Chemical radiculitis?

[missywv]

Anybody have any experience with this?  MRI showed a right sided but central disc extrusion in March with right side nerve involvement.  MRI last week now shows a change in the extrusion, a disc tear and and nerve root involvement on BOTH sides.  Doc thinks because the left side involvement didn't show until now (and thats where my pain and weakness has been all along) that i might have chemically induced radiculitis.  I've had a hard time finding any good information about this on the internet, so any experiences would be appreciated.

[Fluffysmom]

I found the name of the biochemical that leaks out and causes inflammatory reaction around the adjacent spinal nerve roots; phospholipase A2 (PLA-2), which causes chemical radiculitis.  

Kathy

[Fluffysmom]

I'm new to this forum, but have plenty of experience with back pain!  I just had my first discogram (lumbar), which showed that I have annular tears at each level, some worse than others.

The annulus is the tough outer ring of the disk, and it surround the nuleus pulposus, which is the softer, more gel-like cushiony center.  That's the part that dries out as the disc degenerates.

When there is a tear or tears in the annulus that go all the way through, the nucleus pulposus gets squeezed out and leaks on the surrounding tissue.  The biochemicals in this substance are very irritating to nerves, and can cause a great deal of pain.

Another theory  is that the nuclear proteins are not normally in contact with your system's circulation; so if it leaks out and gets exposed to your immune system, your body will detect it as a foreign body, and an autoimmune response may be mounted.
In other words, it attacks it as an invader and causes inflammation and all that bad stuff.  As I understand it.

Anyway, I know from personal experience that the stuff getting squeezed out of the middle of the disk can cause way more pain than it would seem like you should have from a MRI.  Add that to damage that shows up enough on your MRI  that warrants you visiting a neurosurgeon, and you can have a whole heap of pain.

I'm sorry for your pain, and hope you get some help soon.

Kathy

[chadry]

I had something seen on my MRI called an annular tear. That might be what he is referring too. It leaks a chemical that is a nerve irritant. It can cause alot of nerve pain. That may be it.
Chadry

[missywv]

Oh.......I should say that the Doctor from the pain clinic that I spoke with about the MRI results thinks another visit to the Neurosurgeon is warranted, so he's getting me an appointment soon, but not sure how long that may take and I'm bad about waiting for information.  Thanks.