back and hip

i fell about a year ago and every since i have had lower back andhand hip pain. i also become very stiff after sitting . i have back and hip pain,i have had a mri done. the conclusion was there is mild  annular bulging at lower lumbar  levels and facet arothropathy.there is no focal disc herniation or evidence of direct neural inpingement. iwould like to know what this means.the mri was on my lumbar spine.

[Joanna Fong, MD]

Hi 5hirley1,

Your lower back pain is likely a result of your fall one year ago.  Lower back pain can be due to many things.  To list a few (in the order of frequency)

Lumbar strain, sprain (70 percent)
Degenerative processes of disks and facets, usually age-related (10 percent)
Herniated disk (4 percent)
Spinal stenosis (3 percent)
Osteoporotic compression fracture (4 percent)
Spondylolisthesis (2 percent)
Traumatic fracture (<1 percent)
Congenital disease (Pain management (non-opioid medications are recommended over opioids.  Opioids may be appropriate for short-term use in patients with severe acute pain, but should be used with great caution in patients with chronic back pain, monitored closely, and restricted to patients who are at low risk for drug dependence.)
                >Bed mattress choice
                >Exercise and physical therapy
2)  GLUCOCORTICOID INJECTIONS
                >Epidural injection  
                >Facet joint injection
                >Local injection
                >Piriformis syndrome injection
                >Intradiscal injection
3)  SPINAL SURGERY
               > Laminectomy and microdiscectomy
                >Minimally invasive procedures
                >Spinal fusion
                >Lumbar disc replacement
4)  CHYMOPAPAIN INJECTION
5)  BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
6)  OTHER TREATMENTS
                >Spinal manipulation
                >Traction
                >Acupuncture
                >Massage
                >Yoga
                >Anti-TNF-alpha therapy
               > Botulinum toxin
                >Magnet therapy
                >Biofeedback using electromyography
                >Facet joint denervation
I               >ntradiscal electrothermal therapy
                >Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
                >Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Good luck.

THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL MEDICAL EDUCATION PURPOSE ONLY.  PLEASE CONTACT YOUR PHYSICIAN FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT OPTIONS OF YOUR SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

[mike1105]

it is quite possible that when you feel, you strained certain muscles, or certain muscles went into spasm as a form of protection, and that these muscles have remained stiff and unforgiving. in this case they need to be steretched, and the tight fascia in these muscles needs to be released. you may also have a forwardly tilted pelvis which is kind of locked in place by these muscles. this is a postural issue. I'd recommend a good myofascil release therapist. see John Barnes Website and info about his clinic in Paoli, Pennsylvania.

[texgal2]

I myself am having a laminectomy and discetomy on aug the 7th, so I know the pains you are going through. I had numerous mris and xrays and have went through all the test and injections and whatnot, but mine never relieved any of the pain more than a day or too and after 3 opinions we are left to do surgery. so good luck to you