When I was 36, I was told that I had DDD, Lumbar stenosis, & disc space narrowing, protrusion on S1 nerve root. I had my back fused in 2000 when I was 38 on the L5-S1. It relieved a lot of pain & only had issues a few times a year. Back in 08 starting having issues, went on prednisone, pain killers ect. This yr prednisone did not work like it did in past. I have spasms almost every morning, deep in lower back does not feel like muscle. Have also had what I call lock pain upon waking up, a pain so great that I cant move or it gets more intense. I take this to be the spasms but just greater(?)Since 08 have no reflexes in right knee, little in left. Pain from lower back to hip down right leg behind knee cap. numbness to toes on right.few times have had while walking, like knife being turned in back & I went to floor.
L1-L2 there is minimal diffuse disc bulge w/out significant central canal or neural foraminal narrowing.
L2-L3 no disc space abnormality is identified
L3-L4 there is no disc bulge or herniation. Minimal facet joint degeneration changes are noted. There is minimal bilateral neural foraminal narrowing w/out evidence for neural impingement.
L4-L5 there is minimal diffuse disc bulge. Enhancing epidural scar tissue is seen within the lateral recesses. There is moderate to severe bilateral facet joint hypertrophy with mass effect on the lateral aspect of the thecal sac. There is mild to moderate right neural foraminal narrowing at this level.
L5-S1 laminectomy defects are identified. enhancing epidural scar tissue is seen within the lateral recess. there is no evidence for a disc bulge or herniation. There is mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing; evaluation is limited due to artifact from fusion hardware.
Conus medullaris terminates at L1 level and is normal in morphology. Following intravenous contrast administration, there is no abnormal enhancement. The cauda equina nerve roots have a normal appearance.
thank you so much for any advice