Vertebrae symptoms and conditions

I have muscle pain, weakness, and chronic lower back pain. Started statin drug, Simvastatin, on 11/21/07. I take no other drugs. Within two weeks, I could not sit without severe lower back pain. Reported problem to family medical doctor on 1/11/08. M.D. sent me to physical therapy for 8 sessions. No relief from physical therapy so I requested an X-ray on 3/20/08. X-ray shows very mild degeneration at one lower vertebrae. M.D. sent me to an orthopaedics doctor who recommended continued physical therapy. Went to a Chiropractor instead. After six chiropractic sessions with little relief, I made an appointment with an Osteopathic doctor. My M.D. sent me to a rheumatologist who prescribed high dose naproxen for two weeks. The rheumatologist ordered and X-ray of my lower back area. The lower back X-ray produced no negatives. The rheumatologist's next step will be to order and MRI of my lower back area. The D.O. suspects statin induced myopathy and because of hyper reflexes he ordered an MRI of my brain and cervical spine. I am now recommended to a neurologist who specializes in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Am I getting the run around? Only one doctor said I might have statin induced myopathy. The rest will not even mention the statin drug theory. I just pray for ache and pain relief. I have some improvement after four months off of the statin which I believe is quite a strong point that it was the statin drug and not some unknown condition. I don't think arthritis or MS conditions improve. All I know is that I had no health issues before taking the simvastatin. Good luck to everyone who has or is taking a statin drug. BEWARE!!!

Initially, numbness and tingling in extremities which subsided, but memory loss and loss for words is very uncomfortable, and my neurologist suggested caffeine every AM to compensate, which helps some, but not enough. Difficulty reaching orgasm has become very frustrating as a side effect, but is better than the horrible headaches every day. What a choice!!1

I have been taking Topamax for about 6 months now. I have been on several different everyday medications for migraine prevention and Topamax has been the best one. I was first prescribed Relpax to help relieve the headaches. I eventually got to a point where I was getting migraines every day/every other day (insurance only covers 12 pills per 20 days). I was later switched to Imitrex - which is MUCH more effective (1 100mg tablet) but my insurance only covers 9 pills per 30 days (unbelievable).

Just wanted to give you guys some background on my situation. I have been through 2 MRIs and a CAT scan, visited a neurologist, done 2 sleep studies, spent 2 months on a breathing machine for possible sleep apnea causing migraines. My family doctor, my neurologist, everyone I saw was unable to determine the cause of my migraines.

THE GOOD NEWS is I was referred to an UPPER CERVICAL SPECIALIST by my old chiropractor. This may not sound believable but my headaches have decreased to about 2-3 per month since I've been treated by my new chiropractor. My old chiropractor was the type who did a complete adjustment on my spine/hips and cracked my neck both ways every time I visited. The upper cervical specialist focuses on C1-C2 vertebrae and uses calculated heat readings to determine where there is inflammation and there is no twisting/turning involved. Look up upper cervical chiropractic on google and see if these treatments will help with any of your headaches. It has helped my situation dramatically and I will continue seeing this specialist and probably come off of the topamax in the next few weeks.

I had minor cramping when I first got the Mirena put in. But, it was much milder than when I get period cramps. I didn't have any trouble with it (unless you count extremely light periods as a bad thing) until I did air travel (cross country airplane flights). Now, keep in mind, I travel a fair amount by car & have had zero Mirena issues from sitting in a cramped position for hours in car travel. Flying on the airplane caused really weird lower back cramping that put my out of a lot of activities. It was quite definitely core muscles cramping severely, to the point of pulling my lower back vertebrae & tailbone slightly out of alignment. After 3 weeks of pain, I finally went to a chiropractor & got realigned. This has happened with 2 flights thus far out of 4 (it doesn't seem to happen on short 1 hour or less flights). I have NO idea why this happens. I normally have no issues when flying. The mirena is the only thing that's changed. I can only assume it's the combination of the position when in a plane seat for so long & the mirena. Maybe it's poking one of my fibroids in that position?

Mirena has had zero effect on my PMS. PMS is just as bad as without any BC. My acne is just as bad as it is w/o BC. I guess I need Retin A & Midol. LOL

Things to keep in mind when reading the above: I've never had a child. I've been pregnant once & miscarried. I'm in my early 30s. I'm a light smoker. I have uterine fibroids. I rarely drink. I have lupus. Some of these things may or may not have an effect on what happened to me. So, keep that all in mind.
Also, as with all of these experiences, keep in mind it's personal experiences & we're all unique individuals. I'm keeping my Mirena because this is the only big issue I've had & I don't travel a lot.

I've had severe-debilitating allergies for thirty-four years. About 15 years ago I started taking kenelog shots 2-3 times per year. (Once I had the discolored indentation in my hip as described by the postings here. It took a long time (year+) but it did finally go away. )

My concern now is that I've been diagnosed with degenerative spine disease, it's similar to arthritis-- basically my vertebrae are deteriorating. When I received my CAT scan at a military hospital they asked me if I had been jumping out of planes... I have no family history for this problem, nor have I ever been in any kind of accident that could lead to this. A long time ago I remember someone telling me that she had to have a hip replacement at an early age and she thought it was linked to kenelog use. Any other long time users have bone deterioration problems?

I have diagnosed osteoarthritis, two joint replacements, looking at a third, and my knee hurt at time. Bad fall over a year ago led eventually to spine surgery with fushion of several vertebrae. Before fall I had some back pain and have had the shoulder pain for years(and now requires partical reaplacement). I was very active and relatively athletic doing agility with my dog. After fall and sugery for pinched nerves, I have never felt normal. Too much pain all over, fingers still numb, don't feel safe running with my dog. I suffered muscle degeneration due to the pinched nerves. Finally after numerous expensive test etc, rheumatologist suggested kenalog shot if I didn't feel better soon. Also tentative diagnosis of gout but my stomache could not handle pills for gout. So I got a shot of kenelog. - Super! I felt "normal" for the first time in over a year, didn't feel weak in knees, felt I could walk faster and further. Positive side effect was clearing my sinuus' and clearing up cough from phlem from sinus area. Got shot about 5 weeks ago and it has gradualy faded. I do not feel as painedl, but my activity level has decreased. I want another shot.