Today I received MRI results for my lower back. The summary portion of the full-page write reads:


There were other findings listed in the body of the write-up which seemed concerning but weren't listed in the summary (above). They were "...intervertebral disc dessication...", "...height loss...", "...disc bulge...", "...mild bilateral subarticular recess narrowing...". All-in-all, I don't know what any of this means other than the Neurologist that ordered this MRI thinks this is the root cause of my leg pain and that he referred me to a Neurosurgeon for further consultation and evaluation. Surely somebody here has some understanding of this, and maybe some unfortunate experience, to shed some light. My nuts and bolts takeaway is that it may need some sort of a surgery to fix the tears.

I was a pre-Med major for one semester... so in my professional opinion, I think it summarily says that you're in pain and screwed.

Charlie

been there..still am...no laughing matter, get second opinions, the chances of my third back surgery is about 65% success rate

I have had my back cut on 3 times. First, you just have to trust the Doctors. Most are great, but as with any profession, you have some that are less than great. On my last trip through the hell of back problems I was in a wheelchair unable to walk, had almost no feeling in my legs. Went through a battery of tests at 2 neurologists, they added a butt load of trips for MRIs. Finally after about 2 weeks in the hospital, these 2 told me I would never walk again.

This was back when you own Doctor also saw you almost daily in the Hospital, instead of a handful of hospital doctors. He called in another Neurologist, that went through the all of tests, when I met him, he was blunt, no promises, just a maybe this will work, maybe this won't work, but he thought he could help. My options at that time, do nothing and remain in a wheelchair, or try the surgery and remain in a wheelchair, or maybe be able to walk. I chose the knife,6 months of hell later I was walking with a cane and using a walker for longer trips. Almost 20 years late, I am still walking, but using a wheeled walker, the cane has fell by the wayside.

In short, in my opinion 2 neurologists threw me out with the bath water, another Neurologist gave me my life back. Just hope and pray you get a good one.

Please post the MRI scans so we can properly review and render our opinion.

Not sure any kind of surgery can "fix" the cartilage damage in the lumbar spine other than a fusion, which is where they go in and basically tie up all the vertebrae affected, make sure the clearances for the nerves coming out are good, and then fixate them in place so they won't move individually. This is a common back surgery, any good back surgeons should be very good at it, and it may fix your pain issues. However, due to the arthritis in the back, it may not fix all your issues and the problem with back surgeries in general is the issue is multi-factoral so it isn't a simple fix most of the time.

Hope that helps. You should see a back specialist, not a chiropractor, and a neurosurgeon who specializes in back or an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in back.

The key has ALWAYS been finding the right doctor, period.

If you found the right one then all shall be good, assuming the issue is repairable.

I'm mid-40-ish and completely mobile, fit. Sure I have some stiffness and soreness in my lower back after a long day of yard work, for example, but I've never thought it to be out of the ordinary. Nothing I've ever complained about. The problem, which started suddenly about a month ago, is that I will be fine one moment and the next moment have an excruciating, pulsating sort of pinched nerve type pain in my right thigh. Pain like I've never experienced. It lasts a few minutes and when it's gone I feel fine again like nothing happened.

Having read your responses so far you'd think I was an old man that's in bad shape and, frankly, it's alarming. Heh, medical talk on the Internet.....

Good luck on whatever you do. My wife is going in for surgery Oct 30, L4 and 5 fusion, the bones are rubbing together. Disc is deteriorated. She has had the spinal stenosis surgery last year. This helped with some of the problem buthad to wait for the second surgery.

MM, given your symptoms and all that, I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone willing to operate on you. If it is just a sharp pain for a short time that comes and goes, it is probably related to something pinching a nerve, whether it is arthritis or some of that cartilage damage allowing excessive movement which causes the pinch. While surgery (fusion) may fix the issue, if it is just intermittent and something you can deal with, they may just recommend time and see if things heal and get better. Certainly possible things can improve.

I am a conservative surgeon, you wouldn't know it from my volume, but I don't do big back surgeries either. I would get multiple opinions and see what several docs say. I would NOT go straight into surgery if the first person you talk to says surgery. Definitely get multiple opinions!

I’d try stem cells before I went under the knife and added scare tissue

For my Stenosis, I'm doing Caudal injections about every 8 months but really rely on Meloxicam (Mobic) daily to control inflammation. When the "sciatic nerve" pain comes calling I take Gabapenten .

I cant imagine what some of you guys have been through.

MM, sounds like you were in a car wreck

If I wasn't on a daily pill, I'd be crippled.

