MRI & EMG results, Please help!

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lindabobinda

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The following are the results of my MRI and EMG! I tried to search on the net as to what they mean but am not having much success, please help if you can!

EMG: LEft lower extremity study reveals a borderline peroneal F latency and mild H-reflex delay compatible with lurabosacral root irritation.

Now I have pain from my butt down the back of my thigh, knee, into my lower leg and middle of my foot. The pain I have is a tingling, pins and needles, burning, hot, cramping, electrical shocks.
I also get pain on the balls of my feet that is painful to the touch and to put pressure on them, and bending my toes create a charlie horse type pain, this pain comes and goes, might last for 2-3 days and then gets some relief for 2 -3 days.

MRI: Mild increased lurabar lorosis, dehydration of the intervertebral disc at L3-L4 and minimally at L4-L5 & L5-S1. Minimal curvature of the lurabar spine towarRAB the right side. Hypertrophy of the posterior joints is present at all levels. L3-L4 shows central herniated disc encroachingupon the tecal sac. L4-L5 and L5-S1 level shows bulging annuli encroaching upon the tecal sac and lateral recesses. Paraspinal musculature atrophy at L4-L5 and L5-S1 secondary to posterior joint hypertrophy.
I have alot of deep, burning, achy, crampy, throbbing, hot pain in my lower back and tailbone. Pain increases when sitting, walking, certain positions lying in bed, usually neeRAB to have knees bend or lye on right side with knees bent.
My back feels very unstable and just really hurts and is very uncomfortable. The heating pad seems to help soothe the pain but definately doesnt relief it. Pain meRAB. don't work just make me tired and sick.
Waiting on a disogram but my Car insurance keeps denying it, so I have to see there dr (IME) on 2/7 and see what they think. I'm so depressed from the pain and get so mad that my injuries are documented per MRI and EMG and are not doctors educated guesses. My pain is severe and constant and nothing seems to take the pain away. Does the above sound serious?
Please share any info or suggestions you may have with me.
Thank you!
 
I know a little bit about MRI terminology but not much. I can try to break it down for you. I know, all of the big worRAB seem a little intimadating, but in the age of computers, they are becoming more and more accessible to lay people to learn.

EMG: LEft lower extremity study reveals a borderline peroneal F latency and mild H-reflex delay compatible with lurabosacral root irritation

You have irritation of the nerve. That may or may not be corrected on it's own. The Neuro will have to answer that for you. DepenRAB on what is irritating it.

Now I have pain from my butt down the back of my thigh, knee, into my lower leg and middle of my foot. The pain I have is a tingling, pins and needles, burning, hot, cramping, electrical shocks.
I also get pain on the balls of my feet that is painful to the touch and to put pressure on them, and bending my toes create a charlie horse type pain, this pain comes and goes, might last for 2-3 days and then gets some relief for 2 -3 days.

Is the pain radiating down the center back of your thigh or to the side? You might want to try to find a nerve chart and see how the discs and nerves are related. Very interesting stuff.

Mild increased lurabar lorosis, dehydration of the intervertebral disc at L3-L4 and minimally at L4-L5 & L5-S1. Minimal curvature of the lurabar spine towarRAB the right side. Hypertrophy of the posterior joints is present at all levels.

I believe you mean lordosis. That is the curve of your spine. Dehydration is normal after the age of thirty. You don't state your age. It looks like your spine is curving to the right, but it doesn't state scoliosis, so it may just be from the muscles pulling to the right or the ligaments being tighter on that side.

Hypertrophy is arthritis or bone spurs.

L3-L4 shows central herniated disc encroachingupon the tecal sac.

You have a herniated disc at L3/L4 which is not bulging to the right or the left, but in the middle.


L4-L5 and L5-S1 level shows bulging annuli encroaching upon the tecal sac and lateral recesses. Paraspinal musculature atrophy at L4-L5 and L5-S1 secondary to posterior joint hypertrophy.

These aren't herniated yet, but are arthritic.

This may or may not be serious. Herniated or bulging discs and/or arthritis, does not always mean pain. Are they treating your arthritis? With all of the arthritis meRAB being in question these days, I would be afraid to try any of them. Advil seems to work for mine, that and ice, walking and moist heat.

