bulging disc and disc matter

[krispasmom]

Hi, Doctor, I was injured in march. I saw a M.D. she ordered X-ray ,all it showed was arthritis.and the doc. said I pulled a muscle . 2 weeks went by I was not getting better so they sent to an orthapedicHe said it was musculature sent t 6wks of therapy I was getting worse instead of better I asked for a mri twice but was told it was not necessary on july30 I went to see another orth. she ordered test onaug7 i had a mri ,aug15 i had an emg. the emg was normal but the mri showed ihave central disc protrusion and neural foramimal canal stenosis disc material closely opposes without diplacing the s1 nerve root Doc wants to  fit me for a backbrace to wear while I walk and do normal everyday activityalso wants to start treatment with epidural.What do you think? Should I ask to see a neurologist or just try it with this doc for awhile?

[mike1105]

no you dont have to suck it up and deal with it. if it is muscular, it can be fixed. If you are overweight, you ned to slim down. if you have a weak core you need to do proper exercises. if your posture is poor you need to fix it. the books and the website i suggested will guide you. It is a 24hr/day process. you cant do posture exercises and then slouch over the computer. your pelvis is probably tilted forward (Lower crossed syndrome) and with the right therapy you can fix it. iand no, it wont hurt just a" little longer" ---it will probably hurt indefinitely until you change the weigh your body is postured.

[krispasmom]

appreciate your comments and what you said makes alot of sense. I do not want surger I just want to g one day without back ad leg pain.I have been to therapy for 4 weeks at 3tie a week the first time and then 2weeks and 3 times a week the therapist told me they have goten as far as they could get me . I do my exercises at home 2and 3 time a da if I am at wal-mart or another store it's not unlikely to see me standing in the middle of the isle doing stretches to relieve the pain.I can relieve the pain for a short period of time with the exercises.I have had massage therapy to try to release  the periforis muscle and it does for a short time if I do any thing I mean any thing it tightens right back up. My first ortho. said Ihad chronic muscle spasms which causes the muscle to press on the sciactic nerve and there's where my pain,tingling and numbness come frrom.Really this is the least of my problrms the mri showed i had a mass on my ovary,had an ultrasound showed it was a 9.5cmtumor so now on my way to see an onc\gyn.So i guess i,m going to hurt a litle while longer just gotta suck it up and deal with it.huh?

[mike1105]

i am not an MD, but I am very well read on spine issues having been through hell and back (no pun intended) on my own. If your imaging is unremarkable, (sounds it---disc protrusion and stenosis usually do not cause symptoms and are common in people over 30-35) your problem is probably muscular. when you injure your back, most often the pain is from muscles that are in spasm. trigger points develop. these muscles need to be released and stretched, and certain other muscles may need to be strengthened. In my humble opinion wearing a brace may be counterproductive.--if muscle spasm (myofascitis) is the problem, bracing them will weaken them (disuse) and prevent them from being stretched. they will tighten even more. I'd pursue the PT. Remember a PT's job is to instruct you how to fix yourself. Do not expect to be fixed by going once or twice a week for an hour or so. the stretches and exercises need to be done often at home. I recommend a book by lair Davies on trigger point release, a book by Paul D'Arezzo on posture, and a website by Jolie Bookspan on back pain. do not look for something to have surgery on, If it is not there, it is not there. If you keep looking and keep having scans, you may end up with surgery that does not help or makes you worse.