Confused and Curious

[Checka]

Hi everyone!
   I haven't posted on this group before, so I thought I'd give it a try.  I'm 19 years old and recently have been back and forth to the hospital for various different appointments over the last month. Some findings have come about which I'm finding to be a little overwhelming.
  A little history first, I was diagnosed with scoliosis in the 6th grade and wore a Boston Brace for 2 years. Then had surgery to remove an osteoid osteoma (benign tumor) from my lumbar spine.  Close to 2 years ago I started experiencing terrible lower back pain  which would radiate down my buttock down to my right calf.  It hurts more with standing or sitting for longer then 10 mins.  My ortho found 2 herniated discs, a disc bulge, and minimal spinal stenosis.  He referred me to a neurosurgeon for a pre-op to fix the disc areas.  Although, he felt my pain was not due to the discs and referred me to a sports medicine dr.  There I was told I have sacroillitis and have been given anti-inflammatory meds and will be fitted for an SI belt Thursday.
   I have done some of my own research and it seems that degenerative changes occur in people much older than me.  Also I'm not sure how someone all of a sudden gets inflammation in the joints.  I have had no injury, I'm a normally active person.  Sorry this is so lengthy! I just feel like every week its something new and I dont know why things are happening.  Thanks for any help!

[JainMD]

Hi,
I feel pleased that I was of some help to you.
There are lots of causes for Degenerative Disc Disease.
I think you can refer to following URL for further information.
http://www.spine-health.com/topics/cd/degen/feature/w_degen01.html
Keep me informed if you still have any questions.
Bye.

[Checka]

Thank you very much for you response.  My orthopedic surgeon agreed with your findings that my pain was due to the disc issues.  He sent me to the neurologist who said he was not even close to being 100% confident that my pain was anywhere related to my disc issue.
  I'm mostly wondering why this degeneration has started to occur at a young age? Does that mean as I get older it will just get even worse?

[JainMD]

Hi,
How are you feeling?
Your symptoms suggest that you might be having radiculopathy in lower limbs.
In the lumbosacral spine, radicular symptoms are caused by an intervertebral disc bulge, protrusion, extrusion, or sequestration that compresses and inflames a nerve root in approximately 98% of all cases.
Other causes of radicular symptoms emanating from the lumbosacral spine include disc osteophytes, a buckled ligamentum flavum, zygapophysial (Z)-joint hypertrophy, and there causes of lumbosacral spinal stenosis.
I think this should answer most of your questions.
When low back pain becomes chronic (lasting more than 3 months), the evidence regarding its etiology and pathophysiology is much more scientific and complete.
Chronic low back pain has been shown to be caused by a painful intervertebral disc (discogenic low back pain) in approximately 39% of cases, a diseased Z-joint in up to 30% of cases, and sacroiliac joint disease in approximately 15% of cases.
I think you should be asking for re-evaluation with the help of an orthopaedician and neurologist.
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.