[Idiopathic PN]

I am writing in behalf of my husband. For almost a couple of months now, he has been experiencing numbness, tingling and burning of his left leg. Sometimes, his right hand will also feel the same sensations but mostly his left leg.

Our PCP recommended a cat scan of his back. The readings are as follows:

L2-L3 : There is diffuse bulging of the annulus measuring 2mm. This produces flattening of the thecal sac anteriorly and mild encroachment upon the origins of the neural foramina bilaterally. However, no focal nerve root encroachment is seen. There is no evidence for a focal disc protrusion/herniation.

L3 – L4 : There is also mild diffuse bulging of the annulus measuring 2mm. This produces flattening of the thecal sac anteriorly and mild encroachment upon the origins of the neural foramina, right greater than left. Again, no focal nerve root encroachment is seen. There is no evidence for a focal disc protrusion/herniation.

L4-L5 : There is also mild diffuse bulging of the annulus measuring 2mm. This produces flattening of the thecal sac anteriorly and mild encroachment upon the origins of the neural foramina bilaterally. Again, no focal nerve root encroachment is seen. There is no evidence for a focal disc protrusion/herniation. There is a mild hypertrophic facet joint disease seen bilaterally.

L5-S1 : There is central bulging of the annulus present at this level measuring 2mm. However, no focal disc protrusion/herniation. Due to the increased amount of epidural fat anterior to the thecal sac at this level, no encroachment upon the thecal sac or nerve roots is seen.There is a mild hypertrophic facet joint disease seen bilaterally.

Thank God, there is no herniation. The PCP sounded that this can be corrected by physical therapy sessions. He will be on his 3rd session this week. He is taking 200mg 3-4x a day. I put him VitB12 too. Its unfortunate this happens when we are in the thick of moving to our new place. His back is really bothering him too. He does almost everything because I could not help much.

I will appreciate anything that you can share.
Thank you.

[mrsD]

You might try icing the back twice a day for 20 minute periods.

I have great success with ice and back flares.
This summer I had a doozy!

[DejaVu]

I agree with MrsD on her suggestion to you re: ice applicaton.
I also deal with lower back pain too often, due to disc issues. Ice seems to help so very much! I never put the ice pack directly upon the skin, I place a cloth or thin towel between the ice pack and the skin.

Sometimes heat helps me, but this is rare for me.

When I am done with ice and still having some pain, discomfort, I sleep with an ointment named "Tiger Balm" on only my low back. I use the max strength form of this. (I am allergic to eucalyptus and so many of these balms, ointments, etc, have eucalyptus in them. Tiger Balm is free of eucalyptis, is very warming and comforting. (Just my own experience, of course!)

I am glad your husband is starting physical therapy! This is likely the most helpful approach for him!

Best wishes to you both!
DejaVu

[Idiopathic PN]

Mrs.D and DejaVu,

Thank you for your replies. Does the issue on "bulging" come and go? Is it also a kind of chronic pain?

He has other health issues too. But, if I had the choice, I rather have just one of us to be in pain. It would be difficullt for us both in same condition. He always say, not to worry aboout him, because his pain is far better than what I go through.

Anyway, thank you for your thoughts. I will definitely convince him to do the cold compress. He cannot tolerate the smell of ointment - any kind of ointment. it makes his eyes tear continuously. Everytime I use tiger balm, vicks, Bio Freeze or anything (even lotion with strong smell), he would sleep in the other bedroom

[DejaVu]

Hi IPN,
I hope you don't mind my abbreviating your screen name, as I truly don't want to write, "Hi, Idiopathic!" Lol!

Great questions, by the way. He is a lucky man to have your concern and support!

I need to kind of "pass" on answering your question about the multiple findings re: bulging annulus. I am not qualified to answer your question.

I can tell you that I have had 3 similar in my lower back, with two herniations.
In seeing an Orthopedic surgeon for his opinion, he had told me the way things "appear" on scans does not dictate the amount of pain one experiences.
Sometimes, pain is explained by changes in diagnostic imaging. Yet, some images can look as though they'd be extremely painful and they aren't!
Please note, while I can tell you what a surgeon has told me about my scans, I truly cannot guess at what your husband's scans mean in terms of chronic pain for him.

