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  • Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8660
    #6831 In reply to: MRI RESULT / BACK PAIN |

    You have a variant of Scheuermann’s disorder. I do not know by your report if you have an increased thoracic kyphosis. This is an increase of the “round back” curve in the mid back. This increased curve is diagnosed by a standing lateral X-ray of the mid back.

    Scheuermann’s causes pain by two and occasionally three factors. FIrst, the increased curve places more stress on the spine due to alignment. The increased curve places more stress on the discs and facets. This strain is resisted by the extensor muscles of the mid back. When the muscles fatigue from this increased stress, they “burn”.

    This “burn” can be reduced by strengthening these muscles. Rowing exercises and extension exercises can help to reduce the pain and increase your sitting time without pain.

    The second pain generation could be from aggregation of degenerative disc disease. Stretching the spine into extension (lying over an exercise ball on your back) periodically during the day at work will help to relieve some of this pain.

    The possible third pain generator is a disc herniation. This can cause nerve compression. If that symptom is present, an epidural injection can help with the pain.

    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.
    Jellyhall
    Participant
    Post count: 91
    #6812 In reply to: Risks of ACDF? |

    Thank you Dr Corenman,
    I do have brisk reflexes in my legs and arms, which I believe indicates early myelopathy. I don’t have Hoffman’s, Clonus or Babinski, although one neurosurgeon registrar has said that I had extensor plantar reflex bilaterally. Generally I either have no response at all or very slight flexor when tested.

    I do have strong, involuntary, stiffening spasms in my legs and feet with my right foot especially turning inwards while my toes stick up. I also get this stiffening around my abdomen causing my back to arch up off the bed if I am lying down, or to cause me to slightly bend forward and make a sound as air is expelled from my lungs, if I am standing up. Recently I have occasionally had a jerking of my right leg early in the morning as I move it.

    Other symptoms are very subtle and they come and go. My hand and foot pains are now being quite well controlled by Nortriptyline.

    I am correct in thinking that the address on this site (181 West Meadow Drive, Suite 400, Vail, CO 81657) is the correct address to send my MRI scan disc? What is the best way to label it so you know that it is my scan? Title of this thread? My user name? – Perhaps both of those.

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8660

    You have two herniations- one at L4-5 and one at L5-S1. Which one is the far-lateral herniation?

    You feel “weakness” but note no weakness upon muscle testing. You note sciatic type pain but do not note the intensity of pain on a VAS (0-10 visual analog scale).

    If your symptoms are tolerable and you have no demonstrable motor weakness, you could be a candidate for an epidural injection and physical therapy (see website for those descriptions).

    Numbness is not considered the same as pain. The pain or noceceptive nerves will scream at you if disturbed. The sensory nerves will not cause pain but will cause numbness.

    Herniations can get better and about 70% do get better with time, injections and therapy.

    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.
    Rubylee
    Member
    Post count: 7

    Thank you for your answer. The coccyx pain is intense when standing from sitting position. Goes away upon walking. Could this be related to lower backache (weakness) and hip pain left side? Would problems with this area show up on an X-ray of lumbar spine, or is an MRI warranted? I’m disinclined to accept what I’m feeling is normal and requires a few more weeks of healing considering it is unchanged in 4 months. Coccyx pain went completely away for about 3 weeks with injection into area, but is back now. Low backache, hip pain, and pain into left buttock increases with activity, but again has never gone away. Burning pain down left thigh wakes me up at night only. Im wondering if this could be a problem with SI JOINT, and how would this be properly diagnosed? Thank you again.

    Rubylee
    Member
    Post count: 7

    Thank you for considering my question. I previously posted but assumed it would go unanswered. I shortened the info in hopes you could alleviate my fears.

    Chronic low dull backache left side, never lets up. VAS 2-5 increases with activity. Moderate paced walking causes pain to radiate in to left buttock VAS 3-6 resulting in an altered gait or slight limp. Occasionally sharp pains wrap around into left knee VAS2-4. Eventually pain reaches into left hip VAS 2-6 causing a throbbing ache that diminishes with rest. During sleep only sharp pain radiates down into posterior part of thighVAS5-7. Also while sleeping hip pain increases to VAS3-7.
    Tailbone has excruciating VAS 5-8 upon standing only. Pain immediately goes away upon walking. Tailbone soreness VAS 2-3 while driving longer than 15 min and upon sitting on overly soft cushions. This was ultimately relieved by using coccyx pillow. Although going to standing position still causes pain.
    Additionally, chronic neck pain VAS 2-5 accompanied by tightness moves up over skull and behind left eye causing throbbing headache VAS 4-7 that lasts about 10-16 hrs. This sometimes radiates behind left ear and resembles an earache with area just below earlobe sore to touch.
    I have periodic numbness and pins and needles in elbow pinky and ring finger left hand. VAS1-4 more annoying than painful and nerve test could not confirm ulnar nerve damage. It did however confirm early onset carpal tunnel syndrome bilaterally .
    Initially(4months ago) there was extreme hypersensitivity anterior left thigh that caused intense burning pain just lightly running fingers over the area. That has since dissipated.
    New onset symptoms that have started this week are both legs have gone numb from thighs to feet (pins and needles) while sitting on the toilet and passively sitting on a fully supported swing.
    My question is could there be an underlying cause to these symptoms other than SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE from MVA? Or if not what are your thoughts on manipulation under anesthia? My family has a history of over producing scar tissue and adhesions.
    My current doctors feel I should be progressing faster than I am.

