Annular Tear L5-S1 no bulges or arthiritis - Advice

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brendaks1

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It's also possible that your pain may be coming from the sacroiliac (SI) joint. When you say you have pelvic pain that makes me suspect that the SI joint could be involved somehow either in addition to your spine or instead of your spine.

I recently had to have a fusion of the SI joint after having my problem be misdiagnosed as a spinal issue and having 3 unsuccessful back surgeries including a fusion for a large annual tear that showed up after my first back surgery.

One of the biggest symptoms of it being an SI joint problem is difficulty sitting or pain in your SI joint area, especially after exercising or riding an exercise bike or similar exercises.

Most SI joint problems don't show up on MRI's, x-rays or other medical tests unfortunately.

There are also very few doctors who are knowledgeable in how to diagnose and treat SI joint problems. Most spine surgeons can't even identify it properly, and many doctors don't know much about it even if they tell you they do. If you suspect an SI joint problem, do lots of research to find the right medical professionals to help you.

You're welcome to private message me if you'd like to discuss this more.
 
I am in my mid forties, male and have been very active all my life. Until recently I ran marathons and did very well in them. But early last year, I started having leg issues then pain in the sacrum, pelvis area. I saw a litany of doctors, chiropractors, ART specialist with diagnosis from sciatica, piriformis, hip and ipsoa weakensses. The pain was bad but not awful, just could not run and had trouble lifting my right leg. And after runs or bouts of lifting objects etc...I would have trouble getting into a car, etc...but things were getting worse everyday. A doctor finally suggested an MRI. It came back as an annular tear in the L5S1 with no other disc degeneration or arthiritis.

So I was told to take it easy and do no exercising and not to bend my back forward, but do some Mckenzie exercises where I bend backwarRAB, etc..

Well, it's been 6 months since this took place and every couple of weeks I get this terrible pain where I can hardly walk, no back pain but again sacrum, pelvic, upper leg pain. I can hardly turn over in bed (this is the worst times) due to extreme pain in the pelvis area. I have tried to exercise while keeping everything tight, good form and I seem to be okay afterwarRAB. But if I have to stand for too long without moving, or have to bend while fixing something, etc.. I am in pain afterwarRAB for about a week. I expect it's nerve pain due to the tear. Any thoughts from those with similiar injury? Any thoughts as to who I should see next or what to do next. As a former very active athlete and person, I am going crazy? and getting depressed.

Thank you in advance.
 
Thank you Brendaks1

I looked up the symptoms for SI pain (see below) and other than the last one I have them all. Definetely worth looking into. Would the MRI I took in August have shown the SI problem? Is it worth getting a second opinion on the MRI results? I will look more into this as I am not convinced the doctors made a proper or should I say a full diagnosis.

What are the Symptoms of SI Joint Injury?
Pain located either to the left or right of your lower back. The pain can range from an ache to a sharp pain which can restrict movement.
The pain may radiate out into your buttocks and low back and will often radiate to the front into the groin. Occasionally it is responsible for pain in the testicles among males.
Occasionally there may be referred pain into the lower lirab which can be mistaken for sciatica.
Classic symptoms are difficulty turning over in bed, struggling to put on shoes and socks and pain getting your legs in and out of the car.
Stiffness in the lower back when getting up after sitting for long perioRAB and when getting up from bed in the morning.
Aching to one side of your lower back when driving long distances.
There may be tenderness on palpating the ligaments which surround the joint.
 
tallrunner,

If you want to private message me, I can give you more information and some web site links. I am not allowed to post them here though.
 
Hi Brendaks1

Being a newbie I cannot send a private message yet. Would like to as I believe this is the right direction for my injury. I am meeting my doctor tomorrow to request a referral to an appropriate expert in my area.
 
Annular tears are not really treatable unfortunately. The thin covering over the disc has no circulation to it, and it may irritate the nerves when leading fluid. They do not usually heal. Sometime they do resolve over many months or years. Sometimes never. The best bet it pain control and know your limits on exercises, what hurts when. If things get really out of control with pain, you may have to evaluate for disc removal, but if pain is so inconsistent and not limiting your life, you will have to live with it. Surgery is always a last resort.
 
Hi - I too have lower back pain since 7 months now. My MRI Scan of lurabar shows Annular Tear at L5/S1 but at the same time, I hear "clicking sounRAB" in my pelvic area whenever I change positions or stretch or when I get up after sitting. My pain is moderate , no Sciatica but considerable pain if I sit for 10 minutes or more.
I am confused whether my source of pain is SI joint or Annular tear in my disc? I googled and found that most of the time, SI joint problem is not visible on an MRI... Anyone had similar experiences ?
 
I just recently had the surgery for L5/S1 for a annular tear and it is the worst pain the dr had to remove the entire disc and it was done through a 360 anterior/posterior through the front and back it has been a long ordeal just had the surgery on 20 jan 2010 and I am still having pain in my legs the disc may heal depending on how big the tear is I had a very large tear and it was the source of my pain good luck to you in making your decision I did see a ortho surgeon.
 
There are several non-invasive spinal procedures that can possibly help your discogenic low back pain caused by annular tear.
 
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