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Author Topic: Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease  (Read 2926 times)

EnglishRose

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Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease
« on: November 21, 2018, 02:53:32 PM »

I've been plagued with vagina pain and “sensations” for 7 weeks now along with shivers and hyper sensitive skin to my upper spine lower back buttocks and legs. More recently my sacral and lumbar area is sore achy and any weight on it is very uncomfortable. Sciatica type symptoms to both sides too.

I've been so sick with worry I had some rare nerve disorder that effects the genitals because that was the first place my symptoms presented.
It's morphed to more or a back issue now but with pain inside and outside of my vagina.
I've searched and searched and could not find any thing that would send referred pain to the genitals. Then I found this and it's very common with menopause due to Oestrogen deficiency and can be treat at least in part by HRT which I'm now taking.

My knees back and ankles have been crunching and snapping for years no pain just terrible noise.
I've been slumped at a pc desk for 19 years and did no exercise at all.

I had a women's Physio Therapist examine me and test trigger points for the pudendal nerve (the nerve that supplies genitals and anus ) and was told no issues to the nerve, but stil could not work out why I had genital pain and sensations. Then I found this article .

So *drum roll* here is my most likely diagnosis which I can now persue

Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease Clinical Presentation
Updated: Aug 31, 2018

History
The patient's history is an extremely valuable tool for identifying the intervertebral disk as the nociceptive source. Classic historic features are associated with a diskogenic etiology of mechanical low lumbar complaints. The clinician must ask several key questions to elicit the information necessary for correct diagnosis. These questions address events that cause the symptoms, the location and nature of the symptoms, any exacerbating and mitigating factors or positions, and the patients' medical and surgical history. Often, a nociceptive source of back pain is not found. [15]
Patients with diskogenic pain typically describe an inciting traumatic event resulting in sudden forced flexion and/or rotational moment; however, some patients describe a spontaneous onset of symptoms.

Symptoms, usually isolated in the low lumbar region and buttocks, can vary, with referral to the lower thoracic and/or upper lumbar region, abdomen, flanks, groin, genitals, thighs, knees, calves, ankles, feet, and toes.

Classic diskogenic pain is exacerbated by activities that load the disk, such as sitting, arising from a seated position, awaking in the morning, lumbar flexion with and without rotation/twisting, lifting, vibration (eg, riding in a car), coughing, sneezing, laughing, and the Valsalva maneuver.
Symptoms are mitigated by lying on the side with hips and knees flexed (fetal position), by changing positions frequently, and/or by engaging in activity.

Diskogenic pain is usually described as aching; however, a wide spectrum of adjectives can be reported from soreness to stabbing pain.
Patients with a surgical history of lumbar arthrodesis, lumbar diskectomy, or lumbar laminectomy have changes in lumbar spine biomechanics resulting in susceptibility to diskogenic disease. [16]

The patient's medical history should be investigated with specific inquiry directed toward a personal history of cancer, arthritis, or infection or systemic disease that could increase risk of infection.

The review of systems should include assessments for fever, incontinence, symptoms suggestive of metastasis or metabolic disease, and psychological issues including depression and drug use or abuse.[\i]

I feel like a load has been lifted I honestly do 👍
« Last Edit: November 21, 2018, 02:59:04 PM by Roseenglish »
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CLKD

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Re: Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2018, 04:34:38 PM »

You need to speak to an orthopaedic surgeon and get some X-rays!
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CLKD

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Re: Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2018, 04:59:02 PM »

As I keep telling people: as oestrogen levels drop muscles may become lax = aches and pains. 

It is 'normal' for our age.  Appropriate X-rays will determine if you require any treatment. 
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EnglishRose

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Re: Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2018, 07:58:33 PM »

Well it's give me a less terrifying possible diagnosis bc all I could find was truly horrific diagnosis online and I tried so hard to look for more benign things but kept ending up on that path...

This makes logical sense... it's prevalent with menopausal women, it's common.. just didn't know back issues could reach your genitals... I mean it still could be VA but my other symptoms do lean towards some kind of back nerve issue...

What ever it is it's triggered by a hormonal imbalance and I need to keep faith in that fact.

I'll let you know when I get the MRI
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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Sgtvhilts

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Re: Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2018, 08:02:47 PM »

My back is famous- it is a disaster.
 I have had injuries over the years and now its just degenerative disc disease. Sounds simple , easy, but nah- really complex condition.  Spend the last 15 yrs in an out of ‘consultations ‘. So will fill you in on what i know
Fobbing off for back pain is even worse ( if that's possible) than for meno.
Wierd nerve sensation are compulsory with ddd. My feet, wow, can't feel my toes somedays. It is because all the nerve bundles to your lower bits go through the disc (spinal cord) so any disc displacement will put pressure on the nerves. Sciatica is horrific, what concerns me is The altered genital sensation- sometimes a condition called Cauda equina can occur and needs seeing to asap.
X rays are no use what so ever  the only thing that will give you a good image is an MRI.
As for pain relief- well needless to say they are about as useful as a chocolate fireguard lol. For me i gave up with them a long time ago. The ONLY thing that works for me is physio. Funnily enough i find walking uphill extremely effective. The pain is unbearable, i have vomitted several times, but rig up a TENS machine and go for it. Over a period of a few days the pain is gone, a good physion will also show you how to lay in bed properly and all sort of magic stuff.
Sorry to drone on, but know exactly how you feel- ddd doesn't go away, but can be very effectively managed. Keep the faith
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CLKD

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Re: Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2018, 08:04:20 PM »

I think it's known as referred pain.  There's a lot of nerves down there!

