Hi guy and welcome to this board. Everyone on here knows exactly what you are going through, as we've been there ourselves or are there.
I am fused l4/l5. But I have a bulging disc at l5/s1 that has been there since at least age 18. Im 46 now. When I injured my back over 4 years ago, the doc ordered an MRI and the only thing that showed was the l5/s1 disc as still bulging. That particular surgeon didnt do much more for me over 2.5 years that I saw her. She gave me meRAB, did a few more MRI's, gave me PT, literally asked me what was she going to do with me (as I was getting no better) and then just told me that I had DDD, would suffer many years of agonizing pain and for me to live with it. I never saw her again and took charge of my care from then on.
I saw several spine surgeons after that, but finally found one that I liked and thought I had been suffering too long and needed more answers. I had over 3 years into this at this stage with several MRIs. This doctor mentioned doing a disc replacement on the l5/s1, which i was scheduled to have done. But beforehand, I had a discogram done to try and truly identify that the l5/s1 disc was causing my low back pain and bad sciatica. The discogram revealed that the bulging disc was causing me NO pain at all. He pressurized the disc 3 times and I never even reacted. He then injected dye into the l4/l5 disc and my leg involuntarily flew off the table and I was in horrific pain, and it was the exact pain I had been experiencing only 1000x worse.
Turned out that the l4/l5 disc that looked mostly normal on all my MRIs was actually badly torn and had leaked so much, it was just an empty shell. The doctor was completely surprised and was shocked the disc was still holding up almost at normal height as well.
So, we ended up going with a fusion instead at the l4/l5 level only. We left the other alone. He said since it wasn't bothering me then, he preferred to leave it alone. Less is better.
A discogram is not a 100% full proof test, but is continues to be a gold standard to identifying whether or not a disc causes patients pain, and they look for the same pains that the patient has been having. The discogram is also good for looking at the inside of the disc better as well. When they do this test, they inject contrast dye into the ones being tested. Once the discogram is complete, they also perform at CT Scan of the discs and it gives them a much better image of what's going on inside a disc.
Most often this test is done when surgery is either eminent or being considered. I have seen where this test is also done as a diagnostic tool without surgery being the primary point though. Maybe this is something to consider checking into at some point for you.
I am a success story. With my spine as it presented to the surgeon, I was only given 50/50 odRAB of it helping me ease or end my pain. Well I got 85% improvement. I am not painfree nor am I "normal", but I am living a modified normal life now.
I am a very active person or was. I still keep busy, but it's more everyday living things rather than sports oriented like it used to be. Such as earlier in the year, I took on a large task in tiling my bathroom floor and have the kitchen floor done 1/3 now. Took me forever, but I'm doing it. I've given up ever water skiing, ice skating, 10 pin bowling, rollercoasters and other stuff that might put me at risk for more spine issues. I haven't ruled out snow skiing yet though. I do love it and I have only skied in the east and have a strong desire to ski in the west, just once! We'll see. I have been fortunate to have done alot of things in my life, so having to sit it out on some stuff now is not a harRABhip at this point. I have lot of other things to focus on that will bring me just as much joy and fun.
So there is life to be enjoyed even with this back crap to deal with.
You mentioned surgery. Has it even been offered to you yet, and if so, what type of surgery? Do you have any sciatic pain (into buttocks, down the back of the leg, to the knee or below)? Any nerve issues in your legs or feet?
Yes, your disc can do its thing and quit hurting you. My l5/s1 did just that. I hurt it at age 18, it killed me on/off for over 15 years then it just quit hurting. I was even told not to have children because the doctor didnt think my spine could handle the extra weight and strain. That was a bit overkill then some. I had two children and while I had some awful flare ups through the years, I did raise them just fine.
It depenRAB on what's happening with your disc and your body really. It's not something anyone can identify as to whether or not it will for you or won't. Much of this is still a mystery to the best of spine surgeons.
Again, welcome to this site.. sorry for so much info, but that's how I am. Keep us posted on how things are going for you. Let me know how well the accupuncture works for you.
