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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / September 2006i'm just now back from my pain specialist's
what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! my back spasms were so many and all up and down my spine, that i actually thought the bed of the machine was rising against my spine, like it was supposed to do that when it didn't move at all. brand new, huge mri machine, opening as wide as a queensized bed on both ends and the sliding bed was wide, too. i was so grateful for the privacy the machine afforded me, so that i didn't have to endure the humiliation of having a perfect stranger see the tears silently streaming down my face and me not being able to even wipe them (while having to be perfectly still). my doctor suggested he give me a shot of demoral before the mri, but that meant that i would have to take a taxi home and leave my car there for whenever i could arrange to have it picked up. my ps wouldn't have allowed me to drive and i wouldn't have wanted to anyhow, with demoral in me. so, i declined the demoral for the mri. but, omg, am i ever glad i don't need to do 2 hour full spine mri's every week! he said there are over a thousand films for him to examine and so, he decided to focus on my lower lumbar and sciatic region for today's injections. because i was driving, i went without the valium cocktail and boy, did i miss it! he did an epidural at S1-L5 and a facet thingy. and then, another procedure called a transverse laminar procedure, into where it sounds like a nasty situation exists with the disk bulging and collapsing so much it is impinging on all the nerves in the area and leaked into the spinal cord area. i know he absolutely found the sciatic nerve problem with one of the injections, cuz the pain from the injection just shot down my leg past my knee, just like it does when i walk. sooo, i've got 3 little bandaids on the 3 puncture sites and no more sciatic pain, so far. and i can now sit still for longer than 15 minutes, when before i was a tv commercial break escape waiting to happen everytime i did sit down. but then, the anesthetics haven't worn off yet, either. he said he needs more time with all those films, but he did say that my thoracic issues have worsened and he wants to plan out how to tackle those. and thinks my neck will take some more study time and a planned approach, too. said things haven't improved anywhere and actually look pretty angrily inflammed in a lot of the areas from my head to my butt. but, he said the good news is that there are no indications of anything, like cancer or ms and the rest of the list he rattled off that i couldn't remember if i tried to, because of hurting so bad from the mri's. i'm grateful that other stuff is not joining my party. i need to go lie down now. i think the anesthetic is either wearing off or i need to go lie down now. kate (((((((((((((((((((((((((((Kate)))))))))))))))))))))))) I am so sorry about the painful mri.. I hear ya though went through the same thing today myself. The MRI lady came over to inject the dye and didnt know how to do it and started digging in my vein and I said nuff of that stuff Im outta here . I called my dr and told them to schedual it somewhere else..like the hospital. I was reading your post and I could totaly relate to how you felt this am..I was dont the same thing except for the epidural. Gosh, dont ya think if they can send someone to space they could make the beds of a MRI table a little softer. Yes it is good that they give privacy too...I am so sorry that you were in tears from the pain..That part is hard. I hope the other results will be in your favor RhondaM > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! > my [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > kate ((((((((((((((((((((((rhonda))))))))))))))) makes me glad i didn't have your mri tech or required the contrast dye. i'm sorry you went through that. hopefully, you get a better tech the next time. actually, the new mri bed i was on was padded, maybe 3 inches of padding. but i don't think it would have made a difference to my spine if it had been 12 inches of padding. i just woke up (my upper back woke me up). i actually slept 4 hours! 4 hours! oh, was that ever nice for a change. sleep, real blissful sleep! for 4 hours! yeah! i want more of that. morrrrrrre . . . please. i think the only pain i'm feeling, right now in my lower spine, is from the puncture wounds themselves. no maddening aching, in my lower spine, from lying down in one position for more than an hour! that's pure bliss! i began the epidural with pain levels of 8-9; and immediately afterwards, it was around a 3. sitting here now, it feels like a 1 on the pain scale in that same area. i sooo love this. kate (((((((((((((((((((((((((((Kate)))))))))))))))))))))))) I am so sorry about the painful mri.. I hear ya though went through the same thing today myself. The MRI lady came over to inject the dye and didnt know how to do it and started digging in my vein and I said nuff of that stuff Im outta