MRI shows synovial cyst on facet joint

[SunLover11]

I have just got the results from my MRI, quite alarming, a synovial cyst arising from the left facet joint... results in a severe central canal stenosis... thecal sac narrowed ... resultant edema of the nerve roots... Translates to my last 6 months of pain in the a** and hip and down my left leg/ankle. It is getting worse. I am starting to limp and lose use of my left leg because of pain/weakness. I have been away from work over 2 months...I have a 3 week sunny holiday planned for February that is slowly slipping away. I finally have resorted to taking Ibuprofen daily, no more. Waiting for another specialist appt, this one for possibly some kind of injection. I am just starting to do the research. Any comments, info would help me... Thanks. I would do anything besides injections/surgery to get better. Like any exercises? aquacises? stretches? heat/ice?

 

[tetonteri66]

Welcome to the board.

You will be able to find quite a bit of information on the internet pertaining to synovial cysts. The facet joints in the spine are synovial joints just as are other movable joints in the body such as knees, hips, etc. You can find the scientific explanation for why the cysts form in those articles. I will just mention that some people have them but because they are not causing pain, they are not aware of their existence. Others, like you, have cysts that are of sufficient size that they press into the spinal canal and cause symptoms similar to stenosis. They take up space that is needed by the spinal nerves and it causes the nerves to be compressed.

Since your symptoms are getting worse, the cyst is probably growing and causing more compression.

The common methoRAB for treatment are to ignore them and deal with the pain, to have injections, or, as a last resort, they can perform surgery to either remove them or drain them. At least, these are the treatments that I know about! Perhaps your doctor will have some new tricks that I am not familiar with --