Back Pain and Knee/Leg Pain Again - MRI Done Dr. Appt. Monday

[Lilith Cherry]

Any answers yet? I hope it was a successful visit. Gentle hugs

[moosmom]

Melissa,

I know exactly how you feel, as I've got continuous back pain. My tailbone has no cushioning whatsoever, so it's difficult to sit on a hard surface like a bench for any length of time. My doctor has ordered an MRI.

How was your MRI??? I've never had one and am claustrophobic. I hope they find out what's going on with my back. I know the tailbone problem is from a fall at BB&B last year. But my back pain won't let up. That has to do with working on an ambulance for 20 years and lifting not only a stretcher, but a stretcher with someone on it!!!

Good luck, girl. Let us know what the doctor says. You're in my prayers.

[Anikaca77]

HI All-

Sorry I didn't post yesterday I was having a really bad day with back pain and then my husband wasn't feeling well, his CVS (Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome was acting up).

Anyway, I went to my doctors appt. yesterday and when I arrived they didn't say anything about him being late or anything but after another person arrived for their appt. they said he was running about an hour behind. I'm like great, I took off work at 2 p.m. thinking my doctor appt. was at 2:15 p.m. and now it looks like I won't be seen till 3:15 p.m.

Go figure. So I told them I was going to go and I'll be back then. Well about 15 mins. later they call me and said the nurse called my name. So I headed back to the office sat for about 10 mins. and I was called in and within 10 more mins. I think I was finally seen.

He didn't really go over the results too well, he went over the x-ray they took of my back just a few weeks ago and showed where the problem is which I already knew. The MRI report they gave me was a bit different than the one I got from the hospital 2 years ago.


Here are the results from the MRI I had done on Friday.


Five typical lumbar vertebral bodies are assumed.

The conus medullaris terminates at the level of T12. The lower thoracic spinal cord, conus medullaris and cauda equina are all intact.

There is mild lumbar spondylosis within the lower lumbar spine. There is degenerative disc disease at L3-L4 through L5-S1.

There is retrolistheis at L3-L4. This measures 2.5 mm. There is spondylolisthesis detected at L5-S1. There is 8 mm of anterior slippage of L5-S1.

Bone marrow signal is within normal limits. There are no findings of acute marrow edema from trauma, neoplastic infiltration, or inflammatory disease.

At the level of L1-L2, there is no disc herniation, foraminal stenosis, or acquired spinal stenosis. There are mild facet joint degenerative changes.

At the level of L2-L3, there are mild facet joint degenerative changes. There is no disc herniation, foraminal stenosis, or acquired stenosis.

At the level of L3-L4, again noted is retrolistheis. There are mild facet joint degenerative changes. There is no disc herniation, foraminal stenosis, or acquired spinal stenosis.

At the level L4-L5, there is minimal focal central disc protrusion. There are mild facet joint degenerative disc changes. There is no disc herniation, foraminal stenosis, or acquired spinal stenosis.

At the level of L5-S1, again noted is evidence for spondylolisthesis. There is no associated disc herniation. There are mild facet joint degenerative changes. There is no significant canal encroachment.

The imaged portions of the retropertioneum demonstrate no abnormalities.

Impression:

1. Intact lower thoracic spinal cord, conus medullaris and cauda equina.
2. Mild lumbar spondylosis.
3. Multilevel degenerative disc disease.
4. Retrolisthesis L3-L4.
5. Spondylolisthesis L5-S1.
6. Facet joint degenerative changes.
7. No disc herniation, foraminal stenosis, or high grade spinal stenosis.



I asked him the following questions while I was there:

1. Can disc herniation heal itself? (Back in Feb. 08 when I had my first MRI done of my lumbar spine they said that I had a mild right central disc herniation of L4-L5 with a small, extruded fragment creating a moderate localized impact upon the right L5 nerve root).

The doctor said no it can't heal itself and it's probably something that the MRI guy didn't see or something.



2. Is the degenerative disc disease going to spread up my whole spine? My L1-L2 have mild facet joint degenerative changes. The L1-L2 were normal back in 08.