here . I called my dr and told them to schedual it somewhere else..like the hospital. I was reading your post and I could totaly relate to how you felt this am..I was dont the same thing except for the epidural. Gosh, dont ya think if they can send someone to space they could make the beds of a MRI table a little softer. Yes it is good that they give privacy too...I am so sorry that you were in tears from the pain..That part is hard. I hope the other results will be in your favor RhondaM > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! > my [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > kate OH that is really good that you have slept 4 hours. I am really glad that you are at a 3 instead of a 9... I also hope that it will last for the 2 years...:o) > ((((((((((((((((((((((rhonda))))))))))))))) makes me glad i didn't have > your mri tech or required the contrast dye. i'm sorry you went through [quoted text clipped - 106 lines] >> >> kate ((((Kate)))) Soo sorry it was such a rough procedure.:( I hope the injections help immensely. Hugs, Kelly C. > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! > my [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > kate ((((Kate)))) Soo sorry it was such a rough procedure.:( I hope the injections help immensely. Hugs, Kelly C. thanks, sweetie. it probably, more than likely, wouldn't have been as bad if i had someone to drive me home, then i could have taken advantage of the demerol for the mri and/or the valium cocktail for the actual procedure. for now, the injections have helped already. i just slept 4 lovely hours in a row! and when i awoke, it wasn't my lower spine that woke me. lower spine pain levels went from 8-9 down to 3 immediately after the injections and now is around a 1. and like i told rhonda--that, i think, is from the puncture wounds themselves. makes me wish i could live on anesthetic.LOL kate > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! > my [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > kate > ((((Kate)))) > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > kate I'm so glad you had a good nap, and are already feeling better!:) My dear neighbor, who also has Parkinson's, is going through a series of spinal injections right now, too. He has also had them done before, and was very much looking forward to feeling some relief again. My big thing next week will be getting my hand injected again, and asking for help with my anxiety problem. It's getting worse and worse.:( Anyway, I hope the rest of your injections go smoothly, and deliver just as much relief. Kelly C. Kate, so glad for you that the MRI is over. Pray the pain specialist will get all the info needed to make the very best decision concerning how to relieve your pain. You're always in my prayers. Gwen > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! > my [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > kate Kate, so glad for you that the MRI is over. Pray the pain specialist will get all the info needed to make the very best decision concerning how to relieve your pain. You're always in my prayers. Gwen thank you, sweetie. i'm glad that mri session is overwith, too! this pain specialist is soooo good, i have total faith that he will help me immensely. having just had 4 hours sleep in row (for the first time in months) makes me feel confident he will. sleep, real sleep, was soooo nice. kate > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! > my [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > kate {{{{{{{{{{{{Kate}}}}}}}}}}}} Why is it they always make you lay there in a position that causes the most pain? I cried too, so don't feel bad. I had my knee mri'd three years ago. They gave me a button to push if I really couldn't tolerate it, and at one point, I just had to push it. It was either that or I felt like I was going to pass out from the pain. At least it's over, and I hope the doctor can find a way to alleviate your pain. I'll keep you in my prayers. Hugs, Carole > They gave me a button to push if I > really couldn't tolerate it, and at one point, I just had to push it. It > was either that or I felt like I was going to pass out from the pain. Hello I'm Steve from MD. and have been lurkin here for a little while. I was curious if someone could really pass out from pain.I'm in no position to leave my job and it includes a lot of driving.I do have the flexablity to schedual it for my better times and pull over if I start losing my focus or just need change position . Thanks in Advance p.s.feel free to correct my netiquette, I'm brand new at this. hi and welcome to asa, damifino. to answer your question, yes. you can pass out from pain. but, if you are lying prone at the time you pass out, you are probably having a seizure. feeling like one is about to past out can be a composite of various pain induced things or can be the sudden awareness itself. it would be nice if you made a new post, a separate thread, and introduced yourself to the entire group. tell us a little about yourself and about your arthritis (of which there are