I am going to try and keep this short. In 10/06 I started experiencing tremendous right leg pain, high up in my hamstring. A burning pain. Saw a doctor, who ordered an MRI that revealed a disk herniations at L4-L5 and L5-S1. A subsequent EMG test also showed nerve damage at S1.
After non-surgical treatments failed, I had discectomy on 12/07. Leg never improved, continues to grow weaker by the day and also developed back stiffness and pain in my back since the surgery. An emergency room visit (due to tremendous pain) in early March '08 revealed I had eleved CK (creatine kinase) levels. Around 600 U/L. My doctor was completely stumped.
Another MRI was ordered at the end of March that showed evidence of epidural scarring from the surgery and that the disk has not herniated again. It also revealed that I have congenital spinal stenosis from L3 through S1. After being referred to Johns Hopkins for a second opinion, which really didn't amount to much, I started becoming my own docotor. Below is a summary sheet I am going to present to my doctors. It states findings from my latest MRI report as well as internet research articles. Please read and give me your opinon. Thank you.:
I believe the congenital spinal stenosis between levels L3 and S1 is causing radiculopathy
which is causing muscle atropy and elevating CK levels.
Below are direct quotes from my MRI results as well as internet research articles.
Lumbar MRI done 3/24/08: 3 Months Post Operation
At L3-4, There is an element of mild spinal canal stenosis with AP diameter of the spinal canal
measuring 8 mm
At L4-5, There is spinal canal stenosis with narrowing of the AP diameter of the spinal canal to 7 mm
At L5-S1, The AP diameter of the spinal canal is 9 mm
Impressions:
“I suspect that there is an element of associated congenital spinal canal stenosis with spinal canal
stenosis noted at the L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 levels”
Research Articles:
Excerpt explaining normal lumbar spinal canal diameters:
“The diameter of the normal lumbar spinal canal varies from 15 to 27 mm. Lumbar stenosis results from
a spinal canal diameter of less than 12 mm in some patients; a diameter of 10 mm is definitely
stenotic.”
“absolute (AP canal diameter less than 10 mm) or relative (10-13 mm canal diameter) stenosis are risk
factors for myeopathy, radiculopathy, or both due to relatively minor spondylosis pathology or trauma”
The Definition of radiculopathy:
“Doctors use the term radiculopathy to specifically describe pain, and other symptoms like numbness,
tingling, and weakness in your arms or legs that are caused by a problem with your nerve roots.”
Possible treatments????
I appreciate any feedback and apologize for the long post. I couldn't compress it anymore. Thank you
JohnViz