This morning I had a nerve conduction test and electromyogram on each of my legs. The physiatrist said I had no neuropathy in my legs, but that my L4 and L5 nerve roots in my lower back have damage.
This is not a big surprise as the MRI seemed to indicate they were badly pinched.
This afternoon I finally met the orthopedic spine specialist who has been overseeing my case. I had only met the nurse practitioner on the 5 previous visits. I can't say that it was a helpful visit.
He asked if the epidural injections done in June provided pain relief. When I said I felt no relief, he said that was very rare. Because I have severe stenosis (narrowing) at two of the lumbar levels, he said maybe the steroid did not get up around the nerve roots. I am to try transforaminal injections that come in from the side where the roots exit the spine. I will hear from the pain management doctor early next week to schedule these.
My impression is that the spine doctor considers me a "problem" patient because I have multiple levels of degeneration, and if he did surgery he would have to work on the scoliosis above as well to maintain stability. I think he hopes the transforaminal injections will confirm my main pain generators. Then he would have a good idea how to provide help through surgery. I am to see him again in 4-6 weeks; on the 5th week he is on vacation. So I will see him on September 6th.
We talked about trying gabapentin but he decided against that. Maybe the steroid will help this time. I am not hopeful of any long-term relief.
I plod along in pain with limitations to what I can do. I have read enough on the internet to understand the quandary of how to help people with multi-level problems and be confident that significant results will happen. Everything moves along so slowly.
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