What is the cause of my severe lower back pain?

[Robinlynn]

I have had severe lower back pain for approx 1 month now. I have seen my MD  numerous times. He thought that I pulled a muscle. I did not do anything physical to have pulled a muscle. I have had an X-RAY, CT SCAN and a MRI of my lower spine. The MRI  showed the following: 1)  multiple gallstones virtually filling the visualized portion of the neck of the gallbladder, peri-cholecystic fluid detected on the margin of the images. 2) There is a 3.8 cm cyst in the anterior aspect of the right kidney, which is almost certain a simple cyst but is incompletely caracterized on this exam. 3) Moderate degeneration of the intervertebral disk with mild bulging and a posterior midline tear. 4) Mild degenerative facet arthrosis at L 4-5 and on the left at L 3-4. Which of these findings is most likely the cause of my lower back pain? Or, are there more tests needed  to determine the cause?

[opinmin]

Totally agree your lumbar area is the biggest culprit.  A gallbladder full of stones does not help much either; it can aggreviate the back problem.  Two suggestions: gallbladder out and ortho consult.  

[nebrown]

Hi robinlynn. I just wanted to let you know that all of the things you have listed could be causing your pain. I too have sever back pain with numbness radiating down the left leg. I also have disc herniations and bulging at the L4-5. I have been seeing an orthopedic doctor for this for several months. I have had seveal epidural pain injections and they have really worked for me. But be careful after I had my first injection I had severe headaches this was due to a spinal fluid leak at the injection site. This is quite common and usually only happens after the first injection. I was placed on percocet. It helped with the pain but didn't fix the problem. They had to do what is called a blod patch. This is where they take some of your own blood and inject it into the same injection site. I didn't have any problems after that and I didn't have that problem with any other injections.

[remar]

All of these are causing your back pain.
Has your Dr mentioned removing your gall bladder? That would take away some of your pain.
It sounds like you need to see an Orthopedic Dr for disc problems.
There's no wonder your in so much pain. Take care. Remar