My wife has back pain. MRI results say buldging discs at L-5/S-1 and L-4/L-5. L-5/S-1 shows nerve impingement on the sciatic nerve. She had an EMG and is says "findings are consistent with left S-1 lumbar radiculopathy and also distal polyneuropathy of the demyelinating type. From my research that means she has lower back and leg pain! We knew that six weeks ago when we were at the hospital when she was in SEVERE pain. She said she would rather have two more kids than have anymore of that pain!! Can anyone put some of this into english for the non-medical types? In particular the "distal polyneuropathy" Anybody got advice on where to go from here.

here's info about -distal polyneuropathy -
http://www.google.com/search?q=dista...ient=firefox-a

lumbar radiculopathy -
http://www.google.com/search?q=lumba...ient=firefox-a

Did you get to see the films and ask questions?

like how much impingement?
what are the options for this?
any Physical therapy , traction heat, massage, low level laser, IF electric stimulation etc?

Has she considered having some evaluations by a few expert chiropractors? To see what they say and recommend?


If there is a bony prominence causing the problems then I think options are more limited, but if soft tissue is the main culprit then chiro or advanced PT should be able to help.