Disc between L4 and L5 is degenerating

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Hi and I appreciate any help you might be able to provide. A few months ago I began to have lower back pain; not the first time in my life, but the other times it went away without help. I am 55 and play tennis regularly and with the pain continuing I went the route of least resistance, all of which didn't help and wound up at my orthopedic surgeon. He took x rays and showed my how small the disc had become between the L4 and L5 along with the arthritis that I have developed.

He sent me for traditional physical therapy and it didn't help at all. He told me to go back to playing tennis and stretching before and after and using heat, heat, heat as much as possible.

Since then I have researched what can happen to me. Either my bones will autofuse, which I was told is a good thing and happens about 80% of the time. Or I would have to have them fused surgically if not naturally, because the bone against bone is unbearably painful.

If they do fuse naturally, will I be able to remain active? I talked to some tennis frienRAB who said they have the same condition and they still play. I assume that regardless of what I do the disc will eventually dissipate, so I decided to keep playing tennis, but not as often and without reckless abandon.

Am I being ignorant? I am a total novice with severe physical injuries and surgery. After reading some of the posts here I feel like this is too simple to ask about but I would appreciate some feedback.

Thank you so much for any information the baord can give me.

Bob
 
hi,how does a degenerated disc fuse?I have L5 S1 issues and really up tight about surgery for what I heard of it,people I know who are worse,more trouble on the way.
 
Bob, be careful of that heat, heat, heat. Be sure to use it only in 20 minutes increments or you can end up with a scorched back. I have purple circles on my back from the coils of my heating pad when I fell asleep with mine on. I am sure you know all this but as soon as I saw heat, heat, and heat it poppped up in my head.

Take care and I hope you feel better soon.
 
Hi Bob,
Did your dr. tell you that your at the bone on bone state now? I had that level where the 2 vertebra were actually touching but there were nerves pinched so they had to be seperated anyway. If there were to fuse with you having no pain then you would be in good shape but since you are having pain now I would venture to say that fusing the way you are now would not be good.

You will learn as time goes by that you need to search for a spine dr. that has a fellowship in the spine and only treats spines. Finding this type of dr. will give the best experience possible. You should also get at least 2 opinions before you make any decisions.

If your in pain you need treatment. That pain may be nerves being pinched and you don't want that to go for a long period of time. Since extended pinched nerves cause damage to the nerves and after a certain period of time that damage is irreversable and the pain permanent.

Now it will take a very long time for this to occur to don't panic but do find another dr. and get a second opinion.

Please keep us updated

God Bless

Carol
 
Thank you for your input and I do appreciate it. I am watching the heat part. And I do appreciate the suggestion for a second opinion. I have a bit of a different living situation. I live in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico full time and moved here from the U.S. five years ago. We have great medical care here and I have Mexican medical insurance. The problem with a second opinion is that I would need to see a couple of doctors in Guadalajara, five hours from here.

Actually the doctor I am seeing is an orthopedic surgeon and very well respected here. I was just at an extremely knowledgeable osteopath that I felt extremely comfortable with and has vast knowledge of my type of injury. We do not have a "spine doctor" here. As I previously stated, I am realtively new to injuries and surgeries and this is rather overwhelming for me. I get advice from everyone on who to see and am a bit confused.

I do not know if I have nerve damage. Do I need an MRI to find that out? My orthopedist thought physical therapy would help and it didn't. The osteopath wants to see me for two more sessions and I will go, as I have confidence that if he can't help anymore, he will direct me to the right avenue. As I type this I wonder if the orthopedic surgeon really is giving me correct and proper information.

Well, I am confused but I played tennis for two hours today, and strangely when I play it is the only time I don't feel pain. Thanks so much again and appreciate feedback to my concerns.

Bob
 
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