Inflamed Nerve In Back - 3 Weeks Already And Little Change

[Green]

I wonder if anyone here has experience with this sort of condition and could advise. I get a muscle spasm on the left side of the center of my spine, in the back, about 2-3 times/year. Its always the same place and I can always feel when its happened, and I always knows its going to be a good solid week before it goes away. Same pattern.

For the first time 3 weeks ago, it has come and stayed. 2 weeks at the same intensity of pain, and in the 3rd week slowly subsiding, but still painful mostly when sitting.

I have cervical spondylosis, stiff sore neck all the time with pain radiating into shoulders, but this is quite different, but i'm not sure if related.

What I dont know is if its a pinched nerve, or an inflamed muscle. Or perhaps bone pressing against a nerve? Im guessing its an inflamed nerve. The pharmacist said this can be a condition with 3-4 weeks recover time. I have been taking arcoxia 120 mg alternating with celebrex 400mg everyday.

Ok I know I am going to get reply's saying go see a doctor, but I resent going to a doctor who is only going to tell me what i already know, and to take anti-inflamatory pills, muscle relaxants, maybe some neurontin, and rest. I had an MRI done of neck a few months ago, and X-rays done of my spine, and whole body, but no abnormalities except for the neck. I'm 41 years of age, slim, and generally in good health.

Any ideas what this may be? I'm going to give a few more days then go to the hospital, I suspect they will give me an injection of Dynastat.

[mania]

Have had back issues of all kinds through out my life due

to my lifestyle & work.

Acupuncture has always relieved the problems.

Chiropractor sometimes depending on what the problem is.

Meaning if I have something out of alignment in the upper areas etc.

Doctors? Never,nada,zilch other than giving you a pain killer

or recommending an iffy surgery. So you won't hear me recommend you see one

Doctors treat the symptom but rarely the cause IMHO

Edited March 7, 2013 by mania

[Green]

Thanks Mania.

[Potosi]

Pinched nerve gets inflamed, sends corrupted signals to the muscle, that continues to cramp until the inflamation heals. I found out that for myself, arcoxia and celebrex are not as good as paracetamol, but cost 100 or so times more. Overdosing paracetamol and drinking alcohol while taking it is dangerous, though. 500mg every 6 to 8 hours, better no more than 2,000 mg per day. Plus diclofenac (voltaren) 100mg to 200mg per day, (anti-inflamatory and secondary painkiller). Doctors can't do much but alleviate the pain, the condition is degenerative and still incurable. Sorry that it started so early in your life, that sucks. Was it caused by repetitive strain, sitting in front of a PC or behind the wheel of a truck for your working life? Gotta do something about it to slow it down.

[Green]

Pinched nerve gets inflamed, sends corrupted signals to the muscle, that continues to cramp until the inflamation heals. I found out that for myself, arcoxia and celebrex are not as good as paracetamol, but cost 100 or so times more. Overdosing paracetamol and drinking alcohol while taking it is dangerous, though. 500mg every 6 to 8 hours, better no more than 2,000 mg per day. Plus diclofenac (voltaren) 100mg to 200mg per day, (anti-inflamatory and secondary painkiller). Doctors can't do much but alleviate the pain, the condition is degenerative and still incurable. Sorry that it started so early in your life, that sucks. Was it caused by repetitive strain, sitting in front of a PC or behind the wheel of a truck for your working life? Gotta do something about it to slow it down.

The cervical spondylosis is in my neck, caused from a bike accident at 25. The pinched nerve in my back, or whatever it may be, may be related, but what you said sounds about right, pinched nerve causing muscle spasm. For 2 weeks it was at the same level of pain intensity which was very strange, never had that before. Oddly enough today the pain is quite considerably less than before (did writing this thread do something I wonder!).

Yes I have found the arcoxia and celebrex have done very little to help. And have heard that voltaren acts directly on the muscle itself. I will try that with paracetamol. Thanks!

BTW as for painkillers, I found half a tablet of 'ultracet' (timed release of a mix of tramadol and paracetamol) does the trick.

Edited March 7, 2013 by Green

[mania]

BTW as for painkillers, I found half a tablet of 'ultracet' (timed release of a mix of tramadol and paracetamol) does the trick.

It is true that painkillers help immensely in making us comfortable with the pain.

We all take them & I have eaten a lot of them in my life.

The problem is that it is a mask of sorts & one way or another shuts off the message to your brain that your experiencing

a problem. That message IMHO was a warning to help decrease further damage.

The down side is many times when I was on pain killers I worked hard rather than

rested or treated the cause many times making it worse.

But the other thing is, say it is a pinched nerve, during the pinch you are losing flow to

a muscle, organ, who knows, But better to get that corrected than mask the problem or treat the symptom.

Better to try & treat & repair the cause. If it is a skeletal problem your muscles opposite the injury are building

up while compensating for the weak side. That is sometimes hard to undue later.

I am no doctor nor expert but due to my physical work in life + athletic related injuries

I found many times what I said above to be true in my case.

So use the pain killers when needed to get you through but try to seek repair asap too

Good Luck & hope you get better soon!

