L3-S1 + cyst

[magpie1970]

I had my last MRI in Oct 2007 and it showed issues with L3-S1 and a 6mm cyst on the left side of the L5. Every once in a while when I'm in the shower, if I soap up my lower back I can sometimes feel a pea size ball and it hurts when I touch it. When I told my neurologist about this a few months ago, she said that I wouldn't feel the cyst because it was too small. However, my MRI was 2 years ago, isn't there a chance that this cyst has grown?

Over the past few weeks, I have been getting a bad pain (worse than normal and not in the same area) in my lower left side of my spine where I can feel this pea size ball. I use my lidocaine patches on it, take 600 mg of gabapentin a day and 15mg of mobic. I have stopped taking the hydrocodone since I have been on it for over 3 years and think that I need to take a break and see if anything else will work.

I also have sciatica in both sides and recently started seeing a physical therapist. My lower back is tender and the PT guy said that the problem that showed in the MRI could have gotten worse over time since it was so long ago that I had it done. I also have 3 kiRAB under the age of 5 that I am the sole caretaker for while my husband is overseas. Suffice to say, I try to take care of my back, but bending and picking up little ones is something that just has to be done.

Anyhow, does anyone have any experience with small size cysts that have caused pain in the back? What were you able to do to help ease the pain? The meRAB I'm taking now aren't helping, the PT works somewhat, traction made it worse and I'm at my wits end here.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Mags

 

[Hulitoons]

I'm assuming your neurologist examined the area when you last saw her/him? Actually, I'm not a doctor but I'm imagining that a spinal cyst could not be felt via fingertips from the surface unless it was very large or you were extremely thin.

I am thinking though that perhaps this is a kind of cyst/boil? I've had these from time to time in various parts of my body and while they were not necessarily dangerous, they were tender (sometimes inflamed) and radiated over a wider area than the felt nodule. I've also had these knot/bumps occur when I've bumped into something without realizing it and a nodule formed for awhile that was part of a bruise.

I would see my regular practitioner regardless and certainly before changing prescribed medications around though, but also because one of them might be causing this as a side effect.