Constant Back Pain

[swtcheeks15]

I have had 2 MRIs and a CT scan on my lower back.  The first MRI done in 12/2006 showed "a far lateral disc herniation greater to the right at the L4-5 level with compression of the L4 nerve root and a small central disc herniation at the L5-S1 level".

My CT scan was done on 6/01/2007 and the impression was: "small central disc protrusion and broad-based disc bulge greater to the right at L4-5 which appears to abut upon the exiting L4 nerve root on the right"

I understand the above two studies pretty well but I'm having a hard time understanding the results of my recent MRI on 6/08/2007.

Interpretation:  There is a mild disc desiccation at L4-5. There is a mild diffuse disc bulge at L4-5 and a focal central disc bulge at L5-S1 similar to the prior study. There is no significant focal disc herniation into the canal. There is no canal stenosis. There is a right lateral (foraminal) disc bulge at L4-5 similar to the prior study. There is mild facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy greatest at L4-5.  There is bilateral mild L4 neuroforaminal narrowing.

Impression: No significant change from the prior study. There is shallow diffuse disc bulge at L4-5 and a small focal central disc bulge at L5-S1 without canal stenosis. There is mild bilateral L4 neuroforaminal narrowing due to facet and disc encroachment.

I am always in pain and my bad days are more than my good. It hurts to even touch my spine in that area.  I've tried the physical therapy, nerve blocks, chiropractor, massage, ultrasound and I'm about to start aqua therapy.  I'm not very hopeful only b/c of everything else I tried.  I can't exercise (besides walking) and I've always been in shape.  Now, my belly seems to be growing.  Please help!!!

[swtcheeks15]

My Dr. currently has me in Aqua Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.  They tried the "tens unit" on me which didn't help.  It's supposed to take away your pain by interrupting the signal from the site of pain to your brain.  I honestly did not feel any benefit.  In fact, I'm not feeling any different since all of this therapy except maybe worse after some excercises.  The new plan is to have a Discogram done on Aug 15th.  The out of town doctor said that if there is a tear in one of my discs it may not have shown on MRI or CT.  The most confusing thing about me is that I have the herniation on the right but my leg pain is on my left!  So, I guess we'll see what this test reveals and then move on to a new plan!

[Paula G]

Hi, i am 23 yrs old and 2 years ago i went  snowboarding for the first time, and lets just say i had a lot of trouble getting off the lift, for 6 hours. By the time we had to go back to the hotel, my back and hips felt like they had been hit with a baseball bat all night. Of course i didn't think anything of it, begin so young and very active in sports all of my life, karate, swim team in high school, dancer for 5 years, and figure skater for 6 (on ice) i have taken a few falls, but ever since that day of snowboarding i never have been the same, i had aches for the first time for a year after, and every few months would get extreme pain episodes, when bending, or lifting that would last anywhere from 3 days to 1 week. Then after another year passed had a few more days of pain and finally I was in tears and said I need to get something done, I was worried that I had a fractured  tail bone since sitting felt like I was sitting on a knife 80 percent of the time, and driving was worse. Also when I stood up from the sitting for a long period of time (more than 30 minutes) it was extremely painful , I felt horrendous. This time it didn't last 3 days or 1 week, it lasted 4 weeks. I had an X ray done of the sacrum coccyx, and it showed nothing, i was happy yet, confused , if that was not a fracture, why the heck does it feel like it?, how much pain does a person experience when they do have a fracture?, I couldn't even imagine, I didn't want to imagine, all I know is my pain was the worst I had experienced. My doctor had me on perdnisone for a week, and the pain didnt dull at all, So while being on the prednisone,  I had an MRI done, and the whole process of the MRI was very painful, because I had to lay down still and very stiff for 30 minutes on a hard surface. AHHHHHH!! was all i could think of in my mind, and when i got to the point of almost crying, they finally informed me that it was over with. PHEW!!! Now i go home and take my live saving percocet  and aleve, and finally can feel the pain dissipating, sort of. The results came in and turns out i have a L5 S1 disk desiccation with mild diffuse disk bulge, and a subcentimeter intramedullary lesion seen within the third sacral segment. My doctor told me that disk desiccation was common is much older people 40's +. So i must have had serious trauma when i fell 2 years ago. The trauma from being so active in sports all my life and that repeated fall while snowboarding  did me in. I also thourhgt since prednisone is a very strong anti-inflmammatory and I was on it while getting the MRI, how much worse would the results have been if i was off it?
I didn't feel crazy and my doctor finally believed me. Now my options are surgery, if now now, I will have to have it when im older as my disk desiccation will eventually cause me extreme pain and nerve problems, and surgery is the only way to fix this. Now being 23 yrs old and told that I have the beginning stages of disk degeneration disease, you can understand how depressed I feel at times. My pain medication helps but I cannot take it every day because of the obvious tolerance and addiction it could causea nyone, but i have a strong mind and   self control. I find that aleve helps sometimes, especially when taken on a daily basis, but i have to take breaks on that as it causes ungodly heartburn. Valium helps a lot as well, it relaxes those terrible spasms when your pain is a level 11. I am trying to save up money for a specialist , right now i am pretty broke  and have no insurance. Good luck to anyone out there, and if there is any advice out there for us pain sufferers let me know. BTW today is a level 11 pain day for me, ive been praying for this episode to end as soon as possible.
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***@****
Paula