Edited March 7, 2013 by mania

[Green]

Thanks again.

[jrtmedic]

I am sure you are aware that Arcoxia is not prescribable in the USA and AFASIK the FDA are still refusing permission for the drug to be marketed.

Similarly whilst Celebrex is available in the US it is, I believe. a "back box" medication which should only be prescribed with caution and where benefit is believed to out-way risk.

All medication, of course, carries some degree of risk therefore before committing to taking any medication a clear understanding of risk v benefit should be sought.

Your back problem, needs, I would suggest, a full specialist clinical evaluation especially in view of your pre-existing cervical spondylosis.

I believe Sheryl has name(s)/recommendations for reputable spinal specialists in Thailand.

[Green]

Thanks jrtmedic, thats good advice, please pass on those names if possible, I have no idea about reputable doctors in bangkok.

[Sheryl]

Dr. Wicharn at BNH Spine Center is tops.

[Green]

Great, thanks Sheryl!

[wpcoe]

+1 for the recommendation of the BNH Spine Center (and the Physio Center right next door).

[fiberman]

I have had problems with a pinched nerve in my back on and off for the last 40 years. When I first came to came to Thailand I was laid up with this and my wife suggested massage. She brought an old guy to the house who pounded the crap out of my back for several hours. By the evening the pain had totally gone and I had no reoccurrences for about 8 years after this. About 2 years ago I started to get problems again but unfortunately the old guy had died. we tried someone else but he had no effect at all.

I have been to various doctors over the years but the only advice I have ever been given is take painkillers and rest for a few days, there is no real cure for this problem. In fairness I have had found that if I do rest the problem usually disappears after a few days but continuing to be active does aggravate the situation.

[mania]

I have been to various doctors over the years but the only advice I have ever been given is take painkillers and rest for a few days, there is no real cure for this problem. In fairness I have had found that if I do rest the problem usually disappears after a few days but continuing to be active does aggravate the situation.

That is the problem I mentioned about pain killers.

They mask the pain. Most will then inadvertently make it worse with

activity their body tried to limit them doing by sending pain as the limit enforcer.

If one needs pain meds they should still remember to reduce/limit activity

till no meds are needed. But most like myself feel better so go about normal

work/activities.

Edited March 9, 2013 by mania

[Sheryl]

I have had problems with a pinched nerve in my back on and off for the last 40 years. When I first came to came to Thailand I was laid up with this and my wife suggested massage. She brought an old guy to the house who pounded the crap out of my back for several hours. By the evening the pain had totally gone and I had no reoccurrences for about 8 years after this. About 2 years ago I started to get problems again but unfortunately the old guy had died. we tried someone else but he had no effect at all.

I have been to various doctors over the years but the only advice I have ever been given is take painkillers and rest for a few days, there is no real cure for this problem. In fairness I have had found that if I do rest the problem usually disappears after a few days but continuing to be active does aggravate the situation.

Dd the various doctors seen include an orthopedic specialist with specific specialty in spinal disorders? Can make a big difference.

[VocalNeal]

Dr. Wicharn at BNH Spine Center is tops.

I would have said Dr. Tanin , neurologist, at Bangkok Christian on Silom. Only go Tuesdays or Thursdays, ask for him by name.

[MrWorldwide]

Tramadol is the only thing that works for me - they give the anti-inflammatories a chance to do their job.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramadol

I was warned that it is potentially addictive, and only use it on the very worst days, but I wouldn't wish muscle spasms on my worst enemy. I spent years laughing at people with bad backs - still think some were hypocondriacs - but the laughter disappeared after I fell down some stairs and crushed two vertebrae in my lower back. Given that most of the pain was in my knee at the time, I didn't think too much about my back until the first set of spasms kicked in. Thankfuily, the worst of it seems to be restricted to a stabbing pain between my shoulder blades when I've had a long day - any hint that I might be looking at another bout of muscle spasms and I have to sit down, usually spending the entire evening on my back.

Spent virtually my entire life thinking I was 'bulletproof' - no childhood diseases, no broken bones and no allergies - only to be reduced to gingerly trying to ease my feet onto the floor so I could get off my bed each morning. Pride cometh before a fall - indeed it does

[Green]

How much is a consultation with Dr. Wicharn? Will this be the usual 10-15 min consultation? I always need to prepare for these so that I dont forget to ask something important, so often they seem to be pushing you out the door as fast as possible. I will take the x-rays I had done and the MRI of my neck.

[Sheryl]

I find that he takes the time needed, whether it is 5 minutes, 15 or whatever. But I doubt you would need more than 15. Give the Xray and MRI to the nurse when you arrive so that he will have been able to review them before he sees you.

Consultation, if no tests involved, may range 1000 - 2000 baht. If he prescribes meds, that's extra and unless they include either narcotic (e.g. tylenol with codeine) or steroid (e.g. prednisolone) you can save money by buying them yourself at an outside pharmacy. Narcotic and steroids would have to be gotten at the hospital pharmacy.