Thanks Sgtvhilts!
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EnglishRose

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Re: Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease
« Reply #6 on: November 21, 2018, 10:30:08 PM »

My back is famous- it is a disaster.
 I have had injuries over the years and now its just degenerative disc disease. Sounds simple , easy, but nah- really complex condition.  Spend the last 15 yrs in an out of ‘consultations ‘. So will fill you in on what i know
Fobbing off for back pain is even worse ( if that's possible) than for meno.
Wierd nerve sensation are compulsory with ddd. My feet, wow, can't feel my toes somedays. It is because all the nerve bundles to your lower bits go through the disc (spinal cord) so any disc displacement will put pressure on the nerves. Sciatica is horrific, what concerns me is The altered genital sensation- sometimes a condition called Cauda equina can occur and needs seeing to asap.
X rays are no use what so ever  the only thing that will give you a good image is an MRI.
As for pain relief- well needless to say they are about as useful as a chocolate fireguard lol. For me i gave up with them a long time ago. The ONLY thing that works for me is physio. Funnily enough i find walking uphill extremely effective. The pain is unbearable, i have vomitted several times, but rig up a TENS machine and go for it. Over a period of a few days the pain is gone, a good physion will also show you how to lay in bed properly and all sort of magic stuff.
Sorry to drone on, but know exactly how you feel- ddd doesn't go away, but can be very effectively managed. Keep the faith

I
I'm so sorry you're in so much pain. I have read about the Caudia equina ..how serious it gets if you feel numb below or lose function to the bowel and bladder.
If I have indeed got ddd then I'd estimate it's in it's early stages. I can't say pain is my main issue it's mild for now but the shivers and feeling of clothing to my spine buttocks and legs is horrible... I want to climb out of my skin.
I get stabbing like pains to my V all over inside and out or sometimes I sense of fullness inside, or just a hypersensitive sensation like my back so I'm pulling my trousers down at the crutch as even the pubic hair is suddenly awake,,
The sciatica again is mild...thus far...can move from one side to the other.
nothing seems to,remain the same for long and symptoms morph and move as time goes by.
Sometimes it's like a tickle sensation across the top of my but cheeks but below the lower back.. but deep very deep it feels like it reaches my cervix and it's like a fizzing sensation.

All I can tell you is it always fades before I sleep,as I'm relaxed watching tv in bed and it always peaks about dinner time each day. I can spend the whole day and feel nothing or next to it, then it starts to some degree about 5pm and lasts 2 to 4 hours,

That's the puzzle for me.. implies it's linked to my bodies endocrine system or it's my anxiety and I'm making the symptoms appear as a result of all the anxiety I've had about it, .

I don't think you can imagine true vomiting type pain... like you have so I'm not implying yours is like mine. Yours sounds awful.

I've learned MRIs can show a truly messed up nerve and spine system and the person is fine and it can show a perfect spine and the person is in agony so I guess we will see.

I just want to know what's happening to me and get the help I need in order to accept and move on.  It's still very much up in the air.

Did your ddd crisis occur as a result of trauma or just wear and tear?


« Last Edit: November 21, 2018, 10:33:24 PM by Roseenglish »
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CLKD

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Re: Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease
« Reply #7 on: November 22, 2018, 08:14:42 AM »

There are a lot of nerves that can impact all the way down.

Making sure that we sit correctly is important.  Kneeling down to load the laundry machine is important for me otherwise sciatica hits.  Brisk exercise releases the nerve and I have to remember to kneel not bend  ::)
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Sgtvhilts

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Re: Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease
« Reply #8 on: November 22, 2018, 10:08:58 PM »

Both trauma and wear and tear.
My pain is well under control these days and also my anxiety regarding it ‘clicking' is virtually non existent- because i know what i am dealing with and how to move it on.
Now , anxiety is another area of my expertise! LOL
It will absolutely feed your darkest worries, whatever you think  you've got going on the anxiety will multiply that 10 fold.
Anxiety is amazing at creating all sort of wierd body sensations
I don't mean for this to sound patronising, but have you thought about relaxation. There are huge amounts of cd/ downloable things. It has helped me beyond belief and walking - crazily simple, but mega effective.keep the faith
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EnglishRose

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Re: Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease
« Reply #9 on: November 22, 2018, 11:37:49 PM »

Both trauma and wear and tear.
My pain is well under control these days and also my anxiety regarding it ‘clicking' is virtually non existent- because i know what i am dealing with and how to move it on.
Now , anxiety is another area of my expertise! LOL
It will absolutely feed your darkest worries, whatever you think  you've got going on the anxiety will multiply that 10 fold.
Anxiety is amazing at creating all sort of wierd body sensations
I don't mean for this to sound patronising, but have you thought about relaxation. There are huge amounts of cd/ downloable things. It has helped me beyond belief and walking - crazily simple, but mega effective.keep the faith

Thank you
I e downloaded  an app called Headspace which offers lots of guided mindfulness meditation sessions.
With the exception of sciatica type tenderness the rest could be written off as anxiety.
The onset for me was sexual sensations to my vag...from no where...with very mild tingling to my buttocks and spine, I didn't make a connection to my spine at the time and neither did my doctor as she looked at me with confusion, a gynaecologist laughed at me,,,lol

the sexual symptoms sent me down a rabbit hole of health anxiety whivh im just starting to recover from not least bc they've been replaced with pain (mild) and an increase in back pain and hypersensitive skin to spine buttocks and legs and restless legs.

I'm seeing a gynaecologist on the 27th and will be getting a lumbar mri so I guess time will tell,
I do wonder how much of what I'm feeling is anxiety either as a bi product or as health anxiety often does, causing me to feel the very symptoms I'm afraid of.

It's a process.

Thank you again for replying and I hope you continue to maintain your pain levels xxx
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