Aa
treatment
what is the conventional treatment for the following diagnosis
Moderate to severe lower lumbar spondylosis with advanced degenerative disc disease and right sided foraminal narrowing at L4 - L5 / L5 - S1
Diagnosis also includes :
L 5 - S1 Moderate circumferential disc bulge with osteophyte formation. Bilateral facet arthosis exists in the area.
Severe Right and Moderate left with foraminal narrowing. Diffuse endplate edema with gas in the disc space.
L4 - L5 Mild to Moderate circumferential disc bulge with osteophyte formation with super imposed with right sided disc osteophyte complex causing Severe Right with foraminal narrowing. Right paracentral narrowing in the descending right L5 nerve root. Mild to Moderate central canal stenosis with left side narrow foraminal. Gas is seen throughout disc space with endplate marrow edema asymmetric to the right
L1 - L2 Disc is intact
L2 - L3 Shows small disc bulging and herniation with mild arthosis and mild bilateral foraminal narrowing.
L3 - L4 Medium size posterior disc trusion with bilateral foraminal narrowing. Disc material indents the ventral thecal sac without contact upon the cord.
Moderate to severe lower lumbar spondylosis with advanced degenerative disc disease and right sided foraminal narrowing at L4 - L5 / L5 - S1
Diagnosis also includes :
L 5 - S1 Moderate circumferential disc bulge with osteophyte formation. Bilateral facet arthosis exists in the area.
Severe Right and Moderate left with foraminal narrowing. Diffuse endplate edema with gas in the disc space.
L4 - L5 Mild to Moderate circumferential disc bulge with osteophyte formation with super imposed with right sided disc osteophyte complex causing Severe Right with foraminal narrowing. Right paracentral narrowing in the descending right L5 nerve root. Mild to Moderate central canal stenosis with left side narrow foraminal. Gas is seen throughout disc space with endplate marrow edema asymmetric to the right
L1 - L2 Disc is intact
L2 - L3 Shows small disc bulging and herniation with mild arthosis and mild bilateral foraminal narrowing.
L3 - L4 Medium size posterior disc trusion with bilateral foraminal narrowing. Disc material indents the ventral thecal sac without contact upon the cord.
Hi -- welcome.
Remember the story about the blind men and the elephant.
One feels a leg and says -- must be a tree.
Another feels the trunk and says -- must be a huge snake.
Etc.
Reading an MRI without knowing your history and symptoms is kind of like those blind men.
Moral -- it is difficult to tell anything from just an MRI.
You must be pretty sore. Nerves from that area of the spine -- the lumbar -- can cause pain in the buttocks, legs, knees, lower back. But they can also cause problems with urination, defecation, and other essential functions.
Your treatment options should be based on benefit vs the risk you accept by having a treatment -- like surgery.
I'm not saying you need surgery. Frankly, I haven't said much other than, We don't know what you should do.
Its time for you to go back to school -- you don't have to go far. Everything you need to know is on the internet these days.
You have lumbar spine disease. You need to learn about the lumbar spine, these diseases, how they match up with your symptoms, and what can and should be done about it.
Your doctors should be helping you through this process, but the unfortunate fact of today's medical business is that many doctors focus more on their computer screens than the patient in front of them.
So begin reading -- sites like spineuniverse.com describe conditions like yours -- degenerative disc disease, disc bulge, facet arthosis (should say facet arthropathy), central canal stenosis, foraminal stenosis.
To understand these conditions (all resulting from the first -- degenerative disc disease), you'll need to understand the anatomy of the lumbar spine.
Take a look at the site I mentioned.
Ask questions -- write them down for your doctor to answer.
I know that you're feeling pain from facet arthropathy -- that's an arthritic condition of the joints surrounding the back, that allow you to bend and flex. This is treatable with an interventional procedure called radio frequency ablation (or medial branch neurotomy). Look up these Treatments.
Some conditions, like severe foraminal stenosis and severe central canal stenosis may require surgical intervention. They call this "decompression surgery" because the idea of the surgery is to take pressure off the spinal cord, and the nerve root.
This does not guarantee any relief in pain, and some crazy surgeons believe that pain relief from this very invasive surgical procedure requires only extra strength tylenol. Man, would I love to practice my old surgical skills on that particular orthopedic surgeon.
Medical treatment of the pain of central canal stenosis is recommended by medical science, but we live in an age of fear when it comes to prescribing effective pain medication.
The more you know, and the more you can discuss your condition intelligently with your doctor, the better your care is going to be come.
Some folks just can't do this -- I understand.
But try. You need care, and you need the right kind of care.
People in pain, with severe spine disease need to watch their doc like a hawk to receive good care these days.
If we can help, please write.
Best wishes.
