Oh, Mercy! That is dreadful.

I have had chronic pain in my upper back for years. I am now on Nortriptyline, which is an anti-depressant used as an off-label treatment for pain, especially relating to the nerves. It seems to be helping.

I hope they find some way to help you, Ron. Yours sounds much more serious than mine.

Ronnie, sounds like you had a myleogram. Barbaric! That's where they take out some spinal fluid, replace it with dye, then x-ray ya from different angles. Then, if they hit a nerve root, very few people know the hell you felt! I had the impression that from the waist down, I was on fire (complete with smelling burning flesh). That hurt, but to have a nerve root hit by a needle, yikes! Watch for dizziness, and one or both feet dragging. It goes away after 24 hrs. You have my sympathy, and respect, buddy! Sounds like you had one helluva day!

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Thanks Pal!! thats what it was a myleogram,and it felt as if they hit every cone on the test drive course!! dizzy heavy legs etc. Iam feeling some better this morning, but they activated something in my lower back,and it hurt all night!! I know I sound like a cry baby!! but damba!!!

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Take care of yourself, dear Sixy! Thinking of you! Gute Besserung! What's the latest??

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BTW Ronnie, myleograms are out of favor with neurologists. Don't let the quack do another one on ya! I had two, shows ya how smart I am! A MRI does better job of showing what's what with the spine. Either your doc is old, or not up on the last 15 years of neurology.

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I was wondering about that. I was horrified to read that Ron was subjected to so much pain.

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Yeah, Robin . Barbaric is the word I use. It's a test from the early '50's. Anybody wants to do a myleogram, or perform lower back surgery ( unless you have a bullet wound ), on you, RUN!!!!

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Oooh, sorry you had to go through this, Ronnie.

Dave is right that myelograms are old and mostly out of favor, but they are still used in cases when an MRI can't be done or didn't show enough information. Often, it's an evaluation for surgery - don't let 'em operate Ronnie!

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Of course Toni, I had a surgeon tell me that if the MRI with contrast dye was inconclusive, he would know more once inside! But you're right about not having surgery on the lower back. I had 3, first one, about 5 yrs. Relief, 2nd one 2 yrs., 3rd one, no relief at all! For some reason, upper back, or neck spinal surgery, very good outcomes. Lower back, uh-uh!

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