HELP with MRI results

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thy11

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OK...I am at my wits end and I am hoping for some input and from looking on the board it looks like you guys really know what you are talking about!

I have been having SEVERE pain in my left buttock and down my left leg for about 2 months now. It has gotten worse. I am 39, healthy and energetic. I have a very high pain tolerance (have had a broken ankle with 2 surgeries, 2 children and a Tummy tuck) but this is the most pain I have ever experienced!!! I almost feel like I am going nuts since it is so hard to describe to people. Finally got an MRI last week....this is what the results said:

Impression:
"L5-S1 disk level: 6x16x9 mm left paracentral and entry zone foraminal disk extrusion which contributes to narrowing of the left subarticular recess and the entry and mid zone of the left neural foramen. This disk extrusion compresses the left S1 nerve root and deforms the undersurface of the exiting left L5 nerve root."


I have had one round of epidural treatments (before MRI) and am scheduled for one Wednesday. THe first one did NOTHING but cost me $300. (Don't even get me started on my crappy insurance.) My doctor is referring me to a Neuro...and thinks I need to have surgery.
I just want to stop the PAIN!! I am a single mom of a 8 and 4 year old, I work full-time, and I am in the process of completing my bachelor's degree....and I CANNOT be in the much pain!!
I just don't know what to do and where to turn.
Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
:(
 
I can't really help with MRI results. I guess I am mostly sympathetic. I am also 39, have 2 young children, my husband is in the Navy and I am basically a single mom right now, and I work full time, but I couldn't do anything with my kiRAB due to pain. I went through the epidural inj. on 2 seperate occassions. The first time it took 3 inj and then I was pain free for 1 year. I then re "whatever it was I did in the first place" and the pain came back. Inj didn't work this time. I am now 1 month post ALIF. The jury is still out on whether or not it was worth it. It is a longer recovery than I was led to believe and that's my problem.
 
If the bulge is too far injections won't help much. Mine didn't, and PT didn't either. The neuro. will be your best bet. A discogram will be a sure way to tell how bad the bulge is. Everyone told me my two bulges were not that bad till I had my discogram. It said I had two ruptured disc. They were all wrong except for neuro. surgeon. I am now 1 month post l4-l5 fusion. I am somewhat better but still have alot of pain. This type surgery takes alot of time for recovery. Talk to your surgeon about your options and test you can have done. Make sure you have a good surgeon though! Don't wait too long though, you don't won't nerve damange. Hope this helps to get some relief. We all know what it's like! Take care!
 
please make certain when you mentioned the 'neuro",that this is going to be a real actual neurosurgeon and NOT just a neurologist. you,and just having that type of major finding really really do need to be seeing a surgeon at this point. that just IS one very large and impactful extrusion you have going on there. i would seriously doubt that ANY ESI would even begin to touch that level of pain from that type of real true impact upon the nerves and the mere size of it too. i really wish i had better news for you hon, but that just is a very impactful finding there that neeRAB some true intervention just to keep this from becoming even more impactful and could also impact your cord if left without intervention too. i would be getting the needed surgical consult evals right now and either a neurosurgeon(my personal choice) or a really good ortho would help. it never hurts to obtain at least two seperate opinions before even contemplating any type of potentially impactful surgery like with our spinal. you just really do need a very knowledgable and experienced opinion right now, just make certain you are not being sent to a mere neurologist. this is way beyond that level at this point. you just currently have at least two very compromised and one is deformed by compression, nerve roots. these can become permentantly damaged if left for too long. i wish you luck with this and hope things are not too overly involved to try and fix for you hon. please do keep us posted. marcia
 
Thank you so much for replying.
I did my 2nd round of epidural injections this morning. (NOTHING as of relief yet.)
I told my PM doc today that the Neurotin (sp?) was not working AT ALL and that he needed to perscribe percocet or something. (I had some from removing my appendix a few weeks ago.) What is so annoying is that he made me pee in a cup to even get a script!! I am NOT a drug addict (although I guess I can understand how this pain could drive one to that) but it just made me feel so crappy for being in pain. Like who would make this up???? I have LOTS better things to do than spend time at the Pain Institute asking for meRAB. PLEASE!
Sorry...I am venting.
He did however schedule me for the last epidural in 2 weeks prefacing it with that he was going to talk to the Neurosurgeon in the meantime to schedule the surgery that was necessary. (Why have another epidural????)
He said the extrusion was significant and needed surgery to "fix" it.
I just want to feel better~~
:mad:
 
i can guarentee you if you are actually being seen at any type of pain managemnt facility you are not alone in having to do the pee in a cup thing, among other things like pill counts and signing that contract. its a standard in pretty much all PM facilitys. i just had the pee in a cup thing at my last appt. this not only shows if anything else illegal is there, but also assures that all Rxed meRAB are actually IN that UA at all. everything just neeRAB to add up and be there with nothing else in your urine. this is a mandate by the DEA. but the DEAs main concern IS diversion of narcotics. i have to submit to at the very least one suprise UA per year and they could do more if they suspected something too. its nothing personal, just covering their butt with the DEA and their own liability when rxing any real narcotics to any patient at any PM facility. hopefully whatever they rxed you is at least helping some? it is a good thing that your PM is at least consulting with an NS since this just DOES need some level of surgical intervention just to take away the bigger more impactful issues and get that compression off the nerves whch should releive your pain. i personally do not understand the doing another ESI either. maybe it makes the PM feel good?? since the other did not work at all, i would seriously speak to your PM about even HAVING the next one, ya know? please keep us posted, marcia
 
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