Suggest Treatment For Terrible Back Pain And Difficulty In Walking

Posted on Mon, 14 Sep 2015

Question: I had spinal fusion surgery 7 yrs ago after many yrs of terrible back pain and trouble walking. I also had several cortisol injections which never seemed to help.now I am scheduled for another injection and I was hoping there might have been improvements so it might help now. From what I have researched there are some scary side
effects. I am very concerned and really don't know what to do.
My mother lived to 98 and started with a cane, walker and then a scooter. I am afraid that is my fate. I have a dog to walk.
Is there anything out there that really can help?
I'm still active and push myself, live alone, get my own groceries, etc. I just want to walk.
Thank you,
XXXXX

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
As follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.

I have gone through your medical history.I can see that you have used almost all types of medicines for pain,which probably are not helping you.
If epidural steroid injections are not helping you and you don't want to go with them,then please discuss with your pain management specialist(or visit some pain management center) about the advanced options for pain treatment like 'spinal cord stimulation' or 'intrathecal pumps'(though again,these have complications associated with them and it depends on you and your treating physician if you should be subjected to them).However,I still feel that if epidural injections can work in your case,they should be the preferred mode of therapy as compared to these advanced options.

If you have any further questions,I shall be glad to answer.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar