Help Reading Spine MRI PLEASE>>>>

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catsaunders

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Hi,
My first time on the board. I have had chronic lower back problems for years:confused: Lower back pain and tingling nurabness in left leg. Got a MRI and it said IMPRESSION: Subchondral changes of degenerative disease at the L4-5 level. LEFT-SIDED DISK PROTRUSION AT L4-5 CAUSING COMPROMISE OF THE LEFT LATERAL RECESS AND LEFT FORAMEN. EARLY AND MINIMAL CENTRAL CANAL STENOSIS WITH NARROWING IN TRANSVERSE DIAMETER. Going to ortho. Tuesday, surgery????
 
I have l4-s1 torn disc as well as herniations, DDD(degentrative disc disease) Will be having surgery sometime in near future, I am a work comp case. Good luck to you, sounRAB like you have a herniation at l4 l5, don't do surgery before having a procedure called a discogram, it will tell if the pain is really coming from your disc, sometimes back pain can be due to joint problems as well. I've had 4 epidurals, joint block and discogram. The joint block was a procedure to see if pain was due to joints(wasn't), discogram came back much pain in l5-s1 as well as showed how bad tears are in my l4-s1, MRI can not always show how bad tears are, a discogram is when dye is inserted in disc and then ct scan run. Let me know if you need any further info, I've read alot and seeing a very good spine surgeon.
 
Please tell me more, my primary physician referred me for the MRI and after reading the results referred me to orthropedic. Also told me not to go back to work until after seeing the orthropedic doctor. That was last week so I have been out of work for 6 days. I am a governement worker and have over 6 months of sick time saved up. I feel somewhat guilty for not being at work. My back problem is not work related but driving (4 hours a day) and sitting (4 hours a day) which I have to do a lot of at work aggrivates my condition. I was not sure if I have a bulging disc or a ruptured disc or if they are the same thing. Have pain below neck and mid back as well. Any thoughts...
 
I hear ya on the sitting and driving. I am on light duty but still dirve some for work and oh man does it suck. I rarely sit up at all. I lay on my side alot, laying on my back, never that it so painful. I do a heating pad alot during the day, though I've heard too much heat can be bad for your back, but in my case its allready ruined. Go see the orthopedic and see what he says. You may need surgery, or he may try the steriod shots or physical therapy. I'm definetely not a doctor, but have been dealing with my back problems since April, so I think I'm an expert on my own. You say you have disc protrusion, I think that means herniation. I have a bulging disc in my upper neck, but not too bad. I think when theres a protrusion that means the disc has come out so I would further think you have a tear in your disc as well, but don't quote me I'm just an ameatuer at this. Good Luck to you, would love to hear what ortho says!
 
I went to the orthopedic RX yesterday and was immediately scheduled for surgery to be held next week. Posterior Lurabar Interbody Fusion L4-5. Anyone ever had this,\? they talked about a back brace and out of work 8-10 weeks. Will go from my back as my pelvic bone was too large to go from the side.
 
Never heard of this, but sounRAB like a fusion. I am having 2 level fusion with alot of hardware. Will be in back brace for about 3 months, then will beable to start physical therapy after 6 months and then will be accessed to see about work. SounRAB like total time out of work 8-9 months, thats if I will even beable to be released back to my job. My job caused my back problems and since it is some what physical my guess is I will not beable to go back to my job, so.... don't know what I will do, good luck to you, keep me posted on how surgery went.
 
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