That sounds like my first trip through the operating room, I was 27. It was a pinched nerve, had an operation, then physical therapy and back to work. 2nd time, with those symptoms. I think I was 35, it was all corrected with physical therapy for 8 weeks. Heat packs, ice packs and massages along with a regimented exercise program. The Physical Therapist was worse than a Drill Sergeant.

First, lose weight and strengthen your core-lots of ab work. Even if it's 10 lbs, lose it, it will help. More core strength means your back has to do less and it will help with your posture/pinching.
Second, start with the shots. I got the shots 18 months ago when I was in a lot of pain. They don't help everybody but they knocked out 90% of my pain. Naproxen controls the rest.

Third, rest assured that at some point (2 months, 25 years, ?) you will likely have surgery. The narrowing of the canals and the arthritis makes that almost a given. I was blessed that a couple of growths fused themselves so mine is a ways off but likely happening in 10-15 years. But cutting needs to be the last option and you need a good doc for it.

Good luck and God speed, I'll pray for you, Moose.

I don't know where you are located, but this guy knows what he's doing. I'm not a patient (thank God), but I've worked with him professionally.

http://txspineonline.com/meet-dr-z/

He's Canadian...not trying to be biased or prejudiced about him personally, as I don't know him, but most of the Canadian docs I know aren't very good. I am sure this guy is fine. Just giving my


Theres a reason a lot of folks in Canada come to the states if they can for medical care, and it isn't always due to the wait times.

honestly, it's part of the aging process.

agree with TX buckeye, get multiple opinions ... neurologist, neurosurgeon (back specialist), orthopedic back surgeon ...

from what I read based on my lower back history (2 surgeries, years of chiropractor, injections, medications, PT, etc.),

1. I would think short term relief from medication possibly would work (4 ibuprofen 4 times a day, not to exceed 10 days), easiest option.
2. Find an Airrosti clinic near you and go there for an evaluation / treatment. 3 years ago I thought I was heading to a 3rd back surgery, but they thought they could fix me up in 4 appointments and it worked. I’ve had 2 flare up since and went back and 4 appointments later I was totally out of pain.
3. Steroid injections, never worked for me prior to my first 2 surgeries (but I had 15-18 mm bulging discs directly into nerve root).
4. Surgery as a final resort, and only from a true specialist in the spine.

Both PT and chiropractor (several of each) told me they wouldn’t touch me again until I went to get an MRI and see a spine specialist … That’s when I found Airrosti and am a true believer. They have clinics across the nation.


Airrosti home page

Not trying to poo poo everything here, and I do think physical therapy and Airrosti can help some folks, I believe the benefits from something like Airrosti is in the physical therapy aspect of it and not the the manipulation. Yes, some people are going to respond to certain things better than others, but form someone with an unstable back and nagging low back pain, the manipulative services such as chiropractic and Airrosti (it is a branch of chiropractic) are not really good as they can cause more damage than help. The benefit of Airrosti is they develop a muscle strengthening program and if you follow that you can be helped better than the manipulation.

I know some people swear by Airrosti and chiropractic services for things, but it isn't for everyone. Plus, most insurances don't pay for those and it isn't cheap. Insurance will pay for physical therapy if ordered by a Doctor. TTFWIW.

Weight. A couple have commented on that. Along with the Neurologist and my PCP. I just said in another thread that I'm 6' 2" 240, coming down from my all-time high of 255. A contributing factor to all this? Well, it surely didn't help. And while I'm medically fat, to look at me I'm not. I'm fit. Anyway, I need to lose quite a bit more for health reasons, of course, but I also have an Aoudad hunt in the distant future (Feb 2021) that this situation will further help me prepare for. My weight loss has been achieved primarily through portion size. While I can absolutely eat healthier - just changing how much I eat alone has saved me about 15 pounds in a few months! But it doesn't stop of portions and improving food choices. I will work on cardio and strength too.

As a result of your messages I am learning I have a bit to research before I can have intelligent conversation with the multiple doctors I will be visiting. Thank you.

This is basically what I went through the second time. When I started I thought it was crazy, but after a few weeks I was a fan of it.

Man up. It pales in relationship to the prognosis that my wife got from M.D. Andesron. I'm living with arthritis . There is no cure. It can only be medicated.

agree again TX Buckeye ... it's not for everyone but sure has helped a lot of people I personally know with lower back pain after failed attempts with other options. Their evaluation will determine whether they feel they can help or if you should seek higher level medical advice. and you are correct again most insurance won't pay for it and it's pretty steep on the first treatment or two.

I honestly thought I was going to have a 3rd surgery before going to them.

wow ...

Cancer vs back; two different conversations. One can be silent with no pain and kill you in a week. The other can be horrendous pain for 30 years.

So can arthritis.