    Indianarose
    Member
    Post count: 6

    Hi again Dr. Corenman,

    Thank you so much for the reply.

    I sure hope you don’t mind but this is going to be a very long post. I don’t know of any other way to convey to you what has been going on with me? Sorry.

    The Nero Doctor wouldn’t listen to me when I went to her for help eight months after she did my C5-6 fusion in 1995. I’ve always felt that it didn’t fuse properly. Since the X-Ray readings and her diagnosis didn’t show anything wrong with my fusion. I had no other choice but to accept her findings. She totally dismissed me.

    I was shuffled from one Doctor to another, all said the same thing “Myalgia” which I’d just have to live with. In 1996 none of the Doctors that I saw believed in Fibromyalgia. I was told that all I needed to do was exercise, meditate, keep my mind busy and not think of the pain, Mind over matter.

    Finally, I was sent for physical therapy. Just by chance, the Doctor I saw there was a Sports Medical Doctor who dxd me with Fibromyalgia. He was considered an expert on FMS. What a relief just to have someone from the Medical Community say “I understand” and “Yes, I believe you are in Pain” and not be looked down upon? Anyway, so I did the warm aqua pool therapy 3 times a week, had massages 2 times a week.

    After 3 months I had to stop going because that’s all my insurance company would cover for the year. I did get better for awhile. I’m not too sure that it was really Fibromyalgia or if it was the therapy that helped the pain from the bad disc in my neck.

    I went to a Rheumatologist for a few years, up until I was sent to the pain clinic in 2001 He really didn’t do much, just took my weight, blood pressure, checked for trigger points, hit my knees, legs with a hammer and that was that.

    I did look up polymyalgia rheumatica but it doesn‘t sound like me.

    The peripheral neuropathy sounds like what is going on with the electrical impulses in my legs, feet. I’ve been reading up on it and am trying to understand what it is and what tests are involved and what can if anything can be done.

    This has me wondering if these electrical surges are what’s in my upper body as well that’s causing the phantom moving, swaying – rocking – bobbing sensations?

    There is also the possibility I could have a disorder called (MdDS) Mal De DeBarqument Syndrome. The last & only time I was on a cruise ship was in 1998. I didn’t have any moving sensations afterwards. However, it can come on after a plane trip, a long car ride or just happen. Of course, there are no tests to prove you have it. Here’s there web site mddsfoundation . org if you’ve never heard of it and if you might be interested in reading about it. This is not something that I want to be dxd with either. From what I understand, there is no cure and not much in the way of help to relieve the symptoms.

    I’ve been going over all my medical & dental records for the past several months now trying to find a link as to why I’m having all this pain and crazy symptoms.

    In 1985 I had Silver Amalgam fillings put into every molar. I had no idea they contained 50% to 70 % mercury or I would never have agreed to have them placed in my teeth.

    After many years the fillings started breaking down. I had a few molars pulled in the past which didn’t cause any adverse reactions since they were pulled out.

    July 17, 2000 I had some Bad tooth pain. I Went to the Dentist and had one root canal with a cap and one molar. I had the silver mercury filling drilled out and refilled with white composite. It was not done safely. (I didn’t know about rubber dams and safe removal protocols then)

    July 24, 2000 ** Just 7 days after the root canal ** I went to my GP.
    This is what was written on his notes from that day:
    1. Decreased coordination 2. Inability to walk the day before and last night
    3. Tremor & jerking of her left arm and left leg 4. Paresthesias on left side of her face.
    Refer to Neurology. (I didn’t go to Nero Doc since it just went away that same day)

    Jan. 2001 ** 7 months after the dental work** is when my GP sent me to the pain clinic.

    July 2009 All my of teeth and gums hurt badly. I went to the Dentist, was dxd with periodontal gum disease. I had 4 molars done, 4 silver mercury fillings drilled out and refilled with white composites.

    **** All of the Dental work that was done on me. Never once was a rubber dam placed over my mouth or a mask over my face to protect me from the mercury vapors or bits of mercury that was drilled out of my teeth. I breathed the vapors and swallowed mercury bits. They never followed any safe mercury removal protocols whatsoever! I didn‘t know they should have and they didn‘t tell me ****

    Aug. 10, 2009 I had one molar done, the silver mercury filling drilled out and refilled with white composite.

    Aug. 10, 2009 I had the upper right quadrant deep root cleaning done.

    Sept. 1, 2009 I had the upper left quadrant deep root cleaning done.

    Sept. 17, 2009 I had the lower left quadrant deep root cleaning done.

    Sept. 28, 2009 I had the Lower right quadrant deep root cleaning done.

