Lumbar spine symptoms and conditions

I am a 44 year old male. I was on Advair for 7 years. I had Cataract surgery at 42 in both eyes. I was just diagnosed with Osteoporosis in my lumbar spine and osteopenia in my legs. Has anyone has these side effects? And has anyone been able to prove a link to Advair and these side effects? Please email me at ****** and thank you in advance.

I have been taking Zocor for 6 months. In the past 3 weeks I have developed intense tingling and burning in both legs from my feet to my knees. I also have a feeling of numbness in my right foot that at times is in the whole ball of my foot but will move to the side of the ball of my foot. I have been to the ER twice and all my neuro checks were normal even though my legs felt like they were on fire. I just this past week had a MRI of cervical and lumbar spine. My doctor is thing the symptoms may be related to the significant arthritis I have in my neck and may be due to nerve compression at one of the discs but I don't think so. I was worried about MS and Guillian Barre as these can be symptoms of those diseases as well but I didn't have any other symptoms of those diseases. At my last ER visit the doctor put me on Neurotin for the burning in my legs. I just happened to think to look on line for med interactions and side effects of the meds I am on and would have never expected that Zocor could be the culprit. I was astounded to find that the tingling and burning was more than likely due to the zocor. I stopped taking it about 4 days ago and am showing some improvement but I am still taking the neurotin. Does anyone know how long it takes Zocor to get completely out of your syste.? I also have nerve conduction studies scheduled.

All I can say is:

1 – for no “explained reason” my neck collapsed and I needed a life saving fusion operation to prevent my spinal chord from going any farther into the brain. I was told that I “should” have died. I did not. It was less than one year from starting FOSAMAX. and I had no other symptoms that would have indicated the neck would collapse. Kind of like DEAD JAW, but in the neck.

Thankfully, vIOXX (which (allegedly…) prevents bones from healing (and spines – do a google on “vioxx bone healing”) was not on the market at the time… and the operation did fuse (else death).

Go forward one year… a later total lumbar operation, (also going to be added to a lawsuit in re to FOSAMAX) causing the collapse of the lumbar spine was needed. Sure, before FOSAMAX (allegedly) did its thing, it was supposed to be an EASY, ‘no sweat” operation that would merely help my body geometry a bit with a simple procedure - sure one more year of FOSAMAX and the spine was now about ten times worse than expected. The surgeon was stuned.

Anyway, that (total lumbar fusion) - failed because (allegedly) along to the market comes vIOXX…. I am pursing the detail, but as FOSAMAX is now known to give many DEAD JAW and it now appears that my neck bones destruct – which are near the jaw decided to destruct. Further, FOSAMAX is showing to have more problems than DEAD JAW. Had FOSAMAX and vIOXX not entered my life, I would have merely had arthritis and had done fine except for some pain. My brother, having exactly the same arthritis, DID NOT have either “poison pill”, and has done just fine, by the way.

2 - They are now finding that FOSAMAX also tends to provide problems with long bones and people are breaking femurs (allegedly) from FOSAMAX. Nice huh? So, now what happens? I simply fell and broke my femur – or I am now realizing that I broke my FEMUR THEN FELL – another thing people are finding out about (allegedly….). It also should not have happened as I DID NOT HAVE OSTEOPOROSIS and had fallen many times before I took the FOSOMAX POISON and it imbedded into my bones (takes about 6-12 months). FOSAMAX took me down big time, vIOXX kept me down. Almost having died 3-4 times from operations that failed and complications - I did not die obviously, and will continue my pursuit of the truth – look for a web site in a month or two…..

3 – So, FOSAMAX caused/contributed (allegedly again I must say….) the broken femur, and vIOXX stopped it from healing. That is called the “double whammy” in recent vernacular. After several operations (and over 6 months of hospitalization; 8 months total) failing without anyone knowing why or expecting that (my overall health was just fine except for arthritis and it was supposed to be a routine operation), they were about ready to amputate the leg. Fortunately, an astute NJ surgeon 150 miles away just realized IT WAS NOT GOING TO HEAL, and patched it together with glue, thus saving the leg and walking for first time in more than ½ year.

4 – I am going to leave alone the issue of “stress fractures” as this is enough to digest for now… but watch out for this issue….

5 – someone mentioned this: -- > “Can Fosamx D 70 mg be the cause of Ecchymosis Petechiae, I have developed what looks like an "under the skin" rash, on the ankles and upward on the leg, sometimes dark and also gets lighter…”

All I can say is that I went from having TEXTBOOK just beautiful circulation in my legs (was sincerely told it should be in a textbook) to a lot of problems, including very similar to the above AFTER taking FOSAMAX for 2 years. That was another quick thing to happen. Readers can interpret if FOSO may have caused that.

