A
allanbruce
Guest
I am becoming more confused as my symptoms get worse. Originally (8 years back) I was told by a neurosurgeon that surgery would not help localized lower back pain and that it is usually more successful with syatica. So I have just continued with pain management. The problem is that in the last 12 months I have had much worsening pain in the area from above the waist, down through my bottom and the top and rear of my thigh muscles. I have had the worst pain in my life coming from the nerves at the bottom of my spine L5 S1 shooting up my spine and down my legs. This has happened as many as about a dozen times, until I stopped doing anything physical at all. I have had to change my life completely to where I am afraid of doing much of anything. The lightning like pain has now stopped as with any physical activity. The localised pain I have now is much worse than ever before but I still would not really say that I have syatica or leg pain. So does this mean that surgery is still not going to help me with the pain I have 24-7. I am now having to take 40mg oxicontin twice a day along with celebrex, endep, valium, and sometimes enone for when things are at its worse. I have also been on durogesic patch's etc.
I have recently been to see an Orthopeodic surgeon and he has said this same statement. That He can only help me with leg pain but seems willing to see me again though he was very sharp with me. I had a nerve block injection on one side to try and see if this would relieve the pain and it did help quite a bit, especially this new pain still in the local area but spread more widely. I assume that this has confirmed that I am having some sort of nerve compression but the surgeon will not go so far as to say that surgery will do what the injection did.
If all I got was the relief I had after the injection I would be happier but I don't know if this would stop the lightning like pain I have had from the nerves in my lower back or this stabbing shooting localised pain.
I don't know if I have made any sense but if there is anyone out there who could give me some advice or has had a similar experiance I would love to hear from them.
Allan
CT Findings
L4/L5 there is a broard based posterior bulge of the disc annulus projecting backwarRAB to efface the epidural fat paRAB. The disc bulge would be very close to the two descending L5 nerve roots in the central canal. The exiting L4 nerve roots, however have left the central spinal canal just above this problem.
L5/S1 There are very unusual appearances in the disc and are prominent Schmorl's nodes on both sides in the inferior L5 nerve and the superior S1 vertebral end plates. There is also broad-based posterior bulge of the disc annulus at this level, but not as prominent as on L4/L5 level. There is also marginal osteophyte formation encroaching on the two L5/S1 lateral canals which may also be compromising one or both exiting L5 nerve roots.
MRI Findings
Moderate disc degeneration at both the L4/L5 and L5/S1 Levels.
At L4-L5 there is a mild annular bulge Associated with a midline grade iv annular tare.
At L5-S1 there is moderate loss of disc height with patchy type II modic endplate changes demonstrated. There is a broard based annular bulge with no significant thecal sac or S1 nerve root compression.
There are moderate degenerative changes involving the facet joints at both levels.
The T2 weighted images also demonstrate mild peri fascial oedema at L5/S1 which may indicate an acute inflammatory component.
There are moderate forminal stenoses at L5/S1 which largely reflect loss of disc height.
(Disc and facet joint degeneration at both levels with moderate Forminal stenoses at level L5/S1).
I have recently been to see an Orthopeodic surgeon and he has said this same statement. That He can only help me with leg pain but seems willing to see me again though he was very sharp with me. I had a nerve block injection on one side to try and see if this would relieve the pain and it did help quite a bit, especially this new pain still in the local area but spread more widely. I assume that this has confirmed that I am having some sort of nerve compression but the surgeon will not go so far as to say that surgery will do what the injection did.
If all I got was the relief I had after the injection I would be happier but I don't know if this would stop the lightning like pain I have had from the nerves in my lower back or this stabbing shooting localised pain.
I don't know if I have made any sense but if there is anyone out there who could give me some advice or has had a similar experiance I would love to hear from them.
Allan
CT Findings
L4/L5 there is a broard based posterior bulge of the disc annulus projecting backwarRAB to efface the epidural fat paRAB. The disc bulge would be very close to the two descending L5 nerve roots in the central canal. The exiting L4 nerve roots, however have left the central spinal canal just above this problem.
L5/S1 There are very unusual appearances in the disc and are prominent Schmorl's nodes on both sides in the inferior L5 nerve and the superior S1 vertebral end plates. There is also broad-based posterior bulge of the disc annulus at this level, but not as prominent as on L4/L5 level. There is also marginal osteophyte formation encroaching on the two L5/S1 lateral canals which may also be compromising one or both exiting L5 nerve roots.
MRI Findings
Moderate disc degeneration at both the L4/L5 and L5/S1 Levels.
At L4-L5 there is a mild annular bulge Associated with a midline grade iv annular tare.
At L5-S1 there is moderate loss of disc height with patchy type II modic endplate changes demonstrated. There is a broard based annular bulge with no significant thecal sac or S1 nerve root compression.
There are moderate degenerative changes involving the facet joints at both levels.
The T2 weighted images also demonstrate mild peri fascial oedema at L5/S1 which may indicate an acute inflammatory component.
There are moderate forminal stenoses at L5/S1 which largely reflect loss of disc height.
(Disc and facet joint degeneration at both levels with moderate Forminal stenoses at level L5/S1).