[labra74163]

Hi all had another round of spinal surgery in sept 2012.Have NO back pain since whooppeee,bUT i now have pains i defo did not have pre surgery which was redo foraminotmy at l4/5 and a disectomy.Now I have pain in both feet and numbness this is weird feeling also both hands and fingers numbness and pains,both knees not had before painswen i wlk this ispainful and disabling i still wake at night and am back on pain meds pregabalin cocodamol and arcoxia .Ihave not been lazy nor very active just slowly recovering nothing stupid.I have had an appointment recently ( which i had again to phone for )
It was a face to face appnt where i was asked my probs and examined , i need another mri 1 in sept 2010,2 in dec 2011 now thisone nurse practitioner say's maybe trapped nerve lower down Ihave not got much more spine to mri !! been to gp yesterday has refferred me for said mri will wait. will not let me have physio is not happy for me to return to work but i take antidepreesent tabs for life so said to see occy health ( i work in microbiology in local hospital) so waiting for appointment. Today recieved a letter from my hospital dealing with my health issues i am to see Neurosurgial spinal triage clinic what is this? and why have i been reffered ?what will be done here ?

[ginnie]

Hi, and I am sorry to hear of your spinal problems. This referral might not be such a bad idea. This is a facility or branch of medicine that specilizes in Radio surgery, neuro oncology, neuro surgery, sterotactic proceedures, and many other types of special diciplines. Your case would have more than one doctor, to review it, and two heads are better than one. I would give it a try, and see what they had to offer on treatment. If you do go, keep a journal of everything that has happened to you. List your questions, and brings someone with you to help you keep notes etc. Getting other opinions is always a good idea. I wish you all the best. ginnie

[labra74163]

Ty Ginnie I have just had a phone call MRI will be at 4.15 this aft at least things moving quickly that is a positive thing .

[Darlene]

Nice to see you coming back to be with our wonderful group of friends. Looks like ginnie gave you great advise to go bye. Please keep us up to date on your condition. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

[ginnie]

I will be thinking of you, hoping for some real answers so you can move forward in life. Let me know how the MRI goes. ginnie

[MelodyL]

Hi there and Welcome.

I often marvel and what people have to deal with. It's absolutely amazing that they get up in the morning and continue to go about their day. I really admire you with all that you are dealing with.

Me? All I had to deal with these past few days was Hurricane Sandy. Thank the lord it did NOT affect us but it sure impacted New Jersey and many in my home town. That's why I have such admiration for people who face such issues. I certainly wish you much success in fighting you health problems. Sorry you are in pain.

You have found friends here. Please continue to post and let us know how you are doing.

Take care of yourself.

Melody

[labra74163]

Well here is my MRI result from 30/10/2012 bit confused think i have trapped nerve but not sure gp no help;clinical indication left l4/5 laminectomy and discectomy.severe needled like pins/needles in sole left foot left buttock pain radiating to her hip. report:unremarkable alignment of the lumbrosacral vertebrae, normal conus,soft tissue changes in keeping with recent laminectomy and discectomy. The l4/5and l5/s1 invertertebral discs are dehydrated.
l4/5 -diffuse disc bulge and annular tear at the posterior aspect of the intervertebral disc. ????
there is subarticular recess stenosis on the right and left with impingement of the right and left descending nerve roots.
l5/s1 the intervertebral disc is dehydrated.
disc bulge.
no significant spinal stenosis or nerve root compression ?????
moderate facet joint OA at l4/5 and mild at l3/4
conclusion impingement of the right and left l4/5 descending nerve roots
no significent spinal stenosis or nerve root compression. am confused about each stage please can you work it out for me?? TYx.

[labra74163]

Hi Ginnie have left results of mri could you take a peek pls ty

[ginnie]

Keep in mind I am no expert, I have just looked up stuff over the years OK?
It looks like l4/5 is your major concern. Disk bulge is another way of saying herniation. If it says MILD, no biggie, if it says severe, or moderate, there is more of a problem.
Annular tear I know about. This is like a barrier inbetween your verterbre, this helps the body support the disks. A tear in that can be very painful, and may be some of the sourse of your pain.

Stenoisis is arthritis. However when you have nerve INPINGEMENT on the NERVE root at l4/5, correction may have to happen. You don't want anything impingining on the nerve root, that is an ouch.

l5-S1 dehydration happens sometimes with age. The disks loose moisture and compress or flatten out a bit. Again if it says MILD, and not SEVERE, you have less to worry about.

No matter what your doctor suggests, go see another neurologist for another opinion. NO surgery until you are satisfied that you are doing the right thing and that all your questions are answered. Start a list with questions to bring to your next appointment. Make sure someone goes with you to absorbthe information. You may get distracted, I sure did when the MRI was upon the board. I was more interested in how it looked than what the neruo surgeon was saying about it. I did seek two other opinions, which I did NOT do the first time around. That is why I had to have more surgery 6 years later.

At this point, don't do any chiropractic moves, not until a neruo surgeon would clear you. Not with an annular tear.

To help yourself become familiar with the language the docs. throw at you look up each word on Google. There will come a point when you will talk to your doctor and actually understand what he is saying. For example look up annular tear, and dehydation of the disks. Knowledge helps you not to feel so afraid. Leesa is the best on the site for understanding the MRI. No kidding, she knows way more than I do. I hope you will ask her too for her input. More heads the better.

I do wish you all the best in this. I know it isn't fun. My surgey turned out OK, but leesa didn't get as good a result. We are all so very different. Be careful, and I will be glad to talk to you at any time. ginnie

[labra74163]

TY Ginnie can you tell me how to contact Leesa is she on this site?