Herniated disc symptoms and conditions

I am 39 years old and work for an interventional cardiology medical device company in Tokyo, and so know the importance of controling one's cholesterol, keeping the LDL's low and the HDL's high. About two years ago, my doctor put me on 10 mg of Lipitor. Several months later I herniated a disc in my neck between C6&C7. From that point onward, I attributed all of my neck and back pain, and newly acquired total body muscle and joint pain, to the herniated disc, it made the most sense. Over the last seven months, I have really worked on my diet and began to exercise more (even though quite painful) and was able to lower my cholesterol. This resulted in my doctor lowering my Lipitor prescription from 10 mg to 5 mg. I noticed a slight alleviation of the pain I felt in my hip joints and calves. About two weeks ago I took myself off Lipitor completely and found further improvements in my total body muscle and joint pain. It's still there but greatly improved. In retrospect, I now believe the Lipitor may have been the culprit (or at least a contributing factor) to my herniated disc due to muscle degeneration in the neck, and all of the subsequent muscle pain, especially in my hips and calves. I fully understand I am not going to die from calf-pain, but may from heart disease. However, I have found my quality of life has improved tremendously over the last few weeks. Less irritability, better sleep, less pain, clearer head. I feel like I have lost two years of my life on Lipitor via personal suffering and lack of ability to do much of anything with my wife and two young daughters. We all need to take charge of our own health and therefore I encourage anyone who feels completely different after taking Lipitor to engage your physician, and make sure its the right option for you. If damage has been done to my musculature I hope I can reverse it. It is evident to me that some serious clinical studies should be done to investigate Lipitor's effect on muscle degradation and hope others will consider carefully whether or not do go on this drug. If you do, monitor yourself closely.

To make a very long story short, I took this medication for 3 days for a sinus infection and misdiagnosed bronchitis. I was diagnosed on Friday with regional pain disorder. Has anyone else heard of this? My doctor is also saying I have a herniated disc and fractured tailbone, this was also news to me, no pain until after taking the Levaquin and the only back pain I have is leftover from EMC/ECV testing. Also when will the nausea go away? The pain medications seem to be helping with the insomnia, but now I have crazy dreams and just want to get off of this ride. Any help with this would be appreciated as I'm not sure how much more I can stand.

I have a herniated disc L5S1. I had my first of six injections in September of 2006. for three months I had problems with my periods. After my third shot my husband and I decided to start trying to get pregnant. We wanted to try earlier but my back pain stopped us from trying. Ever since I received the first shot I have had problems with fertility. I do not get the cervical mucas anymore. This mucas keeps the sperm alive and helps them travel to the egg. I also had an ectopic pregnancy a year ago in April of 2007. I know that Kenalog has had something to do with both of these issues. I have been trying to get pregnant again for about 9 months with no sucess. My husband has been checked out so we know that it is not him. I have a son so I know that everything was fine before these shots. When I talk to my doctor about my problems they tell me it is not the Kenalog because it does not stay in your system for that long. I say that this is a steriod and you always here how bad they are and the horrible side effects. I know that this stuff is the reason that I cannot get pregnant and it is probably what caused the ectopic pregnancy that almost killed me.

I myself had this shot kenalog and marvin about 8months ago, got it for chronic back pain, i suffered from herniated disc, degenarate spine, it's no fun getting old. i'm 34 yrs old mother of 16 & 6. i was diagnosed may 2007, from, insomnia, migraine, stiffness of back, sciatica symptoms, depression.
i thought the shots was the answer. it really didn't do nothing for me, but i remember the shot was painful, and they bruised a little, but there was one on my tailbone that bruised last night months, didn't think of anything bad, until i started to notice the white, dented looks like tunnel going in, it sore around it, and it's getting bigger and bigger. Yeah so many things going through my head, is this cancer, some kind bone desease. I see my Dr. next week, and i will ask him for MRI and what can he do to fix this problem...if anyone has any info or in LA< CA.pls forward to me. its good to know i'm no alone and going crazy... thanks

