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is the pain from hip or back?
Mom is 92. One kidney. 5 ft tall..113 lbs. uses walker. She has had this pain for 5 weeks. She has pain in low lumbar, into hip, down side of leg only to knee , and lifting her leg causes hip and groin pain. Coughing causes groin pain almost down to vaginal area. Not much pain at all when walking or standing. When she is in the act of sitting down, or can't find a comfortable position to stay seated, it's severe, but once she "gets over that spot", it's mild. This is not a result of falling. The act of standing up from being seated is painful. MRI of hip is normal.... MRI of lumbar shows lots of degeneration , loss of disc space, etc but nothing jumps out as a cause like herniation . CT of lumbar is ok. Had epidural of L 4-5 ... no help. Bursa injection.. no help. Now they want to do a bone scan AND bone density test.
1. Does this sound like hip or back. We have differing opinions. One ortho says back ... another says hip... therefore bone scan. But mom is concerned about taking it due to one kidney and creatinine range of 1.3 up to 1.7. ( the contrast)
2. One says rest it... the other says PT.
3. Should we push for another epidural at L 3-4???
4. They want her to take gabapentin but drowsiness is issue , esp with walker etc. Takes Ultracet.
We are at a road block not knowing what to do
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Because of one kidney she can't do Advil ....which does well for me. That leaves Tylenol 650 which is not helping . We have Tramadol 37.5 but it makes her groggy a little and she uses a walker.... so she's apprehensive. I have her using ice some.
Can someone comment on using
TENS ... I bought her one of the over the counter Icy Hot ones but haven't used it yet.
Acupuncture??
Or chiropractor???
Thanks!!!!!!
I would like to invite @sweatergirl, @crockett, and @sandytoes14 to this discussion to give their thoughts on a portable TENS unit for pain.
@braves11, I used acupuncture for awhile. It didn't work for my hip and lumbar pain, but did help my neck and for headaches (which I don't get often). I think Ultracet has Tylenol (acetaminophen) in it, as does the Tramadol 37.5, so be careful about her taking extra Tylenol. I haven't used TENS units yet, so I'll be interested in hearing about them.
@braves11 I'm sorry for the pain your mom is in with her hip/lumbar area. I have had a good deal of experience with epidurals and TENs unit. I agree with @bernese53 that subsequent epidurals help better than just one. I think that overall they build on each other relieving inflammation/pain. I had gastric bypass 10 years ago and cannot take NSAIDs. As far as a TENs unit, it may give her some temporary relief. I have used one for nearly 7 years until mine recently broke.I'm missing it while it comes from medical supply! I have not tried the over the counter one that you mentioned. When I use mine I use it in conjunction with other modalities. Because of Fibromyalgia, I can tolerate heat on my skin but not cold. What I typically do is use heat, (heating pad), TENs unit , distraction techniques** and finally pain meds. This may be a good option for your mom since she doesn't like to take medicine.
Gabapentin and I didn't get along. I had memory loss, I fell a few times and was generally unstable on my feet. I am on Lyrica now at a low dose 50 mg daily. The side effects of the gabapentin went away.
I have also had acupuncture done for my cervical and thoracic spine. The needles are placed in areas of the body that you may not expect. There are areas in the ear and leg that needles were placed and electricity was applied. Chiropractic manipulations are also helpful as my doctor aligned my spine to a central neutral position.
While I'm not a doctor giving advice, if it were treatment for myself I would do the following: A) ask for another epidural B) skip the gabapentin or ask her doctor how to wean off it C) try PT but not to the point that it hurts.Soreness is one thing but it should not hurt D) give the TENs unit a try. They also have a larger stronger electronic stimulation version available in physical therapy.
Give your mom a gentle hug!
**This link is to What Distracts You from the Pain http://mayocl.in/2dzZdD9
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1 ReactionThey want to do a nuclear bone scan and the whole thing takes about 4 hours... injection, scan etc.... I can't get an answer as to what they will do after they get results!! Moms worried about being sore from sitting and then laying flat for 45 min while the scan takes place.... can I get comments ...
@braves11. I say don't do it. Seems like the doctor is trying to make $$ on a test that probably isn't going to help her feel better or live longer. Make sure the doctor checks with Medicare before you move forward if you decide to do this. Also, if the doctor won't tell you why he's doing this, and what he's going to do with the results that will make your mother's quality of life better, then don't do it! Get a second or third opinion from another physician before you make any decisions.
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2 ReactionsI agree with @gailb as far as needing the nuclear scan. I have been scanned way to much now and am trying to find a balance in keeping track of my cancer and any more radiation. I am not yet 60 and have had over 30 scans ( and as we know a scan is WAY MORE radiation than an x-ray! This isn't counting the 28 sessions of high-dose radiation I received by TOMA Therapy at the CTCA.
My Dr. said "if" I live another 5-10 years this could be a real problem. can't do much about it now but I wish I and my Dr.s had paid more attention to this before. DO NOT GET A SCAN JUST FOR SCANS SAKE
This is my first attempt to reply to this group. I have osteoarthritis in several joints with 2 knees replaced, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome as well as scoliosis in my back, a bone spur in my lower back digging into a nerve, sciatica etc. I have never gotten any relief from a TENS device, either at the physical therapist's or the drugstore ones. My current non-drug relief comes from lidocaine patches and rubs from the drugstore along with prescribed Vicodin. Tylenol does nothing for pain except for headaches. Because of digestive issues inherited from my father's family, I cannot take Celebrex or aspirin/ibuprofen/naproxen sodium. Sorry this is so long. Hope it helps.<br><br>
Does ice or heat help?
They want mom to try Gabapentin.. but She's on a walker and can fall... I have patches.. I'll try them. On mom... do you have to use them a bunch before there is noticeable help?
Has anyone used Voltaren gel for pain
@leslie324 you are welcomed to the group. It is a group we all wish we were not a part of.:)
I agree with your experience with the tens, tried it for pain in my feet (PT) and it actually made it worse.
Now for my back pain, fibro I use RX Lidocaine patches at it gives me some relief but only in the area of application
and you are only supposed to use two at a time 12 hours on 12 hours off so I have to be selective on the "where".
I use an opiod "as needed" for more of the severe pain that is more wide spread (I have cancer also). I am taking Cymbalta
for depression, I do not really notice any additional pain relief with it. I take gabapentin without, it would seem, the worst of the side effects many suffer. But then again I have been on both for a very long time I probably have adjusted to it and I can't remember when I first started. Chronic pain is a pain in the ... since many times either they can't find a direct cause, which is the equivalent to "it is all
in your head" or they treat it only to the point of pain reduction, you are left always in pain.
Many people here have a lot to offer I hope reading what others are saying and/or doing helps you.