He said what is happening is because of my slippage at L5 it's causing the other bones to feel the stress and it's supposed to be straight so we'll see what happens hopefully it won't get worse.


The surgeon did tell me yesterday that it is likely that the slip will continue to progress and when it becomes at Grade 3 right now I'm at a Grade 2 then I will need surgery. Right now it's just optional at this point.

I'm going to look into this laser surgery type and see if it's worth looking into or not but the recovery time seems like it's something to look into because yesterday he said it's 4-6 months recover. Here is a link to the laser stuff.

http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/

Thank you Carol, Lilith Cherry, and Moosmom for asking about me. I really appreciate it and sorry it took a little while to get back to you about this.

Melissa

[jennielynn1970]

gosh, there's so much that's going on with you, I'm so sorry!! You must be in serious pain all the time, every day.

I wish there was something I could do to help. I'll say some prayers for you and light a candle.

HUGS to you, i hope you feel better soon, or they can find something the help alleviate the pain.

[Anikaca77]

I contacted this laser surgery place but I still may go to see this one guy someone on here recommended Dr. D. Sutton, M.D. They said he was very caring and I can't seem to find the person's e-mail address who sent me his name.

I was going to see him last year but I decided to stay closer to home. I'm still thinking about things because I don't have to have surgery anytime soon. The pain is there daily now and I can feel it worse in my right leg and last night I did what I had to do but I was so glad once I go to sit down.

Yesterday morning it hurt just brushing my teeth but I'm going to try to exercise my back more and see if that will help which I'm sure it couldn't hurt.

Melissa

[Pawsitive Thinking]

You poor girl - I hope a solution is found soon and you can be pain-free

[Catty1]

I know you have been working hard at losing weight, and that certainly helps. Good for you!

However...I don't know if you have coverage for chiropractic, but that can certainly help things straighten out. I know I don't have 12 degree scoliosis any more.

There is a chiropractic technique called ProAdjuster - it's much gentler than being adjusted by hand.

I Googled to find chiro schools in your area, but the results weren't really clear.

If nothing else, would a back brace help straighten your spine over time?

HUGS and I hope you get answers soon.

ETA: You likely do these already, but there are a couple of simple exercises here to help straighten the spine. http://simple-fix.blogspot.com/2007/...ten-spine.html

EETTAA (and I will shut up now!):
ProAdjuster Doctor Locator
Harchak Chiropractic Clinic
1114 Walton Street
Phillipsburg, PA US 16866
view map Distance: 18 miles

814-342-3591

[pomtzu]

Melissa - not telling you what to do, but if you do decide to try a chiropractor, clear it with your orthopedic specialist first. In some instances, a chiropractor can just make things worse and cause more damage.

Hoping you can find something or someone to help you soon.

[Anikaca77]

I know you have been working hard at losing weight, and that certainly helps. Good for you!

Thanks!

However...I don't know if you have coverage for chiropractic, but that can certainly help things straighten out. I know I don't have 12 degree scoliosis any more.

There is a chiropractic technique called ProAdjuster - it's much gentler than being adjusted by hand.

I Googled to find chiro schools in your area, but the results weren't really clear.

Thank for your googling some chiro schools, I actually spent last year going to one and he did help with the sciatica pain but sadly it didn't last and the back pain didn't go away just the leg pain for a little while. I don't get the sciatica pain every day, it's more numbing and back pain. But the pain behind my knees is the worst when it comes.

If nothing else, would a back brace help straighten your spine over time?


Actually the doctor won't even put me in a back brace after surgery because he said it would make my muscles weak and he doesn't want to do that. Now if I was moving out or something then I might want to go get one so I'm more aware of lifting properly.


HUGS and I hope you get answers soon.



The laser place actually just contacted me so I'm going to call them back to see what they have to say.



ETA: You likely do these already, but there are a couple of simple exercises here to help straighten the spine. http://simple-fix.blogspot.com/2007/...ten-spine.html

Thank you very much!
Melissa