I have a herniated disc in lower back.Been dealing with it for about 7 yrs 3 of which have been chronic. I had a series of 3 shots in 3 weeks one year ago and had instant relief for about 2 months. My pain came back after this short pause with a vengeance. I just went back to the doctor for my second series of 3 shots but he really knocked the hell out of me this time. I have had a accelerated heart rate, puffy face, huge weight gain, anxiety, insomnia, incredible appetite, cotton mouth and some digestive problems as well. One good thing about it is that I do not have any pain(for now). I am scheduled for surgery in a month hopeful to get away from all drug treatments.

i recieved 3 kenalog epidural injections for herniated disc, 2 weeks apart, followed by a decompression nucleoplasty, also with Kenalog injection. after the first epidual. i began having extreme irritablity which i reported to the pain management doc. he said he couldn't prescribe anything but could refer me to a psychologist, which i declined , realizing i was having a reaction to something. after the 3rd epidural, my irritabilty had increased to the point where i was shouting and screaming, and had completely lost my patience. my face had blown up, and cheeks were hard to the touch, and my neck skin was swollen and hanging down. i described my appearance as "looking like a blowfish".

on the day of the nucleoplasty, i agreed that the doc should go ahead and use it again, since it was important for the procedure, and it was not a "true (anaphalctic) type reaction.

after this last injection of Kenalog, i had a terrible terrible reaction. my face became even larger, with big dark circles under my eyes, and my eyes partially closed, appeared like slits. i was frightened by my reflection in the mirror.

my feet, ankles and legs swelled up to the point where it was painful and difficult to walk.

i also i developed insomnia.

at the same time i was "off the wall" with irritability, anger, impatience, and could not stop crying.

during the day i had a general ill and sleepy feeling, and fell asleep driving, without notice.

throughout this period of Kenalog adminstration, i also had flu like symptoms every morning. sore throat, laryngitis, loose cough, muscle pains. i noticed black and blue marks on my extremities as well.

now i have a full blown flu and full blown bronchitis, and i feel so very very ill.

my feet and calves, hands and fingers are experiencing very painful cramping, intermittantly throughout the day and night. it's happening right now in my left hand, so i have to stop typing. i wait for one minute and try to continue typing, but that causes the painful spasm to return. i try again 2 more times, waiting a minute in between spasms. finally it stops and i can continue typing.

there are probably more symptoms, like the irregular heart beat, and these little bumps on the skin of my right cheek, but i need to rest now.

generally, i feel sicker probably than i can ever recall feeling in my life.

would appreciate hearing from anyone with similar symptoms, and especially how long before my face returns to normal. i live with the fear of what will i do if it does not?

i went to the dr. due to a herniated disc. i received an injection in the bottom. before the nurse took the needle out i statred to feel funny. i thought it was because i was thinking about it too much.but before i could walk all the way to the waiting room i felt nausea and faint. i sat down waiting for my release papers. i stood up asked the recpt. if i could lay down some where. i was trying to breath normal, but was starting to faint. i told her i was going to faint, she went to get the dr. i had then passed out. i believe i had an allergic reaction. i was sweating,cold and clamy. i think i was out for a few moments. woke up on the floor. i did start to sneezing, scratchy throat. i did lay there for a while. they checked by blood pressure from time to time. aftr bout 30 min i was able to leave. had allergy syptoms all night but seem fine now.

I have been on Prednisone for 4 months for sudden Rheumatoid Arthritis, while waiting for back surgery for a herniated disc. Drs. say the two are not connected in any way. I was taking 10 mg.per day, being weaned off and now at 2 mg. per day. I have gained 45 lbs in these 4 months. I have the moon face, neck hump, HUGE abdomen (looks like I an 9 months pregnant) I am depressed, on pills for that. I want to be off this drug and never come back. The weight gain is terrible. I am 5 ft tall and usually 115 lbs. I won't go out anywhere and get my family to do shopping etc. I am not a happy person at all, I cry a lot.