over 160 forms); who and what kind of doctor diagnosed you; what kind of treatment you are undergoing . . .etc. looking forward to getting to know you. kate Carole wrote: > They gave me a button to push if I > really couldn't tolerate it, and at one point, I just had to push it. It > was either that or I felt like I was going to pass out from the pain. Hello I'm Steve from MD. and have been lurkin here for a little while. I was curious if someone could really pass out from pain.I'm in no position to leave my job and it includes a lot of driving.I do have the flexablity to schedual it for my better times and pull over if I start losing my focus or just need change position . Thanks in Advance p.s.feel free to correct my netiquette, I'm brand new at this. Steve wrote: > Hello > I'm Steve from MD. and have been lurkin here for a little while. Hello Steve. Welcome to the group, though we're all sorry you had to join under the circumstances. Perhaps in another post you might add a few fact about your arthritis - what type - there are more than 100 varieties - and how long ago you were diagnosed with it. You may be a neighbor of another ASA member who lives in MD. > I was curious if someone could really pass out from pain. When I had my first prostate biopsy, I was ready to pass out because of the combination of pain and weather conditions at the time......hot, summer afternoon in a small exam room with no air condition. Sweat pouring off my body, feeling of lightheadedness and debility. I don't know what the difference between "passing out," "fainting," and "shock" is, but I was somewhere in one or more of those regions. > p.s.feel free to correct my netiquette, I'm brand new at this. No problem - you did fine. Can't find one fault with your post. ... Being married means making both love *AND* war. kate and rhonda, oh, i'm so sorry you guys had to go through this. i hate mri's and back pain is not my nemesis. i can't even imagine what two hours lying on a painful back must be like. kate, i'm glad you're getting some relief from the shots! that must feel wonderful. diane kate and rhonda, oh, i'm so sorry you guys had to go through this. i hate mri's and back pain is not my nemesis. i can't even imagine what two hours lying on a painful back must be like. kate, i'm glad you're getting some relief from the shots! that must feel wonderful. diane actually, diane, i don't think i honestly realized how bad my spine really is, until i declined the demerol and did the mri without it. i guess i mean, i've discovered that it is amazing how effectively we arthritics adapt our everyday actions to prevent or to ease pain, without our even realizing we are doing that--and that unconscious adapting gives us a false sense of normalcy, which, in turn, i think creates a functional denial, which made me think i could handle the mri without the demerol.LOL what a dumb a.s i was!LOL interesting, to me, my son was over last night. while here, he noticed that i actually sat through an entire movie with him, without getting up during every commercial break. of course, i didn't notice that, because that's normal behavior (being able to sit through commercials, i mean) and we don't notice what is normal as readily as we notice what is abnormal. (making use of every commercial break, prior to the epidurals, was my unconscious way of adapting to pain.) so, the stuff i notice improving is the stuff i cannot adapt my way around, like sleep. i found this fascinating to think about, after alex mentioned my sitting through the whole movie with him. i'm so boring, the way i go on and on about what is obvious to most people. sorry, kid. kate Steve, when I had a basal joint replaced in my thumb, it had a pin put in it for a couple of weeks. When they pulled that pin out without any anesthetic, I didn't quite faint, but almost. I was white and my face & head looked like it had been dipped in water. They had me lie down. Gwen >> They gave me a button to push if I >> really couldn't tolerate it, and at one point, I just had to push it. It [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Thanks in Advance > p.s.feel free to correct my netiquette, I'm brand new at this. Kate just load up and come on down to hky. NC I am sch for back surgery on the 25Sept.. sounds like we have the same pain and problems. I have taken 3 shots in my spine at the pain clinic and they help for a couple of weeks and then its over and starts again. Dr wont give me anymore shots, says surgery is necessary. I had to go thru the mri thingy too, not fun for sure. What are your plans ? are they going do surgery? I dread it but I have no life living in this constant pain. I cant sit or stand. Sciatica hurts from my back all the way down to my foot on my right side. no pain in my left side. Kate I do hope you soon get some relief and we can both start dancing a jig and jumping a rope LOL. Sending you love and some hugs your friend janice | what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! my | back spasms were so many and all up and down my spine, that i actually [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] | | kate Janice, I am keeping you in prayers up to and during and after your surgery. I hope it does the trick for you and corrects the problems.  