[Green]

Sheryl, do you happen to know if Dr Wicharn is able to assess for Fibromyalgia? Im planning to go in this week for a check up, it has been 6 weeks since I have had what I suspect to be a pinched nerve in the thoracic region of the right side of my back. I have a had spasms in the same spot for years, this is the first time it has lasted so long, and been so painful. It is very slowly getting better. From what I have researched it could take another 6 weeks for it to disappear.

[Sheryl]

Sheryl, do you happen to know if Dr Wicharn is able to assess for Fibromyalgia? Im planning to go in this week for a check up, it has been 6 weeks since I have had what I suspect to be a pinched nerve in the thoracic region of the right side of my back. I have a had spasms in the same spot for years, this is the first time it has lasted so long, and been so painful. It is very slowly getting better. From what I have researched it could take another 6 weeks for it to disappear.

No. He is a spinal specialist, what he can assess for is a structural problem in the spine. From what you said in your OP, you have known cervical spondylitis, Xray of the rest of the spine was normal but sounds like no MRI of the lumbar spine. Xray would not show if a disc were bulging and pressing in a nerve.

When that occurs it is most often a discs in either the cervical or lumbar spine. Not sure if muscle spasms in the area to described could be due to either but I suppose it is possible. A spinal specialist can advise on that .

Nothing you said in your OP suggests fibromylagia. That would present with aches/pians in multiple parts of the biody along with severe fatigue. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia-symptoms/AR00054

Unless there is more than what you mentioned in your OP I suspect the problem is either (1) muscle spasm or (2) referred pain from either your cervical spondylitis or a bulging disk in the lumbar spine.

If you decide to consult Dr. Wicharn or any other spinal specialist be sure to bring with you the Xrays and MRI already done to avoid repeat tests.

[Green]

Thanks for your reply Sheryl. I have also had whole body chronic pain for over 10 years now. I have to have massage 1-2 times/week. I have tried to go without, in hopes that muscles would sort of ease up on there own, but they never do. Fibromyalgia fits my own symptoms, poor sleep, and wide spread aching muscles, worse on the right side. Since I discovered the cervical spondylosis on an MRI, I guessed that maybe I dont have fibro, but just referring pain from the spondylosis. But perhaps both. Maybe it is also myo-facial pain. The pinched nerve (or what ever it is) in the thoracic spine that I have now, has been a problem for a long time, but never so bad as this before. When I have had these muscle spasms before, they last a week and go away. I used to sometimes wake up with two or three pillows arched under my back, amazing that I could do that while asleep. So its a recurring problem. Can a bulging disc be chronic? It does feel as though it is separate from the cervical spondylitis.<br /><br />Last night I took about 100mg neurontin, slept well, and took 120mg arcoxia today, and it has practically not bothered me at all, felt better today than I have since it started.<br /><br />I was diagnosed with sarcoidoses 16 years ago, but that went into remission and has never been a problem since.<br /><br />Thanks again for your advice.

[cheeryble]

Pinched nerve gets inflamed, sends corrupted signals to the muscle, that continues to cramp until the inflamation heals. I found out that for myself, arcoxia and celebrex are not as good as paracetamol, but cost 100 or so times more. Overdosing paracetamol and drinking alcohol while taking it is dangerous, though. 500mg every 6 to 8 hours, better no more than 2,000 mg per day. Plus diclofenac (voltaren) 100mg to 200mg per day, (anti-inflamatory and secondary painkiller). Doctors can't do much but alleviate the pain, the condition is degenerative and still incurable. Sorry that it started so early in your life, that sucks. Was it caused by repetitive strain, sitting in front of a PC or behind the wheel of a truck for your working life? Gotta do something about it to slow it down.

Potosi is (usually) right about muscle cramp.

Most back pain comes from a vicious circle of muscle cramping and maybe spasming to avoid a certain position which may have originally have irritated a nerve or whatever.

Diclofenac Sodium (Voltaren) is nearly free and will often break the circle in just a day or two.

It helped me play the most hard-on-the-back twisting and jerking sport known to man.....polo....for years despite a lifelong history of serious back problems starting when I was an oarsman at 19.

The good news is I also received a very serious diagnosis and was recommended a laminectomy ten years ago....I turned it down.....and have had the best ten "back-years" of my life.

Not for sensitive stomachs.

Edited April 3, 2013 by cheeryble

[Green]

Unless there is more than what you mentioned in your OP I suspect the problem is either (1) muscle spasm or (2) referred pain from either your cervical spondylitis or a bulging disk in the lumbar spine.

I would guess a bulging disc then, this has lasted over 2 months now, but is much better now. Could this be chronic, or perhaps moved from a chronic muscle spasm in that place, to a bulging disc? I have had discomfort in that same spot for years now. The whole right side of my body is much weaker and has more pain than the left, from that spot in my back on the right side near the spine down to buttock, right leg/inner leg, knee, foot and toes.

[Sheryl]

It is pointless to try to guess. Why not see a doctor and find out?

If there is noticeable weakness on one side of the body, there may be nerve root compression from either a bulging disc and.or bone spur.