    Oct. 8, 2009 I had 2 more molars done, the silver mercury fillings drilled out and refilled with white composites

    Nov. 2009 ** One month after Dental work ** I started having rectal bleeding. I called my doctor but the bleeding stopped after 3 hours. I went to a Gastroentologist, had a colonoscopy and a upper GI since I was also having bad stomach problems. He dxd me with Diverticulosis in the Sigmod Colon. Also, Acid Reflux disease and Barretts Esophagus (Gerd) He checked for Celiac disease (questionable on that)

    Feb. 3, 2010 I had one molar done, the silver mercury filling drilled out and refilled with white composite. And full mouth teeth and root cleaning.

    March 21, 2010 ** Just 4 months after Dental work & many Mercury fillings replaced ** I had a Major Heart Attack and almost died. I had heart cath. Surgery with two stints.

    Sept 2011 (Not Dental Related) I had terrible pain in my left big toe and top of the same foot for awhile and haven‘t been able to wear anything but flip flops for a few years because of the pain. I finally went to see a Foot doctor and was dxd with Traumatic Arthritis. I had to have foot surgery called Cheilectomy 1st metatarsi double astronomy with inter-fixation. Meaning he had to chisel off the bone spurs that was growing upward on the top of my left foot and remove part of the bone going to my big toe and fixate it with a screw. Due to trauma I suffered in June 2004

    That takes me to 2012 with the head, neck, jaw, face, eye, temples, forehead, shoulder, traps, upper back pain. The off balance, feels like I’m walking on a air mattress or trampoline at times, I have this pulling downward force feeling at times, leg electrical vibrations, body electrical vibrations, brain zaps, neck zaps, ect. Ect

    I read up on inner ear problems that could be the cause of some of these symptoms. So started with the ENT Doctor this year. No inner ear trouble was found.

    Then I found the connection with mercury vapors from dental fillings and root canal teeth. I read as much as I possibly could find and watched u-tube videos on mercury teeth and root canal lectures. Dr. Hal Huggins was one that I read the most. There are many others like Andy Cutler and Dr. Boyd Haley. I read up on the IAOMT and AHMA. One web site for great info is mercury exposure.

    I found my Holistic Dentist an hour away from me. He did extensive tooth x-rays, exam, and from the deep pockets in my gums mostly 5, 6 & 7’s gum pockets very bad. No matter if he removed my mercury fillings safely it wasn’t going to change the fact that I had very bad advanced periodontal gum disease and with me having coronary artery heart disease that was not good, not good at all. I was at risk for another heart attack just from the infection in my gums and no amount of antibiotics, deep root teeth cleanings would change that. My teeth had to come out. I had 22 teeth extracted on June 18th 2012 and my dentures contain no metals at all, and no mercury for the pink coloring added.

    After my teeth were pulled. Some of the symptoms went away. The pain in my face, jaw, temple, and eye is gone. The pulsating, crushing, squeezing pain on the sides and top of my head is gone. The feeling that my brain is moving inside is gone. The painful tugging and pulling feeling that I had in my brain is gone.

    Unfortunately, I still have the rest of the pain and symptoms, they didn’t go away after my teeth were removed like I was hoping or thought.

    I want to be tested for mercury and heavy metals to see how toxic I am and if that’s whats causing my pain and symptoms. I’m really confused and unsure what test or tests would be the best to do and who can do it and what lab to use?

    The urine test that most Doctors do is a major problem because if they don’t do the challenge type of urine testing it’s useless and will come back neg. when it’s very positive. Blood testing is not a good way to test either unless you can find a lab that will test as soon as the blood is drawn. From what I understand, the mercury vapor leaves the blood after only a few hours and will test neg. when it could very well could be positive.

    Mercury once in the brain will not come out on its own. I’d need a chelator drug such as DMPS to remove it.

    My Dentist found that I have what’s called a “Mercury Tattoo” under my tongue that he couldn’t remove during surgery. I don’t know what Doctor can remove it or how tough it will be to remove?

    Yes, I‘m very afraid that‘s what is wrong with me. Mercury in my brain, my heart, tissues and all the organs in my body. (mercury vapors from the fillings in teeth DOES cross the brain barrier) As long as that mercury tattoo is there I would never be able to use any sort of drug as a chelator because it would pull from that tattoo, not from my brain or body and it would make me very sick.

    Have you had anyone with these problems come to you for help?

    I’m thinking I am heavy metal and mercury poisoned but then again the MRI of my neck shows these disc buldges and degenerative problems that could be causing pain and symptoms. Also, peripheral neuropathy is a possibility.

    You said:  Pathology at C3-4 should not cause dizziness or light-headedness.

    When you said “Should not cause” … could it be Possible?

    From what I’ve read and researched Mercury can get in the brain, spine, heart, liver, kidneys, body, organs, muscles, tissues, it can cause Autoimmune disease, MS, Fibromyalgia, ALS, CFS, Gastro problems, stomach problems, headaches, heart attacks, balance and coordination problems, restless leg syndrome and over 200 other symptoms.

    Thank you for reading and hope it was ok to post all of this.

    I know your not a Dentist but thought you might know the effects of heavy metal and mercury toxic symptoms especially in the central nervous system.

Viewing 6 results - 1,933 through 1,938 (of 2,199 total)