My Dr.Says TIME is a Great Thing?

[borninabarn]

Hello Friends,
My Dr.That I was reffererd to by my local Dr. Says Time is a great thing?I have been off work for 3 months now.WC is paying benifets Medical,Etc..I have had a Pre-existing injury from WC 3 years ago.My back again.I was feeling fine and working again for a year until I injured my back again.My Injury this time was all the lower back on the left side and now the pain is still on the left lower back but has also moved to the right lower back where I had all the problems the last go around.Last time I was given SI injections on the right side and then again 2 times on both sides.I went to PT 3 times a week for a month and it made my back worse so I called my Dr.and he said no more PT.My Dr. has me on a home program now to do my PT exercises at home along with hydrocones aleve tens unit.I had ask him for a better pain releivers and he told me just to take more Hydros.My back is getting worse.My pain wasnt going down my buttocks too much to begin with but now it is on my right side like before.Why does this pain go from one side to the other??The Dr. My Dr.is an orthopaedic Dr.(28 years) so I beleive he knows what he is doing?Is this Time he tells me going to help?So far NO.I see him tomorrow after a month of not getting better.Can any of you relate to what My Dr. is doing????Thank You Friends,Born

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

I have no clue on the time issue. I would be looking at the MRI with Contrast results. If not given one, I would be asking for one.

[borninabarn]

Bad Boy,
I will ask him again again tomorrow at my appointment tomorrow! I ask him last time a month ago and he said an MRI would only tell him about this much and he held out his hand and and put out his thumb and pointing finger like you do and made a small gap like a 1/2 inch.Telling me it wouldnt help him but that much right now??He just said an MRI IS $2500.My WC is paying why would that matter to him??Thanks Again,Born

[Cycler]

Time almost always is the best treatment for mechanical low back pain. The various published peer reviewed studies note that the pain is resolved within 12 weeks in some 50 % pf patients, 6 months in greater than 80% of patients and 95% within two years. There are no studies that find a positive impact from ESI's in mechanical back pain although they are helpful if there is associated radicular pain pattern which means below knee level.

[AQA]

Born, I recall the dates of my surgeries. The first was laminectomy/desectomy. Two months later was the fusion. The third was exploritatory surgery. That took place 15 months latter. During that time I had several fce's and PT. The rason for the delay was that, time can heal. My issue is that of nerve damage. It takes time to see if the nerve and muscels will heal OR if more intervention is needed.

That is just my story and thoughts.

Take Care

[Lilly]

"Time" without help or medical assistance, is also a bad thing.
I'm with the others....MRI can pin point problems.
Take care, Lilly

[capricorn]

Hi Born...Sorry you are suffering again. I have injured my back 3 times. ALl WC, same employer. I have never had surgery nor am I a candidate now. FIrst injury was 2 herniations. It took 18 months but I was pain free. I do believe along with the others that you should have an MRI done to be sure what's going on and take it from there. I have found the soft tissue injuries to be unbearably painful and take the longest to go away if they ever do. Sciatica and piriformis syndrome are two biggies that hurt like all hell and are very hard to get under control. Best of luck.


CAP

[Cycler]

Lilly,

The sensitivity of MRI to find "abnormalities is very good but the specificity of lumbar MRI is poor. WHile MRI's can demonostrate all sorts of "abnormalities" there is little concensus that they are meaningful in all but about 10 % of reports; ie. large herniations with nerve root or cord compression, fracture, infection or tumor. These condition make up less than 15 % of all back pain patients.

A good spine Dr. will treat the patient, not the report. There aren't many of those type left. Certainly back pain with leg pain is worrisome. The spine guidelines suggest MRI at 6 weeks unless there is motor loss.

[capricorn]

To add to what cycler has said, in addition to an MRI I also had an EMG done which backed up the compressed nerves , herniations that the MRI showed. It also showed nerve damage. I believe injuries like this when tradition is followed prove themselves. I had the test, did tradtional treatment, all that ends up helping the pain are meds prescribed for nerve damage. I think it all talks for itself in the end for an IW if we keep at it.


CAP

[borninabarn]

Hello Again,
Saw My Orthopedic spine surgeon last week.He looked at my MRI and report from 2 years ago and also has orderd a new MRI for me next week sometime?He is talking to me about getting a SPINE FUSION?Can any of you that have gone through one of these give me a heads up on them?And if you had one did it help you? and how long was the healing period?I know everybodys body is different but any help would be great!Thanks,Born