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My 68 year old boyfriend has had chronic lower back pains for

 
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  • Answered by:neuromd2012
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Customer Question

My 68 year old boyfriend has had chronic lower back pains for about 2 1/2 years now. He has tried physio, chiropractor services both regular and more expensive ones, consulted with neuro-surgeon, in case it had something to do also with his spinal column. After all these follow-ups and check-ups, we got down to lower back pains. Most of the time he has these pains from the lower back down from the hips to the right leg he feels numbness and cold. What should he do at this time because he is really frustrated with this situation not being able to to anything.

 

Optional Information:
Person's Gender: Male
Person's Age: 68

Already Tried:
Everything as mentioned on the question

Submitted: 290 days and 11 hours ago.
Category: Neurology
Value: CA$35
Status: CLOSED
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Expert:  neuromd2012 replied 290 days and 10 hours ago.


neuromd2012 :

Hello

neuromd2012 :

waiting to see if you come online

neuromd2012 :

do you have a MRI scan result of the Lumbar spine?

neuromd2012 :

are you there?

neuromd2012 :
neuromd2012 :

hi?

neuromd2012 :

can you respond? maybe the chat is broken?

neuromd2012 :

you type in the lower box, then hit your enter button on your keyboard

neuromd2012 :
neuromd2012 :

it says you are typing, could you just type "yes"

Customer :

Yes, and that's why we know it's got nothing to do with his spinal column.

Hello, sorry I'm new to this.

neuromd2012 :

no problem, the chat really is terrible, not your fault

Customer :

yes

ok, thanks.

neuromd2012 :

so he has lumbar spasm ?

neuromd2012 :

does he have radicular pain into his legs?

Customer :

yes and numbness on the right hip down to the leg with pains most of the time on the lower back.

radicular?

Customer :

what does that mean?

hello, are you still there too?

neuromd2012 :

yes, hi

neuromd2012 :

so radicular means root pain, coming from his back, it shoots down the leg and gives numbness and possibly weakness.

Customer :

what's radicular?

yes

neuromd2012 :

If he saw a neurologist, I expect he would get an EMG test to look at the root function

neuromd2012 :
neuromd2012 :

this is an electrical test to evaluate for nerve damage as a cause for his pain and numbness

neuromd2012 :

there are also medications that help for this type of pain, neurontin (gabapentin), Lyrica (pregabalin) and sometimes Cymbalta (duloxetine)

Customer :

We did all the follow up with the neurologist and he said he could not do anything else for him since he deals only with the spine the the brain. He suggested to go see an orthopedic which my boyfriend hS NOT DONE YET.

neuromd2012 :

but he needs a diagnosis, and the neurologist could help with that. the

neuromd2012 :

no emg?

Customer :

can't remember about that. what does an emg find out?

neuromd2012 :

an EMG is an electromyogram. it looks at the function by giving electrical shocks to the nerve, and then recording nerve signals with a pin like device which is an electrode.

neuromd2012 :

If the nerve is pinched in the back, it can record abnormal signals, and if he has a nerve disease like from diabetes, it can detect that as well, or an inherited nerve disorder

Customer :

that one, I have no idea because there was one appointment I didn't go with him.

Customer :

Oh I see.

I know that his late mom was paralysis before she died but I don't know from what and the sister had polio from childhood.

neuromd2012 :

what is that about???

Customer :

could it have been caused also by work accidents, which he had involving the lower back?

paralysis "paralyzed"

neuromd2012 :

sure but the mri would have shown it

Customer :

well, you said it could also be an inherited nerve disorder/

so that's probably why he recommended him to see an orthopedic

Customer :

would you recommend also accupuncture as an alternative?

neuromd2012 :

well if this is a familial neuropathy, he needs a neurologist.

neuromd2012 :

well if it helps his pain, I have seen that happen yes

Customer :

alright, so the only thing that he would need to see then is the orthopedic, would that help.

neuromd2012 :

I think so if he has some skeletal issue to deal with

Customer :

Guess it depends on what type of neurologist, right?

Customer :

Sir, by any chance, are you also chatting with some else? It says you're typing but I'm not getting any response. I'm sorry but I am

just wondering.

neuromd2012 :

yes, you need a neurologist with electrodiagnostic capability that can do the emg test and evaluate him for peripheral neuropathy

neuromd2012 :

this chat system is horrible, I don't work for them but it needs fixing

Customer :

alright. thanks a lot for your assistance

neuromd2012 :

sometimes you cannot send messages

neuromd2012 :

sure.

Customer :

just like what happened to me in the beginning

neuromd2012 :

let me know if you need anything else please remember to rate my service as that is how I am compensated

neuromd2012 :

yes it blocks down

neuromd2012 :

maybe it is overloaded???

Customer :

oh i see.

Customer :
neuromd2012 :

they tell me to switch this to the question and answer, but the clients like to chat

neuromd2012 :

but the chat breaks

neuromd2012 :

anyway, do you have any more questions?

Customer :

just wanted to have answers to my questions; trying to rate you but it is not sending and I want to save also the responses I had.

Customer :

no more questions, thanks

Customer :
neuromd2012 :

I can send this to the question and answer, you just right click on it

neuromd2012 :

and then hit the print option and it prints out

neuromd2012 :

come back anytime

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Expert:  neuromd2012 replied 290 days and 10 hours ago.

Our chat has ended, but you can still continue to ask me questions here until you are satisfied with your answer. Come back to this page to view our conversation and any other new information.

What happens now?

If you haven’t already done so, please rate your answer above. Or, you can reply to me using the box below.

Accepted Answer

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Expert:  neuromd2012 replied 290 days and 9 hours ago.

HI It is saying that you still have questions, but I cannot find them. sorry the software is so messed up. please do not rate me based on the software, I am here to try and answer your questions as best possible. please come back as you can ask questions until you are satisfied (if the software lets you)

Expert TypeBoard Certified Physician
Category: Neurology
Pos. Feedback: 95.4 %
Accepts: 5306
Answered: 6/27/2012

Experience: General Adult Neurologist. Board Certified. Experimental Neuroimaging and Neurodiagnostics

Ask this Expert a Question >
Customer replied 290 days and 9 hours ago.

I've posted my own situation concerning my vertigo of 6 weeks that's not letting up. Gone to see my GP, eye doctor and it's not my glasses either. I'm taking serc 32 mg 2x a day for it, allergy as well as sinus pills. I've got bad sinus allergies and am asthmatic too. Nausea and dizziness accompanied with earaches and headaches are on and off though not consistently the same strength. Going to see an ENT tomorrow. But I'm just frustrated it's not going away fast enough.


 

Customer replied 290 days and 9 hours ago.

,

I've posted my own situation concerning my vertigo of 6 weeks that's not letting up. Gone to see my GP, eye doctor and it's not my glasses either. I'm taking serc 32 mg 2x a day for it, allergy as well as sinus pills. I've got bad sinus allergies and am asthmatic too. Nausea and dizziness accompanied with earaches and headaches are on and off though not consistently the same strength. Going to see an ENT tomorrow. But I'm just frustrated it's not going away fast enough.

 

 
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