Severe lumbar nerve pain

Wow Jennifer! I have heard of this in the FB groups I'm on for people with primary immune deficiencies. I also saw a story in the NYT's about a man who found out he was severely allergic to PEG when he tried using colonoscopy prep kits. I'm sorry you found out through an epidural. I understand that the compound is found in a huge array of products.

@sb4ca Thank you. I didn't know why I had reacted to the epidural, but I learned a bit about PEG when I had a vaccination for Covid with PEG in it. I had the beginning of a suspect reaction within 45 minutes, so I went to the emergency room and they got it under control in 20 minutes. That make me look up some information and draw a conclusion about my experience with the spine injection. When I had other Covid boosters, I opted for the J & J vaccine which unfortunately isn't an option now. I did have a recent colonoscopy, and the doctor gave me a prep kit that didn't have PEG in it. PEG is even in a topical antibiotic ointment that I have, but used topically, I don't have the same reaction as taking it internally.

Jennifer

How horrible! Now I’m having sharp jabs tender and painful areas swelling. Problem areas are worse. Is there anything they can do to stop the bad reaction? Should i be calling the dr or wait til follow up appointment on 21st?

I just called the pm dr to see if its a bad reaction to shot. To get a call back.

@nemo1 That’s what I would have done. When I had the bad reaction, they gave me a steroid dose pack. It didn’t help and I just had to wait it out. They suggested just lie in bed and prop my arm on a pillow and try not to move because moving would increase the electric shocks.
Jennifer

Good morning sb4ca. Love your questions so here goes...

It was a physiatrist who made what I considered to be the best and most complete diagnosis. That is a pain doctor and I had not heard of that specialty before. Mayo JAX introduced that person to the diagnosis process. I've read where some folks become concerned that a surgeon will always suggest surgery. A physiatrist has no skin in the surgery decision so their diagnosis is maybe more "pure"?

I was told that the numbness and pain in my thighs were related to nerve compression in the lower back. I used to have significantly painful hamstrings but that's 100% resolved, now. Not sure what fixed it - but I love being pain-free in that area.

I don't know if my cervical and lumbar symptoms were linked somehow. That answer is complicated by the fact I ended up deciding to only do a subset of the surgery the docs recommended. They wanted to do a full fix from T10 to S1. I just couldn't see myself recovering from that so we agreed to work on the worst areas: C4-7 ACDF and L2-5 discectomy and decompression. No rods - just fusion hardware.

These surgical decisions are a study in personal risk management - made more challenging inthat your decision is required without precise foreknowledge of what your particular outcome will be. For me, the risks of permanent nerve damage leading to very negative lifestyle consequences ... ultimately outweighed the risk of surgery (long recovery, possible need for corrective surgery, maybe the problem doesn't get fixed). I believe it's useful to consider the situation from that personal risk management point of view.

I'm now 13 months post cervical work and 10 months post lumbar. It was a lot to undergo in such a short time...My neck is 98% fine. Some restrictions due to the four-level fusion. Natural side effect. My back is 80-85% fine with some stiffness, soreness, and pain but I'm returning to "normal" activities and pushing myself to regain strength and stamina. And I remain optimistic.

What other questions can I answer or perspectives can I share? I feel your decision dilemma.

That sounds really rough. To have to ride it out. Thats what it feels like I am doing.

The nurse practitioner gave me meloxicam. I took it at 630. I woke at 6am with stiffness, and an ankle spasm with lightning like pain. I could not move it in any direction without extreme pain. So the nsaid didn’t work. So now the tightness is a new symptom I’m now feeling. I’m getting nervous. My neurologists reevaluation is monday.

@nemo1 Hang in there. It's good you're seeing the doctor on Monday for some answers.

I had L4-S1 fusion and know exactly the feeling you refer to depending which side I lean which inner thigh went numb also radiating to the testicles, I’ve been told it’s not the lumbar causing it. I can rub my hand across he incision and the pain starts. Same way with Anal pain, I’m being treated by a pelvic therapist which I thought was for women not men who works internally she has been working on the nerves in their and getting the tailbone lined back up it helps and you can sure tell when the tailbones misaligned. I’m starting to be able to sleep on my back but wake up with toes numb and sometimes hands. I’m waiting until April to see the surgeon hoping he listens this time and finds out what’s wrong my pain is getting worse

I have ankylosing spondylitis, I had a terrible flair up in November, January I had a lumbar steroid block, it has helped.
Hopefully Humira us approved for me and helps.
Best of luck and speak up for your healthcare!