Heather

I wrote the post below this one. I should also mention that I take 600 mg. of Advil for a herniated disc to relieve inflammation, and have read in the meantime, as did another person who posted here, that the excitability and rapid heartbeat was probably due to a negative drug interaction between the two! My doctor knew I took the Advil, and didn't know that this was an effect.

I have been experiencing twitching in my eye lids for the last week. I am taking 300mg 3 x per day for a problem with herniated disc in my neck which has caused a problem with nerve discomfort down my right shoulder and arm into my fingers.

There may be light at the end of the tunnel
I am a 65 yr. old male taking 10 mg. Lipitor for 5 1/2 yrs. In early June,2004
the pain was so intense in my hamstrings, that when I stood up, I would freeze
for seconds in acute pain. On June 26, 2004, I hobbled into my GP's
office telling him of the severe pain in my hamstrings.
At my suggestion, due to reading this website, he pulled me off Lipitor.
On July 4, I started using a cane because of the unsteady gait in my walk.

EMG tests determined that I was 50% weaker in my lower extremities and 10%
weaker in my upper extremities. Started taking 200 mg. COenzymeQ10 ( daily
recommended 100 mg. ) and Cholesterol Essentials ( for my Cholesterol ).
The COQ10 ( a vitamin ) is leached out by statin products and is essential to muscle
building. Went for 5 sessions of rehab to strengthen lower extremities.
Released today Oct. 14, 2004 because they did all they could for me.
Suggested followup with gym program or aqua program for more strengthening.
Today, I walk with no pain and no cane, much stronger than before, still not perfect.
Half my doctors suggest a herniated disc and the other half believe
Lipitor is the culprit. No numbers on Cholesterol level , yet. I will never use
a statin product again. It appears that being off Lipitor for 4 months, and introducing
COQ10 plus some rehab, that my muscle myopathy has lessened considerably.

I am a 42 year old male. I have been on Lipitor 10mg for 5 weeks now. My cholesteral level is 257 and heart disease runs in the family. So after trying to diet properly I still have not been able to bring it down. I had surgery for a herniated disc July of 2003. I put on about 15-20 pounds. I am a marathoner and I run 5-6 miles 5 times a week. This was not a problem for me. Now I have noticed that I am tired all the time. I have started taking Siberian Root and Ginseng as well to try and bring my energy level back up. I have noticed a pain in the left foot along the inside of my ankle. I have been attributing this to the way I run. The herniated disc caused nerve damage and numbness in the left foot. I have also noticed a pain in the arch of my right foot. After reading several of the postings on this site I am beginning to wonder if these things are now side effects of the Lipitor.

I am in tears...I don't know why I started looking into this just today...but my thoughts were "I just can't take it anymore!". There was something wrong, but what???
I am a healthcare professional, and I have prescribed this same medicine for my patients. I know everyone responds differently to a medication, especially OCPs, but for those of you who are angry at your providers for suggesting this...understand that we are not notified of these frequent side effects in the literature. They are all mentioned as "rarely....".
I started taking Yasmin about 2 years ago after Levlen caused my hair to fall out, loss of 20lbs (sick), heart palpitations, migraine, etc.
SO, switch to Yasmin...felt ok, lost some weight...
I have always had some depression/pms, etc. but nothing like the way I am now...it's as if all these things have crept up over the 2 years! After reading all these posts...I wonder...
I am happily engaged...but NO SEX DRIVE at all...NONE! That must be how it works...you can't get prego if you don't have sex right? My mood has been SO flat. Flat and down I should correct it to be! Tearfulness, hoplessness, and unbelievable irritability. I've turned from "the nicest person he's even known" into a "crazy B@#$". And I know it! And I hate it! I sometimes feel like I don't have control of myself...I can't stop myself from saying something I know I shouldn't. Headaches...yep...severe neck pain (actually that's probably due to a herniated disc I just found out), bloating, fat hips/thighs that were never there. As others have said, I am 28 years old and I feel like I'm 70!
I work, I come home, I fall asleep...I wake up with insomnia and anxiety, chest pains, shortness of breath, leg cramps, tingling in my arms, blurry vision (just got glasses only 2 years after having Lasik), and a spaced out feeling. My cramps are better, but the periods, just as long and heavy. I feel like an alien!! How can this be ME? AND THIS IS A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL! We're just as far in the dark as you all! Now THAT is unnerving!
I am at the end of my pack, and will never take another Yasmin. I am considering the ortho-cyclen since it has a lower level of progestin...anyone have experience with that one? I had been on most of the others in the past.
Thank you all for your honesty. I will be contacting my patients to follow up with them to make sure they are doing ok, and to change their meds if need be.