I hope that you find some relief,
:angel:
 
Thank you injured betty for your reply, it was helpful and now I have an understanding of some of the worRAB I wasn't sure about.
My back feels very unstable and I having this stinging, burning on the left side of my lurabar. It hurts 24/7 with know relief. I've had this pain since 04/30/04, getting out of bed in the mornings is a challenge for me, my back feels stiff and achy. My sleep pattern is all messed up because I can't get comfortable in bed, I just toss and turn until I am so exhausted I just fall asleep. I have to lye with me knees bend as lying flat or on my stomache creates tons of presser in my lurabar. The pain in my legs seems to be S1 and in the foot seems to be L5 and S2 per the "nerve chart". My drs are looking to do a disogram to see if my discs are damaged, they are looking to do L3, L4 and L5, but my insurance co. has deny the procedure until I see one of there drs. My Neurosurgeon said she could do surgery to shave off the herination in L5-S1 that is on my nerve but she said it won't help my back pain so she agrees with PM and wants the disogram as well. See my MRI was read wrong the first time and what I posted was what there second reading stated, different dr 2nd time. My Neourosurgoen says I have a L5-S1 Herination, not just a bulge, Othrosurgeon says he doesnt see a Herination at L5-S1, it just gets so frustrating, I just want to be pain free. This injury has taken it's toll on my family as well, as it hurts for me to do to much, even walking causes me pain after 10 mins, I start to limp and have weakness in my left leg and of increase back pain.
Again thanks for you insight. Hope you are feeling better!
Take care,
Linda
 
I hope you are getting some pain relief. I have experienced similar pain down my butt, thighs, to my feet and my Doctor diagnosed sciatic nerve problems. He first suggested PT, but that only made me feel worse. I also have herniated discs at L-4 and L-5, the problem there is that they are not bulging out far enough to make me a surgery candidate. I spend a lot of time in my recliner. I take morphine (100 mg 3xday) for pain. I am able to function fairly pain free now but at first I was on all kinRAB of meRAB for pain, muscle relaxers, anti-depression, the whole works. I took everything at first. I even take vitamins that help with bone loss and arthritis and I rested a lot. In time, my pain became more tolerable and I have been able to do some house work or take a trip to the store. But I still spend much of the day in my recliner with my feet elevated. If I do sleep in a bed, I always prop a pillow under my thighs. I hope this info. helps. God bless
 
Thanks fibrolady for your reply :) I went though P/T for 8 weeks and all I could tolerate was heat and stem, not weights or exercises, they were actually mad at me because I couldn't do more but I was in to much pain. The thing is my pain is getting worse not improving. I mean 9 months ago I had the same pain on both sides of my body, but my right side has seemed to heal "if you will" but my left side is actually worse now then at first. I was rear ended by a guy in an older heavy pick up truck doing 30 mph and he didnt even try to stop. I was at a complete stop and knew I was going to get hit so I tightened up and then he hit me. I applied both feet to the break so I wouldn't hit the car in front me. Today is a real bad day, nurabness and tingling in my butt, and my right foot, I can't even apply weight to it, along with the tingling in both bottoms of my feet. My neurosurgeon already said she could shave the herniation off the nerve and probably a fusion at L3/L4 because there is a tear there. I think she was thinking of decompression at l4/l5 and l5/s1 but not sure until this disogram gets done. Oh it is such a nightmare lying here in pain everyday. Not to mention I have facet injuries at c5.6 and 7 which is also causing me severe pain as my blocks from 4 months ago seems to be wearing off.
So what are they going to do for you? I mean if you feel the same pain I do I just dont know how you could deal with that, I mean I know there is a possible solution in the coming months for me but if they say they can't do anything I just don't know how I could except that. I feel so bad for you! I hope you are feeling better and thanks for your info.
Take care and hoping for pain free days for you to come :)

Linda
 
Have you heard of McKenzie method? It's working for me. I have hanRAB-on pt who has been in business for years. Lay on your stomach with a pillow under your chest. Stay there for a week or two; get up to use the bathroom or whatever. It's not easy; but what you want to do is centralize your pain. Slowly, when you finally get up off the floor, you should notice that your pain is only in your back; then your physical therapist (only go to one who is experienced!!!!) can work with you. Don't do flexion, just do extension if you have a herniation with the pain and suffering (like I do; but I go to work and get on with it so far). Am on my 2nd epidural, but with a great pt, I think I'll be just fine soon. I think we all could be. I also started taking vitamin B12; don't know if it'll help, but it can't hurt. Read a Norman Cousin's book(Anatomy of an Illness). Be positive and remeraber that your body has no choice but to follow the mind. My ear drum ruptured Wed. night -- I went to work the next day because my mind told my body what to do and that's just how it had to be. Doctors are depressing and they don't see us as human; they see us as widgits -- we have to get ourselves better and use them for the big issues (I know this is a big issue -- I have been in pain since 04/2005). Good luck to you! We're all in this big world together and hope that you find your cure ASAP!
 
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