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rpowell01

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Posts posted by rpowell01

    Baclofen....

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted · Edited by rpowell01

    Same boat as you Pman5k...I can't take Flexaril because it affects me for at least 24 hours...

    Well I had a VA MRI last March and they said I had a Bulge at C2-3 and C5-6. Last June is when I started having all the "Anxiety" and symptoms. I decided to go see a private Neurologist after the VA Doctor wouldn't refer me to one. Did a Brain and Cervical MRI this past Saturday. Got the results yesterday and the dots was finally connected. At C5-6 on the left side, a disc herniation is present into the left foraminal area resulting in left forminal stenosis. Also there is a small disc protrustion C2-3 disc This is why my arms hurt mainly my left one and why I have numbness in both hand and why I have chest pains. That sucker is pinching a group of nerves, more likely a group instead of one.

    Finally I have relief to the knowing of WHY its happening!!! Now I have to figure out do I go see a Neurosurgeon or Orthopedic Back Surgeon? Any recommendations between the two will be helpful....I would like to hear opinions on this....

    I do have a Neurosurgeon appointment tomorrow.

    I am filing Bilateral Radiculopathy for pain in both arms and CTS in both hands

    The same for both legs and feet.

    I am filing for migraines which I get at least 4 times a week minimum.

    How about the Radiculopathy with chest pains?

    Edit: I almost forgot to mention I am filing secondary for Arthritis in my shoulders because a nuclear bone scan I had two weeks ago showed: mild athritic changes seen in the shoulders. There is mild uptake in the acromioclavicular joint and glenohumeral joints. Mild uptake is seen in the sternoclavicular joints and sternomanubrial joint. I have had more tests done in two weeks than I ever had in the Army or VA. Funny isn't it that they find stuff the Army or VA didn't want to find!!!!!

    Also can somebody tell me what does part of the Rhomboidal Muscles belongs to? Do their nerves start at the Cervical Spine? Do I have muscle spasms on both my Rhomboidal Muscles because of the herniated disc pinching a nerve? I ask this because today the C & P Examiner told me the Rhomboidal Muscles are not part of the Thoracic Spine. He wouldn't tell me what part they were of. I know the nerves going to the muscles start somewhere but where? Edit: Nevermind I found it, they are part of the dorsal scapular nerve which is from the C5....So it is effecting a group of nerves not just one...NICE!!!! :sad:

    I am already SC'd for Cervical and Lumbar...

    Thanks for all your help and information you can provide because come Friday I am walking into the St Pete RO office with all my claims for secondary on this. I have been through too much in the last 8 months that I now know what is causing it.

    Baclofen....

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Here is the thing that is happening to me with the Baclofen. Sometimes spasms happen for protection, the way the body reacts to protect itself, sometimes spasms happen because of a pinch nerve. After taking the Baclofen I am finding that pain is now radiating down both legs along with numbness at times in my outer thighs, pain in both arms and I have this "shocking" sensation in my feet. I think the Baclofen has relaxed those spasms that are trying to protect the body? This is the only thing I can think of since it all started after I started taking it. Really weird.... But I can sure say I don't have the chest pains like I did before and most if not all the Anxiety as subsided. The Neurologist straight up told me that everything that has been happening to me is because of my neck. I just now have to deal with the pain in my arms and legs at night. Friday and Saturday were really bad for me. Never had pain like that before in my legs.

    Tomorrow I go for a C & P on my Thoracic, hopefully the Examiner will NOT be a ARNP but a real Doctor....****Fingers Crossed****

    Depression And Anxiety

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted · Edited by rpowell01

    Well my CT and CTA came back normal. I didn't know a CTA can see artery blockages which he said my heart if fine and getting enough blood to it?

    I also had a Nuclear Bone Scan which showed that I did at one time have a stress fracture (this type of scan neither the Army nor the VA ever did) and now have degenerative disc disease throughout my back. He said he was concern of the progression of this because of my age which is not normal by his words.

