This has been on my mind a lot lately. How important is it to have an MRI of the Lumbar spine? I have had the head, cervical, & thoracic MRI, but not the Lumbar MRI, neurologist that ordered the others said lumbar was not necessary. Along with all my head, neck pains, and other symptoms I do have lower back pain. Is it something I should ask my dr to have done?
They may be looking to rule out tethered cord. The NS I saw said some of my symptoms could be caused by that and wanted a lumbar MRI to rule it out. Turns out I had one a few years back and he said he could just view the disc of that one since if it was there before it's still going to be there.
My neurologist who ordered my other MRI said it was not necessary and that Chiari was not what was causing my symptoms, but was not willing to do further testing to see what was. Here is my symptom list, needless to say I am no longer working with that nerologist.
Pressure in the head - sometimes with aching
Neck pain & tension
Back pain - upper and lower
Memory loss / confusion / comprehension struggles
Sensory loss / decreased sensation in extremities
Muscle weakness, stiffness & pain
Tingling & numbness in extremities, head, and face
Foot drag / gait disturbances
Left foot turning in
Fatigue
Light sensitivity and difficulty adjusting to light change
Voice weakness, hoarse
Cardiac issues - chest pain, AV Heart Block, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath,
bradycardia, edema, poor circulation - cold hands and feet
Ringing & intense itching in the ears
Dry skin and lips
Eyes dry and sometimes burning
Nasal drip, itching in and on the nose, and sneezing
Dizziness / Vertigo (from standing up, bending over, tipping head sideways and turning head)
Balance problems
Legs and head feel heavy
Restricted movement (shoulders, neck and hips, mostly)
Degraded motor skills
Noticeable swelling in hands, feet, and face, mostly in the morning, but sometimes during the day
Chronic cough
Sleepiness /drowsiness / insomnia
Zoning / spacing out
Nausea - gets worse as pain or pressure goes up / vomiting episodes
Lack of appetite, absorption of nutrients problems
Difficulty swallowing
Increased allergies & sensitivities
No gag reflex bilaterally
Hyper active reflexes
Floating sensation in head
Headaches mostly in the back of head
Pulsing pain in the back left of head while sleeping, was relieved slightly when head was
turned in opposite direction
Arm & shoulder pain and weakness, mostly left side
Jaw pain and fatigue
Groin pain, left side
Blurry vision
Change in personality
Block in emotional feelings
Speech difficulty
Dehydration
Earaches - short lasting
Hiccups
Lump in throat
Pain when changing position
Back and forth eye movement
Teeth hurt - feel like being squeezed or pinched
Passing out - one time so far
I have been to two NS as second opinions, one who knows of Chiari Dr. Swanson at the UofMI and one who is an expert in Chiari Dr Tew at Mayfield Chiari Center, neither said anything about having a lumbar MRI and I forgot to ask either about it.
Emmaline said:
NL's frequently say that, but then again they are not Chiari specialists. Some of us here had the same response from the NL's they saw...including me. A NS is more likely to be a Chiari specialist and will order the tests you need to be diagnosed properly. Maybe you could ask to see a NS for a second opinion. The list you have is straight out of the Chiari book, so I would not take the word of the NL that you have.
Now granted not all of those symptoms happen in one day, but about 3/4 of them do at some time or another throughout the day and are worse with any even the smallest amount of activity or strain, neck movements of any kind, and sometimes even emotionally.
I have been hit really hard with four major crisis/stressors right now - the passing of my dad, my health, my house not selling & going into foreclosure, and the loss of my two jobs - one of which was my life's dream. Now I sit hurting, alone, no income(I am having to fight to try to get unemployment because my employer said I did something I did not do, that was his excuse for firing me because of my health I believe), and because of the Chiari having to learn to adjust to a whole new less active lifestyle. I have always been one who is on the go working constantly, helping others who need it. Sorry, It's been a rough week here and I am starting to vent and get off topic.
Thanks, my dad passed away just over a year ago and it was only 8mos after that, that my symptoms really hit hard and fast. So I really have not been able to deal with dad's passing and even now when I try, the physical pain in my head becomes almost unbareable and nauseating, so I tend to suppress those feelings, which I know is not good, but what else can I do?
is short term disability the same as SSD or SSI? If so, then yes I applied back in Feb. when I was still trying to work one job.
I have been out of work since April 10, 2012
Yes, this is a change of life, major change of life for me, major detour for the rest of life. I like to think that I have come to terms with it, but really have not. It is a daily struggle. I am still trying to find that fine line between doing too much and too little, frustrating and figuring out what pleasure activities are worth the pain of doing it.
Emmaline said:
No worries, that's what we're here for...support.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your father, that on top of all the rest are contributing to your symptoms. This illness is a change of life illness, something we have to deal with everyday. You deserve answers and the treatment that is right for you.
Have you applied for short term disability? You were employed, so you have paid into that system. How long ago did you stop working?