Severe Low Back Pain

Currently i am having severe lower back pain, left leg pain radiating to the knee, injury from heavy lifting and motor vehicle accident approximately three years ago.

I just received my MRI results.  Observation:  Vertebral alignment is normal.  The lower spinal cord is normal terminating at at L1.
At L4-5, there is disk desiccation with mild broad-based disk protrusion with bright signal intensity in the annulus on T2.
At L5-S1, there is disk narrowing, disk desiccation, discogenic changes in the bone marrow of the adjacent vertebral endplates, mild broad-based disk bulging, and bright signal intensity in the annulus on T2 weighted imaging consistent with annular tear
Impression:  Degenerative disk disease.

Based on this information what does this mean and what would be the proper care and or alternatives.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

The degenerative disk disease is slowly progressive. The picture will worsen with time. You will have to consult an orthopedic surgeon soon and think about surgically correcting the condition.

Now you should avoid lifting weights and any other movement which is expected to give jerks to the spine. Take as much rest as possible. But do not take rest all the time. Some amount of exercise is also necessary to keep the back muscle toned up to support the spine.

Regards