Having a hard time in Ohio

I don't know what is going on with my body but I sure wish someone could tell me. I'm in more pain than I have been in the last year. My body feels like it is in one big charlie horse! I couldn't take the morphine that the doc prescribed because I couldn't urinate while taking it. I've had 3+ pitting edema from my mid-thighs  down some days. My hands feel like  a car has run over them and are swollen and my face is puffy. Of course the day I went to my PCP I had none of these. I go see the rheumy May 5th and I hope I'm blown up like a balloon that day. I've gained 14 lb. in the last 3 wks. and have not changed my diet at all. I'm taking PT three times a week so that is added exercise and should have helped with weight. I had to go to a funeral yesterday and much to my suprise and dismay I had only one thing that I could get into! I'm about as frustrated as I've been in a long time. I could stay in bed all day....no energy. I did stay in bed all of last weekend because of this and I slept the whole time. The sad thing about all of this is I moved my parents back here to take care of my mom who has Parkinson's Disease and right now I do good to take  care of myself. Lasix helps with the swelling but not the pain, of course. Does anyone else have this problem and if so, what did you do? I would appreciate any suggestions.

Nurse2

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Degenerative disc disease,osteoarthritis, status post 4 cervical spinal surgeries with plate insertions and fusion, Lupus, Sjogren's Disease, Fibromyalgia, chronic heacaches and chronic pain.

Thanks so much for your reply. Somedays I feel like an alien or something. You just never know what is going to happen! Right now my legs are so "nervous" I could scream! I had my husband rub my legs and arms for about a half an hour last night because of the same thing. I had a tooth pulled last week and just had the script for Vicadon filled today to try it just because I'm miserable. I take something like Imetrex for the severe headaches that I have because of cervical disc problems. This stuff never ends, does it? Hope you're feeling better. I'll let you know if I find the "miracle" cure.

Nurse2

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Degenerative disc disease,osteoarthritis, status post 4 cervical spinal surgeries with plate insertions and fusion, Lupus, Sjogren's Disease, Fibromyalgia, chronic heacaches and chronic pain.

Are either of you taking Lyrica? If so, that may explain the sudden weight gain and the swelling/pitting edema.
I have been on Lyrica since my first back surgery, before it actually, and had to go off it for a time due to developing pitting edema and the weight gain was astronomical. I stayed off it for a few months, dropped the weight immediately, and the pitting/swelling went down.
I've since gone back on it because of the nerve damage that I have, but watch out for the swelling and weight gain problems again.
Sandi

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PLIF/TLIF Fusion w/Instrumentation L4-5 Spondololysthesis L4-5.Laminectomies L4-5, foraminal stenosis L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1, herniations L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1, central canal stenosis L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1

POST OP CES 3/30-06

Neurogenic Bladder and Bowel, bilateral numbness legs and feet

Revision for failed Back surgery, pseudoarthrosis L4-5, hemilaminectomies L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1, bmp added to revision fusion, replaced two bent screws that were reversing out of vertebrae - August 2, 2007

On going back pain and neuropathic pain, failed back surgery, consult for scs, decided not to do that at this point.

Adhesive Arachnoiditis also......just what I didn't need..9/08- adding bilateral ulnar neuropathy with severe compression to the mix. They want me to see a surgeon for ulnar nerve surgery, but I'm not biting.

I've seen enough surgeons over the last few years.