OT - Nerve Damage Healed?

The MRI of my back before I went into surgery showed nothing more than a bulging disc between L5 and S1. They couldn't figure out why I couldn't walk, sit up, stand, or why I was in so much pain. They figured I was under too much stress (I was under an incredible amount of stress at the time) and most of my symptoms were psychosomatic.

When they got into surgery, however, a completely different story presented itself.
My L5 connector joint was broken off. My L5 was broken in two. It's Right upper nerve root was shoved way up into the spinal canal. The right lower nerve root was so flat that it was near death. The left two nerve roots were the same way. They had to take bone from L4 to rebuild L5 and had to fuse L4 through S1.

MRI's don't show everything. They don't show A LOT.

My opinion is that it could go either way. Such symptoms might well be caused or exacerbated by apnea. It could also be unrelated.

Look up Raynaud's syndrome - there are definite correlations to what you've had, if not diagnostic ones.

I know of a fellow who had some of those symptoms and was DX ed with a Vitamin B12 deficiency. Large amounts of Vitamin B cleared the problem up. As you have already guessed, a pinched nerve could be . . . Maybe something about how u hold your head while you sleep with the apnea equipment. A wild shot might be to put on a cervical collar at night, hold your neck in fixed position. (sorry bout the dumb idea. at least it is not real expensive.)

Julie wrote:Look up Raynaud's syndrome - there are definite correlations to what you've had, if not diagnostic ones.

Blood test was done and negative. My fingers and toes do not blanch or turn blue or purple. They do not hurt. Both primary care doc and neurologist have ruled out Raynauds.

purple wrote:I know of a fellow who had some of those symptoms and was DX ed with a Vitamin B12 deficiency. Large amounts of Vitamin B cleared the problem up. As you have already guessed, a pinched nerve could be . . . Maybe something about how u hold your head while you sleep with the apnea equipment. A wild shot might be to put on a cervical collar at night, hold your neck in fixed position. (sorry bout the dumb idea. at least it is not real expensive.)

B levels were tested and normal. I have a cervical MRI scheduled 6/2. My head doesn't move much at night and is not sore in the morning. Symptoms seems pronounced in afternoon.

Perhaps reviewing the ergonomics of your seated position will help with both your upper and lower body symptoms.

The nerves from your hands are connected all the way down your arms from your neck. You mentioned that the symptoms are worse in the afternoon, so do you think it may have something to do with your neck position during the day?

For example, if you sit at a computer all day and you are hunched forward and/or you are thrusting your head and neck forward, you could be placing pressure on the nerves and bloodflow to your hands and forearms (you mentioned an upcoming MRI that might confirm this).

You can ask one of your coworkers to tell you how you are sitting throughout the day (straight up with shoulders back and head centered over neck vs slumped shoulders and turtle neck). Or you can try wearing a cervical collar during the day to see if that stabilization of the neck keeps your hands from going numb?

i don't know if any of this will be helpful, so my apologies if i'm just repeating things you've already tried:

you may have already done this, but have you been tested for auto-immune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis? if it turns out to be auto-immune, try going the alternative route rather than the heavy duty steroids or immune suppressing drugs, because they bring a whole set of risks with them.

also, with regards to MRI's, a doctor once explained to me that only when a condition is fairly pronounced will it show up on a scan, some things which are a mild stage will not show up.

also, i would suggest reading the book "Anatomy of an Illness." while the situation the writer found himself in with regards to his health is different from yours, it might give you new ideas regarding approaching your own. i read it about 20 years ago when i had an illness that was not diagnosable. i used his idea of emotional release (hours and hours spent laughing at anything silly, light hearted and funny that i could find), and while it wasn't a cure it made a huge difference.

also, what about an allergic reaction to a change in your environment? or, you've become allergic to something that you once were okay with?

it would be good to simultaneously work with alternative practitioners while you work with traditional doctors. it might be good to work with someone who can help you determine if there's something in your diet that you've become allergic to.

this is all just my corner of what i'm familiar with - of course trust your own gut instinct above all else!! good luck, and we'll be rooting for you!!

Thank you for all the thoughtful suggestions!!

At this point nothing is a bad idea.

jnmv1969 wrote:you may have already done this, but have you been tested for auto-immune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis? if it turns out to be auto-immune, try going the alternative route rather than the heavy duty steroids or immune suppressing drugs, because they bring a whole set of risks with them.

Tested = negative for both. We also tested vitamin levels as I have Crohn's. However, I've been in clinical remission for over 16 yrs. The maintenance drug I take has no long term side effects (not an immune suppressor and not a biologic).

jnmv1969 wrote:only when a condition is fairly pronounced will it show up on a scan, some things which are a mild stage will not show up.

I didn't realize this, but someone recently told me MRIs/CTs do NOT show everything like some docs say. I do not expect anything to show up as I have full range of motion and no pain when moving my head or exercising.

morrigan wrote:it would be good to simultaneously work with alternative practitioners while you work with traditional doctors. it might be good to work with someone who can help you determine if there's something in your diet that you've become allergic to.

This is next. Today I tried acupuncture ... will report back after a few sessions. I enjoyed the experience, especially at the end of the work day. I am hopeful and excited to try this as I am not a pill-popper.

UPDATE: Today is my 3-month anniversary on CPAP and my symptoms are almost resolved. They seemed to start slowly resolving about a month ago. Yay CPAP! Yay Sleep!

Do you think the acupuncture helped any? My back hurts so bad I can hardly stand it. I am supposed to have an MRI but I think that will be a waste.

Stormynights wrote:Do you think the acupuncture helped any? My back hurts so bad I can hardly stand it. I am supposed to have an MRI but I think that will be a waste.

I only tried one session of acupuncture. It was interesting but the treatment plan for my situation would have been like having a second car payment. I have a friend who swears by it for back issues.

BUT ... back issues are so specific to the individual I can't offer an opinion. But it couldn't hurt to try.

I think my issue was just needing quality deep restorative sleep to promote healing.

Stormynights wrote:Do you think the acupuncture helped any? My back hurts so bad I can hardly stand it. I am supposed to have an MRI but I think that will be a waste.

Back issues can come from many places

1) feet - make sure you wear good supportive shoes - like your house if the foundation shifts everything goes out of alignment.
2) knees - see shoes
3) hips - check if your legs are the same length or almost One of my friends went from being a lot of pain to being pain free by one little lift in the left shoe.
4) pelvic floor - check your posture and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles as well as the abs. This is the big one - these muscles should be the ones supporting your back.

Several years ago I went to an acupuncturist as a last resort. I had had a back injury that, in theory, resolved itself. An MRI and nerve studies showed nothing wrong. My primary care doctor at the time was convinced that--although the injury was gone--the nerve involved didn't know it. So it fired, and fired, and fired. The pain completely took over my life for 18 months. I went to an osteopath and a chiropractor for manipulation, did over a year of physical therapy, had months of soft tissue massage, had a brief stint of acupuncture (which hurt!)...nothing. Without gabapentin I would have lost my mind. Finally the soft tissue massage person recommended a Japanese acupuncturist. I am not sure what the differences are between the Japanese and Chinese acupuncturists, but I know the Japanese use much smaller needles. The very first session the pain stopped. Stopped! It came back, and it took a few months to be completely pain-free, but it made me a believer for at least some conditions.

Add-on: My Japanese acupuncturist was trained in Japan.

jaybeem wrote:...
I am not sure what the differences are between the Japanese and Chinese acupuncturists, but I know the Japanese use much smaller needles.
...

http://www.acupuncture-treatment.com/styles.html

As stated above - acupuncture may work - but you need to do your research on the acupuncturist to see if they are the real deal.