Someone with more knowledge will come along and comment, I am sure.

Again, I truly believe your husband can be helped, significantly, with physical therapy. I don't think this means he must live with chronic pain; yet, I am not qualified to offer an opinion on his situation. I can tell you with multiple areas of bulging in my own spine and with two herniations, I am able to manage any pain in this area, the more mobility and strength I maintain in this area, the better for me.

I understand your concern about both of you potentially experiencing chronic pain at the same time. Yes, that could be a challenge. (I have both PN and herniated low back condition. I find the PN more difficult to find pain relief. Yet, that is merely my own experience. )

Some of the keys here are: early intervention, improving any painful or potentially painful situation as soon as possible, and quieting the pain as efficiently as possible.

It's frustrating to look for topicals that do not have that element of tearing up eyes. If I think of one, I'll return and note it here to you!

I wonder how he would do in an Epsom salt bath? I wonder if that would help him?
Also wonder about topical magnesium in his case. (The cream is less messy than the oil.) Just thinking aloud. Maybe someone will come along and comment on this idea, too?

Glad you are here! Wish you and your husband the best!
Keep asking questions! You will find answers!

Best Wishes,
DejaVu

[Idiopathic PN]

Originally Posted by DejaVu

Hi IPN,
I hope you don't mind my abbreviating your screen name, as I truly don't want to write, "Hi, Idiopathic!" Lol!

Great questions, by the way. He is a lucky man to have your concern and support!

I need to kind of "pass" on answering your question about the multiple findings re: bulging annulus. I am not qualified to answer your question.

I can tell you that I have had 3 similar in my lower back, with two herniations.
In seeing an Orthopedic surgeon for his opinion, he had told me the way things "appear" on scans does not dictate the amount of pain one experiences.
Sometimes, pain is explained by changes in diagnostic imaging. Yet, some images can look as though they'd be extremely painful and they aren't!
Please note, while I can tell you what a surgeon has told me about my scans, I truly cannot guess at what your husband's scans mean in terms of chronic pain for him.

Someone with more knowledge will come along and comment, I am sure.

Again, I truly believe your husband can be helped, significantly, with physical therapy. I don't think this means he must live with chronic pain; yet, I am not qualified to offer an opinion on his situation. I can tell you with multiple areas of bulging in my own spine and with two herniations, I am able to manage any pain in this area, the more mobility and strength I maintain in this area, the better for me.

I understand your concern about both of you potentially experiencing chronic pain at the same time. Yes, that could be a challenge. (I have both PN and herniated low back condition. I find the PN more difficult to find pain relief. Yet, that is merely my own experience. )

Some of the keys here are: early intervention, improving any painful or potentially painful situation as soon as possible, and quieting the pain as efficiently as possible.

It's frustrating to look for topicals that do not have that element of tearing up eyes. If I think of one, I'll return and note it here to you!

I wonder how he would do in an Epsom salt bath? I wonder if that would help him?
Also wonder about topical magnesium in his case. (The cream is less messy than the oil.) Just thinking aloud. Maybe someone will come along and comment on this idea, too?

Glad you are here! Wish you and your husband the best!
Keep asking questions! You will find answers!

Best Wishes,
DejaVu

Hi DejaVu,

Sorry for missing to acknowledge your reply. I dont know how I did it, but it was not intentional. By all means, you can call me IPN (or anything you are comfortable with

Thank you DejaVu for your insightful post. Usually, my husband is lazy doing the therapy session specially now that he is busy attending to our new condo. But, I believe he is in pain because he regularly schedule his appointments and religiously do his exercises at home (which he never did in the past).

I rub his back with the Epsom Lotion (fragrance free). I also use this at bedtime for my tight neck and fingers.

His therapist recommended to put a small pillow behind his chair.

Again, thank you.