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Avatar universal

l3-l4, l4-l5, l5-s1

I apologize if this is lengthy...

I'm 24, female, no accidents, didnt lift anything, etc.

Almost three months ago, I woke up in terrible pain and had trouble sitting up, much less standing up, etc. I took some advil and went about my day as best I could. I went to work and after a horrible night of standing for 8 hours, I couldn't take the pain and went to the emergency room since my dr was closed. They did a urine sample right away then put me in a room, gave me morphine and when that didn't touch my pain, I was given dilaudid - it didnt help my pain very much and I was accused of taking narcotics since it wasn't helping. They took me for a CT and an xray. My back was burning really bad, it felt as if it were on fire, and I was getting sharp pains that went from my "hip" to my knee..it was horrible. I finally dozed off after my tests and I woke up with discharge papers beside me, nurse told me to get dressed and later told me I had a kidney infection, gave me cipro and oxycodone and sent me on my way - on the way out I threw up and they also gave me phenergan.

I gave them the benefit of the doubt and took the meds, when it didnt get better I realized I should see my doctor. They examined me and said I had inflammation of my hip joint, thats what was causing my pain. They have me new meds (I cant recall the names) and sent me home, telling me to rest as much as possible. That also didn't help. I made an appointment a week later and they did a hip x ray and said it was normal, gave me a muscle relaxer and sent me home again.

My doctor finally sent me for an MRI and on Nov 22 I was told there is a moderate central disc protrusion on l3-l4, large central disc protrusion on l4-l5 and central disc extrusion on l5-s1. I have been dealing with my back burning, pain through my entire leg, and recently my left leg has been going numb, my vision is getting really blurry - almost to the point its hard to function some days, my ears are ringing nonstop - very frustrating! I'm currently taking hydrocodone, robaxin and meloxicam - neither of which help at all.

I'm suppose to visit with a neurologist tomorrow but I'm terrified of what my options are. I just want to get better. Ive heard exercise will help but how am I suppose to exercise when most days I can't even get my shoes on?

Any suggestions, on anything? Pain management, exercise, etc? What helped you?

Thanks!
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Avatar universal
Good Evening,

I can completey understand. I had surgery for disc herniations on L4 L5 S1 2 yrs ago. A couple of weeks ago, I started feeling this burning pain in my hips and right front thigh above my knee along with the usual pain in my low back. I just went to see my doc last week and now I'm going to get an MRI. It was unusual for me because I have never heard of having a "burning" feeling before. It is quite painful and I can't do much of anything. I've tried heat, ice, and lots of Ibuprofen.

Hope everything works out for you  ~ShellyKay~
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Avatar universal
Do not be afraid, the neurologist will know what to do for you, try to trust him.  And keep in mind if you ever have any doubts or he won't listen to you, get a second opinion on treatment.  I have a similar lower back problem, no drug helped, until they gave me Lyrica.  The dose has to be upped initially, and sometimes I still have discomfort.  Each person finds relief in diff meds, sometimes a combination of drugs.  By the way, your blurry eyes and ringing ears are from the medications.  

The doc may try "moderate" treatment to begin with, which is medicine, a back brace maybe, possibly physical therapy, that sort of thing.  Then he may switch to offering surgery, which sometimes makes a person brand new and other times not much help.  Also, some people get good results from periodic shots that numbs up the part of the spine that is bothersome.

Living with pain is tough, frustrating, and can get a person down.  But I'm glad that you finally got an MRI that shows a problem and that you finally are seeing a neurologist.  Hang in, lay flat on your back a lot with knees bent, and when you're up and about and pain strikes, try sucking in your tummy muscles real tight and bend a little at the knees.  Heat helps pain, by the way, get a heating pad or hot water bottle and put it where it hurts... soaks in a hot tub bath helps too.

Let us know how things go today!!!  GG
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