now one week on IV antibiotics. My first post antibiotic blood test showed SED and CRP both down from pre-antibiotic levels.

    My questions are on your experience with the pain associated with this condition.

    While the absolutely excruciating pain with movement is now gone-I am still left with aches and mobility limiting pain generally across my low back and flanks.

    The pain maybe worse one day than another day- Is your expectation that I would have fluctuations of higher pain on some days even on antibiotics? Or should I be steadily getting better- meaning diminished pain day after day.

    It makes me a little nervous to feel more pain then I did the previous day while taking antibiotics. I assume at the antibiotics were not working my levels would not be dropping.

    Any insight from your prior experience would be appreciated. Thank you!

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8653

    The indication of infection eradication are ESR and CRP dropping at least 50% from their highest range and the patient feeling much better (no fevers, chills, spasms, lethargy) with the back pain abated. Imaging will lag behind symptom improvement. Feeling better is a saw-toothed pattern with some days better than others but the general trend improving.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
    jayd10033
    Participant
    Post count: 73

    Thanks, my numbers are down a lot, but my pain is not really changing. It’s still pretty severe. It’s 9 days in on antibiotics.

    Hoping for an upturn soon.

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8653

    Takes at least 6 weeks to eradicate an infection on the correct antibiotics.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
    jayd10033
    Participant
    Post count: 73

    Hey Doc,

    Got yesterday’s blood work. CRP down to 7 from 11.

    ESR *UP* from 21 to 42 (which is about where it was 2 weeks ago)

    Why would they be going in different directions?

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8653

    The CRP is generally more reliable but your initial ESR dropped substantially at first which is quite unusual. Since these results are variable, I would not think too much of an elevated ESR but more in terms of the second ESR being an aberrantly lower value.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
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