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November 18, 2009 - 11:12pm
Sonic boom in my spine!
Hi all! I think I've posted this question a while ago, but still looking for answers. Ya'll understand my special kind of crazy....maybe someone will recognize this!?
Ok...there are times that when I turn my head, cough, laugh, or even open my mouth wide enough (like to eat a sub sandwich) that I can feel something (can't describe it) but I know that a nasty signal is traveling down my spine--but no pain--and then BOOM! In what feels like the very end of my spinal cord it feels like someone slammed about 20mls of fluid into my epidural space (for those that have had ESI's you know this pressure/pain feeling)and it comes and goes in about 10-20 seconds. It hurts like I can't even explain and it'll happen with any jarring of my spine.
This happened after my last surgery and would come and go. All my surgical PA can say is that it's the "shock" being absorbed by my lumbar spine. Hmmmm I get that, but why in craps sake is it happening with each head movement and I'm the only one with it!? Really freaks me out! I shouldn't have ANY more stenosis holding my spinal cord captive.
Anyone have this and/or had their doc comment? Any way to help it??? I'm dying with this sensation and afraid to move anything!!! Thanks!!!
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HAD 8 HR 360 REVISION 5/5/09.THEY PLACED CAGE @ L5/S1 WHERE THEY COULDN'T AT 11/07 PLIF. WOKE UP ON VENT. & HAD A DURA TEAR. SCAR TISSUE AND BONE REMOVED FROM LT L5 NERVE ROOT. HAD UNSTABLE GRADE 2/3 SPONDY ,DDD,SYNOVIAL CYST (11/07), PERMANENT NERVE DAMAGE L FOOT & LEG. NEW HARDWARE PLACED W/ SLIP STILL INTACT. BUSY RN AND MOM OF 3 TEENS. WAITING TO GET OUT OF NEUROPATHY HELL!!!!! 
*Any information I give is not a substitute for your physician. I'm an RN, and I do not comment on things I haven't had personal experience with. Anything I say should ONLY be taken as non-professional, personal advice.
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just realized it's like one of those booming headaches that settle down as long as you hold your head still. If you move it at all, you feel that welling up/fullness and then it booms again really hard rattling your brain. It's like that but in my spine.
HAD 8 HR 360 REVISION 5/5/09.THEY PLACED CAGE @ L5/S1 WHERE THEY COULDN'T AT 11/07 PLIF. WOKE UP ON VENT. & HAD A DURA TEAR. SCAR TISSUE AND BONE REMOVED FROM LT L5 NERVE ROOT. HAD UNSTABLE GRADE 2/3 SPONDY ,DDD,SYNOVIAL CYST (11/07), PERMANENT NERVE DAMAGE L FOOT & LEG. NEW HARDWARE PLACED W/ SLIP STILL INTACT. BUSY RN AND MOM OF 3 TEENS. WAITING TO GET OUT OF NEUROPATHY HELL!!!!!
*Any information I give is not a substitute for your physician. I'm an RN, and I do not comment on things I haven't had personal experience with. Anything I say should ONLY be taken as non-professional, personal advice.
Sorry to hear you're having this weird effect, especially since it's also so painful.
I've never had anything like this myself, but if I were in your position, I'd tell the consultant / specialist / spinal neurosurgeon as soon as possible, because it sounds as if it may involve your CSF. Actually, on second thoughts, I wonder whether your synovial cyst has regrown since you had the surgery, as I imagine they removed it back at the time (2007).
Whatever the case, it definitely merits further investigation, especially since it's causing you so much pain!
I was thinking the same as Val1...sounds like it could be a CSF issue, there may be a problem with flow somewhere? Similar to increased cranial pressure? I'd want further investigation too, not just the "shock" being absorbed by your spine. (btw, fellow RN here
)
Microdiscectomy L4-L5 Dec '07
<(unrelated) Resection of left liver lobe for 6.5cm benign tumor June '09>
MRI Oct '09,ESI Oct '09, ESI #2 Nov '09
Jan 26 Laminectomy/subtotal discectomy L4-L5
That sounds just awful. I'd be afraid to move too. I think we all have shock being absorbed in our lumbar spines, but we don't have that kind of pain. I think it bears looking into, and I also think it may be CSF related.
Linda
3 level 360 degree lumbar fusion (L3-S1) November 2008
Goodness, that sounds awful. I'd keep looking for somebody to give me a good answer to this problem, and follow it with the solution! When somebody says they've never heard of anything like that before and they don't offer to send you to somebody who will likely know, it's time to find another doctor yourself. I always say, you have to be your own advocate because too often nobody else will be!
Best wishes to you!
Linda
4/2009 Cervical posterior foraminotomy for herniation C6/7
4/2010 Total knee replacement
9/29/10 PLIF with laminectomies L4-S1 to correct lumbar curve and L5 nerve root impingement.