    Funny thing though, the private Neurologist wouldn't give me any copies of the results whenever I asked. The Neurologist wouldn't go into detail about my condition so I am a little confused as to why???? I also asked him if he writes IMOs and he said no but the Neurosurgeon he is referring me to does. He said I could get copies from the Neurosurgeon. Maybe he wants the Neurosurgeon to tell me everything? I asked him what was caused the CTS and the pain I have in my arms & legs and he said it was my neck and lower back causing it. Then that was the end of the appointment. He basically said everything that is happening to me, what I feel with the chest pains and the rest is coming from my neck. I find this a little disturbed because he did not allow me copies to results/reports. But, I go for a MRI tomorrow (Saturday) for my Cervical Spine (again, just had one last year) and one for my brain. It is the same imaging company so I guess I will ask them for copies whenever I go there tomorrow. I don't know maybe he wants the Neurosurgeon to explain everything to me. But, I know I am not going to allow him to touch me under a knife unless he writes the IMO and gives me copies of my records/reports. I find this odd...

    Back in December they increased my C Spine and Lumbar to 40%. But, they said I never filed for Thoracic. So, I had to file for it and have a C&P Examination come February 9th. My Thoracic is the worse of the 3 because of the spasms I have all over that area. Man, whenever that Army Doctor told me at age 26, 14 years ago that it is degenerative I wish I knew then what I know now what that meant. I would have been more careful to my carefulness I have already been. ö

    Va "incentive" Cash To Employees And

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Veldrina

    Please do not take this the wrong way or anything in that nature because I know you help us on here.

    I have read most of your posts on here and I want to say something because it is bothering me. Do you realize that us in the workforce are also having problems? Do you know that I haven't had a raise whatsoever in over 3 years? Do you know that my position in IT was eliminated in 2009 and I had to take a lower paying position in something I didn't want to do that is not even IT related?

    The point I am making is you are not alone, we are all suffering and it is worse that what the government is saying it is.

    Good day...

    Baclofen....

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    usually they start you on a low dose to check for any response to treatment.... mention everything to your doc, if it helped reduce anything about them, etc. any side effects, etc.

    Yea I did and stated to him I had relief for 4 days which felt really good because no Anxiety whatsoever until Sunday night. Had the old sweaty palms and feet but I am learning how to deal with it and overcome it each time it comes on. He wants me to take them twice a day on the weekends but only once a day during the week starting this weekend.

    I have a C & P Exam again in February because the last examiner didn't even examine my Thoracic Spine because she said I never had a claim on it. But I thought they combined them as one. But I understand now you still have to claim it no matter what. I think this will max my back out because my Thoracic area is is worse condition due to the muscle spasms I have on both my rhomboidal muscle which is causing a lot of issues elsewhere.

    Yesterday it was confirmed I have CTS in both hands by my private Neurologist. Last year the VA Neurologist told me I had it in my left hand only but now I have it in both hands. I am filing secondary for Bilateral Radiculopathy in both hands and shoulders. I can't even raise my arms above my head from the outstretched position but I can reach up which is weird.

    Something I have learned is to not diagnose yourself. And, don't give up nor give in, just keep on it. I have proven everything just by my Army records so far and now the dots are connecting and adding up as I see this Neurologist, something the VA and the Army never sent me to.

    Thanks....

    Baclofen....

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Well sure enough after I write that below last night whenever I wrote about me being dizzy sure enough that stupid, stupid spasm on my left rhomboidal muscle decides "Hey it times to play games again" and sure enough I go have another Anxiety attack. I am hoping it was....

    Baclofen....

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    You know, it is funny how I have taken flexeril (which made me too sleepy and fatigue for over 24 hours, bad side effects), Ultram (which broke me out in hives and Doctor saying I had a bad reaction to them so he gave me steroids in 2009) and Robaxin (which I had a reaction to it because instead of my relaxing the muscles it actually did the opposite, brought out spasms I didn't know existed on my back) and all of these were given by guess who, yep you got it, the VA. I go to a Neurologist last week and he gives me a prescription of Baclofen. I was hesitant at first to get it filled because I read all the unsuccessful topics about it here but I decided "Oh well it can't hurt much worse than what I was taking (Valium, which was given to me by my personal Internal Medicine Doctor and it helped very little)". So now it is Sunday 6 days after I had it filled and guess what, most of the spasms has relaxed to the point that I do not have shortness of breath now nor is my heart rate elevated (right now it is at 80). I know the medication will eventually wear off but I just wanted to show that after reading many unsuccessful users who take Baclofen and it didn't help them is helping me for the first time in over 8-9 months. Finally I have relief and it feels really good. Every medicine wears off some time or another but I hope this Neurologist has a plan after it does.....

