Hello I am a 43yr old female with right low back pain, I injured myself at work. I first had noticed my pain April 2007 and went to the doctor and told him I think it was work related lifting things. I didn't report it to my employer and tryed to take care of this on my own thinking my employer would not believe me. I got my first epidural Aug 2007 with no relief, then Sept 2007 I lifted a box that was to heavy for me told my employer who didn't care when I reported this. So I went to my doctor the next day he took me off work for a month. The following day was a saturday I went to work left my employer a work note . It took my employer 30days before he gave me workcomp info. So from sept 2007 till Jan 2008 all I had was a few visits with work comp doc's and physical therapy. Some how work comp sent me an RN who got things rolling for me and got me another epidural in Jan 2008 and another 2 epidurals in Feb 2008. All these injections have been no help and I am back to physical therapy which helps when I am there getting stretched out and then exercise in the pool then they place an ice pack with a tens unit. Once I'm home I'm back to that constant low back pain. It hurts to walk, stand, lie on my back, sit, and drive. My pain is constant it's in my right lower back, that goes into my right hip down my right leg below my calf muscle. I get spasms from time to time. Sure the medication helps some not to mention I finally got a MRI Feb 15,2008. The MRI showed 3mm right foraminal disc protrusion noted at the L2 - L3 level, which does not abut the thecal sac or the adjacent nerve roots. I don't know what this means no one will explain what this means and I am so confused. this has been such a nightmare. If anyone out there can explain my MRI I would greatly appreciate it I'm so depressed over this.
Thank You,
Arlene