SignatureLove and hugs Jo (\__/) .~ ~. )) /O O ./ .' {O__, \ { / . . ) \ |-| '-' \ } )) Warning: squirrels. .( _( )_.' '---.~_ _ _& > Kate > just load up and come on down to hky. NC I am sch for back surgery on the [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > your friend > janice what she said. kate Janice, I am keeping you in prayers up to and during and after your surgery. I hope it does the trick for you and corrects the problems. SignatureLove and hugs Jo (\__/) .~ ~. )) /O O ./ .' {O__, \ { / . . ) \ |-| '-' \ } )) Warning: squirrels. .( _( )_.' '---.~_ _ _& > Kate > just load up and come on down to hky. NC I am sch for back surgery on the [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > your friend > janice Hi kate, Glad to hear that's over. Sounds like they were pretty thorough. There is NO WAY I could lay still for 2 hrs on a hard surface. Better knock me out, 'cause it can't happen! You got drugs to keep me down? I'm your man! GaryZ > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! > my [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > kate Hi kate, Glad to hear that's over. Sounds like they were pretty thorough. There is NO WAY I could lay still for 2 hrs on a hard surface. Better knock me out, 'cause it can't happen! You got drugs to keep me down? I'm your man! GaryZ well, i'll tell you, gary, i will not ever, again, ever turn down demerol when a doctor thinks i might need it to get through an mri. he was right. it took all i could muster to get through it. i was exhausted and couldn't even walk afterwards. soooo, i'm glad that's over, too.<smile> i have every confidence in this pain specialist's thoroughness. it's extremely rare when i trust a doctor, without feeling like i need to recheck everything. and i think part of the reason for that is his great communication skills, his patience and his compassion. his skill goes without saying. i wish everybody here could have a dr. alex. i don't usually get this lucky with doctors. kate > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! > my [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > kate Kate and Rhonda, Sorry to hear your suffering like that from the MRI Kate. It is a shame they couldn't make it easier for us that are in such pain. I hope things get worked out now that he got that many pics to go by. Rhonda, sorry yours got canceled because of the vein issues. That is sad. Hope it goes better next time. SignatureLove and hugs Jo (\__/) .~ ~. )) /O O ./ .' {O__, \ { / . . ) \ |-| '-' \ } )) Warning: squirrels. .( _( )_.' '---.~_ _ _& > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! > my [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > kate Kate and Rhonda, Sorry to hear your suffering like that from the MRI Kate. It is a shame they couldn't make it easier for us that are in such pain. ***actually, sweetie, he did offer me demerol to get me through it, but i had to turn it down because i was driving myself home afterwards. so, it was my fault, not his. but i appreciate your sentiment. I hope things get worked out now that he got that many pics to go by. ***me too. i'm kind of looking forward to my next appmt. with him on 29th, so he can tell me more about the films. i think this is going to work out well, because he doesn't have to go through my pcp anymore. thank you, sj. kate Rhonda, sorry yours got canceled because of the vein issues. That is sad. Hope it goes better next time. SignatureLove and hugs Jo (\__/) .~ ~. )) /O O ./ .' {O__, \ { / . . ) \ |-| '-' \ } )) Warning: squirrels. .( _( )_.' '---.~_ _ _& > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! > my [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > kate {{{{{{{{{Kate}}}}}}}}}} Get some rest, sweetie! DeeTee > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! > my [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > kate {{{{{{{{{Kate}}}}}}}}}} Get some rest, sweetie! DeeTee i did.<grinning like somebody who just discovered that sleep is like a mini vacation> thanks for the hugs, deetee. kate > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! > my [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > kate Well just total owie. Hope by now things are feeling better from the injections. Duckie > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! my > back spasms were so many and all up and down my spine, that i actually [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > > kate Well just total owie. Hope by now things are feeling better from the injections. Duckie thanks, duckie. i'm doing ok. pain levels ticked up a little yesterday, but are back down today. so, maybe the cortisone is starting to kick in now? kate d'huit wrote: > what a grueling 2 hour mri! i don't ever want to have to do that again! > my [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > kate |
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