L-5/S-1

[sunnie1969]

My daughter is 16 years old and has been in competitive  cheerleading for the past 5 to 6 years. She had back pain on and off for 2 to 3 years. We had to go to a dr due to her IT band and bursitis in her hip. She was sent to therapy where they found she had left side weakness and that she was having numbness in both of her legs with pain that was starting to go to her knee. She was then sent back to the doctor the next day and he also found she had left side weakness and numbness  in both legs and pain to her knee and ordered and MRI for the next day. We had the MRI done and received a call from the dr stating she had to see a back surgeon due to the findings. The Dr. found that she has L-5/S-1 extruded disc on both sides Dr. told me this and I call it ruptured since the dr explained her disc has a hole in it and everything that was in the disk is now outside it. Dr showed us the mro and her disk is flat on both sides.  She had a nerve block last month and we found for the first 3-4 days she was in more pain and we found she is allergic to hydrocodone. The dr stated this could happen and it looked like the nerve block did not work for her. He did give her low dose pain pills. She is now having surgery this month. I have spoken with dr as one of my concerns was her age and taking pain pills and if this did not work what would happen?  

It is hard to watch your child in so much pain and not know really what to do but what you have been told. She was also told see could never go back to cheerleading or any competitive sport. This is hard for her as this has been her life with her friends and now she is in pain and has to make changes .

[remar]

You're very welcome.
I really am sorry your daughter is going through all of this at such a young age.
When she has the surgery she has to have a lot of rest. Moving around to much to fast can undo everything.
Please keep me up to date on how she's doing.

[sunnie1969]

Thank you so much for the information it really does help. I was called last week and told they also think she has a pars fracture in her back also so we did a ct scan  at the hospital yesterday and will see the surgeon again  this Friday.  Her surgery was moved until May.  

[remar]

I'm so sorry your daughter is going through this. Try not to worry about the pain pills. I bet they gave her a very low dose because of her age. Just have to take one when she really needs to.
These days they do alot of back surgeries very differently. My husbands best friend just had back surgery and it was an out patient procedure with a very tiny incision. I would imagine they can do the same kind of surgery with your daughter.