Welcome Harriet Lyons

Please welcome our new member, Harriet Lyons from Pennsylvania. You may email Harriet at crowskid@comcast.net Harriet has a diagnosis of Failed Back Syndrome, Degenerative Disk Disease, and Arthritis.

Hariett says:

"I had my first lumbar laminectomy in Oct 2001 at age 37 due to a "fragmented" disc at what was called the L-5/L-6 level. I had to have another one at the same sight in April 2007. Admitted to rehab for a week for foot drop. Immediately after both surgeries, I had intense pain and burning sensation across my lower back and buttocks area. Bone scans were done and I was told it was arthritis. Pain only worsened and I was no longer able to wear a shoe on my right foot because of the pain it would cause to the outside of my foot.

Was sent to a Pain Management specialist who conducted a series of epidural injections, none of which relieved the pain.

In January 2009, I had a SPC implanted. The day after, I was in the ER complaining of a terrible burning sensation at the generator sight. It literally felt like my hip was on fire. I couldn't wear clothes, or let anything touch this area. In May, it had to be completely redone because it was not in the right position. I did get some relief in my legs, but nothing in my lower back. The pain is intense and non-stop.

Currently taking Oxycodone for the pain, which helps, but doesn't alleviate the pain. I have been having headaches, strange sensations in my legs and feet, swelling in my ankles, wetting myself and having what appears to be bouts of IBS, although I have never been diagnosed. I have weird sensations in my legs which I chalked up to RLS. Sometimes, it feels like there is water running down my legs, but there is nothing there.

Had to quit my job in May 2008 because I can neither sit, nor stand for any prolonged period of time and I couldn't concentrate because of the pain. Even now I forget what I was saying, forget words and conversations that had just taken place.

Just last night I ran across the diagnosis Arachnoiditis...this seems to answer EVERYTHING. Nobody has ever told me I have this, but it explains a lot of things that couldn't be explained before. I have a doctor's appointment at the end of the month and would like to confront him with this diagnosis, but don't want to sound like a fool.

Can anyone provide any assistance? Is there anyway to confirm that it is arachnoiditis without an MRI? Since I have the SPC, I can't have an MRI unless the SPC is removed. Would it be worth it to have this done?

Thank you for any help you may be able to provide."

Welcome to our group, Harriet.

LWA