L5-S1...Help..

[Chasnurse]

I have suffered from LBP for approx 6 years.
I have been told that the pain I have could be a "chemical irritation" from a broad based buldging disc at L5-S1. I have also been told that there is no physiological reason why I have lt. leg radicular pain.
My question is can a person have a chemical irritation for 6+ years, the pain is not constant, but only happens when I do something stenuous. The only thing that helps after that is a Epidural Injection then I am pain free from 6 months to a year.
I have had Mri's, EMG and Myleogram. The MRI's show a moderate diffuse central disc bulging, with contact with both S1 nerve roots, but frank displacement is not identified.  The EMG and Myleogram were both "unremarkable".
  Do you have any suggestions on other means of diagnostics that can pin-point the reasons for the pain?
Are there any treatments or procedures that can help with relieving this pain either temp. or permanetly?

Thank you in Advance for any help you can give to help me understand this.

[mrworth]

i had a herniated disc at L5/S1.  i had surgery (discectomy) to repair it.  i don't have any pain down my leg from pressure on the nerve, but i still have pain in my lower back.  what's the best way to alleviate this pain?  anti-inflammatory pills, steroid injection?  the pain is more prevalent after i do anything physical such as work or basketball.

[St. Louisan]

Ok, here's my problem.  

I have a herniated disc.  How do you know the difference between a herniated disc and a ruptured disc?  I have talked to alot of people about my back problem.  One said that if she could do it over again that she wouldn't of had it....alot of others say that the surgery did wonders to their back and most importantly "NO PAIN!!"  

My disc, at the time the MRI was taken (a month ago), was/is herniated....the pain seems to be getting worse as the days go on...the Vicodin doesn't help so they finally gave me Darvoset.  I really as so sick of taking medication....I try not to take them unless the pain gets to the point that I can't take it any more.  They are supose to do the injection on the 28th of this month, I don't think it's going to work.  When I showed my MRI x-rays to a Chiropractor, she said that from what she sees, that the next step for this disc is to finally RUPTURE.  So how do I know if it has already ruputured or not....since the pain seems to be increasing.  


Some one give me some input on my situation, PLEASE.


Christy

[Charmom]

I have also had lower back pain and leg pain for the past 5 years following 2 back surgeries attempting to stableize infuse parts of my spine as a result of scoliosis. Ive had numerous epidural injections, radiofrequency lesioning, facetjoint injections, myolograms etc... with no relief. finally a pain management doc performed a discogram with contrast followed by a CT scan. It showed that i have leakage of the disc towards the spinal cord. it was recomended to me to have an IDET procedure done to strengthen the disc and hopefully stop the leakage. IDET stands for indradiscal electrotherapy. im trying to find other people that have this procedure done and their results. some insurance companies wont cover it because its considered "experimental" even though FDA has approved after clinical trials etc...

Comments would be very much appriciated.
             Thanks,
                Charmom

[Chasnurse]

Thank you for the input and advice.
I have shown my records to my PCM and he is sending me to see a Neurosurgeon locally.  
I will make sure I take the Myleogram and MRI films to see if maybe something was missed.
If nothing comes out of this, my next step will be to see a DO.

[ChiroDoc]

Hi,
I agree with the Dr., find a DO with experience in manipulation or a DC and you will more than likely get great relief without the damaging effects of steroids.
ChiroDoc

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-RPS]

Dear Chasnurse:

Sorry to hear that you have a radiculopathy with back pain.  We usually do not see radiculopathies with disc herniations that do not compromise the thecal sac.  But every now and then there is someone like yourself that has a radiculopathy.  The usual case is where another neuroradiologist or more likely a radiologist who is reading the spinal film does not see or call the abnormality correctly.  There was a New England Journal article a few months back that showed that osteopathic manipulation of the back was as good or better than medication or chiropractor manipulation of lower back pain, to eliminate it and prevent progression of the pain.  This is something you might look into.  At least I would recommend a good rehab team of physician, PT and alot of work.  We have found this very good in cases like yours.  There are also some good chiropractors out there whom we have had success dealing with.  

Without seeing the film I can't tell you why your experiencing the pain.  My guess is that a better look at the MRI would show something.

Sincerely,

CCf Neuro MD