neck and low back pain

[lindascearce]

I have had two surgery's on L4/L5. the last was a fusion about 4 years ago. I have been having sever pain in my back and legs. I also started having terrible paid in both of my arms and in my hands. I was sent for a mri of my neck and a ct mylegram of my lumbar spine. Here is the results.

c3-4 mild broad based disk bulge causing mild spinal canal narrowing and moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing, right greater than left
c4-5 no significant disease
c5-6 moderate broad based disk bulge which contacts with ventral cord causing moderate to sever spinal canal narrowing with moderate right and severe left neural foraminal narrowing
c6-7 mild broad based disk bulge causing minimal spinal canal narrowing, no significant neural foraminal narrowing


l1-2 mild broad based disk bulge causing no significant narrowing
l2-3 mild broad based disk bulge causing no significant narrowing
l3-4 mild broad based disk bulge which in conjunction with severe bilateral hypertrophic facet arthropathy and extensive ligamentum flavum hypertrophy results in moderate to severe spinal canal narrowing with mild right and moderate left neural foraminal narrowing
l4-5 severe degenerative disk ddisease characterized by complete loss of disk height. minor borad based disk bulge with bilateral facet arthropathy causing no significant stenosis at this level
l5s1 no significant stenosis mild to moderate bilateral facet arthropathy.

Help what does all this mean.

[HOTONCA]

Hi Linda, all I can tell you is that I have been with neck and low back pain for the last 5 1/2 years.  I understand you well and let me tell you. My pain has not gone below the level of 6, but most of the time I have it at the level of 7-8 with medications and without the pain goes up to 9-10.  I've cried so many times, if not always.  In fact, I even considered euthanization, but Texas does not allow it.  Further, I have been close to committing suicide, but the love I have for my children keeps me going.  I am always depress, full of anxiety, stress, PTSD and several other side effects that are secondary to the injuries I have and the medications I have been taking such as:  Blurry vision, headaches, electric shocks all over my whole body, specially on the left side, losing my balance, numbness, tingling, chest pain, stomach pain, contingences on both sides, insomnia, lock of concentration and anger, because my case is work related yet, even when there is a way to help me, the insurance choose not to, because they want to save money and on top of that, they even withdraw me twice from effexor when I was taking up to 350MGs.  My problems increased because of that, yet when seems like the insurance is more powerful or exercise power over the government, because they do the way they want with me and many other people that came injured from Iraq, the same way I did.  My point is, that you need to hang in there and like me, please continue trying to find help, with or without lawyer, because the ones I had so far, seems like they work for the insurance and not for me. Take care and I am sorry for you to.
If there is someone up there that can provide me with help, please do it, I would appreciate it a lot.

Respectfully,

Mavc.

[kittyluv1]

Welcome to the Back and Neck Community.  Members are here to provide assistance and support to individuals experiencing symptoms related to possible abnormal conditions of the spine.  Advice given is non-professional and is primarily based on personal experiences.

I am sorry to hear of your continued health problems.  Pain can be very frustrating and difficult to endure when it interferes with our ability to function.
From your medical history and the results of your recent MRI, it appears that you are dealing with degenerative disc disease in both your cervical and lumbar spine.
In your cervical spine there is evidence of disc bulging at multiple levels.  The source of your neck and arm/hand pain is most likely due to the C5-6 and C6-7 levels, the worst being C5-6.  The spinal canal is the opening through which the spinal cord travels from the brain to the other parts of the body.  When narrowing occurs as in your case, the cord changes shape due to the pressure exerted on it by the bulging disc.  This will produce the pain you are experiencing.  The neural foramina are the openings at each level through which the spinal nerves exit the spinal cord and travel to the other parts of the body. With narrowing, there is nerve involvement producing the pain.
Your lumbar spine also shows degenerative changes primarily at the L3-4 level and the L4-5 level.  Both levels show bony overgrowth that  has  caused narrowing at the L3-4 level of the spinal canal and neural foramen..The degenerative changes at L4-5 are not currently causing significant narrowing.
After a fusion, the adjacent disc levels are at risk for further degeneration due to the increased stress that they handle in the absence of the fused disc spaces.  This puts all fusion patients at risk for additional surgery at a later date.
If you are still treating with your previous surgeon, he will review the clinical findings of the MRI in more detail and explore the available treatment options which could involve additional surgery.
I recently had anterior cervical discectomy and fusion C4-C7 and have done very well postop.  However, my neurosurgeon has informed me that my higher disc levels may degenerate more and additional surgery could be needed.
Please post again with an update after you have consulted with your surgeon and with any additional questions and/or concerns you may have.
Best wishes ----