Viewing 6 posts - 13 through 18 (of 24 total)
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  • jayd10033
    Participant
    Post count: 76

    Update: On Monday I was given an additional oral antibiotic called Zyvox. I still have 3 weeks left on the IV Irtapenem (Invanz).

    Today is the first day where I feel like there has been any improvement in the intensity of my pain and energy. Getting labs tomorrow which I hope will continue to show numbers going in the right direction.

    Fingers crossed this day of (seeming) progress is a trend.

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    “Feeling better” is an important sign of infection eradication. Let us know the new lab values.

    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: 76

    Saturday Labs:
    WBC 8.6 (up from 7.9 one week ago)
    CRP 3 (down from 7 one week ago)
    ESR 31 (down from all time high of 54 a month ago)

    I’ve noticed the WBC count jumps around a lot up or down, is that normal?

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    WBC will “jump around” so as long as it stays in a range of acceptability (which currently is OK), don’t worry about that. The other numbers are acceptable.

    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: 76

    Hi Doc – here is my latest MRI. It’s hard for me to make heads or tails of whether there is any improvement. I do see the word “decreasing” a lot :). What are your thoughts based on the below?

    FINDINGS: Status post right extraforaminal L3-4 discectomy. Stable. There is moderate severe L3-4 disc space narrowing prominent, mildly enhancing, marrow edema within the L3 and 14 vertebra with L3-4 endplate Schmorl’s nodes. Stable.
    There is prominent, enhancing soft tissue seen in the right lateral L3-4 paraspinal soft tissues, right L3-4 neural foramen surrounding and impinging upon the exiting right L3 nerve root sheath. Stable.
    There is L3-4 disc bulging with enhancing central annulus fissure. There is decreased epidural enhancement seen in the anterior L3-4 epidural space with decreased left-sided thecal sac flattening There is decreased left greater than right-sided lateral recess spinal stenosis because of adjacent enhancing fibrosis decreased but continued impingement upon both the descending left greater than right L4 nerve root sheaths. There is mild thecal sac flattening. There is no central spinal stenosis
    Mild L2-3 spondylosis, chronic endplate Schmorl’s nodes, degenerative grade 1 retrolisthesis L2-3 are redemonstrated. In addition at L2-3, there is uncovering of the disc by spondylolisthesis. There is mild central rightward intradiscal enhancement suggesting fibrosis. Degree of intradiscal enhancement is decreased from prior exam. There is no spinal stenosis or foraminal narrowing.
    At L1-2, L4-5 and L5-S1, there are no disc herniations, significant disc bulges, spinal stenosis or foraminal narrowing. Stable findings
    There are no compression fractures or other spondylolisthesis. Redemonstrated, small chronic endplate Schmorl’s nodes T11-12 through L2-3.
    There are no destructive marrow processes.

    Conus medullaris is at T12-L1. There are no enhancing mass lesions, abnormal signal or abnormal enhancement involving the distal thoracic spinal cord, conus medullaris or cauda equina nerve root sheaths.
    There are no intraspinal or paraspinal masses.

    IMPRESSION
    1. Status post right extraforaminal L3-4 discectomy, prominent enhancing right lateral L3-4 paraspinal and foraminal soft tissue, surrounding and impinging upon the exiting right L3 nerve root sheath, mild L3-4 disc bulge with new enhancing annulus fissure, decreased anterior epidural enhancing soft tissue, decreased lateral recess spinal stenosis and decreased impingement of descending left greater than right L4 nerve root sheaths.

    2. Prominent, mildly enhancing, L3 and 14 vertebral marrow edema without significant change. Findings may represent discitis/spondylitis. Correlation with laboratory values, C reactive protein or sedimentation rate is suggested for further evaluation, as warranted clinically.

    3. Degenerative grade 1 retrolisthesis L2-3 without significant change. 4. Decreased, mild central rightward L2-3 intradiscal enhancing fibrosis. 5. Otherwise no significant interval change.

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    This is a positive report as imaging only slowly follows improvement. It appears you are on the right antibiotic.

    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.
Viewing 6 posts - 13 through 18 (of 24 total)
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