I also have a bulge in my spine that showed up a few months ago. I
talked to my neuro surgeon, and he will not do surgery unless I am in
extreme pain, which I'm not. There isn't much else you can do except
rest and let it heal - it can take a very long time.
Neurontin and Zoloft have both helped me alot. The Neurontin deadens
some to the tingling and numbness, though it never goes away completely.
Zoloft is an anti-depressant - now why would we be depressed? It took
awhile for me to admit that I needed it, but I am glad that I finally
started using something.
I tried acupuncture and it didn't help me, but that doesn't mean it
won't help you. Hang in there. Ann
> ----------
> From: NMack92(AT)aol.com[SMTP:NMack92(AT)aol.com]
> Sent: Saturday, September 26, 1998 1:56 PM
> To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com
> Subject: New to the group. How long to diagnose?
>
> I found this group about a month ago and have been reading the mail.
> This is
> a great forum and see you offer a lot of support to eachother. I may
> have
> myelitis, I don't know, but I am hoping someone may be able to shine a
> little
> light on my problem. I would be grateful if anyone can offer some
> help.
>
> I had a lesion show on my MRI at my 7th vertabrae. I have been having
> numbness and pins and needles in my legs since Feb-98. First it
> began only
> after walking for a distance, but it is pretty much present all of the
> time
> now. I also started getting the same sensations in my arms. My
> neurologist
> told me when I saw him after the MRI that it may be myelitis. Of
> course, I
> had no idea what it was. He also discussed MS but said he did not
> think I
> had MS. I went to see him again yesterday (about a month later), and
> he said
> he cannot say whether or not I have myelitis, but that the cervical
> lesion
> could be causing the arm problems. ( I should mention I have a
> slightly
> bulging disk which is what I thought, and may be the causing of my
> numb legs.)
>
> So, the deal is, I don't have some of the severe symptoms that I read
> some of
> you or your loved ones suffer with, and maybe the lesion is just
> there,
> hanging out and not causing any problems. I am frustrated and scared
> because
> he just doesn't seem to be able to tell me if I could have MS or
> myeletis, and
> if it my symptoms could get worse, better or the same (they have
> gotten worse
> since Feb, and that is part of what is scary -- why is it getting
> worse?.) I
> feel I am in this awful stage of limbo, not knowing what is going to
> happen or
> what to do. Has anyone else experienced this? He wants me to
> coordinate with
> and go to my regular Dr and see about getting on neurotin or zylotof.
> I have
> read some of you do take this. I also went today to see an
> acupuncturist.
> Has anyone done this with releif. I am so frustrated, scared, and
> feel
> alone.
>
> Nancy
>
>