My husband had 3 epidural injections of Kenalog 10 80mg for a herniated disc in the neck. A few days after the last injection he has muscle weakness, insomnia and severe fatigue. Can this be due to the injections? His doctor said that she had never heard of this happening before. I am really concerned. Also I have read that the patient should eat a high protein diet, and to let the Dr know if you are on a low sugar diet. My husband has been on a low sugar diet also and I am not sure if this is affecting him along with the injections???

IN 1999,I had two epidural kenalog injections, which brought temporary relief of lower back pain,but returned after a few days. Then, I underwent a discogram, revealing two herniated and torn lumbar discs. I had two,two-level decompressive laminectomy surgeries in 2000, followed by three caudal-epidural Kenalog injections. Shortly afterward, I developed terrible burning pain from my lower back, through my pelvis and down both legs. I was referred to a neurosurgeon who implanted a spinal cord stimulator, then five months later, he opened my lumbar spine up a third time and he fused the L4-5, L5-S1 levels with allografted donor bone and implanted rods and pedacle screws. I have a strong suspicion that I developed Arachnoiditis as a result of the ESIs, but my doctors ahve all clammed up. Kenalog's data sheet states that it is NOT RECOMMENDED for epidural use, as it is neurotoxic, but doctors continue to use it on peoples' spines. I am now permanently disabled, in constant neruopathic pain and my future looks bleak. DON'T get epidural steroid injections of kenalog or Depo-Medrol, they'll mess you up for life! DON'T DO IT!

I love Ultracet!!! I have degenerative disc disease and a lumbar herniated disc, but have been resistant to taking pain meds due to the risk of addiction and also due to the adverse cognitive side effects. I do not feel sluggish or "fuzzy" and can perform my job without impairment-not to mention the pain relief! However, I do feel a bit hyper and euthymic, but for me that is a bonus!

anybody spitting up blood. I feel like my face is numb and I can't feel my nose. I take N for herniated disc(stenosis) in cervical, thorasic and lumbar. I don't know if it was a bad cold cause I really can't tell. It has helped alittle with back pain. Doctor wants to increase the dosage to the max gradually.

RE: Spitting up blood

This is a BAD side-effect (although it's the first I've heard about it as connected to Neurontin) and you need to see your doctor immediately! Blood coming-out where it's not supposed to be is a sign of a broken blood vessel somewhere( you need to be ready to tell your doctor -- or call 911 -- about quantity of blood, frequency and timing of blood flow.) If it's from the head-area it could be from a small stroke. Facial numbness is also a symptom of a small stroke, serious as a heart-attack. Are you having trouble talking, walking, or paralysis in any limbs? CALL YOUR DOCTOR -- preferably the one who prescribed the Neurontin...tell him/her it's an emergency.

The facial numbness could very well be connected to nerve-damage in the herniated disc, but it's more frequently a sign of stroke, nerve damage from clots, etc...

Sometimes pain is a survival characteristic...it tells us something is wrong in the body. Good luck. JanK, Neurontin userid, certified Master's level counselor and First Aid practitioner

I took Ultracet for neck pain from a herniated disc. The pain did subside alittle BUT I ended up feeling nauseaous, dizzy, confused and extremly itchy. And its going on 16 hours with no sign of relief in sight.