burning nerve pain striking my lower back

[Jinseeker]

Hi, Just like to know that after being pretty well off and pain free despite hanging on with a triple dextroscoliosis curve, i can't help but notice every now and then and out of the blue, i get a jolting sensation right in my lumbar area, (where i have my left lumbar rhomboid muscle pronounced more than the right; basically where the main right thoracic curve ends and the l;eft umbar curve begins) as if someone just pinched me right there. It lasts for a mere second or two and then fades and doesn't hurt anymore. This is the only feeling i consider pain from my scoliosis asides from the moderate straining wearing out sensation of my back due to stress. I only get this sensation pretty rarely and only happens in a spark every now and then. It seems like a nerve is getting pinched where the left lumbar curve starts to twist to compensate for the main right thoracic curvature. I have consulted chiropractors, general practitioners and the orthopedic and they only told me that i needed to exercise and stretch those muscles out regularly, of which i am doing, but still i am getting this every once in a while, i am wondering if i should just ignore it since it is minimal and infrequent.

Anybody experience these kinds of striking nerve pain and know what has helped? I am bewildered.

[Jinseeker]

anybody care to shed some light? Best of all if you could share me experiences if you had experienced the same kind of symptoms.

[jrnyc]

Hi Jinseeker
i am so sorry you have not found an answer for this pain you are experiencing... sounds like nerve pain...

on my upper left side, i get bad muscle spasms & my muscles tense & freeze & get big, hard & bulky...but i do not get shooting or pinching pains.....

i get botox injections there, on upper left, which stops muscles from doing anything for about 3-5 months at a time...it gives me relief from the pain for that length of time...

if/when i have surgery, they will leave that area alone (40 degree curve) & just operate on lower 61 degree curve...my pain is reportedly caused by a right thoracic curvature & left lumbar curvature....

anyway, what i am trying to ask is whether or not you have been to see a pain management doctor to describe the kind of pain you are having to see whether such a doctor could be of any help...? also, have you been given any meds for nerve pain..??

i hope you find relief of your pain

best of luck
jess

[Jinseeker]

well i had consulted the orthopedic, a general practitioner and chiropractor about the shooting nerve pain i get once in a while, and they only told me to exercise regularly and gave me specific lumbar stretching exercises i do. I do these exercises, but i feel that these exercises are basic, symmetrical and generic, and not specific exercises for my condition. I hope i can find a schroth expert or some scoliosis specialist in my country(the philippines). Do you think my only choice is to see a pain management expert and accept this pain in daily life, and not pursue ways of eliminating it?

[jrnyc]

Hi again Jinseeker
i think it is worth it to see a pain management guy...to find out if they can help...sometimes they can help with injections, sometimes with meds...sometimes not...might be worth a try...what do you have to lose? if you have insurance to pay for it, that is..

i have been told by many doctors that the only way to get rid of the problem permanently is with surgery..to stop the problem from progressing...& the surgeons do not guarantee anyone will be pain free..only that one will probably have less pain than before surgery...& if lucky, MAY be pain free afterwards, or close to it..but they never guarantee it..cause it is a promise they are not positive they can keep...

i have not decided on surgery yet, but keep going back & forth with the decision...

best of luck
jess

[Jinseeker]

thank you for your reply. I think surgery is too off in the ball park for me at the moment. I guess pain management is the only way to go, but i do hope someone could share more insight on other possible exercise therapies. It won't hurt to try anyways. The only problem is I reside in the Philippines, and these specialized scoliosis treatments are hard to find...

[jrnyc]

Hi again jinseeker
did any doctor ever suggest you take neurontin for nerve pain? that is the one medication i know of for nerves...

i take hydrocodone or oxycontin for pain...when i need it...i have occasional good days, when i dont need to take it...i pray for more of those days!!

i dont know about exercise...before i herniated discs, i used to go to gym 4 times a week..my trainer had me doing some back exercises that helped a little...since i got so bad, with 61 degree lumbar, i dont go anymore...too much pain! i go in to nyc next wednesday for botox shots in left thoracic area...cant wait!!

best of luck
jess

[Writer]

jrnyc -- if you are in or near the Big Apple you might consult Marian Wade, a physical therapist there who has practiced the Schroth method for years, she's probably the first in the US to have learned it. If your pain is due to posture or tight muscles, which is often the case in scoliosis, it may be able to be relieved fairly quickly.

cmjwade@email.msn.com

I don't know of any Schroth practitioners in the Philippines, but there are a couple of them in Hong Kong. See the list on Christa Lehnert-Schroth's website -- www.schroth-scoliosis-treatment.com

[jrnyc]

Hi Writer
born & raised in nyc, i have lived there most of my life...i will look into it...

however, my pain is from 40 degree upper & 61 degree lumbar curves, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, & severe arthritis in the spine...so i dont know if ms wade could help me..i can certainly e mail her & see...

thanks so much for the information!

jess

[Jinseeker]

hmm, maybe i can email the hong kong practicioners if they know anyone certified enough or at least get advice on what to do. But yeah, schroth seems most promising with alleviating symptoms from the scoliosis.

[jrnyc]

Hi Jinseeker
the pains i get in lumbar are so varied..some apparently come from sacroiliac joints...i got shots for that, & the pain disappeared for 3-4 weeks...it was heaven...that is what it felt like after so long being in pain! i just got the sacroiliac shots again this week, after months..but with a different pain doctor (long story)...not working as well..not kicking in like last time..still have my fingers crossed...i get other pains, like the stabbing & aching pains in hips...but that i think is also from degenerative discs...not sure....also aching & sciatica down left leg...pain at waist is worse on right side than on left...i think my curves go to the left...dont know how to post them...

i'd recommend you see a pain doctor before a chiropractor...most definitely...

writer.... i havent contacted ms wade yet...my pain is from the scoli, the discs, the stenosis, & the arthritis in spine...i dont think what ms wade does would help me, but i am still open to it...i've just been very busy lately...& am flying to CA from CT next week to consult with dr anand at cedars sinai hospital...after that i expect to go see a nyc surgeon who has followed me for 5 years...to discuss surgery....

i really dont want to have the surgery...but i know i cant live on oxycontin all my life...lost alot of weight that i cant seem to gain back cause the pain pills (including hydrocodone) take my appetite away completely).....cant live on steroid shots forever either......especially when some dont work!
we'll see... cause every time i decide on the surgery, i change my mind!


best of luck to both of you
jess

[Jinseeker]

wow, seems like you are under a lot of confusion, same here. Perhaps i can also just stick to exercises and keep fit as much as possible to alleviate the pain, but i just don't know how long i can keep that up as well of the fact that i am getting older, and work and stress is keeping me busy and my back is taking all the load. I don't know how i would fair when i am 50, but i wonder as well if i had gone through surgery today, how i would be doing when i am that age as well; being operated and having a steel rod down your spine isn't exactly a cure. Confusing isn't it?