Remember the story about the blind men and the elephant.
One feels a leg and says -- must be a tree.
Another feels the trunk and says -- must be a huge snake.
Etc.
Reading an MRI without knowing your history and symptoms is kind of like those blind men.
Moral -- it is difficult to tell anything from just an MRI.
You must be pretty sore. Nerves from that area of the spine -- the lumbar -- can cause pain in the buttocks, legs, knees, lower back. But they can also cause problems with urination, defecation, and other essential functions.
Your treatment options should be based on benefit vs the risk you accept by having a treatment -- like surgery.
I'm not saying you need surgery. Frankly, I haven't said much other than, We don't know what you should do.
Its time for you to go back to school -- you don't have to go far. Everything you need to know is on the internet these days.
You have lumbar spine disease. You need to learn about the lumbar spine, these diseases, how they match up with your symptoms, and what can and should be done about it.
Your doctors should be helping you through this process, but the unfortunate fact of today's medical business is that many doctors focus more on their computer screens than the patient in front of them.
So begin reading -- sites like spineuniverse.com describe conditions like yours -- degenerative disc disease, disc bulge, facet arthosis (should say facet arthropathy), central canal stenosis, foraminal stenosis.
To understand these conditions (all resulting from the first -- degenerative disc disease), you'll need to understand the anatomy of the lumbar spine.
Take a look at the site I mentioned.
Ask questions -- write them down for your doctor to answer.
I know that you're feeling pain from facet arthropathy -- that's an arthritic condition of the joints surrounding the back, that allow you to bend and flex. This is treatable with an interventional procedure called radio frequency ablation (or medial branch neurotomy). Look up these Treatments.
Some conditions, like severe foraminal stenosis and severe central canal stenosis may require surgical intervention. They call this "decompression surgery" because the idea of the surgery is to take pressure off the spinal cord, and the nerve root.
This does not guarantee any relief in pain, and some crazy surgeons believe that pain relief from this very invasive surgical procedure requires only extra strength tylenol. Man, would I love to practice my old surgical skills on that particular orthopedic surgeon.
Medical treatment of the pain of central canal stenosis is recommended by medical science, but we live in an age of fear when it comes to prescribing effective pain medication.
The more you know, and the more you can discuss your condition intelligently with your doctor, the better your care is going to be come.
Some folks just can't do this -- I understand.
But try. You need care, and you need the right kind of care.
People in pain, with severe spine disease need to watch their doc like a hawk to receive good care these days.
If we can help, please write.
Best wishes.
Hello and Welcome.
You have significant changes in your spine - if must be accompanied by some nasty discomfort. I'm sorry. I'm assuming you are not in your youth as much of this appears to be age related changes.
"L5 - S1 Moderate circumferential disc bulge with osteophyte formation. Bilateral facet arthosis exists in the area. Severe Right and Moderate left with foraminal narrowing. Diffuse endplate edema with gas in the disc space. " Ouch!
There are a variety of non-surgical treatment options for such degenerative changes. What your specialist will determine is the best course of treatment or action for you, I cannot say.
Some treatments include anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing medications, exercise including Physical Therapy, stretching, Steroidal Injections, acupuncture, weight management, possibly a RFA and other techniques.
In the end surgery may be an option. Indeed it may be recommended. It's important that you do exactly what you are doing - educate yourself. Understand the terms and the normal structure of the spine and your current structure. Be able to intelligently discuss options with your medical providers.
Do you have specific question? If so please feel free to ask. I hope to hear from you again soon. I wish you the best.
Take Care,
~Tuck
You have significant changes in your spine - if must be accompanied by some nasty discomfort. I'm sorry. I'm assuming you are not in your youth as much of this appears to be age related changes.
"L5 - S1 Moderate circumferential disc bulge with osteophyte formation. Bilateral facet arthosis exists in the area. Severe Right and Moderate left with foraminal narrowing. Diffuse endplate edema with gas in the disc space. " Ouch!
There are a variety of non-surgical treatment options for such degenerative changes. What your specialist will determine is the best course of treatment or action for you, I cannot say.
Some treatments include anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing medications, exercise including Physical Therapy, stretching, Steroidal Injections, acupuncture, weight management, possibly a RFA and other techniques.
In the end surgery may be an option. Indeed it may be recommended. It's important that you do exactly what you are doing - educate yourself. Understand the terms and the normal structure of the spine and your current structure. Be able to intelligently discuss options with your medical providers.
Do you have specific question? If so please feel free to ask. I hope to hear from you again soon. I wish you the best.
Take Care,
~Tuck
Have you experienced any spine related discomfort?
Your age? Gender? Have you been screened for osteoporosis?
Your age? Gender? Have you been screened for osteoporosis?
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