Welcome, Guest. Please Login
MCD - Mast Cell Disorders
  We've upgraded to YaBB 2!
  HomeHelpSearchLogin  
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send Topic Print
Anyone have degenerative disc disease? Any treatment? (Read 6611 times)
NMLiz
Rookie
*
Offline


I Love YaBB 2!
Posts: 14

Anyone have degenerative disc disease? Any treatment?
10/04/12 at 10:09:04
 
My partner has systemic mastocytosis and degenerative disc disease. Her doc is not familiar with spinal issues as being part of SM.

--Is there any treatment (other than NSAIDS) that helps? (other than the usual gastocrom/antihistamines)

--Will it help to get a bone scan and treat for osteoporosis?

I'm hoping maybe some of you who have been to a masto specialist might know more... Couldn't find anything at all in the research.

Thanks!!

Liz
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
PamH
Mentor
****
Offline



Posts: 447
Indianapolis, IN USA
Re: Anyone have degenerative disc disease? Any treatment?
Reply #1 - 10/04/12 at 10:27:43
 
My mother has degenerative disc disease, but as far as we know she does not have any mast cell issues. She does have RA.  Has she ever had a positive ANA??  I would guess they are 2 separate issues, but you should consult with an expert, I am not one!!!  Wink
Pam
Back to top
 

Pam
 
IP Logged
 
Joan
FORUM ADVISOR
*****
Offline



Posts: 1502
Colorado
Re: Anyone have degenerative disc disease? Any treatment?
Reply #2 - 10/04/12 at 17:03:22
 
There's a doctor in Lakewood, CO, Dr. Paul Miller, who is a specialist in bone disorders and who has diagnosed a number of people with mastocytosis during his career.  He's very knowledgeable, as well as nice, and he might be able to to see your partner or recommend a doctor in your area who could answer some of your questions.  He's been on numerous boards of bone health related organizations, both national and international.  If you Google Dr. Paul Miller, Center for Bone Research, Lakewood, CO, you can get his contact information.

He will probably recommend a DEXA if she hasn't already done one recently.  Sometimes they do a bone survey (a number of X-rays) in addition to the DEXA, in order to see if there are any bone lesions.

I find yoga to be helpful for my back issues, as yoga stretching helps put space between the vertebrae.

This definitely sounds like consulting with someone who knows bones and masto might be advisable.
Back to top
 


Joan
 
IP Logged
 
Rocky 9801
Tutor
**
Offline


What the hell happened???!!

Posts: 30
St Louis, MO
Re: Anyone have degenerative disc disease? Any treatment?
Reply #3 - 10/05/12 at 12:16:45
 
Interesting.  I had dx of degenerative disc disease 10 years ago   and a disc-ectomy  done at that time.  Got the SM dx this march but had never considered the possibility of any relation between disc problem and masto.
I would doubt that they would be related, but what do I know?  I am geologist....not a MD.  Stretching, exercise and being smart about what I do helps me alot. (being smart is very difficult for me tho)

Good Luck. And please post any answers you are able find.

John
Back to top
 

Grandpa, which wolf wins the fight....the good one or the bad onel??

The one you feed, son. The one you feed.
 
IP Logged
 
Anaphylaxing
Guru
*****
Offline


Hang in there! You can
do it!
Posts: 836

Re: Anyone have degenerative disc disease? Any treatment?
Reply #4 - 10/05/12 at 14:13:29
 
SOunds like lots of helpful input already.

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) as you probably already know is a normal part of aging so is expected to a certain degree in anyone over 30 years of age and sometimes younger if very physical. The degree to which this affects each person they think varies depending on genetics and lifestyle. They can be complicated by disc bulges, herniation, and sometimes encroachment of the nerve roots or spinal cord. Not sure what's going on with your partner exactly or what her age is.

For non-surgical DDD, pain management, exercise and physio are generally what's recommended. If severe and no other options, sometimes surgery helps especially when the nerves or spinal canal are effected.

I don't know if masto would have any effect on this aging process. Would be interesting to know what the experts think.

The bone changes typically thought of with masto are osteopenia/porosis and sometimes bone lesions (or just sclerosis) that can cause fractures and sometimes issues from their contacting of surrounding structures.

Separate from the DDD, if she has masto, many of the experts screen for osteoporosis. If she's had any x-rays if the osteoporosis is severe it can be evident on them. If not, some will do a DEXA bone density scan to evaluate for osteopenia or early osteoporosis. A certain degree of osteopenia and porosis is also expected with age and can be worsened by other things like lack of weight bearing exercise, diet, illness, genetics as other factors. So would be good to have a knowledgeable masto and bone doc if possible

just my random thoughts.
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
larken
Guiding Light
***
Offline


I Love YaBB 2!
Posts: 136

Re: Anyone have degenerative disc disease? Any treatment?
Reply #5 - 10/09/12 at 20:49:09
 
I have DDD and I am 40.  At age 16 I was the youngest patient with a disc herniation that my spine surgeon had ever seen.  That was also around the time that I first experienced interstitial cystitis, which is linked to mast cells.  Ever since then I have had what I now know are mast cell activation symptoms.  

At the time of my herniation I did have a discectomy, which helped a lot (though I am not advocating this for DDD unless all other, non-invasive therapies aren't effective), but I continue to have neck and back issues.  I do feel that my pain increases with mast cell flares.  

I have found "trigger point therapy"--or deep tissue massage for my back, neck and shoulders--very helpful.  Sometimes I go to a professional massage therapist who specializes in this.  Other times I use a tennis or lacrosse ball to massage especially painful muscles myself by rolling it up and down the muscles that align my spine.  I lean against a wall or lay on the floor with the ball behind/underneath me to get a good resistance.  Moderate exercise and stretching also keep me limber and lessen pain flares.  Anything more than gentle, moderate exercise with a good warm up and warm down can make things a lot worse, so I have learned my limits.
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send Topic Print