lumbar spondylosis

MRI finding: lumbar spondylosis with disc bulge and overriding caudally migrated left paracentral herniated (protusion) disc material at L4-L5 level into left lateral recess with mild ligamentum flavum hypertrophy causing left sided nerve root compression. mild disc bulges are at L!-L2, L@-L3 and L5-S1 levels are also noted.

EMG revealed chronic regenerative changes in bilateral L4-S1, with maximum involvement in left L5-S1 region.

Can anyone explain why the pain is not reducing despite 3 months of bed rest, 2 months of physiotherapy? thinking of taking steroid injections.. Is surgery the way out? What are the odds of recovery. Patient 67 yrs old female.

[Dr Vinod]

Spinal nerves come out of your vertebra all along the cervical neck region to your lumbar in the lower back region.
They supply to your legs, hands and also your body.
Pain is due to the particular never compression and in your case is L4/L5 so pain cannot be relieved completely by conservative methods like bed rest, physiotherapy as you have problems in your spine according to MRI.
Surgery is an option and the orthopaedician/neurosurgeon will weigh the advantages of surgery to the present status and will go ahead once you approve as your age is 67years.
Take care and come back to us on further queries!