    If there is anybody to listen to on this board (which there are a lot of folks who are helpful) I think for me personally JBasser has hit it on the head whenever he told me I had a elevated diaphragm causing the shortness of breath. He might not be a Doctor but he knew what he was talking about. If it was a heart condition noway would have Baclofen been able to help like this. People say you cannot make your own diagnoses. WRONG. You can if you study it hard enough, because Doctors themselves just go by symptoms who are taught by literature to do. It is funny how JBasser said I had an elevated diaphragm, the VA Doctor said that was normal after showing him X-Ray results and he argued with me. JBasser knew I had an elevated diaphragm before I even seen the X-Ray results I had in a file that I didn't even know I had.

    I have a elevated right hemidiaphragm which was shown on X-Ray back in 2006 which the radiologist said was an old injury. But, the VA doctor said no, it caused by my liver. Keep in mind that I have had a muscle spasm on my right rhomboidal muscle for 15 years. Then last year straight across from that my left rhomboidal muscle tighten up really bad for no reason. That same day, I started to have shortness of breath. One of two things happened. Phrenic Nerve was being pinched or both spasms was pulling on my diaphragm causing me to have shortness of breath.

    It is also funny how my Anxiety Attacks has pretty much disappeared with this that I would have everyday.

    Yes I still have the tingling in my hands which I know is radiculopathy because of the bulges in my neck. I can deal with that.

    The point to this topic is to tell people to first, listen to those folks on this board who know their stuff and have been there.

    Second, if one medication isn't working for you, ask for another and keep asking until you get that relief you are looking for.

    Third, to show that the VA Doctors are really clueless in a lot of their diagnosing. Think about it why do they work for the VA and don't have their own private practices? That question is a huge question. Wouldn't they make a lot more $$$$?

    Fourth, like others have said before go to a private Doctor and let him tests you, mainly a specialists in the field you are injured because these Internal Medicine Doctors and ARNP are not IMO qualified to deal with things like my issues in my neck and back. They have always seemed lost whenever it comes to back and neck issues.

    Depression And Anxiety

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    john999 I have a stress test and echocardiogram scheduled to rule out any heart or artery blockage. My Cholesterol Levels are normal and every other blood tests came back fine. Wouldn't something on the blood work and even 3 EKGs at least show some sign of heart problem or artery blockage? But again I have seen some weird stuff before that had Doctor's scratching their heads.

    Maybe I am just being a hard arse and denying the truth of having it. The symptoms have basically gone away taking Valium (Xanax didn't help at all). I have felt better in the last month than I ever have in the last year. Like my father who also has it he says keep the medication in your system and you will be fine. Today the Neurologist gave me Baclofen and right now I am feeling pretty good, for once...:wacko:

    Depression And Anxiety

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    verk hit it right on my head. Everything you just said is my life. The problem I have is I live in a "Po Dunk" county and whenever you say Nexus Letter to a Doctor here they look at you like "what is that". Who can write a Nexus for Anxiety? Can a Neurologist write one for Anxiety?

    I have finally went to one today and he ordered every test known to man, MRIs, CT, CTA and Nuclear XRay on my brain, chest and back, along with a complete Nuclear XRay for any bone fractures. This is more than what the Army and VA has ever done for me.

    I guess I have to accept I have Anxiety. Yes exercise is my next step but I know the pain of that is going to be bad on my back and neck but I know I have to soak it up and move on.

    evandc great motivation thanks and I am moving forward....

    Sorry for the bold letters I can't get them to shut off if they are on.

    Depression And Anxiety

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Well john in the past 8 months I can say the chronic back and neck pain as went from a normal everyday 5 out of 10 to a now 9 out of 10. That might not mean much but the pain level pretty much double and yes I think the chronic pain for over 15 years now is causing the Anxiety. Also, the Anxiety symptoms could be giving a false positive and I could be pinch a nerve that is affecting areas in my body.