[chadry]

I was wondering how your radio frequency went? Any success? Let us know.

[cali54]

Isn't it irritating to see "mild" when you are in so much pain?  I have all of the above.  By the time you get referrals for the next procedures your nerves start going.  My only bladder problem is I have to lean forward or it hurts my back.  I had problems and I had to have the uretha stretched which helped, however, in the 80's they used to do in the hospital under anesthia.  Now they do it in the office with nothing, wanted to kick the dr in the face. You should see a urologist for that.  You can do bladder strenthening muscles.  It seems some drs have heard everything and really don't care.  I said some drs.  I am having nerves deadened by radiofrequency on Friday after many epidurals and facet joint injections that failed.  I am praying for a miracle with this and will post results next week .  Praying for ya all right now

[chadry]

I have the bathroom problem myself. I explained to the W.C. docs that if I have to go a little and I bend over that's it. I have a problem. They just brushed me off due to the fact that I have 4 kids and probably weak bladder muscles. Well my last was born almost 12 years ago and this problem only really started to get bad after my injuries.I can understand the weak bladder muscles but why do I have problems when I bend over.I discussed this with my family doc and I told him I could not take the water pills for my blood pressure anymore cause I was having this problem He took me off the pills cause they were so mild anyway. Still have the problem though.
Best Wishes,
Christina

[swtcheeks15]

Thanks for the comments.  I have been to see an orthopedic dr in my area but was not very impressed so I am scheduled to see a spine dr out of town at the end of this month.  I had a series of 4 epidurals done and the last one finally gave me relief for 4 whopping days!!  =)  But, 4 days was better than nothing!!  I have not had an EMG so I don't know if they'll want one for my next appt.  It's nice to talk to someone in the same position.  I feel totally helpless!!  But I try not to get all down in the dumps.  Just take it day by day!

[lonniesldll]

i also have all the same problems and more i have them in back and neck with bone spurs pressing on nerves surgery not option because of heart problem and it seems that doc are afraid to give you anything to help with the pain my prayers are with you and i hope you the best

[Chris_M]

What kind of doctor have you seen so far?  I would seek out a qualified orthopedic spine surgeon or physiatrist affiliated with one of the better hospitals in your area.  You also may be a candidate for a lifestyle-based pain management program.

I would be glad to point you in the right direction.

All the best,
    Chris

[giveitback]

HI,

I am sorry to hear about your condition. I am suffering the same symptoms and it sucks. Sitting is nuts, and I am forever leaning to one side or holding myself with my arms to relieve pressure from totally sitting down.
Also, I have always been in great shape, very active and LOVE to work out. Now, I am not able to work out and am slowly gaining weight that is driving me nuts. It's like I have no control over my body anymore.
I just wanted to tell you I feel for you - keep your spirits up as best you can!

How long has this been going on? Are you a candidate for surgery? Also, did you find any relief in the epidurals? Have you had an EMG?

Cheers!

[swtcheeks15]

I can't sit.  It feels like an instant "flare up" when I sit down.  Usually I have to tilt to one side or just stand.  I have leg pain and weakness and just recently (past 4 months) I've been having problems with my bladder.  When I have to go, if I don't go immediately I will have an accident.