I also posted this on the spinal disorders forum but I want your opinions as well.

I got an MRI on my lumbar spine, and the doctor said that I had to have surgery done. I probably felt the same way because 2 years ago, my back wouldn't respond to physical therapy or epidurals.



As you can see, the normal nerve root is about .5 cm in thickness (that was from my l3 disk) and the abnormal one is only .1 cm in thickness on both sides). Is that considered serious? I'm in Korea, so I couldn't really communicate well with the doctor. I assumed no because it didn't really bother my back, but it looks bad when I look at the MRI. I experience only minor back pain, but have pretty bad feet pain (bilateral). I have two herniations, l4-l5-s1, and they pretty much look the same as the bottom picture. Now, I also suffer from burning/tingling feet, primarily on the soles and outside of my feet, do you guys think that the impingement can be a cause of that? The other parts of my leg feel absolutely fine, which is why it may not be the cause. But my spine doctor feels like it is the cause, saying the l4-l5-s1 nerves contribute primarily to the lower leg/feet. He recommends nucleoplasty, do you think that it's a good procedure? Are there alternate more effective procedures out there? Thanks for reading.

--of some of the people in the Spinal forum, the way I'm reading that drawing (and it's certainly an interesting way of representing an MRI) is that the neural foramina--the spaces through which the nerve roots pass--have narrowed considerably due to disc bulge. That might be pressuring the nerve roots enough, especially in certain positions, to cause a number of the symptosm you describe.

That's probably why they're recommending nucleoplasty, which is a farily minimally invasive way of extracting excess disc material in order to shrink it and open up the area--although you should question them as to other procedures. (We can certainly use a little more detail as to whether there are also bony osteophytes compromising any part of that area, etc.).

Thanks glenntaj. No bone involvement but just discs. However, there are two discs that are bulging like that. The doctor didn't mention any alternatives... I'm also very skeptical of the procedure; it seems like it failed for many people. Microdiscectomy was another procedure I was looking into... Claims it has a higher efficacy rate. what to do... what to do...

If you wish to know about it, I am happy to PM you.

I am not a doctor, so can not advise you on spinal surgery. But here's what worries me. ARe your symptoms pretty much symmetrical? Usually

Ooooops, my message got accidently posted before I finished. Usually, back problems cause assymetrical problems. If your problems are symmetrical, that usually leads a doctor to think of other causes, like systemic ones. You are in a tough spot, though, being in Korea. If you were in the US, I'd advise a second opinion before doing surgery.

the one here and the one at the old braintalk might find you help. I think the old one is rather active; last time I used it, it seemed more active than ours.

But your doctors havae found something in the area of your symptoms, and it's something fixable with minimalistic surgery. You might find you are a very lucky man.