    What I am more concerned about at this moment and time is the shortness of breath I get. It comes and goes. I mainly happens when the trigger points tighten up mainly on the left side. My wife pointed out just about an hour ago that she knew where my lower back pain was and I asked how did she know. She put on finger right on the area on my lower lumbar spine and said there. She told me there is a bruise about the size of a dime there. This has been my life for 14 years, the bruises would show up whenever I have flare ups. This how I can tell it is flared up. The C & P Examiner stated I don't get flare ups and bulging. One of many reasons I am sending a NOD for DRO review on Monday.

    Believe it or not everything started on the same day at the same time. Tingling in hands, heart palpitations, elevated blood pressure and the trigger point on my left rhomboidal muscle next to my shoulder blade right behind my heart. Could be a pinch nerve because I know a nerve runs in that area down your arm...

    Now the good thing is I have an appointment to see an Neurologist on Monday which is a personal Doctor. The Army they never sent me to one nor has the VA. I am doing this on my own. If need be, he will refer me to a Neurosurgeon. I have been told that he has done "letters" for veterans in the past.

    Depression And Anxiety

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Well the day I ended up in the ER thinking it was a heart attack, they put me on a EKG for a while and blood work was conducted but the results came back as Anxiety. Funny thing was every time I turned my head to the right and looked up at the monitor my pulse and blood pressure would shoot up. It ended up at 193/97 one time. I thought for sure they would send me over to the heart hospital that night but they said it was Anxiety. Then about a week later it happened again at work. Blood pressure went up to 177/93. I went directly to my personal doctor's office who conducted a EKG in the office, everything came back normal. A heart attack will always show up on a EKG from my understanding. All my blood work is normal even my cholesterol levels are normal. Then I go to my VA Doctor who says it was Anxiety and prescribed me Xanax which I took myself off after 2 prescriptions because they didn't seem to help.

    Now about a month ago my personal Doctor prescribed me Valium 10mg. It actually helped a lot with the trigger points/spasms and the Anxiety. It actually has taken most of it away whenever I do take the medication. I don't think it is anything with my heart because the Anxiety comes on whenever my muscle spasms tighten up on me, mainly on my left rhomboidal muscle next to my shoulder blade which is right behind my heart. Yes I get chest pains resembling a heart attack but it is the left rhomboidal muscle causing this. How do I know this? Because whenever it tightens up I have my wife rub it with her knuckles which then I have tears in my eyes but everything goes away and gives me relief. BUT and a big BUT is that I still have shortness of breath. It mainly happens when that muscle tightens up on me. I get it bad then. Lately my b/p and h/r has been fine so this is what is weird.

    Today the VA Doctor ordered a stress test and echocardiograhm to rule out anything with my heart. I never had heart problems and nobody in my family has ever had heart problems. Not one person in my family I can think of has heart problems.

    I know this seems weird but why of a sudden on a one day notice does everything happen to me at the same time:

    1. Trigger point on my left rhomboidal muscle followed by

    2. Chest pains

    3. Shortness of breath followed by

    4. Heart palpitations followed

    5 Light headed

    How to connect the dots is what I am researching.

    I am also going to see a personal Neurologist to see what he thinks about all of this and see if any tests can be performed. Could be nerve issues which also gives false positives on diagnoses also.

    Thanks for the information. No I don't have a Nexus for the Anxiety but what else would cause it if the only thing I have is chronic pain for 15 years now?

    Depression And Anxiety

    in VA Disability Claims Research

    Posted

    Went to see my Doctor today. I told him I refuse to believe I have Anxiety. He looked at me and said "Listen you have Anxiety and that is what is causing your heart palpitations and blood pressure to rise and giving the tingling in your feet and hands". I guess I have to accept I have anxiety because 3 Doctors told me I have it now.

    My question for filing a secondary claim are depression and anxiety the same? I know I have been depressed for the last 14 years because of the chronic pain in my neck and back but do they classify them the same or different. I want to file for both but don't know the diagnostics the way the VA uses.

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