6 – I shall not forget, also, the horrible aches and pains I had within a few months of having FOSOMAX. I just thought it was arthritis acting up. NO, now I know it was from FOSAMAX. My whole history fits like a glove…

In fact, FOSAMAX brought me down, and vIOXX kept me down (allegedly). Merck should not sell their wares when they know their bone “science” was not “science” but a fraudeulent, dangerous and even (vIOXX) killing poison(s)…. (allegedly….)….

FOSOMAX and VIOXX were the very worst things to have entered my life. I pity others who had them concurrently. I shall spend 2009 finding others in the same situation with bone – spine problems from either or both concurrently.

If you have have had a bone/spine destruction or healing problem and taking FOSAMAX and/or vIOXX at the time – please feel free to email me at badbonehealing@hvc.rr.com. I will be creating a Web Site to dialogue and share research on. These (bone – spine) are horrible problems from these two poisonous (allegedly…) drugs and the PUBLIC NOW NEEDS TO KNOW. I asked the courts to help, and they have not. So, I cannot be blamed for not being transparent and doing as I said I would do.

Thank You…

bones
badbonehealing@hvc.rr.com

I have contacted an attorney in Delaware who is willing to pursue a possible class action suit. I explained my side effects from this drug and told him of the countless others that are suffering as well. He said if I was willing to do the "legwork" and gather up names of others who would like to join this suit, perhaps we could get a class action started. If anyone is interested please reply by contacting me at ***** Please be sure to type "Kenalog" as the subject and include your name, email address, and a description of your experience with Kenalog. I will than gather your responses and forward them to the attorney. He will than contact you individually, so please include a contact number. This will take some time. So please be patient, as you know these cases take time. I have spent 15 months trying to get some kind of help from various doctors, to no avail. Someone needs to step up and take responsibility.
Hope to hear from many of you. Thank You

My first injection was 8-12-08 in my lumbar spine. It is still tender to touch and black and blue, but seems to be improving ever so slowly. I feel like I have the flu and have no energy. My back pain is worse and my legs feel weak when I stand for over 2 min. I have no interest in the things I loved to do before getting the Kenalog injection. I'm a retired RN, age 70, and can hardly believe that this is happening. Am I loosing my mind over this? It's very unlike me.

I've been getting Depo-Medrol injections in my back for years for degenerative disk disease, and many other things with my back. I recently moved to an area where they have given me 180 mg of DepoMedrol in my neck, thoracic and lumbar spine. I have gained 30 pounds. I am a tiny person and this weight gain is affecting the way I live my life. I've been trying and trying to loose it and it just won't come off. Can anyone help me?

I had a CT scan with Isovue 370. About one week to ten days later, I abruptly started with severe pain, burning and tingling in both legs from about 2 inches above my knees to my toes. Had 2 bouts of cystitis symptoms five days apart. Was checked for infection- had none but had blood in my urine. I have had an EMG, x-rays and an MRI and the doctors find no reason for all this. I have been on Neurontin for 7 mos for this condition and am getting no help from the medical profession. My GP says it couldn't be the Isovue 370 but a neurologist says- probably was but doesn't know any treatment. Please help- it is so painful and I am having trouble walking now.

I had this injection for a slipped disk in my L5 lumbar spine. I am a healthy 31 year old female. I had hair growth and non stop periods. I had 4, 9 day periods in 2 months and I now have anemia and low sodium. After going to the gynecologist and running a bunch of tests on me, it has now been confirmed that only the Kenalog shot could have been responsible for this. They had to put me on birth control pills to stop this and now I have side effects from that too. From what I see others have had this side effect too and I believe this is much more than just a menstrual irregularity! I have also gained weight (15lbs) eventhough I was slender, eating very healthy, and exercising everyday.The doctors who gave me this shot said that it wouldn't affect me like other corticosteroids, but apparently they were very wrong. I am definitely letting the FDA know this.

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 am forty-seven years old; I have received two Kenalog injections in my lumbar spine with x-ray guided fluoroscopy. I also ended up in the Emergency Room with heart palpatations, high blood pressure, profuse sweating, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and muscle weakness. I recently had my last injection three weeks ago and will never have another one. Since this injection I have experienced severe bloating/weight gain, fatigue, mood swngs, depression, and anxiety. At the moment I still do have muscle weakness and thought I had the beginnings of a yeast infection. Reading these posts made me feel not so alone. The physicians in the ER made me feel as if my symptoms where in my head and my own physician who performed the injection denies any link between my symptoms and the Kenalog. Each time that I have had these injections, a series of three, I have had to go under general anesthesia and spend several days recovering from the all the side effects of the anesthesia and the Kenalog. My physician never warned me of any of these possible side effects, and when I confronted him about them basically told me it was in my head and ignored me. Has anyone started a class action law suit? Reading these posts where a comfort to me as I felt alone since none of my physicians would acknowledge the link.

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!