Quote:
Originally Posted by Brambledog
Thanks everyone... 
I want to see the physios next week anyway and ask what they can do for me, I'll ask about decompression tables etc. I'm not doing any exercises or stretches unless I've double and triple checked that they can't do me more damage....I've been bitten before by well-intentioned physios...
I'm taking a multivitamin at the moment to up my levels of things like vitamin D, magnesium etc, and I'm drinking a lot of fluids - I'm well aware of the hydration issue with discs lol, all this time I'm waiting I've been reading up on discs and health! I'm keeping as healthy a diet as I can, and apart from the odd crappy day like today  I'm overall increasing my activity levels of walking. I'm doing a few careful core exercises like bridges and side leg lifts, clams, pelvic floor exercises, glute squeezes, etc. Looking to increase the amounts gradually...
The paracetemol thing is going ok so far, surprisingly enough. I prefer to know what's going on with my back, and it certainly let's me know if I get it wrong!
Tessa, I've had DDD for at least five years in both my lumbar and cervical spine.
The rest of the report says:
Lower spinal cord appears normal, conus at L1. Upper 4 lumbar motion segments normal. Facet joints look normal, central canal capacious, no sign of central stenosis. No vertebral collapse or marrow infiltrate. Normal retroperitoneal structures. Conclusion: single level degenerative spondylosis at L5-S1 with a left paracentral disc protrusion displacing the swollen left S1 nerve root.
Bram. |
Sounds like you are doing a lot just be careful to listen to your body and pull back or eliminate things that aggravate your pain.
lol.. I figured you had DDD for sometime as the changes don't occur overnight
What I meant by acute inflammation causing the modic type 2 changes -was that whatever happened that caused this huge increase in pain also created an inflammatory response a normal reaction when our body is injured or sick. You already know this but the left paracentral disc protrusion means that the disc is herniated (and leaking the painful nucleous fluid) protruding to the left side and impeding the normal position of the nerve.
My best guess is that they will try a round of medicated steroid injections along with PT before any other types of treatment.
Is there a pool that you could walk in anywhere near you? That would be so much better than trying to walk on land for now.
Wishing you well
Tessa