xray/mri results ok for 40yr old?

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Adamhi

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The short of how this started is I've had some pretty bad lower back and related pain that started overnight 2 months ago and coincided/shortly following a urinary tract infection versus gradually building up over time...suspicious. There is pain in the hips, sharp pain in lower back (S1ish area), heel/foot sensitivity, have had some shooting pains down legs but not much lately, buttocks/sit bone pain and generalized upperback/neck/shoulder pain all of which is causing a significant reduction in walking/mobility and sleep. Rheumy bloodwork is all normal, Xrays showed mild OA in the hips and mild OA in the SI joints with no inflammatory component, and MRI of L-spine showed "very mild" degeneration in one disk and one joint in the lower back. My question is, are these xray/MRI results somewhat normal for a very active 40 year old male who's been pretty hard on his body over the years with hard-core city roller blading (rough pavement, doing jumps, 3-5 miles), aggressive snow skiing (lots of jumps and bumps, 1 broken leg), regular weight lifting, gymnastics (in youth), ice hockey (in youth), moved 3 times in last 3 years (moving heavy furniture into position) or is this really unusual? The reason I'm asking is this has been going on for a couple months now without improvement and I was just referred to physiatrist (Dr of physical therapy) to start a recovery plan (1st appt is 2 weeks away) and I'm wondering if this pain and reduced mobility is something I can overcome with therapy and taking care of my body moving forward or am I stuck with this in increasing severity as I age? This constant pain and reduced mobility is really starting to take a toll on me and my wife emotionally/stress (newlyweRAB on top of it!) and I'm getting desparate for answers...thank you very much for any help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Well.. your body is as unique as the next guy/gal, but you will find a good amount of us with the more than usual back pain and issues are the ones that were or are very physically active.



Many people have disc bulges and dont even know it. The issue is if you have pain associated with it and how much it effects your life. Staying healthy and getting your core muscle group is of the uptmost importance, but it's still no guarantee of good spine health. If a disc is going to degernate and cause further issues because of that.. there really isnt anything we can do to prevent it, other than being as careful as we can in what we do or dont do.

Are you stuck? I wouldn't say that. But unfortunately, once people start having issues, uh.. they have a tendency to continue to have issues on and off from time to time. Then for some.. once it begins.. it's a constant battle. This doesnt necessarily mean gloom and doom. I had my first disc herniate at age 18. It is still bulging today and I am now 46, but it causes me no pain. But it did for a very long time, then quit. I was still active skiied, biked, raised two active kiRAB, got on rollercoasters with them, etc. Then 4 +years ago, I was lifting a complete apartment of furniture with my 15 year old son out of a 3rd story apartment and I only weighed 105# at the time. Wasn't smart.. and I blew my l4/l5 disc.

So your issues could be nothing more than what you have now, and greatly dissapate or could esscalate into something more. Time will only tell.

SounRAB like they will probably want to try meRAB, therapy, and some injections at those areas to see if they bring down inflammation, lube the areas and ease your pain.

Keep us posted.

But
 
Justoneofus, thank you very much for your reply. It seems the doctors are a lot better at reporting what's on an xray/mri versus letting us know how normal/abnormal that is given our lifestyles and unique physiology and what it means for the future. But it is good to hear others have overcome these sorts of issues and there is a light at the end of the tunnel...it seems like a long tunnel right now. I'm sorry to hear your troubles after moving your 15yrolRAB furniture. I guess the good news is that you've been through this before and now know what it'll take to get better and that you will get better with enough work and time. As early back as last halloween (only a few months ago) I had been out rollerblading 4 miles once or twice a week and at a pretty good clip with no problems and now I'd have a hard time jogging across the street to save my life...ugh! A couple weeks ago I could barely walk a block's distance, but now I've started doing laps around the office for exercise (not all on the same floor...don't want to look like a loaf) and it has led to significant improvements in my back and hips, but I'm still a long way from normal. Good luck to you, and thanks again, it really helps to hear about people successfully recovering from problems like this:) ...oh and have your kiRAB move their own furniture in the future;)
 
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