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Member
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Paradise
Posts: 855
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Paradise
Posts: 855
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Leesa
OMG Glenn. You should NEVER have gone to a chiropractor, not knowing what was wrong with your back!  Your could have done some permanent damage..
Your MRI shows some herniations at L4-5 and L5-S1. At L4-5 the protrusion is pretty good sized!
At L5-S1, you have a disc tear of 10mm!!! Plus you have moderate spinal canal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) and impingement of the nerve roots, and that HURTS!
I'd be careful with the stretches -- don't do ANYTHING that hurts. Therapy isn't supposed to hurt. So if it hurts, don't do it. You can still stretch, but if it hurts, back off. You may have been aggravating things. Swimming is great for the spine. Just "hanging" in the deep end with water wings is wonderful too. Stay that way for about 1/2 hour or so. I think I'd back off a bit on the weight training for awhile. You shouldn't be lifting anything right now. Not until you see a doctor who knows his stuff.
Is there any way you can get another MRI since yours in a year old? I know you're not working -- do you have insurance?  An updated one would sure be good to see.
Does your pain go down into one leg or another? I suspect it probably does. 
You could use a pain management doctor. Trouble is, they always want to do injections which sometimes work, but lots of times don't. Do they have pain mgt. doctors there? Acupuncture might work for you -- I really don't know, but it's worth a try.
I wish you the very best. Let us know what happens. I hope you can find some relief SOON. God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee  |
Oh Leesa, there you go again!
I know you and your neurosurgeon hate chiropractors (many neurosurgeons now refer to chiropractors) but......while chiropractic manipulation was probably not going to cure a problem of this magnitude, manipulation is actually recommended in a medical orthopedics textbook (two volumes each about 2 1/2" thick) by Samuel Turek, MD, for lumbar disc herniation as a last ditch attempt to keep one out of surgery as manipulation sometimes has amazing results. You are just beating a dead horse on this one!
Be that as it may, the MRI reads a little strangely (terminology wise) which is perhaps due to non-US radiologists lingo, but it would appear that Glenn's problems are largely at L5-S1 and perhaps to a lesser degree the two levels above that. The therapeutic progression would include conservative modalities such as PT, exercises, acupuncture, chiropractic, oral meds followed by more invasive procedures like epidural steroid injection (60-70% success rate) and ultimately....surgery. Because a conservative modality failed, does not make it a "bad" modality, rather Glenn just has a "bad" condition! At this point I agree with "doc" that exercises may still prove valuable, specifically MacKenzie (sp?) Extension protocol. Waiting it out according to the medical literature is also a thought so long as there is not neurological compromise or progressive neurological loss. As pain may not be the primary symptom, Glenn should continue to be followed by an ortho or neuro for a reality check. Good luck Glenn!
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