Thank you so much for your information and guidence. You've expertise has been very helpful.
Thank you again - and I hope you have a great day :)
Thank you for your question again. In short, your MRI report suggests that you have a new disc bulge at L1-L2 area and if we clinically correlate this, it could be the prime reason of your painful symptoms/irritating the nerve roots. I hope that laminectomy (surgery for such disc herniation ) may be a good option to provide relieve in your symptoms. Further referral to a physiotherapist for spinal exercises could be beneficial and may prevent recurrence of symptoms. Hope this helps. Take Care & Stay Healthy!!!
Thank you for the insight. I guess I will get the next epidural and if that does not work I will have the surgery. I can't live like this, I'm too active and sitting around in pain and not being able to go to work is driving me crazy. The MRI report for L1-2 read as follows: " At the L1-2 leve, there is a broad-based disc bulge with a moderate degree of spinal stenosis (whatever that is) and a downward disc herniation that is more prominent to the left of the midline than right. There is moderate left-sided foraminal narrowing (whatever that is) which might affect the exiting left L1 nerve root. All the nerve roots at this level are displaced posteriorly and the surrounding CSF (whatever that is) is significantly effaced." (whatever that means).
In the 'Impression" portion of the report it states the following about L1-2:
A new disc herniation and a broad-based disc bulge is seen at L1-2 causing moderate to moderately severe overall central canal stenosis and moderate left-sided forminal narrowing.
PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT ALL THIS MEANS.
Thank you very much for your expert input,
Can you explain what all of this means and if it sounds like doing the laminectomy my neorologist mentioned would eliminate my pain ???
Thank you for the insight. I guess I will get the next epidural and if that does not work I will have the surgery. I can't live like this, I'm too active and sitting around in pain and not being able to go to work is driving me crazy. The MRI report for L1-2 read as follows: " At the L1-2 leve, there is a broad-based disc bulge with a moderate degree of spinal stenosis (whatever that is) and a downward disc herniation that is more prominent to the left of the midline than right. There is moderate left-sided foraminal narrowing (whatever that is) which might affect the exiting left L1 nerve root. All the nerve roots at this level are displaced posteriorly and the surrounding CSF (whatever that is) is significantly effaced." (whatever that means).
In the 'Impression" portion of the report it states the following about L1-2:
A new disc herniation and a broad-based disc bulge is seen at L1-2 causing moderate to moderately severe overall central canal stenosis and moderate left-sided forminal narrowing.
PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT ALL THIS MEANS.
Thank you very much for your expert input,
Can you explain what all of this means and if it sounds like doing the laminectomy my doctor mentioned would eliminate my pain ???
Thank you very much for your question; although it is quite hard for me to give you a precise opinion here without being able to examine you, but I would try to provide you some relevant information about your health concern. In slipped disc or disc prolapse conditions (L1-2) symptoms may originate due to nerve root pressure, pressure on the spinal cord and pressure on the tail bone. Common symptoms could be paralysis of muscles, pain radiating to the arms or legs/hips, leg pain and numbness, tingling, or weakness. Warning symptoms can include loss of control of the bladder function, paralysis & spasticity of both the legs. If you are suffering continuous weakness and notice reduced strength of muscle bulk in leg, please arrange an appointment with a neurologist right away. Further referral to a physiotherapist for spinal exercises could be beneficial and may produce relief of symptoms. Hope this helps. Take Care & Stay Healthy!!!
It sounds like you had a bone graft from your hip to perform a fusion. Chronic pain in that area is a complication of the surgery. Most surgeons are now using cadaver bone due to the problems with using your own bone. Your Dr. is right-nothing can be done. However, shooting pains in buttocks/legs sounds like sciatica, which is compression of the nerve from your disc problem. If trying all conservative measures doesn't work, surgery may be an option. It is a difficult decision and you have to weigh risks with your present quality of life and see good neuro or ortho spinal surgeon to make an informed decision. I understand your pain. It *****. Good Luck.