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need opinions please

My MRI results showed right-sided annular bulge and grade 1 spondolylosis in the L5-S1 and foraminal stenosis but no defent nerve root impingment. My simptoms have been deep pain dead center of my low back with constent pain and numbness in buttocks, back of legs and and when sitting shoots to my calves.Pain seems to get worst the longer I sit, but if I stand for to long the pain increases as well. Seen the specialist, he went over the MRI images with me, showed me the buldge, did  a physical examination. Told me he thinks it is an annular tear.
My MRI pictures did not look like those pictures of positive findings of annular tears. My primary care provider seems to think the MRI findings are not significant to my symptoms, but why am I having this pain for so long ( 3 months)?
Is it possible i could have an annular tear but it just shows as a bulde on the MRI?
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Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi there. Your MRI reported foramina  stenosis and the neurologist also felt that you have annular tear. Causes of sciatica are spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis where one backbone has slipped forward over another causing pressure on the sciatic nerve, a pinched sciatic nerve or piriformis syndrome where sciatic nerve becomed trapped deep in the buttock by the piriformis muscle.
The symptoms are pain, deep severe pain starting on one side of lower back and shooting down the buttock and leg with certain movements. It also causes hip pain. This is made worse with both prolonged sitting and standing. Avoid bending, lifting, and sitting in a soft, low chair. Unless allergic or contraindicated, over the counter pain medicines like acetaminophen,
Aspirin or ibuprofen will help. Try an alternating cold pack and heat from electrical heating pads or moist heat with towel wrung from hot water. Lie down on firm and flat surface. When all these fail, the last option you have is surgical repair of the cause. Take a second neurological opinion for the same. Take care.



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1175033 tn?1492201228
Mri's are not perfect, and it can be hard for doctors to really tell whats going on until they do surgery and look at it. So it could be torn, and they just could tell, heck it could have herniated. If a person is young and healthy a herniated disk can heal somewhat on its own. I have a whole lot of bulged disks and  my L 4-5 has a annual tear and it hurt like hell for months and I couldnt sit at all for at least 2 months. Anytime I went in the car I had to lay in the back seat and the same disk gives me problems all the time now. Just like you the doctors say my damage is mild to moderate so it shouldn't be causing me much pain.
  I would try for a second opinion and push for some kind of treatment. If you do have surgery, I would opt for a disk replacement but you have to have good insurance to get any good treatment is seems these days. They can also try injections, but those are sometimes painful because they are also diagnostic. Just keep fighting, they almost always have to wait for 3 months to see if the pain resolves on its own and when it doesnt they should have to do something.  
I hope this helps, good luck!
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