What is the opinion of experts like Spine Specialists, Neuro-Surgeons, orthopedic surgeons on my MRI findings.?

[takhan455]

Since last one year I am having discomfort/pain around my lower back on both sides and prickling in back of right buttock and thy. Since last two to three months I am now also feeling numbness in my right leg and right foot when I get off after sitting or sleeping. Numbness gradually dies down and prickly feelings continue.

I am 54 years male. I am not diabetic and do not have problem with blood pressure. However, I am patient of cervical spondulosis, fischer, sinus and sleep epinia. But these are controlled. I am a retired army officer and presently performing as Technology Adviser in the field of Telecom and IT. Mostly, I am on table job with my laptop. Not doing any exercise.

I had my MRI test done for Lumber Spine on Sept 3, 2009. The findings are as under:-

1. Posterior ridging of the vertebral bodies of LV1-LV5 is seen.
2. Left postero-lateral herniation of LV2-3 inter-vertebral disc is seen causing severe compression of lateral recess and thecal sac. MR myelogram shows partial cut off at this level.
3. Posterior extrusion of LV4-5 inter-vertebral disc is seen, the extruded segment is seen extending upwards and lies right postero-lateral to body of LV4 causing severe compression of lateral recess and and spinal canal. MR myelogram shows complete cut off at this level.
4. Posterior mid-line herniation of LV5-SV1 inter-vertebral disc is seen causing compression of thecal sac.
5. Modic Type II degenerative changes are seen at the opposing end plates at LV2-3 and LV5-SV1, appearing hyper-intense on both T1WS and T2WS.
6. Poor signal reversal of nuclei pulposus of inter-vertebral discs LV1-SV1 is seen (dessicatory changes).
7. Pre-vertebral soft tissues appear normal.
8. No pre-vertebral enlarged limb nodes are seen.

Presently, I am under treatment of Orthopedic Specialist Surgeon; FRCS; UK. He has advised few medicines (Rheumatin 75mg BD, Capsule Lansoprazole OD, Neogab-Gabapentin TD, Tab Predrisolone 2 BD and Injection Methycobol every 3 days) for 2 weeks.

So far I did not have a severe pain or collapse situation and enjoying my routine working/social life.

What is your Opinion? How to proceed?
Should I opt for surgery at this stage at all?

Should I opt for multiple surgeries in all the three problem areas in one go or one by one?

Is it better to get operated by an Orthopedic Surgeon or Neuro-Surgeon?

Is there a reliable manipulation way to cure these defects? Many people claim so….
Your expert opinion may stop me taking wrong decision. Waiting..Thanks & Regards

[Tuckamore]

Hello Takhan,

Welcome to the Pain Management forum. Please know that you are always welcome here. I am glad that you found MedHelp. I am sorry but your question, looking for expert opinions cannot be answered on this forum. There are no Physicians, Spine Specialists, Neurosurgeons or Orthopedic surgeons here. Just ppl with chronic pain and personal experience. Did you mean to post on one of our expert physician forums? We do have them here.

The good news for you is that you say that you are not experiencing any severe pain. So for what's it's worth in my humble opinion I would not fix anything that is not truly broke yet. If you are functioning fairly normally surgery could change that. Most good surgeons will save surgery for the last resort.

Again in my opinion you are better off with a neurosurgeon when you are working so close to the spinal nerves. I doubt another surgeon would attempt spinal surgery, at least not in my state.  

Best of luck to you. Click on Forums at the top of this page and it will list all the forums and physicians that MedHelp offers in alphabetical order. You can re-post your well worded question on one of them.  I hope you will let us know how you are doing.

Take Care,
Tuck

[dixie1948]

sounds like you know what is going on with your body, that alone is great, i would really check into everything i can before i sign on that line for surgery, i for one have had the back surgery and they left me with ten pounds of metal,  i went everything they said and after 13 mos, i was released but  they have never to this day said if i will ever work again at anything, got a lot of maybes we will look in to that, i had to have everything removed i was in such pain i could not handle it, my husband found me one night out in the work shop looking for a saw i was going to saw ,my legs off, i didn,t do it he stop me and i thank god he did, i have learn never to pain anything just tell people i will try to be there i never know what is going to happen the next day with this pain,i get up and down most of the night and sleep when i can, a lot of cat naps, i use to have a clean house and you could eat off my floor, it isn,t bad now but would not be eating off the floor lol. all anyone can do is take one day at a time and deal with it, i also am on a lot of pain pills that work for a while, and then they up them on the mg, and we try that for a while. right now the best one i got is morphine 100s at least i get a few hours of sleep,have been on a walker for a while now and have a nice new wheel chair waiting on me when it gets to that point, medicare was so nice andgot that for me but i ask for a twnety dollar shower chair and got a 5000, chair, i wish all the luck in the would and will keep you in my prayers, and it does help you to talk about it and this is a great place to share with everyone